Nucor Corporation reported consolidated net earnings of $107.8 million, or $0.35 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2019. This includes non-cash impairment charges of $66.9 million, or $0.17 per diluted share. The company's performance was influenced by stronger than expected steel mill segment performance in December and improved general business conditions. Nucor's consolidated net sales decreased 6% to $5.13 billion in the fourth quarter of 2019 compared with $5.46 billion in the third quarter of 2019 and decreased 18% compared with $6.30 billion in the fourth quarter of 2018.
Q4 2019 earnings were higher than mid-December quantitative guidance due to stronger steel mill segment performance in December.
Inventory destocking concluded in Q4 2019, with customers resuming normal buying patterns.
General business conditions improved due to factors like a Federal Reserve rate cut and progress on trade.
Steel products segment had its best fourth quarter in history.
Nucor expects earnings in the first quarter of 2020 to increase as compared to the fourth quarter of 2019. We expect earnings in the steel mills segment to increase in the first quarter of 2020 as compared to the fourth quarter of 2019 (excluding the fourth quarter of 2019 impairment charge), due to the previously mentioned price increases and expected higher volumes.
Visualization of income flow from segment revenue to net income