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United States Steel Corporation Reports 2015 Third Quarter Results

- Net loss of $173 million, or $1.18 per diluted share- Adjusted net loss of $103 million, or $0.70 per diluted share

- Adjusted EBITDA of $85 million

- Full-year Adjusted EBITDA guidance of approximately $225 million

- Full-year 2015 Carnegie Way benefits increased to $715 million

- Third quarter operating cash flow of $93 million; first nine months operating cash flow of $308 million

- Total liquidity of $2.9 billion, including $1.2 billion of cash

11.03.2015

PITTSBURGH, Nov. 3, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- United States Steel Corporation (NYSE: X) reported a third quarter 2015 net loss of $173 million, or $1.18 per diluted share, which included a $53 million, or $0.36 per diluted share, loss on the previously announced shutdown of the blast furnace and associated steelmaking operations, along with most of the flat-rolled finishing operations at Fairfield Works, and does not include the slab and rounds casters and the #5 coating line (Fairfield Flat-Rolled Operations); a charge of $10 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, for a pension obligation related to U. S. Steel Canada Inc. (USSC); and a net loss of $7 million, or $0.05 per diluted share, for non-cash restructuring and other charges.  This compared to a third quarter 2014 net loss of $207 million, or $1.42 per diluted share, and a second quarter 2015 net loss of $261 million, or $1.79 per diluted share. 

For a description of the non-generally accepted accounting principles (non-GAAP) measures and a reconciliation to net earnings (loss) attributable to U. S. Steel and earnings (loss) before interest and income taxes (EBIT) see the Non-GAAP Financial Measures section.

 

Earnings Highlights


(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts)

3Q 2015

2Q 2015

3Q 2014

Net Sales

$

2,830


$

2,900


$

4,587


Segment (loss) earnings before interest and income taxes (EBIT)




     Flat-Rolled

$

(18)


$

(64)


$

347


     U. S. Steel Europe

18


20


29


     Tubular

(50)


(66)


69


     Other Businesses

10


6


34


Total Segment EBIT

$

(40)


$

(104)


$

479


Postretirement benefit expense

(11)


(14)


(26)


Other items not allocated to segments

(119)


(274)


(594)


EBIT

$

(170)


$

(392)


$

(141)


Net interest and other financial costs

53


55


60


Income tax (benefit) provision

(50)


(186)


6


Net loss attributable to United States Steel Corporation

$

(173)


$

(261)


$

(207)


-Loss per basic and diluted share

$

(1.18)


$

(1.79)


$

(1.42)






Adjusted earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA)

$

85


$

20


$

611


 

Commenting on results, U. S. Steel President and Chief Executive Officer Mario Longhi said, "Total segment EBIT improved as compared to the second quarter as we continued to take action to address our cost structure.  We remain focused on our Carnegie Way transformation efforts to weather the continued difficult market environment.  These efforts will better position our Company to generate stronger operating margins and respond to changing market conditions."

Segment loss before interest and income taxes was $40 million, or $10 per ton, for the third quarter of 2015 compared to segment loss before interest and income taxes of $104 million, or $27 per ton, in the second quarter of 2015 and segment earnings before interest and income taxes of $479 million, or $94 per ton, in the third quarter of 2014.

For the third quarter 2015, we recorded a tax benefit of $50 million on our pre-tax loss of $223 million. The tax provision includes a benefit for percentage depletion in excess of cost depletion.

Despite the significantly challenging market conditions, we maintained positive operating cash flow of $308 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015.  As of September 30, U. S. Steel had $1.2 billion of cash and $2.9 billion of total liquidity.

