Newsroom
Press Releases

<< Back to Press Releases

United States Steel Corporation Reports 2001 Fourth Quarter and Full-Year Results

PRNewswire-FirstCall
PITTSBURGH
01.29.2002

United States Steel Corporation (NYSE: X) today issued the following:

                           Earnings Highlights
               (Dollars in millions except per share data)

                                  4Q       4Q
                                 2001      2000           2001      2000

  Revenues and
   other income                $1,414     $1,413         $6,375   $6,132
  Net income (loss)
   per diluted share           $(1.95)    $(1.57)        $(2.45)  $(0.24)
  Net income (loss)
   adjusted per
   diluted share                $(1.36)  $(0.64)         $(2.89)   $0.86

  Net income (loss)             $(174)     $(139)         $(218)    $(21)
  Adjustments for
   special items (Pre-tax):
    Asset Impairments - Coal        -         71              -       71
    Asset Impairments -
     Receivables                   72         34            146       34
    Asset Impairments -
     Intangible Asset              20          -             20        -
    Costs related to separation    16          -             25        -
    Costs related to
     Fairless shutdown              9          -             38        -
    Costs related to
     Republic restructuring         -          -              -       10
    Environmental and
     legal contingencies            -         21              -       36
    Insurance recoveries
     related to USS -
     POSCO fire                   (23)         -            (46)      -
    Gain on Transtar
     reorganization                 -          -            (68)      -
    Prior year tax
     adjustments                   (9)         -            (62)      -
    Tax effect of
     special items                (32)       (44)           (92)     (53)
  Net income (loss)
   adjusted for special items   $(121)      $(57)         $(257)     $77

United States Steel Corporation (NYSE: X) reported an adjusted fourth quarter 2001 net loss of $121 million, or $1.36 per diluted share, compared with an adjusted net loss of $57 million, or 64 cents per diluted share in fourth quarter 2000. For full-year 2001, the adjusted net loss was $257 million, or $2.89 per diluted share, compared with adjusted net income of $77 million, or 86 cents per diluted share in the prior year.

U. S. Steel recorded a fourth quarter 2001 net loss of $174 million, or $1.95 per diluted share, including the net effect of special items, which in total reduced net income by $53 million, or 59 cents per share. In fourth quarter 2000, the net loss of $139 million, or $1.57 per diluted share, included special items having a net unfavorable after-tax effect of $82 million, or 93 cents per diluted share.

For the year 2001, U. S. Steel had a net loss of $218 million, or $2.45 per diluted share, which included special items with a net favorable after-tax effect of $39 million or 44 cents per diluted share. A full-year 2000 net loss of $21 million, or 24 cents per diluted share, included special items having a net unfavorable after-tax effect of $98 million, or $1.10 per share.

"While our results are disappointing, they largely reflect the devastating impact that global excess steel capacity and several years of surging imports have had on domestic steel prices, which are at the lowest levels in decades, and on shipments and utilization rates, which are the lowest since the early 1990's," said Thomas J. Usher, chairman, CEO and president.

In fourth quarter 2001, U. S. Steel recorded a loss from reportable segments of $175 million, or $57 per ton, on steel shipments of 3.1 million tons.

U. S. Steel's Domestic Steel segment recorded a loss from operations of $177 million for the fourth quarter 2001, or $80 per ton. Domestic Steel shipments in fourth quarter 2001 were 2.2 million net tons, down 5 percent from fourth quarter 2000 and the lowest quarterly level since the third quarter of 1992. The average realized domestic steel price was $419 per ton in fourth quarter 2001 compared with $459 per ton in the fourth quarter 2000 and $420 per ton in the third quarter 2001. Domestic raw steel capability utilization in fourth quarter 2001 dropped to 67 percent, down from 75 percent in fourth quarter 2000 and 83 percent in third quarter 2001. As a result, fourth quarter production costs rose due to lower, less efficient operating rates at steel and raw material facilities. Tubular markets, which had been strong earlier in the year, also weakened markedly.

