Alpha Announces Second Quarter 2021 Results

BRISTOL, Tenn., Aug. 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Alpha Metallurgical Resources, Inc. (NYSE: AMR), a leading U.S. supplier of metallurgical products for the steel industry, today reported results for the second quarter ending June 30, 2021.

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^1. These are non-GAAP financial measures. A reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA is included in tables accompanying the financial schedules.
^2. From continuing operations.
^3. Includes discontinued operations.

"This has been a very challenging year for the coal industry, whether dealing with the pandemic or navigating the disruption of the coal supply resulting from the dispute between Australia and China; however, our team at Alpha stayed focused and disciplined. While we didn't have any greater insights or vision into the markets than others as we started the year, we believed that if we continued our efforts to modernize our coal operations with newer and more efficient mines, streamline decision making and allocate capital for projects that support our diversified product offerings to meet customer demands, we would be rewarded for those efforts when the markets rebounded," said David Stetson, Alpha's chair and chief executive officer. "As we look to the back half of the year and into the promising 2022 markets, we think those efforts are beginning to pay off.  The capital investments we made over the past several years have matured, and the diversity of our product offerings continues to provide us with optionality in the marketplace, where demand remains high. With increased pricing and strong margins, we plan to build our cash balance and take aggressive steps to pay down our existing debt."

Financial Performance

Alpha reported a net loss from continuing operations of $18.6 million, or $1.01 per diluted share, for the second quarter 2021. In the first quarter 2021, the company had a net loss from continuing operations of $32.7 million or $1.78 per diluted share.

Total Adjusted EBITDA was $39.9 million for the second quarter, compared with $28.9 million in the first quarter 2021.

Coal Revenues

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^1. Represents Non-GAAP coal revenues which is defined and reconciled under "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and "Results of Operations."

Coal Sales Realization⁽¹⁾

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^1. Represents Non-GAAP coal sales realization which is defined and reconciled under "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and "Results of Operations."

In the second quarter our net realized pricing for the Met segment was $83.38, however, our export sales into markets not tied to Australian indices averaged $101.80 per ton for the quarter. "Alpha has long standing contractual arrangements that have historically provided us with excellent margins and access to the one of the fastest growing markets for Met coal. Those arrangements are tied to Australian indices, which resulted in net realizations of $67.77 in the second quarter, weighing down our overall net realizations," Andy Eidson, Alpha's president and chief financial officer, said. "It is important to note that the Australian premium hard coking coal index has increased nearly 60% from the average during the second quarter, with the current pricing of approximately $215 per metric ton bringing it in line with Atlantic Basin pricing. Approximately 21% of our met production at the midpoint of full-year guidance is unpriced and should benefit from this improved pricing environment in the back half of the year."

The table below provides a breakdown of our Met segment coal sold in the second quarter by pricing mechanism, illustrating the contrast between Australian and Atlantic pricing found in the average realization for the quarter.

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^1. Represents Non-GAAP coal sales realization which is defined and reconciled under "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and "Results of Operations."

Cost of Coal Sales

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^1. Represents Non-GAAP cost of coal sales per ton which is defined and reconciled under "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and "Results of Operations."

"The transition from higher cost and lower efficiency mines to our new mines such as Road Fork 52 and Lynn Branch enabled us to maintain our costs near the lower end of guidance," said Jason Whitehead, executive vice president and chief operating officer. In the second quarter, the company's Met segment cost of coal sales improved to an average of $69.94 per ton, down from $71.72 in the prior quarter.

Cost of coal sales for the All Other category dropped slightly as well to $42.77 in the second quarter as compared to an average cost of $43.05 in the first quarter.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

"Alpha posted another solid quarter of financial performance, especially in light of the lingering headwinds from the weak Australian indices that limited our overall realizations for the period," said Eidson. "While our cash balance decreased during the quarter due primarily to inventory build, our total liquidity increased by $24 million."

"Subsequent to the quarter end, we made a $21 million payment to eliminate the West Virginia Lexington Coal Company (LCC) note a year ahead of schedule and, after the negotiated return of $14 million of related surety collateral, at a lower net cash outflow than was previously expected. This early extinguishment of a legacy liability is further evidence of our commitment to strategically reducing debt and strengthening the company's balance sheet," Eidson said. 

Cash used in operating activities for the second quarter of 2021 was $6.3 million, compared to the prior period in which cash used in operating activities was $19.1 million. Cash used in operating activities includes discontinued operations. Second quarter 2021 capital expenditures were $17.6 million compared to $20.4 million in capital expenditures for first quarter.  