Segment Analysis

Third quarter results for our Flat-Rolled segment improved as compared to the second quarter.  Our actions to reduce operating costs in alignment with our low utilization levels, combined with increasing Carnegie Way benefits enabled us to mitigate the effect of continued lower average realized prices, which declined during the third quarter by approximately $20 per ton.  Additionally, we realized improved results in our mining operations primarily due to reduced spending and increased pellet sales.  Imported flat-rolled products, much of which we believe are dumped and/or subsidized, remained excessively high in the third quarter, causing further damage to the domestic market.  Based on preliminary statistics, imported sheet products still averaged more than one million tons per month in the third quarter and not only continued to erode our market share, but also placed downward pressure on both our spot and our contract prices.

Our European segment continued to provide positive results that were comparable with the second quarter.  A slight decrease in shipments and average realized euro-based prices resulting from increased imports were offset by lower spending and increasing benefits from our Carnegie Way efforts.

Third quarter results for our Tubular segment improved as compared to the second quarter largely as a result of a continued focus on reducing operating costs and maintaining our Carnegie Way efforts which more than offset unfavorable commercial conditions.  Shipments and average realized prices continue to be adversely impacted by reduced drilling activity caused by low energy prices and the high levels of tubular imports, much of which we believe are unfairly traded.

2015 Outlook   

Commenting on U. S. Steel's outlook for 2015, Longhi said, "We remain committed to the execution of our long-term strategy.  We continue to focus on the factors that we can control and are making excellent progress on our Carnegie Way transformation efforts."

Commercial markets are not improving as we had anticipated for the second half of 2015. Steel selling prices reversed direction as excessively high levels of imports, much of which we believe are unfairly traded, and a significant decline in steel scrap prices caused spot prices to reach new lows for the year.  High import levels also had a negative impact on the rebalancing of supply chain inventories, decreasing customer order rates in the second half of the year.  The market for oil country tubular goods has continued to deteriorate, impacting results in both our Flat-Rolled and Tubular segments. Based on these factors, we expect significantly lower shipments and average realized prices than we previously projected for full-year 2015.  Our cost reduction efforts and increasing Carnegie Way benefits are not yet able to fully mitigate the unfavorable commercial impacts and we now expect our full-year adjusted earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) to be approximately $225 million.

*****

We present adjusted net earnings (loss), adjusted net earnings (loss) per diluted share, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, which are non-GAAP measures, as additional measurements to enhance the understanding of our operating performance and facilitate a comparison with that of our competitors.

A consolidated statement of operations (unaudited), consolidated cash flow statement (unaudited), condensed consolidated balance sheet (unaudited) and preliminary supplemental statistics (unaudited) for U. S. Steel are attached.

The company will conduct a conference call on third quarter earnings on Wednesday, November 4, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Standard.  To listen to the webcast of the conference call, visit the U. S. Steel website, www.ussteel.com, and click on "Current Information" under the "Investors" section.

For more information on U. S. Steel, visit our website at www.ussteel.com.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains information that may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Generally, we have identified such forward-looking statements by using the words "believe," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "project," "target," "forecast," "aim," "will" and similar expressions or by using future dates in connection with any discussion of, among other things, operating performance, trends, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future, statements relating to volume growth, share of sales and earnings per share growth, and statements expressing general views about future operating results. However, the absence of these words or similar expressions does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are not historical facts, but instead represent only the Company's beliefs regarding future events, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of the Company's control. It is possible that the Company's actual results and financial condition may differ, possibly materially, from the anticipated results and financial condition indicated in these forward-looking statements. Management believes that these forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the time made. However, caution should be taken not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements because such statements speak only as of the date when made. Our Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. In addition, forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from our Company's historical experience and our present expectations or projections. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to the risks and uncertainties described in "Item 1A. Risk Factors" and "Supplementary Data - Disclosures About Forward-Looking Statements" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, and those described from time to time in our future reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 


UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)
















Quarter Ended


Nine Months Ended




Sept. 30


June 30


Sept. 30


September 30,

(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts)

2015


2015


2014


2015


2014

NET SALES


$

2,830



$

2,900



$

4,587



$

9,002



$

13,435














OPERATING EXPENSES (INCOME):











Cost of sales (excludes items shown below)

2,654



2,792



3,848



8,512



11,983



Selling, general and administrative expenses

99



107



125



308



406



Depreciation, depletion and amortization

136



138



158



418



489



Earnings from investees

(6)



(17)



(50)



(29)



(103)



Losses associated with U. S. Steel Canada Inc.