U. S. Steel Kosice, s.r.o. (USSK) reported fourth quarter 2001 segment income from operations of $2 million, or $2 per ton. USSK's segment income in 2000 was $2 million, or $6 per ton, for the period following acquisition. For full-year 2001, USSK had segment income of $123 million, or $33 per ton.

USSK shipments in fourth quarter 2001 were 0.9 million net tons, and raw steel capability utilization was 66 percent. Full-year 2001 shipments totaled 3.7 million net tons, with a utilization rate of 81 percent.

Commenting on USSK's segment results, Usher said, "A difficult European economic environment contributed to lower fourth quarter shipments, but average realized prices remained about flat with the third quarter. USSK completed several planned outages during the quarter, which increased repair and maintenance expenses, and temporarily idled most operations for about two weeks at year-end due to low order levels and seasonal curtailments by customers.

"We are extremely pleased with the performance of USSK in the first full year of operation as a U. S. Steel facility. USSK results should be enhanced by the completion of the tin mill expansion and vacuum degasser projects."

Commenting on U. S. Steel's domestic outlook, Usher said, "We are encouraged that spot sheet prices are climbing from the extremely depressed levels of late 2001 and our order book has been improving. In the first quarter 2002, domestic shipments are expected to improve and average realized prices are expected to be slightly lower, largely due to product mix, when compared to fourth quarter 2001. For full-year 2002, domestic shipments are expected to be approximately 11 million net tons."

USSK first quarter shipments and average realized prices are expected to be lower than fourth quarter 2001. USSK shipments are expected to be approximately 3.8 million net tons in 2002.

This release contains forward-looking statements with respect to market conditions, costs, shipments and prices. Some factors, among others, that could affect full-year 2002 market conditions, costs, shipments and prices include import levels, future product demand, prices and mix, production, plant operating performance, domestic natural gas prices and usage, and U.S. and European economic performance and political developments. Steel shipments and prices can be affected by imports and actions of the U.S. Government and its agencies. Factors that may affect USSK results are similar to domestic factors, including excess world supply, plus foreign currency fluctuations, matters peculiar to international marketing such as tariffs and completion of facility projects at USSK. 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 USX Corporation for the year ended December 31, 2000, as amended in Forms 10-K/A, and in subsequent filings for USX Corporation and U. S. Steel.

A Statement of Operations and Preliminary Supplemental Statistics for United States Steel Corporation are attached.

The company will conduct a conference call on fourth quarter and full-year 2001 earnings on Tuesday, January 29 at 2 p.m. EST. To listen to the webcast of the conference call, visit the U. S. Steel website, http://www.ussteel.com/, and click on the "Investors" button. Replays of the webcast will be available through February 6.

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


                     UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION
                   STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)

                                    Fourth Quarter        Twelve Months
                                         Ended                Ended
                                      December 31          December 31
   (Dollars in millions,
    except per share amounts)       2001       2000        2001     2000

   REVENUES AND OTHER INCOME:
     Revenues                     $1,398     $1,417      $6,286   $6,090
     Income (loss) from investees     13        (21)         64       (8)
     Net gains on disposal of assets   2         12          22       46
     Other income                      1          5           3        4
                                  ------     ------      ------   ------
       Total revenues and
        other income               1,414      1,413       6,375    6,132
                                  ------     ------      ------   ------
   COSTS AND EXPENSES:
     Cost of revenues (excludes
      items shown below)           1,433      1,422       6,091    5,656
     Selling, general and
      administrative expenses
      (credits)                       73        (47)         92     (223)
     Depreciation, depletion and
      amortization                    98        138         344      360
     Taxes other than income taxes    62         59         253      235
                                  ------     ------      ------   ------
       Total costs and expenses    1,666      1,572       6,780    6,028
                                  ------     ------      ------   ------
   INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS    (252)      (159)      (405)      104
   Net interest and other
    financial costs                   67         30         141      105
                                  ------     ------      ------   ------
   LOSS BEFORE INCOME TAXES         (319)      (189)       (546)      (1)
   Provision (credit) for
    income taxes                    (145)       (50)       (328)      20
                                  ------     ------      ------   ------
   NET LOSS                        $(174)     $(139)     $(218)     $(21)
                                  ======     ======      ======   ======

