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United States Steel Corporation Reports 2006 First Quarter Results

PRNewswire-FirstCall
PITTSBURGH
04.25.2006

                           Earnings Highlights

  (Dollars in millions, except per share
   amounts)                                   1Q 2006    4Q 2005   1Q 2005

  Net sales                                    $3,728     $3,470    $3,787

  Segment income (loss) from operations
     Flat-rolled Products                        $127        $36      $335
     U. S. Steel Europe                           125        112       220
     Tubular Products                             177        149       122
     Other Businesses                              --         16       (17)
  Total segment income from operations           $429       $313      $660
  Retiree benefit expenses                        (55)       (59)      (83)
  Other items not allocated to segments            (5)       (32)       71
  Income from operations                         $369       $222      $648

  Net interest and other financial costs           16         14        25
  Income tax provision                             90         90       156

  Net income                                     $256       $109      $459
     - Per basic share                          $2.31      $0.94     $3.98
     - Per diluted share                        $2.04      $0.85     $3.51

United States Steel Corporation (NYSE: X) reported first quarter 2006 net income of $256 million, or $2.04 per diluted share, compared to fourth quarter 2005 net income of $109 million, or $0.85 per diluted share, and first quarter 2005 net income of $459 million, or $3.51 per diluted share.

Commenting on results, U. S. Steel Chairman and CEO John P. Surma said, "We had a strong first quarter with results significantly improved from the previous quarter, reflecting robust demand and continued firm prices across all business units. Tubular reported another outstanding quarter with operating income of $177 million, a record for this segment."

The company reported first quarter 2006 income from operations of $369 million, compared with income from operations of $222 million in the fourth quarter of 2005 and $648 million in the first quarter of 2005.

Other items not allocated to segments in the first quarter of 2006 consisted of an asset impairment charge, which reduced net income by $5 million or 4 cents per diluted share. Results in fourth quarter 2005 included an income tax charge of $16 million related to the repatriation of foreign earnings. This charge and other items not allocated to segments reduced fourth quarter 2005 net income by $39 million, or 30 cents per diluted share. Other items not allocated to segments increased first quarter 2005 net income by $58 million, or 45 cents per diluted share.

No shares of common stock were repurchased during the first quarter of 2006.

Reportable Segments and Other Businesses

Management believes segment income from operations is a key measure to evaluate ongoing operating results and performance. U. S. Steel's reportable segments and Other Businesses reported segment income from operations of $429 million, or $80 per ton, in the first quarter of 2006, compared with $313 million, or $63 per ton, in the fourth quarter of 2005 and $660 million, or $129 per ton, in the first quarter of 2005.

First quarter 2006 segment results improved from fourth quarter 2005 as shipments and prices increased for Flat-rolled and Tubular. Flat-rolled also benefited from lower natural gas costs and reduced outage costs as the Gary No. 14 blast furnace started up successfully during the first quarter and has been running well. U. S. Steel Europe (USSE) also reported increased segment income on higher shipment volumes. Results for Other Businesses declined mainly due to seasonal effects at iron ore operations in Minnesota.

Outlook

Looking ahead to the second quarter, Surma said, "We are entering the quarter with good momentum and we expect strong results as demand in key markets remains firm and our people and facilities are performing well."

We expect second quarter Flat-rolled results to improve from the first quarter as shipment volumes continue to increase and average prices and costs remain comparable to first quarter levels.

For USSE, we expect improvements in second quarter shipments to be partially offset by higher costs, while average prices should be comparable to first quarter levels.

Prices and shipments for Tubular in second quarter 2006 are expected to be lower than first quarter levels as shipments and product mix will be negatively affected by planned maintenance outages at our tubular operations.

Second quarter 2006 results for Other Businesses should improve as a result of normal seasonal effects at iron ore operations in Minnesota.

