Newsroom
Press Releases

<< Back to Press Releases

United States Steel Corporation Reports 2010 Second Quarter Results

07.27.2010

PITTSBURGH, July 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --

  • Net loss of $25 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, including $96 million, or $0.62 per diluted share, net foreign currency remeasurement losses on intercompany loans
  • Income from operations of $198 million, significant improvement from first quarter 2010, all three reportable operating segments profitable
  • Shipments of 5.9 million tons, an increase of 9 percent from first quarter 2010
  • Net sales of $4.7 billion, an increase of 20 percent from first quarter 2010
  • Operating results, net sales and shipments reflect a sharp turnaround from the second quarter of 2009
  • Maintained strong liquidity position with $947 million of cash and $2.5 billion of total liquidity

United States Steel Corporation (NYSE: X) reported a second quarter 2010 net loss of $25 million, or $0.17 per diluted share.  These results reflect a considerable improvement over the net losses of $157 million, or $1.10 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2010 and $392 million, or $2.92 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2009.

    
    
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  Earnings Highlights
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (Dollars in millions except per share data)   2Q 2010   1Q 2010   2Q 2009
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Net sales                                      $4,681    $3,896    $2,127
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Segment income (loss) from operations
        Flat-rolled                                   $98      $(80)    $(362)
        U. S. Steel Europe                             19        12       (53)
        Tubular                                        96        45       (88)
        Other Businesses                               28        10        (7)
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total segment income (loss) from operations      $241      $(13)    $(510)
    Retiree benefit expenses                          (43)      (44)      (34)
    Other items not allocated to segments               -         -        79
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Income (loss) from operations                    $198      $(57)    $(465)
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Net interest and other financial costs            150       108         9
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Income tax provision (benefit)                     72        (7)      (82)
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Net income (loss) attributable to
     noncontrolling interests                           1        (1)        -
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Net loss attributable to 
     United States Steel Corporation                 $(25)    $(157)    $(392)
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------
     - Per basic share                             $(0.17)   $(1.10)   $(2.92)
     - Per diluted share                           $(0.17)   $(1.10)   $(2.92)
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    

Commenting on results, U. S. Steel Chairman and CEO John P. Surma said, "Operating results improved significantly from the first quarter of 2010.  Sequentially, the most notable improvement was in our Flat-rolled segment, which benefitted from increased average realized prices and healthy order rates in most of our markets.  In Europe, we had our second consecutive profitable quarter, and our Tubular segment income from operations more than doubled as compared to the first quarter of 2010."  

The company reported second quarter income from operations of $198 million, compared to a loss from operations of $57 million in the first quarter of 2010 and a loss from operations of $465 million in the second quarter of 2009.  Operating results were substantially higher than the second quarter of 2009 as income from operations improved by $663 million, net sales increased by 120 percent to $4.7 billion and shipments increased 100 percent to 5.9 million tons.  

Other items not allocated to segments in the second quarter of 2009 increased net income by $49 million, or 36 cents per diluted share.  There were no such items in the first or second quarter of 2010.

Net interest and other financial costs in the second quarter of 2010 included a foreign currency loss that decreased net income by $96 million, or 62 cents per diluted share.  This net loss primarily resulted from the impact of significant weakening of the euro against the U.S. dollar during the second quarter on the accounting remeasurement of a $1.4 billion U.S. dollar-denominated intercompany loan to a European subsidiary, partially offset by gains on Euro-U.S. dollar derivatives activity.  This compares to a foreign currency loss that decreased net income by $56 million, or 39 cents per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2010 and a foreign currency gain that increased net income by $41 million, or 31 cents per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2009.

For the six months ended June 30, 2010, we recorded a tax provision of $65 million on our pre-tax loss of $117 million.  In accordance with accounting guidance, the tax provision does not reflect any tax benefit for pre-tax losses in Canada and Serbia, which are jurisdictions where we have recorded a full valuation allowance on deferred tax assets.    

As of June 30, 2010, U. S. Steel had $947 million of cash and $2.5 billion of total liquidity as compared to $1.4 billion of cash and $2.9 billion of total liquidity at March 31, 2010.  