   COMMON STOCK DATA:
     Per share - basic            $(1.95)    $(1.56)     $(2.45)   $(.24)
               - diluted           (1.95)     (1.57)      (2.45)    (.24)

   Dividends paid per share          .10        .25         .55     1.00

   Shares outstanding at
    December 31, 2001 -
    (in thousands)                89,223     89,223      89,223   89,223

Note: Loss per common share for all periods presented is based on outstanding common shares at December 31, 2001, following the Separation, as required by generally accepted accounting principles. As a result, amounts for prior periods differ from those previously reported.

  The following notes are an integral part of this financial statement.


                     UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION
                  SELECTED NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENT
                  --------------------------------------

  1. United States Steel Corporation (United States Steel), through its
     Domestic Steel segment, is engaged in the production, sale and
     transportation of steel mill products, coke, taconite pellets and coal;
     the management of mineral resources; real estate development; and
     engineering and consulting services and, through the U. S. Steel Kosice
     (USSK) segment, in the production and sale of steel mill products and
     coke primarily for the central European market. Prior to December 31,
     2001, United States Steel was a wholly owned subsidiary of USX
     Corporation, now named Marathon Oil Corporation (Marathon). Marathon
     had two outstanding classes of common stock: USX-Marathon Group common
     stock, which was intended to reflect the performance of Marathon's
     energy business, and USX-U. S. Steel Group common stock (Steel Stock),
     which was intended to reflect the performance of Marathon's steel
     business. On December 31, 2001, Marathon distributed the common stock
     of United States Steel to holders of Steel Stock in exchange for all
     outstanding shares of Steel Stock on a one-for-one basis (the
     Separation).

     The accompanying Statement of Operations represents a carve-out
     presentation of the businesses comprising United States Steel and is
     not intended to be a complete presentation of the results of operations
     of United States Steel on a stand-alone basis.  The Statement of
     Operations is presented as if United States Steel existed as an entity
     separate from the remaining businesses of Marathon during the periods
     presented.  Certain transactions related to interest and other
     financial costs were attributed to United States Steel based on its
     cash flows for the periods presented and the initial capital structure
     attributable to Steel Stock.  Corporate general and administrative
     costs were allocated based upon utilization or other methods that
     management believed to be reasonable and which considered certain
     measures of business activities, such as employment, investments and
     revenues. Income taxes were allocated in accordance with Marathon's tax
     allocation policy. In general, such policy provided that the
     consolidated provision and related tax payments or refunds were
     allocated based principally upon the financial income, taxable income,
     credits, preferences and other amounts directly related to United
     States Steel.

  2. On March 1, 2001, United States Steel completed the purchase of the tin
     mill products business of LTV Corporation (LTV), which is now operated
     as East Chicago Tin.  In this noncash transaction, United States Steel
     assumed approximately $66 million of certain employee related
     obligations from LTV.  The acquisition was accounted for using the
     purchase method of accounting.  Results of operations for the twelve
     months of 2001 include the operations of East Chicago Tin from the date
     of acquisition.  In the fourth quarter of 2001, United States Steel
     recorded an intangible asset impairment of $20 million, related to the
     five-year agreement for LTV to supply United States Steel with pickled
     hot bands entered into in conjunction with the acquisition of LTV's tin
     mill products business.

