NACCO Industries, Inc. Announces First Quarter 2019 Results

CLEVELAND, May 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ --

Quarter Highlights:

• In Q1 2019, NACCO changed its segments to reflect changes in the business
• Consolidated operating profit increased to $16.4 million from $9.7 million in Q1 2018 primarily driven by an increase in the Minerals Management segment
• Consolidated net income increased to $15.0 million, up 83.7% over Q1 2018
• Diluted earnings per share increased to $2.15/share from $1.18/share in Q1 2018

NACCO Industries, Inc. NC today announced consolidated net income of $15.0 million, or $2.15 per diluted share, and revenues of $40.1 million for the first quarter of 2019 compared with consolidated net income of $8.2 million, or $1.18 per diluted share, and revenues of $31.2 million for the first quarter of 2018.  For the quarters ended March 31, 2019 and March 31, 2018, NACCO's effective income tax rate was 13.4% and 9.0%, respectively.

NACCO ended the first quarter of 2019 with consolidated cash on hand of $79.1 million and debt of $12.0 million.  At December 31, 2018, NACCO had consolidated cash on hand of $85.3 million and debt of $11.0 million.

In February 2018, NACCO's Board of Directors authorized a stock buyback program to purchase up to $25 million of the Company's outstanding Class A common stock through December 31, 2019.  The Company has repurchased approximately 75,000 shares for an aggregate purchase price of $2.6 million since inception of this program, including $1.3 million of stock purchased during the three months ended March 31, 2019.

Reportable Segment Change

In the first quarter of 2019, the Company changed its segments to reflect changes in the business, including growth at North American Mining and Minerals Management.  As of January 1, 2019, the Company's reportable segments are: (i) Coal Mining, (ii) North American Mining, and (iii) Minerals Management. The Company also has unallocated items not directly attributable to a reportable segment and not included as part of the measurement of segment operating profit, primarily administrative costs related to public company reporting requirements, the financial results of the Company's mitigation banking business, Mitigation Resources of North America, and Bellaire Corporation.  Historical financial information for the four quarters and full-year 2018 is provided under the new segment structure on pages 8 to 10.

The Coal Mining segment operates surface coal mines pursuant to a service-based business model under long-term contracts with power generation companies and activated carbon producers. The North American Mining segment provides value-added contract mining services for producers of aggregates and other minerals, primarily by operating and maintaining draglines and other equipment.  The Minerals Management segment promotes the development of the Company's oil, gas and coal reserves, generating income primarily from royalty-based lease payments from third parties.

Detailed Discussion of Results

Coal Mining Results

 

Coal Mining revenues decreased modestly in the first quarter of 2019 primarily due to fewer tons delivered at Mississippi Lignite Mining Company as a result of decreased customer requirements.

First-quarter 2019 Coal Mining operating profit decreased primarily due to the absence of a $1.0 million favorable adjustment to Centennial Natural Resources' asset retirement obligation recorded in 2018 and an increase in selling, general and administrative expenses mainly attributable to higher employee-related expenses. These items were partially offset by an increase in earnings of unconsolidated operations primarily due to an increase in coal tons delivered at Bisti Fuels and higher compensation received by Liberty Fuels during final mine reclamation. Bisti's coal deliveries were reduced during the prior year first quarter while the power plant's owners were installing additional environmental controls.

Coal Mining Outlook

In 2019, overall deliveries in the Coal Mining segment are expected to decrease moderately.  This decrease is due to an anticipated reduction in coal deliveries as a result of changes in customer requirements, primarily related to the timing and duration of periodic power plant outages. Operating profit is also expected to decrease in 2019 as a result of the absence of a favorable $3.0 million contractual settlement at Mississippi Lignite Mining Company and $2.8 million in favorable adjustments to Centennial mine reclamation liabilities recognized in 2018.  Excluding these favorable 2018 items, 2019 operating profit is currently expected to be comparable to 2018 as improved operating results at Mississippi Lignite Mining Company are expected to be offset by reduced income at the unconsolidated Coal Mining operations resulting from fewer tons delivered.

North American Mining Results

 

Despite the decrease in deliveries at the consolidated operations, revenues increased modestly in the first quarter of 2019 due to higher reimbursed costs. Reimbursed costs have an offsetting amount in cost of goods sold and have no impact on operating profit.

Operating profit decreased significantly during the first quarter of 2019 primarily as a result of an increase in selling, general and administrative expenses, which includes additional business development costs.