Reportable Segments and Other Businesses

Management believes segment income from operations is a key measure in evaluating company performance.  U. S. Steel's reportable segments and Other Businesses reported segment income from operations of $241 million, or $41 per ton, in the second quarter of 2010, compared with a loss of $13 million, or $2 per ton, in the first quarter of 2010 and a loss of $510 million, or $173 per ton, in the second quarter of 2009.    

Flat-rolled results improved significantly from the first quarter 2010, primarily reflecting the benefits of increases in average realized prices, as well as higher trade and intersegment shipments, lower energy costs and increased production volumes. Partially offsetting these improvements were increased facility repair and maintenance costs, mainly related to approximately $60 million of repair and maintenance costs at Lake Erie Works, where we performed extensive work on the major operating units in connection with a restart of the facility; and higher raw material costs, mainly due to higher prices for purchased coke and scrap in the second quarter versus the first quarter.  The raw steel capability utilization rate for the Flat-rolled segment increased from 73 percent to 82 percent as we operated all of our steelmaking facilities throughout the quarter with the exception of Lake Erie Works.  Adjusting for Lake Erie Works, which restarted steel production late in the second quarter, Flat-rolled operated at 91 percent of available raw steel capability in the second quarter of 2010.  Shipments increased by 14 percent to 4.1 million tons and average realized prices increased by $46 per ton from the first quarter of 2010 to $700 per ton.  The higher average realized prices were driven by increases in both spot and index-based contract prices, which more than offset the mix impact of increased semi-finished shipments.  Reported spot market prices increased each month this year before moving lower in June.    

Second quarter 2010 results for U. S. Steel Europe (USSE) improved slightly compared to the first quarter of 2010 as the benefit of increases in euro-based transaction prices was substantially offset by increases in raw materials costs.  Shipments decreased by nine percent to 1.4 million tons due to reduced spot market customer order rates midway through the quarter.  Reported average realized prices increased by $73 per ton to $687 per ton.  USSE operated at 89 percent of raw steel capability for the second quarter, slightly higher than the first quarter.  

Second quarter 2010 results for Tubular improved significantly from the first quarter of 2010.  The benefits of increases in average realized prices and higher shipments were only partially offset by increased costs for steel substrate, most of which is supplied by the Flat-rolled segment.  Shipments increased 40 percent to 433 thousand tons and the reported average realized price for the segment increased by $107 per ton to $1,496 per ton.  Operating rates continued to increase throughout the quarter in line with demand trends, particularly for alloy oil country tubular goods (OCTG).

Second quarter 2010 results for Other Businesses improved from the first quarter of 2010 primarily due to a second quarter sale of land by our real estate operations.  

Outlook

Commenting on U. S. Steel's outlook for the third quarter, Surma said, "We expect to report an overall operating profit in the third quarter as the U.S. and European economies continue to work their way through a gradual and uneven recovery process.  Operating results are expected to be below the second quarter largely due to a decrease in shipping and production volumes for our Flat-rolled segment, reflecting slower order rates, primarily from spot market customers thus far in the quarter, which likely includes some normal seasonal variations and the impact of shorter lead times; however, reported carbon flat-rolled inventory levels on a months-of-supply basis at North American service centers remain below historical averages and end user demand appears stable.  Similar market conditions prevail for our European operations."

Third quarter 2010 results for Flat-rolled are expected to be near break-even levels due to lower trade and intersegment shipments and production volumes, and increased costs for raw materials and energy.  The favorable effect due to the absence of Lake Erie Works repair and maintenance costs is expected to be offset by increased costs related primarily to planned maintenance work on several blast furnaces and repairs of the transportation system used to deliver raw materials to Gary Works' blast furnaces.  We expect average realized prices for the third quarter to be in line with the second quarter as the benefits of a higher value-added mix of shipments and increased prices for both index-based contracts and recently negotiated contracts offset decreases in spot market prices.  

