RS vs. NUE
RS (Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co.) and NUE (Nucor Corporation) are both stocks. Both operate in the Steel industry within the Basic Materials sector. Over the past 10 years, RS returned 20.64%/yr vs 20.12%/yr for NUE. A 0.59 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined.
Performance
RS vs. NUE - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, RS achieves a 39.03% return, which is significantly lower than NUE's 47.41% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with RS having a 20.64% annualized return and NUE not far behind at 20.12%.
RS
- 1D
- -1.20%
- 1M
- 8.62%
- YTD
- 39.03%
- 6M
- 35.97%
- 1Y
- 30.96%
- 3Y*
- 17.36%
- 5Y*
- 23.10%
- 10Y*
- 20.64%
NUE
- 1D
- -2.16%
- 1M
- 3.29%
- YTD
- 47.41%
- 6M
- 47.39%
- 1Y
- 93.08%
- 3Y*
- 17.63%
- 5Y*
- 21.45%
- 10Y*
- 20.12%
RS vs. NUE - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
RS Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. | 39.03% | 9.12% | -2.33% | 40.29% | 27.08% | 37.84% | 2.42% | 72.21% | -15.12% | 10.49% |
NUE Nucor Corporation | 47.41% | 42.03% | -31.95% | 33.75% | 17.39% | 118.45% | -1.77% | 11.84% | -16.36% | 9.60% |
Correlation
The correlation between RS and NUE is 0.71, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.71 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.71 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.72 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.76 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 16, 1994 | 0.59 |
The correlation between RS and NUE shifts across timeframes, from 0.59 (all time) to 0.76 (10 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Fundamentals
RS:
$14.01
NUE:
$10.12
RS:
28.46
NUE:
23.67
RS:
1.47
NUE:
1.62
RS:
$14.29B
NUE:
$34.16B
RS:
$3.90B
NUE:
$4.77B
RS:
$1.30B
NUE:
$3.49B
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
RS vs. NUE — Risk / Return Rank
RS
NUE
RS vs. NUE - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. (RS) 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.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| RS | NUE | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -1.97 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -2.23 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.24 | 1.47 | -0.23 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.39 | 5.08 | -3.68 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 2.41 | 15.07 | -12.66 |
Loading charts...
Drawdowns
RS vs. NUE - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum RS drawdown since its inception was -83.80%, which is greater than NUE's maximum drawdown of -68.34%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for RS and NUE.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| RS | NUE | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -83.80% | -68.34% | -15.46% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -22.30% | -18.43% | -3.87% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -22.30% | -47.79% | +25.49% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -22.32% | -47.79% | +25.47% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -40.83% | -57.21% | +16.38% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -3.58% | -10.03% | +6.45% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -16.46% | -21.12% | +4.66% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 12.90% | 6.20% | +6.70% |
Volatility
RS vs. NUE - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. (RS) is 7.47%, while Nucor Corporation (NUE) has a volatility of 10.21%. This indicates that RS experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than NUE based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| RS | NUE | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.47% | 10.21% | -2.74% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 17.48% | 21.10% | -3.62% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 25.69% | 29.46% | -3.77% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 27.87% | 37.70% | -9.83% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 29.64% | 35.98% | -6.34% |
Dividends
RS vs. NUE - Dividend Comparison
RS's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.23%, more than NUE's 0.93% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NUE Nucor Corporation | 0.93% | 1.35% | 1.86% | 1.19% | 1.52% | 1.50% | 3.03% | 2.85% | 2.97% | 2.38% | 2.52% | 3.70% |
RS Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. | 1.23% | 1.66% | 1.63% | 1.43% | 1.73% | 1.70% | 2.09% | 1.84% | 2.81% | 2.10% | 2.07% | 2.76% |
Financials
RS vs. NUE - Financials Comparison
This section allows you to compare key financial metrics between Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. and Nucor Corporation. You can select fields from income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements to easily visualize and compare the financial health of both companies.
Total Revenue: Total amount of money received from sales and other business activities
RS vs. NUE - Profitability Comparison
RS - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. reported a gross profit of 885.40M and revenue of 3.50B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 25.3%.
NUE - Gross Margin
Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Nucor Corporation reported a gross profit of 1.50B and revenue of 9.50B. Therefore, the gross margin over that period was 15.8%.
RS - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. reported an operating income of 176.20M and revenue of 3.50B, resulting in an operating margin of 5.0%.
NUE - Operating Margin
Operating margin is calculated as operating income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Nucor Corporation reported an operating income of 0.00 and revenue of 9.50B, resulting in an operating margin of 0.0%.
RS - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. reported a net income of 116.50M and revenue of 3.50B, resulting in a net margin of 3.3%.
NUE - Net Margin
Net margin is calculated as net income divided by revenue. For the three months ending on Jun 2026, Nucor Corporation reported a net income of 743.00M and revenue of 9.50B, resulting in a net margin of 7.8%.
Frequently Asked Questions
RS and NUE have a correlation of 0.71, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
NUE has higher volatility (10.21%) compared to RS (7.47%). In terms of maximum drawdown, RS dropped -83.80% vs NUE's -68.34%.
NUE currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (3.18 vs 1.21), 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.
Find the right allocation for RS and NUE
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer