Alcoa Corporation Reports Second Quarter 2024 Results

Business Wire 17-Jul-2024 4:10 PM

Alcoa Corporation (NYSE:AA) today reported results for the second quarter 2024 consistent with the Company's previously announced preliminary results that reflect sequential increases in revenue, net income, adjusted net income and Adjusted EBITDA excluding special items on higher alumina and aluminum prices, along with continued progress on profitability improvement programs.

Financial Results and Highlights

• Revenue increased 12 percent sequentially to $2.9 billion, on higher alumina and aluminum prices
• Net income increased sequentially to $20 million, or $0.11 per share
• Adjusted net income increased to $30 million, or $0.16 per share
• Adjusted EBITDA excluding special items increased sequentially to $325 million
• Alumina Limited acquisition expected to close on or about August 1, 2024
• Completed the full curtailment of Kwinana refinery in Australia
• Paid quarterly cash dividend of $0.10 per share of common stock, totaling $18 million
• Finished the second quarter 2024 with cash balance of $1.4 billion

"It was another fast-paced quarter at Alcoa as we approach the closing of the acquisition of Alumina Limited and continue to execute initiatives to further enhance our operations," said Alcoa President and CEO William F. Oplinger. "Our continuous improvement focus remains high and, along with positive markets, led to stronger results for the second quarter."

Second Quarter 2024 Results

• Production: Alumina production decreased 5 percent sequentially to 2.53 million metric tons primarily due to the full curtailment of the Kwinana refinery completed in June 2024. In the Aluminum segment, Alcoa produced 543,000 metric tons, demonstrating a seventh consecutive quarter of increased aluminum production.
• Shipments: In the Alumina segment, third-party shipments of alumina decreased 5 percent sequentially primarily due to the full curtailment of the Kwinana refinery. In Aluminum, total shipments increased 7 percent sequentially primarily due to the timing of shipments and the restart of one potline at Warrick Operations in the first quarter 2024.
• Revenue: The Company's total third-party revenue of $2.9 billion increased 12 percent sequentially. In the Alumina segment, third-party revenue increased 5 percent on a 7 percent increase in average realized third-party price, partially offset by lower shipments. In the Aluminum segment, third-party revenue increased 16 percent on a 9 percent increase in average realized third-party price and increased shipments.
• Net income attributable to Alcoa Corporation was $20 million, or $0.11 per share. Sequentially, the results reflect higher average realized third-party prices for alumina and aluminum and lower production and raw material costs, partially offset by higher energy costs and higher interest expense. Additionally, the results reflect the non-recurrence of a $197 million charge in the first quarter 2024 related to the full curtailment of the Kwinana refinery.
• Adjusted net income was $30 million, or $0.16 per share, excluding the impact from net special items of $10 million. Notable special items include a mark-to-market gain of $26 million related to energy contracts, which was more than offset by restructuring related charges of $18 million and the tax and noncontrolling interest impact of these items.
• Adjusted EBITDA excluding special items was $325 million, a sequential increase of $193 million primarily due to higher average realized third-party prices for alumina and aluminum and lower production and raw material costs, partially offset by higher energy costs.
• Cash: Alcoa ended the quarter with a cash balance of $1.4 billion. Cash provided from operations was $287 million. Cash used for financing activities was $75 million primarily related to $21 million of net payments on short-term borrowings, $22 million in net distributions to noncontrolling interest and $18 million in cash dividends on common stock. Cash used for investing activities was $164 million due to capital expenditures of $164 million. Free cash flow was $123 million.
• Working capital: For the second quarter, Receivables from customers of $0.9 billion, Inventories of $2.0 billion and Accounts payable, trade of $1.6 billion comprised DWC working capital. Alcoa reported 41 days working capital, a sequential decrease of six days primarily due to a decrease in inventory days, partially offset by a decrease in accounts payable days both on higher sales and favorable changes in balances in the second quarter.

Key Actions

• Acquisition of Alumina Limited: Alcoa expects its acquisition of Alumina Limited to be completed on or about August 1, 2024, subject to approval of the transaction by the shareholders of Alumina Limited. On July 17, 2024, Alcoa announced voting results of its Special Meeting of Stockholders, at which its stockholders approved the issuance of Alcoa shares for the transaction. All required regulatory approvals for the transaction have been received after the Australian Foreign Investment Review Board approved the transaction on June 13, 2024. On June 11, 2024, Alcoa announced it had reached several other key milestones for the transaction.
• ELYSIS^TM: On June 28, 2024, the Company announced further progress on ELYSIS technology with Rio Tinto's plans to launch the first industrial-scale demonstration of the breakthrough technology.
• San Ciprián complex: During the second quarter 2024, Alcoa continued to work to find competitive energy solutions for both the San Ciprián refinery and smelter, while progressing the process for the potential sale of the complex. Both alumina and aluminum prices improved during the second quarter, and based on current economic conditions, Alcoa anticipates that available funding will be exhausted by the end of 2024.
• Kwinana refinery: The Company completed the full curtailment of the Kwinana refinery in Australia in June 2024, as planned.
• Profitability improvement programs: In January 2024, the Company shared a series of actions to improve its profitability by $645 million by year end 2025 in comparison to the base year 2023. Through the second quarter 2024, the Company had implemented numerous run rate improvements and realized year over year raw materials savings which are projected to achieve $350 million of the target. The Company is on track to deliver the full target by year end 2025.

2024 Outlook

The following outlook does not include reconciliations of the forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income, including transformation, intersegment eliminations and other corporate Adjusted EBITDA; operational tax expense; and other expense; each excluding special items, to the most directly comparable forward-looking GAAP financial measures because it is impractical to forecast certain special items, such as restructuring charges and mark-to-market contracts, without unreasonable efforts due to the variability and complexity associated with predicting the occurrence and financial impact of such special items. For the same reasons, the Company is unable to address the probable significance of the unavailable information, which could be material to future results.

Alcoa expects 2024 total Alumina segment production and shipments to remain unchanged from the prior projection, ranging between 9.8 and 10.0 million metric tons, and between 12.7 and 12.9 million metric tons, respectively. The difference between production and shipments reflects trading volumes and externally sourced alumina to fulfill customer contracts due to the curtailment of the Kwinana refinery.

Alcoa expects 2024 total Aluminum segment production and shipments to remain unchanged from the prior projection, ranging between 2.2 and 2.3 million metric tons, and between 2.5 and 2.6 million metric tons, respectively.

Within third quarter 2024 Alumina Segment Adjusted EBITDA, the Company expects sequential unfavorable impacts of $10 million related to bauxite grade in Australia.

Within third quarter 2024 Aluminum Segment Adjusted EBITDA, the Company expects favorable raw material prices of $10 million.

Interest expense in the third quarter 2024 is expected to increase by approximately $5 million due to the assumption of Alumina Limited debt at acquisition closing.

Based on current alumina and aluminum market conditions, Alcoa expects third quarter operational tax expense to approximate $60 million to $70 million, which may vary with market conditions and jurisdictional profitability.

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest will be reported through the closing of the Alumina Limited acquisition in the third quarter and is expected to approximate $20 million.

Conference Call

Alcoa will hold its quarterly conference call at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) / 7:00 a.m. Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) on Wednesday, July 17, 2024 / Thursday, July 18, 2024, to present second quarter 2024 financial results and discuss the business, developments, and market conditions.

The call will be webcast via the Company's homepage on www.alcoa.com. Presentation materials for the call will be available for viewing on the same website at approximately 4:15 p.m. EDT on July 17, 2024 / 6:15 a.m. AEST on July 18, 2024. Call information and related details are available under the "Investors" section of www.alcoa.com.

Dissemination of Company Information

Alcoa intends to make future announcements regarding company developments and financial performance through its website, www.alcoa.com, as well as through press releases, filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, conference calls and webcasts. The Company does not incorporate the information contained on, or accessible through, its corporate website or such other websites or platforms referenced herein into this press release.

About Alcoa Corporation

Alcoa (NYSE:AA) is a global industry leader in bauxite, alumina and aluminum products with a vision to reinvent the aluminum industry for a sustainable future. Our purpose is to turn raw potential into real progress, underpinned by Alcoa Values that encompass integrity, operating excellence, care for people and courageous leadership. Since developing the process that made aluminum an affordable and vital part of modern life, our talented Alcoans have developed breakthrough innovations and best practices that have led to improved safety, sustainability, efficiency, and stronger communities wherever we operate.

Discover more by visiting www.alcoa.com. Follow us on our social media channels: Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube and LinkedIn.