Third quarter results for USSE are expected to be comparable to the second quarter as the benefits of higher euro-based transaction prices are offset by increased raw materials costs.  We expect slightly lower shipments due to reduced order rates from our spot market customers and normal seasonal variations.  In response to these lower order rates, we have idled a blast furnace at U. S. Steel Serbia.  We also have begun planned maintenance work on a blast furnace at U. S. Steel Kosice.  

Third quarter results for Tubular are expected to improve as compared to the second quarter.  The benefits of higher average realized prices and decreased costs for steel substrate are expected to be only partially offset by the impact of lower carbon OCTG and welded line pipe shipments.

The results for Other Businesses are expected to be lower in the third quarter due primarily to the second quarter impact of a land sale by our real estate operations.

This release contains forward-looking statements with respect to market conditions, operating costs, shipments, prices, capital spending, and employee benefit costs and payments.  Although we believe that we are in the early stages of a gradual economic recovery, U. S. Steel cannot control or predict the extent and timing of economic recovery.  As the recovery occurs, U. S. Steel is incurring and will continue to incur costs to rebuild working capital, but we cannot accurately forecast the amount of such costs.  Other more normal factors that could affect market conditions, costs, shipments and prices for both North American operations and USSE include (a) foreign currently fluctuations and related activities; (b) global product demand, prices and mix; (c) global and company steel production levels; (d) plant operating performance; (e) natural gas, electricity, raw materials and transportation prices, usage and availability; (f) international trade developments; (g) 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; (h) changes in environmental, tax, pension and other laws; (i) the terms of collective bargaining agreements, including any successor to the labor agreement covering our Hamilton Works operations; (j) employee strikes or other labor issues; (k) power outages; and (l) 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, including those related to CO2 emissions and climate change.  Economic conditions and political factors in Europe and Canada that may affect USSE's and U. S. Steel Canada's results include, but are not limited to, (m) taxation, (n) nationalization, (o) inflation, (p)  government instability, (q) political unrest, (r) regulatory actions, and (s) quotas, tariffs, and other protectionist measures.  Factors that may affect our decisions on strategic initiatives include, among other things, (w) the cost and availability of capital; (x) the anticipated cost of additional facilities (whether built or acquired); (y) current and anticipated product demand in the automotive and shale natural gas markets and availability of alternative products for such applications.  Factors that may affect our ability to construct new facilities include (z) levels of cash flow from operations, (aa) general economic conditions, (bb) business conditions, (cc) cost and availability of capital, (dd) receipt of necessary permits, and (ee) unforeseen hazards such as contractor performance, material shortages, weather conditions, explosions or fires.  The tax provision for the first six months ended June 30, 2010, is based on an estimated annual effective rate, which requires management to make its best estimate of annual pretax income or loss.  During the year, management regularly updates forecasted annual pretax results for the various countries in which we operate based on changes in factors such as prices, shipments, product mix, plant operating performance and cost estimates.  To the extent that actual 2010 pretax results for U.S. and foreign income or loss vary from estimates applied at the end of the most recent interim period, the actual tax provision or benefit recognized in 2010 could be materially different from the forecasted amount used to estimate the tax provision for the six months ended June 30, 2010.  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 U. S. Steel's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, and in subsequent filings for U. S. Steel.

A Consolidated Statement of Operations (Unaudited), Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (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 second quarter earnings on Tuesday, July 27, at 2 p.m. EDT.  To listen to the webcast of the conference call, visit the U. S. Steel website, www.ussteel.com, and click on "Overview" then "Current Information" under the "Investors" section.

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

    
    
                              UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION
                       CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)
                       ------------------------------------------------
                                                          
                                        Quarter Ended         Six Months Ended
                                        -------------         ----------------
                                 June 30   March 31 June 30      June 30
    (Dollars in millions)          2010      2010     2009    2010      2009
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------
    NET SALES                     $4,681    $3,896   $2,127  $8,577    $4,877
    