16



255



413



271



413



Restructuring and other charges

103



19



236



275



254



Net gain on disposal of assets

(1)



(1)



(2)



(2)



(23)



Other income, net

(1)



(1)





(2)

















           Total operating expenses

3,000



3,292



4,728



9,751



13,419














(LOSS) EARNINGS BEFORE INTEREST AND INCOME TAXES (EBIT)

(170)



(392)



(141)



(749)



16


Net interest and other financial costs

53



55



60



170



193















LOSS BEFORE INCOME TAXES

(223)



(447)



(201)



(919)



(177)


Income tax (benefit) provision

(50)



(186)



6



(410)



(4)














Net loss

(173)



(261)



(207)



(509)



(173)



Less: Net loss attributable to the noncontrolling interests










NET LOSS ATTRIBUTABLE TO











UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION

$

(173)



$

(261)



$

(207)



$

(509)



$

(173)














COMMON STOCK DATA:






















Net loss per share attributable to










   United States Steel Corporation stockholders:











Basic


$

(1.18)



$

(1.79)



$

(1.42)



$

(3.49)



$

(1.19)



Diluted


$

(1.18)



$

(1.79)



$

(1.42)



$

(3.49)



$

(1.19)














Weighted average shares, in thousands











Basic


146,324



145,962



145,348



146,008



144,999



Diluted


146,324



145,962



145,348



146,008



144,999














Dividends paid per common share

$

0.05



$

0.05



$

0.05



$

0.15



$

0.15


 

UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION

CASH FLOW STATEMENT (Unaudited)












Nine Months Ended





September 30,

(Dollars in millions)


2015


2014

Cash provided by (used in) operating activities:





Net loss


$

(509)



$

(173)



Depreciation, depletion and amortization

418



489



Losses associated with U. S. Steel Canada Inc.

271



413



Restructuring and other charges

275



254



Pensions and other postretirement benefits

(33)



(266)



Deferred income taxes

(385)



6



Net gain on disposal of assets

(2)



(23)



Working capital changes

361



337



Income taxes receivable/payable

7



167



Other operating activities

(95)



43




Total


308



1,247









Cash (used in) provided by investing activities:





Capital expenditures


(409)



(282)



Acquisitions


(25)





Disposal of assets


2



28



Other investing activities


6



20




Total


(426)



(234)









Cash (used in) provided by financing activities:





Repayment of long-term debt


(18)



(323)



Receipts from exercise of stock options

1



10



Dividends paid


(22)



(22)




Total


(39)



(335)









Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

(32)



(25)









Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

(189)



653


Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year

1,354



604









Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period

$

1,165



$

1,257


 

UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION

CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET (Unaudited)










Sept. 30


Dec. 31

(Dollars in millions)


2015


2014

Cash and cash equivalents

$

1,165



$

1,354


Receivables, net

1,335



1,942


Inventories

2,435



2,496


Other current assets

450



639



Total current assets

5,385



6,431


Property, plant and equipment, net

4,415



4,574


Investments and long-term receivables, net

657



939


Intangible assets, net

198



204


Other assets

536



166









Total assets


$

11,191



$

12,314








Accounts payable

$

1,881



$

2,001


Payroll and benefits payable

919



1,003


Short-term debt and current maturities of long-term debt

362



378


Other current liabilities

171



187



Total current liabilities

3,333



3,569


Long-term debt, less unamortized discount

3,127



3,120


Employee benefits

1,156



1,117


Other long-term liabilities

403



708


United States Steel Corporation stockholders' equity

3,171



3,799


Noncontrolling interests

1



1









Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

$

11,191



$

12,314


 

UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (Unaudited)


We present EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net earnings (loss) and adjusted net earnings (loss) per diluted share, which are non-GAAP measures, as an additional measurement to enhance the understanding of our operating performance and facilitate a comparison with that of our competitors.  EBITDA is defined as earnings (loss) before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net earnings (loss) are not, however, intended as alternative measures of operating results or cash flow from operations as determined in accordance with GAAP and are not necessarily comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.



