Warrior Met Coal Reports First Quarter 2020 Results

Apr 29, 2020

First quarter results consistent with expectations

Mining operations continue uninterrupted due to critical infrastructure designation in Alabama

BROOKWOOD, Ala.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Warrior Met Coal, Inc. (NYSE:HCC) (“Warrior” or the “Company”) today announced results for the first quarter of 2020. Warrior is the leading dedicated U.S. based producer and exporter of high quality metallurgical (“met”) coal for the global steel industry.

Warrior reported first quarter 2020 net income of $21.5 million, or $0.42 per diluted share, compared to net income of $110.4 million, or $2.14 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2019. Adjusted net income per share for the first quarter of 2020 was $0.39 per diluted share compared to $2.30 per diluted share in the first quarter of 2019. The Company reported Adjusted EBITDA of $61.7 million in the first quarter of 2020, compared to Adjusted EBITDA of $181.0 million in the first quarter of 2019.

“We were pleased to have achieved higher sales and production volumes for the first quarter compared to those outlined on our last quarterly earnings call,” commented Walt Scheller, CEO of Warrior. “The rest of the year is less certain, however, due to the global health crisis. We are seeing the impact of COVID-19 on global steel production and overall met coal demand in light of reduced automobile manufacturing and a slowdown of construction projects.”

Mr. Scheller continued, “We are fortunate to have a low and variable cost structure, which will enable us to drive margins in most price environments. We are also using our ability to lower other production costs and capital expenditures due to our significant investments over the past three years. At the same time, we have adequate liquidity, a strong balance sheet, and confidence in our long-term strategic initiatives. With our operational and financial flexibility, premium products and strong customer relationships, we should be well positioned to weather any prolonged economic challenge and return to our strong operational trajectory as soon as the global economy recovers.”

“We would like to thank our employees, who have done an outstanding job in keeping our operations running, while adhering to the Centers for Disease Control guidelines. We have taken extensive measures to protect the health and safety of our employees, including alternative work schedules and restricting visitors, while maintaining operations as a critical infrastructure business in the state of Alabama. We continue to regularly update our business continuity scenario planning on global steel production and met coal demand for various potential developments related to COVID-19 and will continue to adjust precautionary measures as necessary,” Mr. Scheller concluded.

Operating Results

The Company produced 2.1 million short tons of met coal in the first quarter of 2020 compared to 2.3 million short tons in the first quarter of 2019. Sales volume in the first quarter of 2020 was 1.8 million short tons compared to 2.1 million short tons in the first quarter of 2019. Inventory levels rose to 978 thousand short tons at the end of March 31, 2020 from 749 thousand short tons at the end of the fourth quarter of 2019.

Additional Financial Results

Total revenues were $226.7 million for the first quarter of 2020, including $221.3 million in mining revenues, which consisted of met coal sales of 1.8 million short tons at an average net selling price of $122.02 per short ton, net of demurrage and other charges. This compares to total revenues of $378.3 million in the first quarter of 2019. The average net selling price of the Company's met coal declined from $176.37 per short ton in the first quarter of 2019 to $122.02 per short ton in the first quarter of 2020. The Company sold its met coal in the first quarter of 2020 at 89% of the quarterly Australian premium low-volatility hard coking coal (“HCC”) Platts Premium LV FOB Australian Index (the "Platts Index”) price.

Cash cost of sales (including mining, transportation and royalty costs) for the first quarter of 2020 were $150.7 million, or 68.1% of mining revenues, compared to $181.9 million, or 49.2% of mining revenues in the same period of 2019. Cash cost of sales (free-on-board port) per short ton decreased to $83.07 in the first quarter of 2020 from $86.80 in the first quarter of 2019, reflecting Warrior's low and variable cost structure and focus on cost control during periods of depressed met coal prices.

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the first quarter of 2020 were $8.5 million, or 3.7% of total revenues. Depreciation and depletion costs for the first quarter of 2020 were $28.7 million, or 12.7% of total revenues. Warrior incurred net interest expense of $7.5 million during the first quarter of 2020.

Income tax expense was $3.2 million in the first quarter of 2020 and represents a noncash expense that reflects the utilization of the Company’s net operating losses (“NOLs”). This compares to income tax expense of $28.0 million in the first quarter of 2019. The Company expects to continue to utilize its NOLs and pay no cash taxes for the next several years, contingent upon met coal pricing and overall Company performance.