    OPERATING EXPENSES (INCOME):
      Cost of sales (excludes
       items shown below)          4,184     3,639    2,340   7,823     5,347
      Selling, general and
       administrative expenses       152       148      154     300       297
      Depreciation, depletion and
       amortization                  162       165      159     327       317
      (Income) loss from investees    (9)        5       10      (4)       31
      Net gains on disposal of
       assets                         (2)       (3)     (36)     (5)     (133)
      Other income, net               (4)       (1)     (35)     (5)      (39)
                                     ---       ---      ---     ---       ---
        Total operating expenses   4,483     3,953    2,592   8,436     5,820
                                   -----     -----    -----   -----     -----
    INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS    198       (57)    (465)    141      (943)
    Net interest and other 
     financial costs                 150       108        9     258        80
                                     ---       ---      ---     ---       ---
    INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME
     TAXES                            48      (165)    (474)   (117)   (1,023)
    Income tax provision (benefit)    72        (7)     (82)     65      (192)
                                     ---       ---      ---     ---      ----
    Net income (loss)                (24)     (158)    (392)   (182)     (831)
       Less: Net income (loss)
        attributable to
        noncontrolling interests       1        (1)       -       -         -
                                     ---       ---      ---     ---       ---
    NET LOSS ATTRIBUTABLE           
    UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION $(25)    $(157)   $(392)  $(182)    $(831)
    
    COMMON STOCK DATA:
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Net loss per share attributable 
       to United States Steel  
       Corporation shareholders:
           - Basic                $(0.17)   $(1.10)  $(2.92) $(1.27)   $(6.63)
           - Diluted              $(0.17)   $(1.10)  $(2.92) $(1.27)   $(6.63)
    
      Weighted average shares,
       in thousands
           - Basic               143,504   143,390  134,634 143,447   125,420
           - Diluted             143,504   143,390  134,634 143,447   125,420
    
      Dividends paid per
       common share                 $.05      $.05     $.05    $.10      $.35
    
    
    
                         UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION
                   CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)
                   -----------------------------------------------
    
                                                          Six Months Ended
                                                               June 30
                                                         -------------------
    (Dollars in millions)                                2010           2009
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Cash provided from operating activities:
     Net income (loss)                                  $(182)         $(831)
     Depreciation, depletion and amortization             327            317
     Pensions and other postretirement benefits          (164)             1
     Deferred income taxes                                 41           (248)
     Net gains on disposal of assets                       (5)          (133)
     Working capital changes                             (703)         1,289
     Income taxes receivable/payable                      237            (76)
     Other operating activities                           101             42
                                                          ---            ---
      Total                                              (348)           361
                                                         ----            ---
    Cash used in investing activities:
     Capital expenditures                                (242)          (206)
     Capital expenditures – variable interest entities      -            (93)
     Disposal of assets                                    80            339
     Other investing activities                           (23)           (55)
                                                          ---            ---
      Total                                              (185)           (15)
                                                         ----            ---
    Cash provided from financing activities:
     Issuance of long-term debt                           669            839
     Repayment of borrowings under revolving credit
      facilities                                         (270)             -
     Repayment of long-term debt                         (103)          (667)
     Common stock issued                                    2            666
     Common stock repurchased                               -              -
     Dividends paid                                       (14)           (42)
     Other financing activities                             -             90
                                                          ---            ---
      Total                                               284            886
                                                          ---            ---
    Effect of exchange rate changes on cash               (22)            (6)
                                                          ---            ---
    Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash 
     equivalents                                         (271)         1,226
    Cash at beginning of the year                       1,218            724
                                                        -----            ---
    Cash at end of the period                            $947         $1,950
                                                         ====         ======
    
    
    
                          UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION
                CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET (Unaudited)
                ------------------------------------------------
    
