STLD Steel Dynamics Inc

FORT WAYNE, Ind., July 18, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Steel Dynamics, Inc. (NASDAQ/GS: STLD) today announced second quarter 2016 net income of $142 million, or $0.58 per diluted share, on net sales of $2.0 billion.  Comparatively, prior year second quarter net sales were $2.0 billion, with adjusted net income of $53 million, or $0.22 per diluted share, which excludes certain non-cash inventory valuation adjustments and other costs primarily related to idling the company's Minnesota Operations.  Sequential first quarter 2016 net sales were $1.7 billion, with net income of $63 million, or $0.26 per diluted share.

"During the second quarter 2016, continued positive momentum in the flat roll steel supply environment resulted in significantly improved sequential consolidated operating earnings, which increased over 94 percent to $256 million, " said Mark D. Millett, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Year-over-year first half flat roll steel import levels have declined approximately 25 percent and customer inventory levels are balanced with current demand requirements, supporting higher domestic flat roll steel mill utilization.  The domestic steel demand outlook is relatively unchanged and steady, with the heavy equipment, agricultural and energy markets remaining weak, while automotive and construction continues to be strong.

"We also saw improved volumes and profitability in our metals recycling platform for the second quarter 2016," continued Millett. "Ferrous scrap demand improved, resulting in both higher volumes and expanded metal spread through price increases.  Earnings from our fabrication operations declined in the quarter, due to increased steel costs and lower selling values.  However, we continue to experience steady demand from the non-residential construction sector.  Our cash generation continues to be strong, resulting in record liquidity of over $2.2 billion at the end of June 2016, providing a firm foundation for growth."

Additional Second Quarter 2016 Comments

Second quarter 2016 operating income for the company's steel operations increased 104 percent to $277 million sequentially, based on improved metal spread and a nine percent improvement in shipments as volumes increased at all of the company's steel locations, except the Engineered Bar Products Division, which continues to experience a challenging demand environment.   The company's average steel product price increased more than consumed raw material scrap costs, resulting in steel metal spread expansion.  The second quarter 2016 average product selling price for the company's steel operations increased $66 to $640 per ton.  The average ferrous scrap cost per ton melted increased $43 to $227 per ton. 

Second quarter 2016 operating income attributable to the company's sheet products increased 159 percent when compared to the sequential first quarter.  The company's flat roll shipments increased eight percent, and metal spread also expanded, as price improvements outpaced increased scrap costs.  Operating income from long products increased 25 percent, as shipments improved 14 percent, more than offsetting metal spread compression related to generally flat average product pricing coupled with increased scrap costs.  The company's steel production utilization rate was 95 percent in the second quarter 2016, compared to 88 percent in the sequential quarter and compared to the domestic industry utilization rate of less than 75 percent.    

The company's metals recycling operations achieved a meaningful improvement in profitability based on a 30% improvement in ferrous metal margin, combined with increased shipments.  Second quarter 2016 operating income from the metals recycling operations was $15 million, compared to $6 million in the sequential quarter. Ferrous scrap demand and pricing improved due to increased domestic steel mill utilization. 

The company's fabrication operations achieved second quarter 2016 operating income of $24 million, compared to $32 million in the sequential first quarter.  Shipments were relatively flat in the quarter; however, as predicted, metal spread compression occurred as product pricing declined and raw material steel costs continued to increase. 

Year-to-Date June 30, 2016 Comparison

For the six months ended June 30, 2016, net income was $205 million, or $0.84 per diluted share, on net sales of $3.8 billion, as compared to adjusted net income of $84 million, or $0.35 per diluted share, on net sales of $4.1 billion for the six months ended June 30, 2015.  First half 2016 shipments improved for each of the company's operating platforms; however, same period consolidated net sales decreased seven percent, as a result of decreased steel and metals recycling selling values.  First half 2016 consolidated operating income increased $168 million, or 76 percent, based primarily on improved earnings from the company's steel operations. The average year-to-date selling price for the company's steel operations decreased $101 to $608 per ton.  The average year-to-date ferrous scrap cost per ton melted decreased $74 to $206 per ton. 

The company generated strong cash flow from operations of $447 million during the first half of 2016, with relatively flat working capital requirements.  Including its undrawn revolver and available cash of $1.1 billion, the company achieved record liquidity of over $2.2 billion at June 30, 2016.   

