Alcoa Corp vs NUCOR CORPORATION, two Steel stocks. A side-by-side on valuation, growth, margins, returns, and what each price is betting.
Nucor is the largest US steelmaker, running efficient electric-arc mini-mills; Alcoa is the American aluminum major, smelting a different metal on the same cyclical rhythm. Their economics run close: Alcoa nets 8.17% and earns 15.15% on equity, Nucor 6.82% and 10.34%, the aluminum maker slightly ahead this year. Alcoa trades cheaper at 13.9 times earnings against Nucor's 23.8, and at 2.11 times book against 2.44. Nucor converts less free cash right now, 0.97% against Alcoa's 1.99%, mid-cycle capex weighing on it. Both run clean balance sheets. The pair sets aluminum against steel at similar quality: Nucor the best-run name in domestic steel priced for its reputation, Alcoa the cheaper commodity play earning more today, and the metal you prefer decides it.
Comparison updated 2026-07-11.
| Metric | AA | NUE |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $54.10 | $239.59 |
| Market cap | $14.4B | $54.9B |
| Sector | Steel | Steel |
| Stage | Cyclical | Cyclical |
| Implied growth (priced in) | +3.6% | +20.7% |
| P/E | 13.9 | 23.8 |
| P/B | 2.11 | 2.44 |
| P/S | 1.14 | 1.61 |
| EV/EBITDA | 20.6 | 42.5 |
| Revenue growth | +0.2% | +12.3% |
| Net margin | 8.2% | 6.8% |
| Return on equity | 15.2% | 10.3% |
| Return on assets | 6.2% | 6.5% |
| FCF yield | 2.0% | 1.0% |
| Dividend yield | 0.2% | 0.9% |
| Debt / equity | 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Current ratio | 1.48 | 2.90 |
| Altman Z (solvency) | 1.79 | 5.01 |
| Piotroski F (quality) | 4 / 9 | 8 / 9 |
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The stronger value is highlighted per metric where one is strictly better on that single number; it is not an overall verdict on either company. For informational and research purposes only. Not investment advice. Not a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security. boothcheck is not a registered investment adviser. Past performance does not guarantee future results.