                                                            June 30   Dec. 31
    (Dollars in millions)                                      2010      2009
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Cash and cash equivalents                                  $947    $1,218
    Receivables, net                                          2,362     1,567
    Inventories                                               2,012     1,679
    Other current assets                                        488       551
                                                                ---       ---
       Total current assets                                   5,809     5,015
    Property, plant and equipment, net                        6,203     6,820
    Investments and long-term receivables, net                  647       695
    Goodwill and intangible assets, net                       2,006     2,006
    Other assets                                                753       886
                                                                ---       ---
       Total assets                                         $15,418   $15,422
                                                            =======   =======
    Accounts payable                                         $1,901    $1,457
    Payroll and benefits payable                                754       854
    Short-term debt and current maturities of
     long-term debt                                              21        19
    Other current liabilities                                   216       144
                                                                ---       ---
       Total current liabilities                              2,892     2,474
    Long-term debt, less unamortized discount                 3,639     3,345
    Employee benefits                                         3,986     4,143
    Other long-term liabilities                                 451       481
    United States Steel Corporation stockholders' equity      4,449     4,676
    Noncontrolling interests                                      1       303
                                                                ---       ---
       Total liabilities and stockholders' equity           $15,418   $15,422
                                                            =======   =======
    
    
    
                           UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION
                 PRELIMINARY SUPPLEMENTAL STATISTICS (Unaudited)
                 -----------------------------------------------
    
                                        Quarter Ended        Six Months Ended
                                 --------------------------  ----------------
                                 June 30  March 31  June 30        June 30
    (Dollars in millions)          2010      2010     2009      2010    2009
                                 --------------------------------------------
    
    
    INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS
    Flat-rolled                     $98      $(80)   $(362)      $18   $(784)
    U. S. Steel Europe               19        12      (53)       31    (212)
    Tubular                          96        45      (88)      141      39
    Other Businesses                 28        10       (7)       38     (10)
                                    ---       ---      ---       ---     ---
    Segment Income (Loss) 
     from Operations                241       (13)    (510)      228    (967)
      Retiree benefit expenses      (43)      (44)     (34)      (87)    (66)
      Other items not allocated 
       to segments:
        Litigation reserve            -         -       45         -      45
        Federal excise tax refund     -         -       34         -      34
        Net gain on sale of assets    -         -        -         -      97
        Workforce reduction charges   -         -        -         -     (86)
                                    ---       ---      ---       ---     ---
         Total Income (Loss) 
          from Operations          $198      $(57)    $(465)    $141   $(943)
    
    CAPITAL EXPENDITURES
    Flat-rolled                     $74       $80       $65     $154    $163
    U. S. Steel Europe               28        44        18       72      28
    Tubular                          13         -         3       13       6
    Other Businesses                  2         1         2        3       9
                                    ---       ---       ---      ---     ---
       Total                       $117      $125       $88     $242    $206
    
    
    
                            UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION
                    PRELIMINARY SUPPLEMENTAL STATISTICS (Unaudited)
                    -----------------------------------------------
    
                                     Quarter Ended           Six Months Ended
                             ----------------------------    ----------------
                             June 30   March 31   June 30        June 30
                               2010       2010      2009     2010       2009
                             ------------------------------------------------
    
    OPERATING STATISTICS
      Average realized price:
       ($/net ton)(a)
         Flat-rolled             700        654       677      678        697
         U. S. Steel Europe      687        614       602      649        634
         Tubular               1,496      1,389     1,526    1,452      2,100
      Steel Shipments:(a)(b)
         Flat-rolled           4,061      3,572     1,815    7,633      3,938
         U. S. Steel Europe    1,386      1,522     1,035    2,908      1,932
         Tubular                 433        310        92      743        299
                                 ---        ---       ---     ---        ---
             Total Steel
              Shipments        5,880      5,404     2,942   11,284      6,169
      Intersegment 
       Shipments:(b)
         Flat-rolled
          to Tubular             441        368        34      802        122
      Raw Steel-Production:(b)
         Flat-rolled           4,979      4,383     1,964    9,165      4,243
         U. S. Steel Europe    1,637      1,588     1,059    3,225      2,058
                                 
      Raw Steel-Capability
       Utilization:(c)
         Flat-rolled              82%        73%       32%      78%        35%
         U. S. Steel Europe       89%        87%       57%      88%        56%
    
    -----------
    (a)  Excludes intersegment shipments.
    (b)  Thousands of net tons.
    (c)  Based on annual raw steel production capability of 24.3 million net 
         tons for Flat-rolled and 7.4 million net tons for U. S. Steel Europe.
    

SOURCE United States Steel Corporation