^DJUSST vs. NUE

Last updated Jun 3, 2026

^DJUSST (Dow Jones U.S. Iron & Steel Index) is an index, while NUE (Nucor Corporation) is a stock. Over the past 10 years, ^DJUSST returned 17.67%/yr vs 20.54%/yr for NUE. Their correlation of 0.92 suggests significant overlap in exposure.

Performance

^DJUSST vs. NUE - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Dow Jones U.S. Iron & Steel Index (^DJUSST) and Nucor Corporation (NUE). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, ^DJUSST achieves a 47.12% return, which is significantly lower than NUE's 59.00% return. Over the past 10 years, ^DJUSST has underperformed NUE with an annualized return of 17.67%, while NUE has yielded a comparatively higher 20.54% annualized return.

^DJUSST

• 1D: 3.21%
• 1M: 15.39%
• YTD: 47.12%
• 6M: 50.61%
• 1Y: 86.78%
• 3Y*: 26.62%
• 5Y*: 20.18%
• 10Y*: 17.67%

NUE

• 1D: 2.77%
• 1M: 14.34%
• YTD: 59.00%
• 6M: 61.54%
• 1Y: 117.92%
• 3Y*: 24.09%
• 5Y*: 21.10%
• 10Y*: 20.54%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

^DJUSST vs. NUE - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
^DJUSST Dow Jones U.S. Iron & Steel Index	47.12%	41.01%	-23.32%	32.54%	17.42%	80.64%	-7.86%	15.40%	-24.56%	11.22%
NUE Nucor Corporation	59.00%	42.03%	-31.95%	33.75%	17.39%	118.45%	-1.77%	11.84%	-16.36%	9.60%

Correlation

The correlation between ^DJUSST and NUE is 0.95, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.95
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.94
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.95
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.95
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Feb 15, 2000	0.92

The correlation between ^DJUSST and NUE has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.92 to 0.95 - a consistent structural relationship.

Return for Risk

^DJUSST vs. NUE — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

^DJUSST

^DJUSST Risk / Return Rank: 91
^DJUSST Sharpe Ratio Rank: 93
^DJUSST Sortino Ratio Rank: 92
^DJUSST Omega Ratio Rank: 86
^DJUSST Calmar Ratio Rank: 94
^DJUSST Martin Ratio Rank: 90

NUE

NUE Risk / Return Rank: 96
NUE Sharpe Ratio Rank: 97
NUE Sortino Ratio Rank: 96
NUE Omega Ratio Rank: 95
NUE Calmar Ratio Rank: 95
NUE Martin Ratio Rank: 96

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

^DJUSST vs. NUE - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Dow Jones U.S. Iron & Steel Index (^DJUSST) and Nucor Corporation (NUE). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.

	^DJUSST	NUE	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	3.14	4.02	-0.88
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	3.82	4.54	-0.72
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.47	1.57	-0.09
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	4.74	7.59	-2.85
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	15.62	22.86	-7.24
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

^DJUSST vs. NUE - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current ^DJUSST Sharpe Ratio is 3.14, which is comparable to the NUE Sharpe Ratio of 4.02. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of ^DJUSST and NUE, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	^DJUSST	NUE	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	3.14	4.02	-0.88
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.60	0.56	+0.04
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.52	0.57	-0.05
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.25	0.42	-0.16

Drawdowns

^DJUSST vs. NUE - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum ^DJUSST drawdown since its inception was -81.48%, which is greater than NUE's maximum drawdown of -68.34%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ^DJUSST and NUE.

Drawdown Indicators

	^DJUSST	NUE	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-81.48%	-68.34%	-13.14%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-21.17%	-18.43%	-2.74%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-38.57%	-47.79%	+9.22%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-38.57%	-47.79%	+9.22%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-61.00%	-57.21%	-3.79%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-37.13%	-21.14%	-15.99%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	6.43%	6.12%	+0.31%

Volatility

^DJUSST vs. NUE - Volatility Comparison

Dow Jones U.S. Iron & Steel Index (^DJUSST) and Nucor Corporation (NUE) have volatilities of 8.60% and 8.23%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	^DJUSST	NUE	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	8.60%	8.23%	+0.37%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	20.18%	20.25%	-0.07%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	28.68%	31.11%	-2.43%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	33.64%	37.70%	-4.06%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	34.12%	35.97%	-1.85%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both ^DJUSST and NUE in my portfolio?

With a correlation of 0.95, ^DJUSST and NUE move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.

Which is riskier, ^DJUSST or NUE?

^DJUSST has higher volatility (8.60%) compared to NUE (8.23%). In terms of maximum drawdown, ^DJUSST dropped -81.48% vs NUE's -68.34%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

NUE currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (4.01 vs 3.14), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.