Nucor Corporation reported unaudited consolidated earnings and operating results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2017. For the quarter, the company reported net sales of $5,092,328,000 against net sales of $3,956,538,000 a year ago. Net earnings were $395,094,000 against net earnings of $175,185,000 a year ago. Net earnings attributable to company were $383,891,000 against net earnings attributable to company of $159,639,000 a year ago. Net earnings per diluted share were $1.20 against net earnings per diluted share of $0.5 a year ago.

For the period, the company reported Net sales of $20,252,393,000 against net sales of $16,208,122,000 a year ago. Net earnings were $1,380,571,000 against net earnings of $900,416,000 a year ago. Net earnings attributable to company were $1,318,688,000 against net earnings attributable to company of $796,271,000 a year ago. Net earnings per diluted share were $4.1 against net earnings per diluted share of $2.48 a year ago. Cash provided by operating activities of $1,051,263,000 against cash provided by operating activities of $1,749,920,000 a year ago. Capital expenditures were $448,555,000 against capital expenditures of $604,840,000 a year ago.

For the quarter, the company reported steel mills total shipments were 6,059,000 against 5,151,000 a year ago. Total sales tons to outside customers were 6,542,000 against 5,815,000 a year ago.

For the year, the company reported steel mills total shipments were 24,718,000 against 21,941,000 a year ago. Total sales tons to outside customers were 26,492,000 against 24,309,000 a year ago.

Earnings in the first quarter of 2018 are expected to increase compared to the fourth quarter of 2017, exclusive of the benefit recorded in the fourth quarter of 2017 related to tax reform. The company believe there is significant optimism in steel end use markets and are encouraged by positive pricing momentum building throughout the quarter for all of steel mill products. Coupled with these positive trends, first quarter of 2018 results will be negatively impacted by higher scrap prices and weather related interruptions at some of sheet mills. The company expects decreased earnings in the steel products segment due to typical seasonality. The company expects earnings in raw materials segment in the first quarter of 2018 to improve compared to the fourth quarter of 2017.