“The first quarter of 2021 was the most profitable quarter in our company's history. We are clearly reaping the rewards from our prior investments and the more strategic approaches we are taking to our key end-use markets,” said Leon Topalian, Nucor's president and chief executive officer.

For the quarter ending 3 April 2021, the company reported net sales of US$7.02 billion, generating a net income of US$942.4 million. 

Topalian said that as good as the first quarter was, the second quarter could be even better. 

“We expect earnings in the second quarter of 2021 to be the highest quarterly earnings in Nucor history, surpassing the record set in the first quarter of 2021. The primary drivers for the expected increase in earnings in the second quarter of 2021 as compared to the first quarter of 2021 are improved pricing and margins in the steel mills segment,” he said.