     On March 23, 2001, Transtar, Inc. (Transtar) completed its previously
     announced reorganization with its two voting shareholders, United
     States Steel and Transtar Holdings, L.P. (Holdings), an affiliate of
     Blackstone Capital Partners L.P.  As a result of this transaction,
     United States Steel became sole owner of Transtar and certain of its
     subsidiaries.  Holdings became owner of the other subsidiaries of
     Transtar.  United States Steel accounted for the change in its
     ownership interest in Transtar using the purchase method of accounting.
     United States Steel recognized in the twelve months of 2001, a pretax
     gain of $68 million (included in income (loss) from investees) and a
     favorable deferred tax adjustment of $33 million related to this
     transaction.  United States Steel previously accounted for its
     investment in Transtar under the equity method of accounting.

 3.  United States Steel has a 16% investment in Republic Technologies
     International LLC (Republic) which was accounted for under the equity
     method of accounting.  During the first quarter of 2001, United States
     Steel discontinued applying the equity method since investments in and
     advances to Republic had been reduced to zero.  Also, United States
     Steel has recognized certain debt obligations of $14 million previously
     assumed by Republic.  On April 2, 2001, Republic filed a voluntary
     petition with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court to reorganize its operations
     under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.  In the first quarter of
     2001, as a result of Republic's action, United States Steel recorded a
     pretax charge of $74 million for potentially uncollectible receivables
     from Republic.  Due to further financial deterioration of Republic,
     United States Steel recorded in the fourth quarter of 2001, a pretax
     charge of $68 million related to a portion of the remaining Republic
     receivables exposure and additional retiree medical cost reimbursements
     owed by Republic.

 4.  The provision for income taxes in the fourth quarter of 2001 includes
     a favorable adjustment of $9 million and the twelve months of 2001
     includes an unfavorable adjustment of $6 million related to prior
     years' taxes.  Net interest and other financial costs in the twelve
     months of 2001 includes a favorable adjustment of $67 million also
     related to prior years' taxes.

 5.  On August 14, 2001, United States Steel announced its intention to
     permanently close the cold rolling and tin mill operations at United
     States Steel's Fairless Works.  In 2001, United States Steel recorded a
     pretax charge of $38 million relative to the shutdown.


                     UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION
             PRELIMINARY SUPPLEMENTAL STATISTICS (Unaudited)

                                      Fourth Quarter          Year
                                          Ended               Ended
                                       December 31         December 31
  (Dollars in millions)             2001         2000     2001     2000

  INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS
  Domestic Steel(a)                $(177)        $(67)    $(461)   $103
  U. S. Steel Kosice(b)                2            2       123       2
                                   -----        -----     -----   -----
  Income (loss) from
   Reportable Segments             $(175)        $(65)    $(338)   $105
    Items not allocated to
     segments:
      Net Pension Credits(c)          36           67       146     266
      Administrative Expenses         (2)          (7)      (22)    (25)
      Costs related to former
       business activities(d)        (17)         (28)      (76)    (91)
        Special Items:
        Asset Impairments - Coal(e)    -          (71)        -     (71)
        Asset Impairments -
         Receivables(f)              (72)         (34)     (146)    (34)
        Asset Impairments -
         Intangible Asset(g)         (20)           -       (20)     -
        Costs related to
         separation(h)               (16)           -       (25)     -
        Costs related to
         Fairless shutdown(i)         (9)           -       (38)     -
        Costs related to Republic
         restructuring(j)              -            -         -     (10)
        Environmental and legal
         contingencies(k)              -          (21)        -     (36)
        Insurance recoveries
         related to USS-POSCO
         fire(l)                      23            -        46      -
        Gain on Transtar
         reorganization(m)             -            -        68      -
                                   -----        -----     -----   -----
          Total U. S. Steel        $(252)       $(159)    $(405)   $104

  CAPITAL EXPENDITURES
    Domestic Steel                   $60         $106      $226    $239
    U. S. Steel Kosice                30            5        61       5
                                   -----        -----     -----   -----
          Total U. S. Steel          $90         $111      $287    $244

  OPERATING STATISTICS
    Average steel price: ($/net ton)
      Domestic Steel                $419         $459      $427    $450
          U. S. Steel Kosice         251          269       260     269

