In its latest SEC filing, Sowell Financial Services LLC disclosed a 75.4% reduction in its Nucor holdings during the third quarter, offloading 6,461 shares to end the period with just 2,105 shares valued at approximately $285,000. This marked divestiture contrasts sharply with the firm’s previous commitment to the basic materials sector and represents one of the most significant position adjustments among smaller institutional holders in the period.

While Sowell scaled back, larger asset managers predominantly expanded their Nucor stakes. Hudson Capital Management increased its share count by 6.6%, adding 2,154 shares to reach 34,784; Robeco Institutional Asset Management more than doubled its exposure with a 138.5% lift, acquiring 70,581 additional shares; and Busey Bank grew its position by 40.1% through a 32,044-share purchase. Collectively, these moves underscore sustained institutional conviction in Nucor’s long-term steelmaking franchise, with roughly three-quarters of the stock held by such investors.

Nucor’s third-quarter results exceeded consensus, generating $2.63 in earnings per share versus an analyst expectation of $2.30, driven by a 14.5% year-over-year revenue increase to $8.52 billion. Management’s net margin expanded to 5.18% and return on equity stood at 7.8%. Despite forecasting a modest sequential EPS decline in the fourth quarter, the company reaffirmed its full-year target of 7.64 earnings per share, reflecting confidence in operational efficiencies and stable demand for electric-arc furnace steel products.

Nucor announced a quarterly dividend increase to $0.56 per share, representing a 1.3% yield and lifting the annualized payout to $2.24. The dividend payout ratio remains a conservative 31.5%, underscoring balanced capital allocation between shareholder returns and reinvestment. On the insider front, executive vice presidents executed modest sales—7,000 shares by one EVP and 2,003 by another—reducing their combined holdings by roughly 6.8% and 2.2% respectively, a routine adjustment that aligns with pre-scheduled disposition plans rather than strategic de-risking.