Cash Flow and Liquidity

The Company generated positive cash flows from operating activities in the first quarter of 2020 of $21.0 million, compared to $126.4 million in the first quarter of 2019. Capital expenditures and mine development costs for the first quarter of 2020 were $26.5 million. Free cash flow was negatively impacted during the first quarter of 2020 by the increase in net working capital.

Net working capital, excluding cash, for the first quarter of 2020 increased by $37.5 million from the fourth quarter of 2019, primarily reflecting an increase in accounts receivables and inventory partially offset by an increase in accrued expenses and accounts payable.

Cash flows provided by financing activities for the first quarter of 2020 were $62.6 million, primarily due to the $70.0 million drawdown under our Amended and Restated Asset-Based Revolving Credit Agreement (the "ABL Facility"), partially offset by principal repayments of capital lease obligations of $3.8 million, and the payment of dividends of $2.6 million.

The Company’s available liquidity as of March 31, 2020 was $302.8 million, consisting of cash and cash equivalents of $256.7 million and available liquidity under its ABL Facility of $46.1 million, net of outstanding letters of credit of $8.9 million. As previously disclosed, the Company borrowed $70.0 million under its ABL Facility on March 24, 2020 as a precautionary measure taken to reduce risk during these unprecedented times.

Capital Allocation

On April 24, 2020, the board of directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.05 per share, totaling approximately $2.6 million, which will be paid on May 11, 2020 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on May 5, 2020.

Company Outlook

In light of the uncertainties regarding the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic and its overall impact on the global economy and the Company's operations, the Company is withdrawing its full-year 2020 guidance issued on February 19, 2020 at this time. The Company is also appropriately adjusting its operational needs, including managing its expenses, capital expenditures, working capital, liquidity and cash flows. For example, as precautionary measures, the Company has delayed the budgeted $25.0 million development of the Blue Creek project until at least July 1, 2020 and has temporarily suspended its Stock Repurchase Program. The Company will continue to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its business for the remainder of the fiscal year and expects to provide further updates to its financial outlook and the development of the Blue Creek project during its second quarter earnings call to be held in late July 2020.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This release contains the use of certain non-GAAP financial measures. These non-GAAP financial measures are provided as supplemental information for financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. Management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide additional insights into the performance of the Company, and they reflect how management analyzes Company performance and compares that performance against other companies. These non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures used by other entities. The definition of these non-GAAP financial measures and a reconciliation of non-GAAP to GAAP financial measures is provided in the financial tables section of this release.

Conference Call

The Company will hold a conference call to discuss its first quarter 2020 results today, April 29, 2020, at 4:30 p.m. ET. To listen to the event, live or access an archived recording, please visit http://investors.warriormetcoal.com/. Analysts and investors who would like to participate in the conference call should dial 1-844-340-9047 (domestic) or 1-412-858-5206 (international) 10 minutes prior to the start time and reference the Warrior Met Coal conference call. Telephone playback will also be available from 6:30 p.m. ET April 29, 2020 until 6:30 p.m. ET on May 29, 2020. The replay will be available by calling: 1-877-344-7529 (domestic) or 1-412-317-0088 (international) and entering passcode 10140063.