  Steel Shipments:(n)
      Domestic Steel               2,204        2,315     9,801  10,756
      U. S. Steel Kosice:(o)         873          317     3,714     317
                                   -----        -----     -----   -----
          Total Steel Shipments    3,077        2,632    13,515  11,073

  Raw Steel-Production:(n)
      Domestic Steel               2,160        2,424    10,093  11,362
      U. S. Steel Kosice             837          382     4,051     382
                                   -----        -----     -----   -----
          Total Raw
           Steel-Production        2,997        2,806    14,144  11,744

  Raw Steel-Capability
   Utilization:(p)
      Domestic Steel               67.0%        75.3%     78.9%   88.8%
      U. S. Steel Kosice           66.4%        79.9%     81.0%   79.9%

  Iron ore shipments - Domestic
   Steel(n)                        3,319        4,215    14,913  15,020


                     UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION
             PRELIMINARY SUPPLEMENTAL STATISTICS (Unaudited)

   (a)  Includes the sale, domestic production and transportation of steel
        products, coke, taconite pellets and coal; the management of mineral
        resources; real estate development; engineering and consulting
        services; and equity income from joint ventures and partially owned
        companies.
   (b)  Includes the production and sale of steel products and coke from
        facilities primarily located in the Slovak Republic.
   (c)  Excludes termination costs of $3 million and $14 million for fourth
        quarter and year 2001, respectively, related to Fairless facilities
        shutdown.  Also, excludes $9 million for fourth quarter and year
        2001 related to the Voluntary Early Retirement Program.
   (d)  Includes other postretirement benefit costs and certain other
        expenses principally attributable to former business units of U. S.
        Steel.
   (e)  Includes asset impairments at two coal mines.
   (f)  Fourth quarter and year 2001 include charges related to receivables
        exposure from financially distressed steel companies, including
        amounts related to a portion of the remaining Republic receivables
        exposure and additional retiree medical cost reimbursements owed by
        Republic as reported in a recent press release dated January 18,
        2002.  Year 2001 also includes an earlier $74 million charge for
        Republic receivables.  Fourth quarter and year 2000 include
        $34 million to establish reserves against notes and receivables from
        financially distressed steel companies.
   (g)  Impairment of an intangible asset related to the five-year agreement
        for LTV to supply U. S. Steel with pickled hot bands entered into in
        conjunction with the acquisition of LTV's tin mill products business
        as reported in a recent press release dated January 18, 2002.
   (h)  For fourth quarter and year 2001, includes $5 million of
        professional fees and expenses and certain other costs related to
        the separation of U. S. Steel from Marathon, and $11 million related
        to the Voluntary Early Retirement Program.  Year 2001 also includes
        $9 million of professional fees and expenses and certain other costs
        related to the separation of U. S. Steel from Marathon.
   (i)  Includes costs related to the shutdown of the cold rolling and tin
        mill facilities at Fairless Works.
   (j)  U. S. Steel's share of Republic special charges due to
        restructuring.
   (k)  Fourth quarter and year 2000 include $21 million for environmental
        accruals.  Year 2000 also includes $15 million for certain other
        environmental and legal accruals.
   (l)  U. S. Steel's share of insurance recoveries in excess of facility
        repair costs for the cold mill fire at USS-POSCO.
   (m)  U. S. Steel's share of the gain on the Transtar reorganization.
   (n)  Thousands of net tons.
   (o)  U. S. Steel Kosice's prior quarter shipments have been revised for
        2001 as follows: First Quarter - 753; Second Quarter - 1,071; and
        Third Quarter - 1,017.  All shipments are in thousands of net tons.
   (p)  Based on annual raw steel production capability of 12.8 million tons
        for Domestic Steel and 5.0 million tons for U. S. Steel Kosice.

MAKE YOUR OPINION COUNT - Click Here
http://tbutton.prnewswire.com/prn/11690X29213931

SOURCE: United States Steel Corporation

Contact: Mike Dixon or John Armstrong, +1-412-433-6870, both of United
States Steel Corporation

Website: http://www.ussteel.com/

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