As of June 30, 2021, Alpha had $72.3 million in unrestricted cash and $134.8 million in restricted cash, deposits and investments. Total long-term debt, including the current portion of long-term debt as of June 30, 2021, was $579.7 million. At the end of the second quarter, the company had total liquidity of $132.3 million, which represents an increase of over 20% compared to our total liquidity at the end of the first quarter, including cash and cash equivalents of $72.3 million and $60.0 million in unused availability under the Asset-Based Revolving Credit Facility (ABL). The future available capacity under the ABL is subject to inventory and accounts receivable collateral requirements and the maintenance of certain financial ratios. As of June 30, 2021, the company had no borrowings and $128.8 million in letters of credit outstanding under the ABL. 

Operational Update

As part of Alpha's ongoing portfolio optimization efforts, the company is adding a fourth section at the Road Fork 52 mine, increasing its potential production of Low Volatile coal at a mine that has exceeded productivity expectations since its inception. Developing the fourth section at Road Fork 52 will require a modest amount of capital for the 2021 year, and we are raising our capital expenditures guidance as a result. Given the current market landscape and the tightness of existing coal supply, we believe this is a beneficial investment to bring additional incremental tonnage online before the end of the calendar year. 

The company is considering other potential bolt-on or development projects for the near term, all of which would require modest projected capital expenditures. More information will be provided if these projects advance.

"On the whole, our mines performed well in the second quarter, reducing Met segment cost of sales by nearly $2 per ton and continuing robust production levels, leading us to slightly increase production guidance for the full year," said Whitehead. "In addition to maintaining strong operational fundamentals, we continually look for opportunities to incrementally add value or improve our existing processes. In our view, the fourth section at Road Fork is not only a prudent use of capital with a payback expected in less than six months, but also it enables us to put some extra Alpha tons into a tight market."

2021 Full-Year Guidance Adjustments

The company is increasing its 2021 operating guidance with coal shipments now expected to be in the range of 15.6 million tons to 17.5 million tons, up from the prior range of 14.8 million to 16.2 million tons. Met segment volume is expected to be between 14.3 million to 15.8 million tons, up from the prior range of 13.5 million to 14.5 million tons. Within the Met segment, pure metallurgical coal shipments for the year are expected to be between 13.0 million to 14.0 million tons, up from the prior range of 12.5 million to 13.0 million tons, and incidental thermal shipments in this segment are expected to be between 1.3 million to 1.8 million tons, up from the prior range of 1.0 million to 1.5 million tons. Our volume expectations for the All Other category remain unchanged at the previously issued guidance range of 1.3 million tons to 1.7 million tons.

For 2021, Alpha has committed and priced approximately 79% of its metallurgical coal within the Met segment at an average price of $89.78 per ton and 98% of thermal coal in the Met segment at an average expected price of $52.68 per ton. In the All Other category the company is fully committed and priced at an average price of $59.66 per ton.

The company's 2021 Met segment cost of coal sales per ton remains unchanged and is expected to be between $68.00 and $74.00 and our All Other category is expected to be in the range of $45.00 to $49.00 per ton.

The company is updating its SG&A guidance from the prior range of $44 million to $49 million to a new range of $48 million to $52 million, excluding non-recurring expenses and non-cash stock compensation, reflecting a market-driven increase in accrued incentive compensation. Our overall 2021 capital expenditures guidance is also being updated from the prior range of $75 million to $95 million to a new range of $88 million to $98 million because of the Road Fork 52 expansion. Depreciation, depletion and amortization guidance is expected to be between $125 million and $145 million for the year. Cash interest expense guidance is unchanged in the range of $51 million and $55 million.

Notes:   

Conference Call

The company plans to hold a conference call regarding its second quarter 2021 results on August 6, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time. The conference call will be available live on the investor section of the company's website at https://investors.alphametresources.com/investors. Analysts who would like to participate in the conference call should dial 866-235-9918 (domestic toll-free) or 412-542-4110 (international) approximately 15 minutes prior to the start of the call.

About Alpha Metallurgical Resources

Alpha Metallurgical Resources (NYSE: AMR) is a Tennessee-based mining company with operations across Virginia and West Virginia. With customers across the globe, high-quality reserves and significant port capacity, Alpha reliably supplies metallurgical products to the steel industry. For more information, visit www.AlphaMetResources.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on Alpha's expectations and beliefs concerning future events and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations. These factors are difficult to predict accurately and may be beyond Alpha's control. Forward-looking statements in this news release or elsewhere speak only as of the date made. New uncertainties and risks arise from time to time, and it is impossible for Alpha to predict these events or how they may affect Alpha. Except as required by law, Alpha has no duty to, and does not intend to, update or revise the forward-looking statements in this news release or elsewhere after the date this release is issued. In light of these risks and uncertainties, investors should keep in mind that results, events or developments discussed in any forward-looking statement made in this news release may not occur. 