About Warrior

Warrior is a U.S.-based, environmentally and socially minded supplier to the global steel industry. It is dedicated entirely to mining non-thermal met coal used as a critical component of steel production by metal manufacturers in Europe, South America and Asia. Warrior is a large-scale, low-cost producer and exporter of premium met coal, also known as hard-coking coal (HCC), operating highly efficient longwall operations in its underground mines based in Alabama. The HCC that Warrior produces from the Blue Creek coal seam contains very low sulfur, has strong coking properties and is of a similar quality to coal referred to as the premium HCC produced in Australia. The premium nature of Warrior’s HCC makes it ideally suited as a base feed coal for steel makers and results in price realizations near the Platts Index price. For more information, please visit www.warriormetcoal.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains, and the Company’s officers and representatives may from time to time make, forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements, including statements regarding 2020 guidance, the impact of COVID-19 on its business and that of its customers, sales and production growth, ability to maintain cost structure, demand, the future direction of prices, expected capital expenditures, future effective income tax rates and payment of cash taxes, if any. The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “intend,” “estimate,” “project,” “target,” “foresee,” “should,” “would,” “could,” “potential,” or “outlook,” “guidance” or other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. However, the absence of these words does not mean that the statements are not forward-looking. These forward-looking statements represent management’s good faith expectations, projections, guidance or beliefs concerning future events, and it is possible that the results described in this press release will not be achieved. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside of the Company’s control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, fluctuations or changes in the pricing or demand for the Company’s coal (or met coal generally) by the global steel industry; the impact of COVID-19 on its business and that of its customers, including the risk of a decline in demand for the Company's met coal due to the impact of COVID-19 on steel manufacturers, the inability of the Company to effectively operate its mines and the resulting decrease in production, the inability of the Company to ship its products to customers in the case of a partial or complete shut-down of the Port of Mobile; federal and state tax legislation; changes in interpretation or assumptions and/or updated regulatory guidance regarding the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017; legislation and regulations relating to the Clean Air Act and other environmental initiatives; regulatory requirements associated with federal, state and local regulatory agencies, and such agencies’ authority to order temporary or permanent closure of the Company’s mines; operational, logistical, geological, permit, license, labor and weather-related factors, including equipment, permitting, site access, operational risks and new technologies related to mining; the timing and impact of planned longwall moves; the Company’s obligations surrounding reclamation and mine closure; inaccuracies in the Company’s estimates of its met coal reserves; any projections or estimates regarding Blue Creek, including the expected returns from this project, if any, and the ability of Blue Creek to enhance the Company's portfolio of assets, the Company's expectations regarding its future tax rate as well as its ability to effectively utilize its NOLs to reduce or eliminate its cash taxes; the Company's ability to develop Blue Creek; the Company’s ability to develop or acquire met coal reserves in an economically feasible manner; significant cost increases and fluctuations, and delay in the delivery of raw materials, mining equipment and purchased components; competition and foreign currency fluctuations; fluctuations in the amount of cash the Company generates from operations, including cash necessary to pay any special or quarterly dividend; the Company’s ability to comply with covenants in its ABL Facility or indenture relating to its senior secured notes; integration of businesses that the Company may acquire in the future; adequate liquidity and the cost, availability and access to capital and financial markets; failure to obtain or renew surety bonds on acceptable terms, which could affect the Company’s ability to secure reclamation and coal lease obligations; costs associated with litigation, including claims not yet asserted; and other factors described in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and other reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), which could cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. The Company’s filings with the SEC are available on its website at www.warriormetcoal.com and on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.

Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and, except as required by law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company to predict all such factors.

WARRIOR MET COAL, INC.

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

($ in thousands, except per share)

(Unaudited)

 

 

For the three months ended March 31,

 

2020

 

2019

Revenues:

 

 

 

Sales

$

221,338

 

 

$

369,681

 

Other revenues

5,382

 

 

8,609

 

Total revenues

226,720

 

 

378,290

 

Costs and expenses:

 

 

 

Cost of sales (exclusive of items shown separately below)

151,514

 

 

182,628

 

Cost of other revenues (exclusive of items shown separately below)

7,561

 

 

7,745

 

Depreciation and depletion

28,692

 

 

22,233

 

Selling, general and administrative

8,456

 

 

8,905

 

Total costs and expenses

196,223

 

 

221,511

 

Operating income

30,497

 

 

156,779

 

Interest expense, net

(7,533

)

 

(8,592

)

Loss on early extinguishment of debt

 

 

(9,756

)

Other income

1,822

 

 

 

Income before income tax expense

24,786

 

 

138,431

 

Income tax expense

3,241

 

 

27,984

 

Net income

$

21,545

 

 

$

110,447

 

Basic and diluted net income per share:

 

 

 

Net income per share—basic

$

0.42

 

 

$

2.14

 

Net income per share—diluted

$

0.42

 

 

$

2.14

 

Weighted average number of shares outstanding—basic

51,106

 

 

51,511

 

Weighted average number of shares outstanding—diluted

51,273

 

 

51,630

 

Dividends per share:

$

0.05

 

 

$

0.05

 

 

WARRIOR MET COAL, INC.

QUARTERLY SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL DATA AND RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

(Unaudited)

 

QUARTERLY SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL DATA:

 

For the three months ended March 31,

(short tons in thousands)(1)

2020

 

2019

Tons sold

1,814

 

 

2,096

 

Tons produced

2,099

 

 

2,298

 

Gross price realization (2)

89

%

 

98

%

Average net selling price

$

122.02

 

 

$

176.37

 

Cash cost of sales (free on board port) per short ton (3)

$

83.07

 

 

$

86.80

 

 

(1) 1 short ton is equivalent to 0.907185 metric tons.

(2) For the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, our gross price realization represents a volume weighted-average calculation of our daily realized price per ton based on gross sales, which excludes demurrage and other charges, as a percentage of the Platts Index.