RECONCILIATION OF ADJUSTED EBITDA










Quarter Ended



Sept. 30


June 30


Sept. 30

(Dollars in millions)

2015


2015


2014

Reconciliation to (loss) earnings before interest and income taxes (EBIT)







Adjusted EBITDA

$

85



$

20



$

611



Losses associated with U. S. Steel Canada Inc.

(16)



(255)



(413)



Restructuring and other charges (a)

(12)



(19)



(236)



Loss on shutdown of Fairfield Flat-Rolled Operations

(91)







Gain on sale of real estate assets





55



EBITDA

(34)



(254)



17



Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense

(136)



(138)



(158)



EBIT, as reported

$

(170)



$

(392)



$

(141)


(a) Consists primarily of employee related costs, including costs for severance, supplemental unemployment benefits and continuation of health care benefits.


 

UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (Unaudited)


RECONCILIATION OF ADJUSTED NET LOSS










Quarter Ended



Sept. 30


June 30


Sept. 30

(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts)

2015


2015


2014

Reconciliation to net loss attributable to United States Steel Corporation







Adjusted net (loss) earnings attributable to United States Steel Corporation

$

(103)



$

(115)



$

325



Losses associated with U. S. Steel Canada Inc.

(10)



(136)



(384)



Restructuring and other charges (a)

(7)



(10)





Loss on shutdown of Fairfield Flat-Rolled Operations

(53)







Impairment of carbon alloy facilities





(163)



Write-off of pre-engineering costs at Keetac





(30)



Gain on sale of real estate assets





45



     Total Adjustments

(70)



(146)



(532)



Net loss attributable to United States Steel Corporation, as reported

$

(173)



$

(261)



$

(207)









Reconciliation to diluted net loss per share







Adjusted diluted net (loss) earnings per share

$

(0.70)



$

(0.79)



$

2.16



Losses associated with U. S. Steel Canada Inc.

(0.07)



(0.93)



(2.54)



Restructuring and other charges (a)

(0.05)



(0.07)





Loss on shutdown of Fairfield Flat-Rolled Operations

(0.36)







Impairment of carbon alloy facilities





(1.08)



Write-off of pre-engineering costs at Keetac





(0.21)



Gain on sale of real estate assets





0.30



Additional dilutive effects of securities





(0.05)



     Total adjustments

(0.48)



(1.00)



(3.58)



Diluted net loss per share, as reported

$

(1.18)



$

(1.79)



$

(1.42)


(a) Consists primarily of employee related costs, including costs for severance, supplemental unemployment benefits and continuation of health care benefits.

 

UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION

PRELIMINARY SUPPLEMENTAL STATISTICS (Unaudited)















Quarter Ended


Nine Months Ended




Sept. 30


June 30


Sept. 30


September 30,


(Dollars in millions)

2015


2015


2014


2015


2014


SEGMENT EARNINGS (LOSS) BEFORE INTEREST AND INCOME TAXES (EBIT)












Flat-Rolled

$

(18)



$

(64)



$

347



$

(149)



$

462




U. S. Steel Europe

18



20



29



75



99




Tubular

(50)



(66)



69



(115)



140




Other Businesses

10



6



34



24



64















Total Segment EBIT

(40)



(104)



479



(165)



765




Postretirement benefit expense

(11)



(14)



(26)



(38)



(90)




Other items not allocated to segments:












     Losses associated with U. S. Steel Canada Inc.