This release contains forward-looking statements with respect to market conditions, operating costs, shipments and prices. Some factors, among others, that could affect market conditions, costs, shipments and prices for both domestic operations and USSE include global product demand, prices and mix; global and company steel production levels; plant operating performance; the timing and completion of facility projects; natural gas and electricity prices and usage; raw materials and transportation availability and prices; the impact of fixed prices in energy and raw materials contracts (many of which have terms of one year or longer) as compared to short-term contract and spot prices of steel products; changes in environmental, tax, pension and other laws; employee strikes; power outages; and U.S. and global economic performance and political developments. Domestic steel shipments and prices could be affected by import levels and actions taken by the U.S. Government and its agencies. Economic conditions and political factors in Europe that may affect USSE's results include, but are not limited to, taxation, nationalization, inflation, currency fluctuations, increased regulation, export quotas, tariffs, and other protectionist measures. In accordance with "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, cautionary statements identifying important factors, but not necessarily all factors, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements have been included in the Form 10- K of U. S. Steel for the year ended December 31, 2005, and in subsequent filings for U. S. Steel.

A Statement of Operations (Unaudited), Other Financial Data (Unaudited) and Preliminary Supplemental Statistics (Unaudited) for U. S. Steel are attached.

The company will conduct a conference call on first quarter earnings on Tuesday, April 25, at 3 p.m. EDT. To listen to the webcast of the conference call, visit the U. S. Steel web site, www.ussteel.com, and click on the "Investors" button.

For more information on U. S. Steel, visit its web site at www.ussteel.com.

                     UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION
                   STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)
                   -----------------------------------

                                                       Quarter Ended
                                               ---------------------------
                                               March 31  Dec. 31  March 31
  (Dollars in millions)                          2006      2005     2005
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------
  NET SALES                                   $  3,728  $  3,470  $ 3,787

  OPERATING EXPENSES (INCOME):
    Cost of sales (excludes items shown below)   3,098     2,983    2,903
    Selling, general and administrative expenses   158       183      157
    Depreciation, depletion and amortization       112        92       98
    Income from investees                           (7)       (2)     (13)
    Net gains on disposal of assets                 (1)       (4)      (4)
    Other income, net                               (1)       (4)      (2)
                                                 -----     -----    -----
      Total operating expenses                   3,359     3,248    3,139
                                                 -----     -----    -----
  INCOME FROM OPERATIONS                           369       222      648
  Net interest and other financial costs            16        14       25
                                                 -----     -----    -----
  INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND MINORITY
   INTERESTS                                       353       208      623
  Income tax provision                              90        90      156
  Minority interests                                 7         9        8
                                                 -----     -----    -----
  NET INCOME                                       256       109      459
  Dividends on preferred stock                      (4)       (5)      (4)
                                                 -----     -----    -----
  NET INCOME APPLICABLE TO COMMON STOCK       $    252  $    104  $   455
                                                 =====     =====    =====


  COMMON STOCK DATA:
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Net income per share:
            - Basic                           $   2.31  $     .94  $  3.98
            - Diluted                         $   2.04  $     .85  $  3.51

  Weighted average shares, in thousands
            - Basic                            108,809    111,739  114,169
            - Diluted                          125,559    128,151  130,830

  Dividends paid per common share             $    .10  $     .10  $   .08



                     UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION
                     OTHER FINANCIAL DATA (Unaudited)
                     --------------------------------

                                                           Quarter Ended
                                                              March 31
  Cash Flow Data                (In millions)             2006        2005
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Cash provided by operating activities:
     Net income                                      $      256 $      459
     Depreciation, depletion and amortization               112         98
     Pensions and other postretirement benefits              (9)      (113)
     Property tax settlement gain                             -        (95)
     Working capital changes                               (158)      (165)
     Other operating activities                              27        112
                                                         ------     ------
        Total                                               228        296
                                                         ------     ------
  Cash used in investing activities:
     Capital expenditures                                  (127)      (122)
     Disposal of assets                                       4          3
     Other investing activities                               4         (1)
                                                         ------     ------
        Total                                              (119)      (120)
                                                         ------     ------
  Cash used in financing activities:
     Repayment of debt                                      (83)        --
     Common stock issued                                      3         --
     Dividends paid                                         (15)       (13)
     Change in bank checks outstanding                      (16)       (51)
     Other financing activities                              (7)        --
                                                         ------     ------
        Total                                              (118)       (64)
                                                         ------     ------
  Effect of exchange rate changes on cash                     1         (2)
                                                         ------     ------
  Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents       (8)       110
  Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year      1,479      1,037
                                                         ------     ------
  Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period     $    1,471 $    1,147
                                                         ======     ======


