2011 GOLDMAN SACHS ANNUAL GLOBAL STEEL CONFERENCE

SUSTAINABLE GROWTH

COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES

Financial Strength Low / Variable Cost Structure Flexible Production Capabilities Product Diversification & Market Leadership Nucors People and Our Culture

FINANCIAL STRENGTH

Strong Balance Sheet Conservative Financial Practices No Material Legacy Liabilities A / A2 Credit Rating

Financial Strength
Cash From Operations 2000-2011 (millions of dollars)
More than 2X prior downturn
$2,400

Average 09-LTM $1.1B

$1,800

$1,200

Average 01-03 $495m

$600

$0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 LTM

LTM = Last Twelve Months

LOW COST STRUCTURE

35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0

(2004-2010 Average: EBITDA / Avg Capital) 30.7%

Return On Capital %

32.6%

21.7%

U.S. Steel

Steel Dynamics

Nucor

LOW COST STRUCTURE

Return On Capital (12 Mos
30 25 20 15

Ended 9/30/11 = EBITDA / Capital) Nucor Adjusted = Capital Minus Cash & ST Invest. > $1.2 bn 27.4% 21.4%

19.9% 15.4% 11.2%

10 5 0
U.S. Steel ArcelorMittal Steel Dynamics Nucor Nucor (Adjusted)

FLEXIBLE PRODUCTION CAPABILITY

Electric arc furnaces High productivity No lay-off practice BEST-IN-CLASS MARKET RESPONSIVENESS
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DIVERSIFIED PRODUCT MIX

1st 9 MOS 2011 Sales Tons
Sheet-Steel - 33% Bars-Steel - 20% Structural-Steel - 10% Plate-Steel - 10% Steel Products-11% Scrap & Trading-16%

MARKET LEADERSHIP
IN NORTH AMERICA 2010

North American Market Leader

#1 #2

Structural Steel Bar Steel Rebar Steel Cold Finished Bar Steel Steel Joist Steel Deck Rebar Fabrication, Distribution, & Placement

Plate Steel Metal Buildings

North American Market Leader

North American Market Leader

#3

Sheet Steel

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OUR CULTURE DRIVES SUCCESS

Long-Term Focus!!! Commitment To Employees!!! Pay For Performance Decentralized / Lean Organizational Structure NUCORS EMPLOYEES TAKE OWNERSHIP OF OUR BUSINESS!!!

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NUCORS PEOPLE
OUR BIGGEST COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE

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FOCUS ON PROFITABLE

GROWTH!!!

Nucors 5 Pronged Growth Strategy

1. OPTIMIZE EXISTING OPERATIONS
Nucors Position of STRENGTH

2. RAW MATERIALS STRATEGY 3. GREENFIELD GROWTH 4. INTERNATIONAL GROWTH 5. STRATEGIC ACQUISITIONS

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BUILDING EARNINGS POWER FOR THE NEXT CYCLICAL PEAK & BEYOND
(Millions of dollars)
$2,200

2008 EPS $5.98

$1,700

$1,200

$700

$200
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 9 MOS 2011

-$300

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GROWING STRONGER DURING DOWNTURNS

Capital Invested Versus Depreciation & Amort.
$6,000 $5,000 $4,000 $3,000 $2,000 $1,000 $0

2008-2011

$5.1 billion

$2.3 billion

Depreciation & Amortization

Capital Invested

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BUILDING EARNINGS POWER STEELMAKING

Memphis SBQ mill Decatur, Alabama galvanizing facility NC plate mills heat treat facility Arizona wire rod rolling mill Duferdofin-Nucor European long products investment

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BUILDING EARNINGS POWER RAW MATERIALS

Louisiana DRI facility Trinidad DRI capacity expansion Natural gas investment David J. Joseph Co. scrap bolt-on acquisitions

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BUILDING EARNINGS POWER DOWNSTREAM

NuMit / Steel Technologies sheet steel processing Joist / Deck market share expansion Metal Buildings Group expanded production & distribution capability Harris rebar fabrication bolt-on acquisitions

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GROWING STRONGER DURING DOWNTURNS

Pre-operating / Start-up Costs And Net Income 2000-2011YTD
(millions of dollars)

$180 $1,700 $160 $140 $1,200 $120 $100 $700 $80 $60 $200
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 1ST 9 MOS 2011

$40 $20 $0

-$300

Net Income (left axis)

Pre-operating & Start-up Costs (right axis)

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CASH DIVIDENDS PAID

20002011 Base & Supplemental Dividends (dollars per share)
$3

$2

$2

$1

$1

$0 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Base
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Supplemental

SUSTAINABLE GROWTH MEANS

Nucors Best Years Are Ahead Of Us!

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