Investor Contact
InvestorRelations@AlphaMetResources.com 

Alex Rotonen, CFA
423.956.6882

Media Contact
CorporateCommunications@AlphaMetResources.com 

Emily O'Quinn
423.573.0369

FINANCIAL TABLES FOLLOW

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The discussion below contains "non-GAAP financial measures." These are financial measures which either exclude or include amounts that are not excluded or included in the most directly comparable measures calculated and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("U.S. GAAP" or "GAAP"). Specifically, we make use of the non-GAAP financial measures "Adjusted EBITDA," "non-GAAP coal revenues," "non-GAAP cost of coal sales," "non-GAAP coal margin," and "Adjusted cost of produced coal sold." We use Adjusted EBITDA to measure the operating performance of our segments and allocate resources to the segments. Adjusted EBITDA does not purport to be an alternative to net income (loss) as a measure of operating performance or any other measure of operating results or liquidity presented in accordance with GAAP. We use non-GAAP coal revenues to present coal revenues generated, excluding freight and handling fulfillment revenues. Non-GAAP coal sales realization per ton for our operations is calculated as non-GAAP coal revenues divided by tons sold. We use non-GAAP cost of coal sales to adjust cost of coal sales to remove freight and handling costs, depreciation, depletion and amortization - production (excluding the depreciation, depletion and amortization related to selling, general and administrative functions), accretion on asset retirement obligations, amortization of acquired intangibles, net, and idled and closed mine costs. Non-GAAP cost of coal sales per ton for our operations is calculated as non-GAAP cost of coal sales divided by tons sold. Non-GAAP coal margin per ton for our coal operations is calculated as non-GAAP coal sales realization per ton for our coal operations less non-GAAP cost of coal sales per ton for our coal operations. We also use Adjusted cost of produced coal sold to distinguish the cost of captive produced coal from the effects of purchased coal. The presentation of these measures should not be considered in isolation, or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP.

Management uses non-GAAP financial measures to supplement GAAP results to provide a more complete understanding of the factors and trends affecting the business than GAAP results alone. The definition of these non-GAAP measures may be changed periodically by management to adjust for significant items important to an understanding of operating trends and to adjust for items that may not reflect the trend of future results by excluding transactions that are not indicative of our core operating performance. Furthermore, analogous measures are used by industry analysts to evaluate the Company's operating performance. Because not all companies use identical calculations, the presentations of these measures may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies and can differ significantly from company to company depending on long-term strategic decisions regarding capital structure, the tax jurisdictions in which companies operate, and capital investments.

Included below are reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures to GAAP financial measures.

The following table provides a reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash reported within the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets that sum to the total of the same such amounts shown in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

⁽¹⁾ Asset impairment and restructuring for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and the six months ended June 30, 2021 was primarily comprised of a credit to restructuring expense as a result of the strategic actions announced during the second quarter of 2020 and subsequent changes to severance and employee-related benefits. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, asset impairment and restructuring charges were recorded as a result of weakening coal market conditions and the strategic actions with respect to two thermal coal mining complexes. 
⁽²⁾ Management restructuring costs are related to severance expense associated with senior management changes during the three months ended March 31, 2020.

⁽¹⁾ Depreciation, depletion and amortization - production excludes the depreciation, depletion and amortization related to selling, general and administrative functions.

⁽¹⁾ Depreciation, depletion and amortization - production excludes the depreciation, depletion and amortization related to selling, general and administrative functions.

⁽¹⁾ Depreciation, depletion and amortization - production excludes the depreciation, depletion and amortization related to selling, general and administrative functions.

⁽¹⁾ Depreciation, depletion and amortization - production excludes the depreciation, depletion and amortization related to selling, general and administrative functions.

⁽¹⁾ Depreciation, depletion and amortization - production excludes the depreciation, depletion and amortization related to selling, general and administrative functions.

⁽¹⁾ Depreciation, depletion and amortization - production excludes the depreciation, depletion and amortization related to selling, general and administrative functions.

⁽¹⁾ Depreciation, depletion and amortization - production excludes the depreciation, depletion and amortization related to selling, general and administrative functions.