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains statements that relate to future events and expectations and as such constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include those containing such words as "aims," "ambition," "anticipates," "believes," "could," "develop," "endeavors," "estimates," "expects," "forecasts," "goal," "intends," "may," "outlook," "potential," "plans," "projects," "reach," "seeks," "sees," "should," "strive," "targets," "will," "working," "would," or other words of similar meaning. All statements by Alcoa Corporation ("Alcoa") that reflect expectations, assumptions or projections about the future, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding the proposed transaction; the ability of the parties to complete the proposed transaction; the expected benefits of the proposed transaction, the competitive ability and position following completion of the proposed transaction; forecasts concerning global demand growth for bauxite, alumina, and aluminum, and supply/demand balances; statements, projections or forecasts of future or targeted financial results, or operating performance (including our ability to execute on strategies related to environmental, social and governance matters); statements about strategies, outlook, and business and financial prospects; and statements about capital allocation and return of capital. These statements reflect beliefs and assumptions that are based on Alcoa's perception of historical trends, current conditions, and expected future developments, as well as other factors that management believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Although Alcoa believes that the expectations reflected in any forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that these expectations will be attained and it is possible that actual results may differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements due to a variety of risks and uncertainties. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: (1) the non-satisfaction or non-waiver, on a timely basis or otherwise, of one or more closing conditions to the proposed transaction; (2) the prohibition or delay of the consummation of the proposed transaction by a governmental entity; (3) the risk that the proposed transaction may not be completed in the expected time frame or at all; (4) unexpected costs, charges or expenses resulting from the proposed transaction; (5) uncertainty of the expected financial performance following completion of the proposed transaction; (6) failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the proposed transaction; (7) the occurrence of any event that could give rise to termination of the proposed transaction; (8) potential litigation in connection with the proposed transaction or other settlements or investigations that may affect the timing or occurrence of the contemplated transaction or result in significant costs of defense, indemnification and liability; (9) the impact of global economic conditions on the aluminum industry and aluminum end-use markets; (10) volatility and declines in aluminum and alumina demand and pricing, including global, regional, and product-specific prices, or significant changes in production costs which are linked to LME or other commodities; (11) the disruption of market-driven balancing of global aluminum supply and demand by non-market forces; (12) competitive and complex conditions in global markets; (13) our ability to obtain, maintain, or renew permits or approvals necessary for our mining operations; (14) rising energy costs and interruptions or uncertainty in energy supplies; (15) unfavorable changes in the cost, quality, or availability of raw materials or other key inputs, or by disruptions in the supply chain; (16) our ability to execute on our strategy to be a lower cost, competitive, and integrated aluminum production business and to realize the anticipated benefits from announced plans, programs, initiatives relating to our portfolio, capital investments, and developing technologies; (17) our ability to integrate and achieve intended results from joint ventures, other strategic alliances, and strategic business transactions; (18) economic, political, and social conditions, including the impact of trade policies and adverse industry publicity; (19) fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates, inflation and other economic factors in the countries in which we operate; (20) changes in tax laws or exposure to additional tax liabilities; (21) global competition within and beyond the aluminum industry; (22) our ability to obtain or maintain adequate insurance coverage; (23) disruptions in the global economy caused by ongoing regional conflicts; (24) legal proceedings, investigations, or changes in foreign and/or U.S. federal, state, or local laws, regulations, or policies; (25) climate change, climate change legislation or regulations, and efforts to reduce emissions and build operational resilience to extreme weather conditions; (26) our ability to achieve our strategies or expectations relating to environmental, social, and governance considerations; (27) claims, costs and liabilities related to health, safety, and environmental laws, regulations, and other requirements, in the jurisdictions in which we operate; (28) liabilities resulting from impoundment structures, which could impact the environment or cause exposure to hazardous substances or other damage; (29) our ability to fund capital expenditures; (30) deterioration in our credit profile or increases in interest rates; (31) restrictions on our current and future operations due to our indebtedness; (32) our ability to continue to return capital to our stockholders through the payment of cash dividends and/or the repurchase of our common stock; (33) cyber attacks, security breaches, system failures, software or application vulnerabilities, or other cyber incidents; (34) labor market conditions, union disputes and other employee relations issues; (35) a decline in the liability discount rate or lower-than-expected investment returns on pension assets; and (36) the other risk factors discussed in Part I Item 1A of Alcoa's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 and other reports filed by Alcoa with the SEC. These risks, as well as other risks associated with the proposed transaction, are more fully discussed in the proxy statement. Alcoa cautions readers not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Alcoa disclaims any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether in response to new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Market projections are subject to the risks described above and other risks in the market. Neither Alcoa nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of any of these forward-looking statements and none of the information contained herein should be regarded as a representation that the forward-looking statements contained herein will be achieved.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This news release contains reference to certain financial measures that are not calculated and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP). Alcoa Corporation believes that the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is useful to investors because such measures provide both additional information about the operating performance of Alcoa Corporation and insight on the ability of Alcoa Corporation to meet its financial obligations by adjusting the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure for the impact of, among others, "special items" as defined by the Company, non-cash items in nature, and/or nonoperating expense or income items. The presentation of non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be a substitute for, and should not be considered in isolation from, the financial measures reported in accordance with GAAP. Certain definitions, reconciliations to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures and additional details regarding management's rationale for the use of the non-GAAP financial measures can be found in the schedules to this release.