Outlook   

"Steel customer inventory levels have moderated and import levels have declined," said Millett.  "When combined with steady underlying demand, the result has been an improvement in domestic flat roll steel producer utilization, and we anticipate improved flat roll metal spreads in the third quarter 2016.  The successful market and product diversification that we achieved at Columbus during 2015 is one of our key differentiators for anticipated improved annual profitability in 2016.  As an example, Columbus achieved a record six month production level in the first half 2016, while continuing to improve and diversify its value-added production capability. 

"However, aside from the construction sector, long product steel demand is generally challenged, and selling values are under pressure from excess domestic production capability.  The robust increase in second quarter 2016 long product group shipments was due, in part, to customers buying ahead of the significant scrap cost increase in May.  While we also anticipate metal spread expansion for our long products group in the third quarter 2016, lower shipments related to the customers buying ahead could offset related margin gain. 

"We continue to strengthen our financial position through strong cash flow generation and the execution of our long-term strategy.  We are well-positioned for growth.  Customer focus, coupled with our market diversification and low-cost operating platforms, support our ability to maintain our best-in-class industry performance. We believe we are uniquely poised to capitalize on growth opportunities that will benefit our customers, shareholders, employees and communities."

Supplemental Information

Conference Call and Webcast

Steel Dynamics, Inc. will hold a conference call to discuss second quarter 2016 operating and financial results on Tuesday, July 19, 2016, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time.  You may access the call and find dial-in information on the Investors section of the company's website at www.steeldynamics.com.  A replay of the call will be available on our website until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on July 24, 2016.

About Steel Dynamics, Inc.

Steel Dynamics, Inc. is one of the largest domestic steel producers and metals recyclers in the United States based on estimated annual steelmaking and metals recycling capability, with annual sales of $7.6 billion in 2015, approximately 7,500 employees, and manufacturing facilities primarily located throughout the United States (including six electric-arc-furnace steel mills, ten steel coating lines, an iron production facility, approximately 75 metals recycling locations and eight steel fabrication plants).

Note Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The company reports its financial results in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Management believes that Adjusted Operating Income, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, non-GAAP financial measures, provide additional meaningful information regarding the company's performance and financial strength. Non-GAAP financial measures should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternative for, the company's reported results prepared in accordance with GAAP.  In addition, because not all companies use identical calculations, EBITDA included in this release may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.

 Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains some predictive statements about future events, including statements related to conditions in the steel and metallic scrap markets, Steel Dynamics' revenues, costs of purchased materials, future profitability and earnings, and the operation of new or existing facilities. These statements, which we generally precede or accompany by such typical conditional words as "anticipate," "intend," "believe," "estimate," "plan," "seek," "project" or "expect," or by the words "may," "will," or "should," are intended to be made as "forward-looking," subject to many risks and uncertainties, within the safe harbor protections of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements speak only as of this date and are based upon information and assumptions, which we consider reasonable as of this date, concerning our businesses and the environments in which they operate. Such predictive statements are not guarantees of future performance, and we undertake no duty to update or revise any such statements. Some factors that could cause such forward-looking statements to turn out differently than anticipated include: (1) the effects of uncertain economic conditions; (2) cyclical and changing industrial demand; (3) changes in conditions in any of the steel or scrap-consuming sectors of the economy which affect demand for our products, including the strength of the non-residential and residential construction, automotive, appliance, pipe and tube, and other steel-consuming industries; (4) fluctuations in the cost of key raw materials (including steel scrap, iron units, and energy costs) and our ability to pass-on any cost increases; (5) the impact of domestic and foreign import price competition; (6) unanticipated difficulties in integrating or starting up new or acquired businesses; (7) risks and uncertainties involving product and/or technology development; and (8) occurrences of unexpected plant outages or equipment failures.

More specifically, we refer you to Steel Dynamics' more detailed explanation of these and other factors and risks that may cause such predictive statements to turn out differently, as set forth in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K under the headings Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Risk Factors, in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q or in other reports which we from time to time file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These are available publicly on the SEC website, www.sec.gov, and on the Steel Dynamics website, www.steeldynamics.com.

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SOURCE Steel Dynamics, Inc.