RECONCILIATION OF CASH COST OF SALES (FREE-ON-BOARD PORT) TO COST OF SALES REPORTED UNDER U.S. GAAP:

(in thousands)

For the three months ended March 31,

 

2020

 

2019

Cost of sales

$

151,514

 

 

$

182,628

 

Asset retirement obligation

(369

)

 

(373

)

Stock compensation expense

(449

)

 

(319

)

Cash cost of sales (free-on-board port)(3)

$

150,696

 

 

$

181,936

 

(3) Cash cost of sales (free-on-board port) is based on reported cost of sales and includes items such as freight, royalties, labor, fuel and other similar production and sales cost items, and may be adjusted for other items that, pursuant to GAAP, are classified in the Condensed Statements of Operations as costs other than cost of sales, but relate directly to the costs incurred to produce met coal. Our cash cost of sales per short ton is calculated as cash cost of sales divided by the short tons sold. Cash cost of sales per short ton is a non-GAAP financial measure which is not calculated in conformity with U.S. GAAP and should be considered supplemental to, and not as a substitute or superior to financial measures calculated in conformity with GAAP. We believe cash cost of sales per ton is a useful measure of performance and we believe it aids some investors and analysts in comparing us against other companies to help analyze our current and future potential performance. Cash cost of sales per ton may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.

WARRIOR MET COAL, INC.

QUARTERLY SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL DATA AND RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (CONTINUED)

(Unaudited)

 

RECONCILIATION OF ADJUSTED EBITDA TO AMOUNTS REPORTED UNDER U.S. GAAP:

 

For the three months ended March 31,

(in thousands)

2020

 

2019

Net income

$

21,545

 

 

$

110,447

 

Interest expense, net

7,533

 

 

8,592

 

Income tax expense

3,241

 

 

27,984

 

Depreciation and depletion

28,692

 

 

22,233

 

Asset retirement obligation accretion

733

 

 

812

 

Stock compensation expense

1,733

 

 

1,194

 

Loss on early extinguishment of debt

 

 

9,756

 

Other income

(1,822

)

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA (4)

$

61,655

 

 

$

181,018

 

Adjusted EBITDA margin (5)

27.2

%

 

47.9

%

(4) Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income before net interest expense (benefit), income tax expense, depreciation and depletion, non-cash asset retirement obligation accretion and valuation adjustment, non-cash stock compensation expense, loss on early extinguishment of debt and other income. Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance in accordance with GAAP, and we believe items excluded from Adjusted EBITDA are significant to a reader in understanding and assessing our financial condition. Therefore, Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered in isolation, nor as an alternative to net income, income from operations, cash flows from operations or as a measure of our profitability, liquidity or performance under GAAP. We believe that Adjusted EBITDA presents a useful measure of our ability to incur and service debt based on ongoing operations. Furthermore, analogous measures are used by industry analysts to evaluate our operating performance. Investors should be aware that our presentation of Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.

(5) Adjusted EBITDA margin is defined as Adjusted EBITDA divided by total revenues.

RECONCILIATION OF ADJUSTED NET INCOME TO AMOUNTS REPORTED UNDER U.S. GAAP:

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

For the three months ended March 31,

 

2020

 

2019

Net income

$

21,545

 

 

$

110,447

 

Loss on early extinguishment of debt, net of tax

 

 

7,784

 

Other income, net of tax

(1,584

)

 

 

Adjusted net income(6)

$

19,961

 

 

$

118,231

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average number of basic shares outstanding

51,106

 

 

51,511

 

Weighted average number of diluted shares outstanding

51,273

 

 

51,630

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted basic net income per share:

$

0.39

 

 

$

2.30

 

Adjusted diluted net income per share:

$

0.39

 

 

$

2.30

 

(6) Adjusted net income is defined as net income net of loss on early extinguishment of debt, net of tax and other income, net of tax (based on each respective period's effective tax rate). Adjusted net income is not a measure of financial performance in accordance with GAAP, and we believe items excluded from adjusted net income are significant to the reader in understanding and assessing our results of operations. Therefore, adjusted net income should not be considered in isolation, nor as an alternative to net income under GAAP. We believe adjusted net income is a useful measure of performance and we believe it aids some investors and analysts in comparing us against other companies to help analyze our current and future potential performance. Adjusted net income may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.

WARRIOR MET COAL, INC.