                                                        March 31   Dec. 31
  Balance Sheet Data           (In millions)              2006       2005
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Cash and cash equivalents                          $    1,471 $    1,479
  Inventories                                             1,483      1,466
  Other current assets                                    2,092      1,897
  Property, plant and equipment - net                     4,159      4,015
  Intangible pension asset                                  251        251
  Other assets                                              714        714
                                                         ------     ------
  Total assets                                       $   10,170 $    9,822
                                                         ======     ======
  Short-term debt and current maturities of
   long-term debt                                    $      175 $      249
  Other current liabilities                               2,562      2,500
  Long-term debt, less unamortized discount               1,359      1,363
  Employee benefits                                       1,989      2,008
  Other long-term liabilities                               349        346
  Minority interests                                         31         32
  Stockholders' equity                                    3,705      3,324
                                                         ------     ------
  Total liabilities and stockholders' equity         $   10,170 $    9,822
                                                         ======     ======



                     UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION
             PRELIMINARY SUPPLEMENTAL STATISTICS (Unaudited)
             -----------------------------------------------

                                                     Quarter Ended
                                               ---------------------------
                                               March 31  Dec. 31  March 31
  (Dollars in millions)                          2006      2005      2005
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------
  INCOME FROM OPERATIONS
  Flat-rolled Products                            $127       $36      $335
  U. S. Steel Europe                               125       112       220
  Tubular Products                                 177       149       122
  Other Businesses                                  --        16       (17)
                                                 -----     -----     -----
  Segment Income from Operations                   429       313       660
     Retiree benefit expenses(a)                   (55)      (59)      (83)
     Other items not allocated to segments:
        Asset impairment charge(b)                  (5)       --        --
        Stock appreciation rights                   --        (1)        1
        Workforce reduction charges                 --       (11)       --
        Environmental remediation charge            --       (20)       --
        Property tax settlement gain(c)             --        --        70
                                                 -----     -----     -----
        Total Income from Operations              $369      $222      $648

  CAPITAL EXPENDITURES
     Flat-rolled Products                          $69      $157       $59
     U. S. Steel Europe                             44        74        49
     Tubular Products                               --         1         3
     Other Businesses                               14        36        11
                                                 -----     -----     -----
        Total                                     $127      $268      $122

  -----------
  (a) Includes certain profit-based expenses for U. S. Steel retirees and
      National retirees pursuant to provisions of the 2003 labor agreement
      with the United Steelworkers of America.

  (b) Relates to the potential sale of a small wholly owned subsidiary in
      Germany.

  (c) Reflects the portion of the Gary property tax settlement gain that is
      included in cost of sales, and excludes $25 million that is included
      in net interest and other financial costs.



                     UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION
             PRELIMINARY SUPPLEMENTAL STATISTICS (Unaudited)
             -----------------------------------------------

                                                     Quarter Ended
                                               ---------------------------
                                               March 31  Dec. 31  March 31
  (Dollars in millions)                          2006      2005      2005
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------
  OPERATING STATISTICS
      Average realized price: ($/net ton)(a)
         Flat-rolled Products                     $616      $597      $650
         U. S. Steel Europe                        544       550       684
         Tubular Products                        1,506     1,456     1,165
      Steel Shipments:(a)(b)
         Flat-rolled Products                    3,529     3,346     3,535
         U. S. Steel Europe                      1,508     1,359     1,290
         Tubular Products                          319       292       303
      Raw Steel Production:(b)
         Domestic Facilities                     4,141     3,929     4,303
         U. S. Steel Europe                      1,753     1,649     1,548
      Raw Steel Capability Utilization:(c)
         Domestic Facilities                      86.6%     80.3%     90.0%
         U. S. Steel Europe                       95.7%     88.2%     84.6%
      Domestic iron ore production(b)            5,473     5,352     5,382
      Domestic coke production(b)(d)             1,490     1,485     1,420

  -----------
  (a) Excludes intersegment transfers.
  (b) Thousands of net tons.
  (c) Based on annual raw steel production capability of 19.4 million net
      tons for domestic facilities and 7.4 million net tons for U. S. Steel
      Europe.
  (d) Includes the Clairton 1314B Partnership.

SOURCE: United States Steel Corporation

CONTACT: Media, John Armstrong, +1-412-433-6792, or Investors-Analysts,
Nick Harper, +1-412-433-1184, both of United States Steel Corporation

Web site: http://www.ussteel.com/

Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/929150.html