(16)



(255)



(413)



(271)



(413)





















     Restructuring and other charges

(12)



(19)





(31)






     Loss on shutdown of Fairfield Flat-Rolled
     Operations

(91)







(91)






     Loss on shutdown of coke production facilities







(153)






     Impairment of carbon alloy facilities





(199)





(199)




     Write-off of pre-engineering costs at Keetac





(37)





(37)




     Gain on sale of real estate assets





55





55




     Litigation reserves









(70)




     Loss on assets held for sale









(14)




     Curtailment gain









19
















        EBIT

$

(170)



$

(392)



$

(141)



$

(749)



$

16















CAPITAL EXPENDITURES












Flat-Rolled

$

63



$

56



$

56



$

251



$

158




U. S. Steel Europe

33



24



23



78



58




Tubular

35



24



13



75



60




Other Businesses

2





4



5



6
















          Total

$

133



$

104



$

96



$

409

(a)


$

282

(a)


(a) Excludes the non-cash(decrease) increase in accrued capital expenditures of $(6) million and $46 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, and 2014, respectively.

 

UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION


PRELIMINARY SUPPLEMENTAL STATISTICS (Unaudited)




















Quarter Ended


Nine Months Ended






Sept. 30


June 30


Sept. 30


September 30,






2015


2015


2014


2015


2014


OPERATING STATISTICS












Average realized price: (a)













Flat-Rolled ($/net ton)

674


695


777


712


771




    Flat-Rolled U.S. Facilities ($/net ton) (b)

674


695


786


712


783




U. S. Steel Europe ($/net ton)

516


533


671


527


691




    U. S. Steel Europe (euro/net ton)

464


483


506


473


510




Tubular ($/net ton)

1,264


1,651


1,567


1,516


1,508



Steel Shipments (thousands of net tons): (a)













Flat-Rolled

2,676


2,712


3,692


8,005


10,893




   Flat-Rolled U.S. Facilities (b)

2,676


2,712


3,240


8,005


9,361




U. S. Steel Europe

1,020


1,091


987


3,375


3,071




Tubular

154


92


428


465


1,296





Total Steel Shipments

3,850


3,895


5,107


11,845


15,260

















Intersegment Shipments (thousands of net tons):













Flat-Rolled to Tubular

137


96


439


381


1,331




U. S. Steel Europe to Flat-Rolled





75



Raw Steel Production (thousands of net tons):













Flat-Rolled

3,240


2,808


4,675


8,916


13,298




    Flat-Rolled U.S. Facilities (b)

3,240


2,808


4,133


8,916


11,554




U. S. Steel Europe

1,133


1,200


1,111


3,615


3,475



Raw Steel Capability Utilization: (c)













Flat-Rolled


66

%


58

%


86

%


61

%


81

%



    Flat-Rolled U.S. Facilities (d)


66

%


58

%


85

%


61

%


80

%



U. S. Steel Europe


90

%


96

%


88

%


97

%


93

%


(a) Excludes intersegment shipments.



(b) Excludes U. S. Steel Canada Inc. for all periods presented.



(c) Based on annual raw steel production capability of 19.4 million net tons for Flat-Rolled and 5.0 million net tons for U. S. Steel Europe.  Prior to the  CCAA filing and deconsolidation of U. S. Steel Canada Inc. on September 16, 2014, annual raw steel production capability for Flat-Rolled was 22.0 million net tons.



(d)  AISI capability utilization rates include our U.S. facilities (Gary Works, Great Lakes Works, Mon Valley Works, Granite City Works and Fairfield Works).


                      

 

SOURCE United States Steel Corporation

For further information: Media, Courtney Boone, Director, External Communications, T - (412) 433-6791, E - caboone@uss.com; Investors/Analysts, Dan Lesnak, General Manager, Investor Relations, T - (412) 433-1184, E - dtlesnak@uss.com