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

($ in thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

For the three months ended March 31,

 

2020

 

2019

OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

Net income

$

21,545

 

 

$

110,447

 

Non-cash adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities

34,785

 

 

62,360

 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

Trade accounts receivable

(32,055

)

 

(44,329

)

Income tax receivable

 

 

297

 

Inventories

(17,326

)

 

(10,823

)

Prepaid expenses and other receivables

(235

)

 

10,167

 

Accounts payable

15,614

 

 

10,640

 

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

(3,538

)

 

(15,133

)

Other

2,232

 

 

2,782

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

21,022

 

 

126,408

 

INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

Purchases of property, plant, and equipment, and other

(22,775

)

 

(24,161

)

Mine development costs

(3,677

)

 

(5,578

)

Other

6,233

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

(20,219

)

 

(29,739

)

FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

62,557

 

 

(147,332

)

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash

63,360

 

 

(50,663

)

Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period

193,383

 

 

206,405

 

Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period

$

256,743

 

 

$

155,742

 

RECONCILIATION OF FREE CASH FLOW TO AMOUNTS REPORTED UNDER U.S. GAAP:

(in thousands)

For the three months ended March 31,

 

2020

 

2019

Net cash provided by operating activities

$

21,022

 

 

$

126,408

 

Purchases of property, plant and equipment and mine development costs

(26,452

)

 

(29,973

)

Free cash flow (7)

$

(5,430

)

 

$

96,435

 

Free cash flow conversion (8)

(8.8

)%

 

53.3

%

(7) Free cash flow is defined as net cash provided by operating activities less purchases of property, plant and equipment and mine development costs. Free cash flow is not a measure of financial performance in accordance with GAAP, and we believe items excluded from net cash provided by operating activities are significant to the reader in understanding and assessing our results of operations. Therefore, free cash flow should not be considered in isolation, nor as an alternative to net cash provided by operating activities under GAAP. We believe free cash flow is a useful measure of performance and we believe it aids some investors and analysts in comparing us against other companies to help analyze our current and future potential performance. Free cash flow may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.

(8) Free cash flow conversion is defined as free cash flow divided by Adjusted EBITDA.

WARRIOR MET COAL, INC.

CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

($ in thousands)

 

 

 

March 31,
2020 (Unaudited)

 

December 31,
2019

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

256,743

 

 

$

193,383

 

Short-term investments

 

8,500

 

 

14,675

 

Trade accounts receivable

 

131,526

 

 

99,471

 

Income tax receivable

 

24,274

 

 

12,925

 

Inventories, net

 

117,563

 

 

97,901

 

Prepaid expenses and other receivables

 

25,925

 

 

25,691

 

Total current assets

 

564,531

 

 

444,046

 

Mineral interests, net

 

107,432

 

 

110,130

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

598,622

 

 

606,200

 

Deferred income taxes

 

151,021

 

 

154,297

 

Non-current income tax receivable

 

 

 

11,349

 

Other long-term assets

 

17,568

 

 

18,242

 

Total assets

 

$

1,439,174

 

 

$

1,344,264

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

54,620

 

 

$

46,436

 

Accrued expenses

 

63,476

 

 

65,755

 

Short term financing lease liabilities

 

8,022

 

 

10,146

 

Other current liabilities

 

6,608

 

 

6,615

 

Total current liabilities

 

132,726

 

 

128,952

 

Long-term debt

 

409,363

 

 

339,189

 

Asset retirement obligations

 

54,307

 

 

53,583

 

Long term financing lease liabilities

 

26,106

 

 

25,528

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

31,550

 

 

31,430

 

Total liabilities

 

654,052

 

 

578,682

 

Stockholders’ Equity:

 

 

 

 

Common stock, $0.01 par value per share (Authorized -140,000,000 shares as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, 53,387,591 issued and 51,165,750 outstanding as of March 31, 2020 and 53,293,449 issued and 51,071,608 outstanding as of December 31, 2019)

 

533

 

 

533

 

Preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share (10,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding)

 

 

 

 

Treasury stock, at cost (2,221,841 shares as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019)

 

(50,576

)

 

(50,576

)

Additional paid in capital

 

244,525

 

 

243,932

 

Retained earnings

 

590,640

 

 

571,693

 

Total stockholders’ equity

 

785,122

 

 

765,582

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

 

$

1,439,174

 

 

$

1,344,264

 

 

For Investors:

Dale W. Boyles, 205-554-6129

[email protected]

For Media:

Jason Houston, 205-554-6228

[email protected]

Source: Warrior Met Coal, Inc.