North American Mining Outlook

In 2019, North American Mining deliveries are expected to decrease modestly compared with 2018.  Operating profit in 2019 is also expected to decrease compared to 2018.  Improved results at the unconsolidated operations attributable to increased customer requirements and new customer contracts are expected to be offset by higher operating expenses due in part to additional business development activities. Operating expenses for the remaining quarters in 2019 are expected to be comparable to the first quarter 2019 run rate.

Minerals Management Results

 

First-quarter 2019 Minerals Management revenues and operating profit increased significantly primarily due to a higher number of wells operated by third parties to extract natural gas from the Company's mineral reserves in Ohio.  The number of producing wells increased as new pipeline, gas compression, and other transportation infrastructure became available in southeast Ohio.

Minerals Management Outlook

The Minerals Management segment derives income from royalty-based leases under which the lessee makes payments to the Company based on the lessee's sale of natural gas and, to a lesser extent, oil and coal, extracted primarily by third parties.  The Company continued to experience a significant increase in royalty income in the first quarter of 2019 compared with the prior year, primarily due to the number of gas wells operated by third parties to extract natural gas from the Company's Ohio Utica shale mineral reserves. In the remainder of 2019, royalty income is currently expected to increase over the comparable 2018 period but at a lower rate than realized in the first quarter of 2019.  Importantly, however, royalty income can fluctuate favorably or unfavorably in response to a number of factors outside of the Company's control, including the number of wells being operated by third parties, fluctuations in commodity prices (primarily natural gas), fluctuations in production rates, regulatory risks, the Company's lessees' willingness and ability to incur well-development and other operating costs, and changes in the availability and continuing development of infrastructure.  Oil and natural gas production is impacted by the natural production decline that occurs during the life of a well.

Consolidated Outlook

Overall, NACCO expects 2019 consolidated net income to increase significantly compared with 2018 as a result of higher earnings in the Minerals Management segment, as well as an anticipated decrease in interest expense from reduced borrowings and higher interest income on cash investments.  The Company expects an effective income tax rate in the range of 13% to 15% based on current estimates in the mix of earnings between entities that benefit from percentage depletion and those that do not, as well as the potential effect of discrete items.

Capital expenditures are expected to be approximately $23 million in 2019 compared with $20.9 million in 2018 and $15.7 million in 2017.  Mississippi Lignite Mining Company's mine plan includes moving into a new mine area which will require increased capital expenditures in 2019 and 2020.  The increase in capital expenditures will result in an increase in depreciation in future years that will affect operating profit at that mine.  Even with the increased capital expenditures in 2019, consolidated cash flow before financing activities is expected to increase significantly compared with 2018.

One of the Company's core strategies is to ensure the resiliency of its existing coal mining operations.  The Company works to drive down coal production costs and maximize efficiency and operating capacity at mine locations to help customers with management fee contracts be more competitive. This benefits both customers and the Company's Coal Mining segment, as fuel cost is the major driver for power plant dispatch.  Increased power plant dispatch drives increased demand for coal by the Coal Mining segment's customers.

The Company continues to evaluate opportunities to expand its core coal mining business, however opportunities are likely to be limited.  Low natural gas prices and growth in renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, could continue to unfavorably affect the amount of electricity attributable to coal-fired power plants.  The political and regulatory environment is not generally receptive to development of new coal-fired power generation projects which would create opportunities to build and operate new coal mines. However, the Company does continue to seek out and pursue opportunities where it can apply its management fee business model to replace legacy operators of existing surface coal mining operations in the United States.  Outright acquisitions of existing coal mines or mining companies with exposure to fluctuating coal commodity markets, or structures that would create significant leverage, are outside the Company's area of focus.

The Company believes growth and diversification can come from pursuing opportunities to leverage skills honed in the Company's core mining operations and utilizing the Company's unique, service-based, management-fee business model, when possible.  The Company continues to pursue non-coal mining opportunities principally through its North American Mining segment.  North American Mining has served as a strong growth platform by focusing on the operation and maintenance of draglines for limestone producers.  North American Mining will continue to pursue growth in dragline operation and maintenance, while expanding the scope of work provided to customers and focusing on mining a broader range of aggregates and other minerals.  The Company also continues to focus on developing its Minerals Management segment, principally related to its Ohio mineral reserves, and potentially expanding its asset base.  In addition, the Company's newest business, Mitigation Resources of North America, creates and sells stream and wetland mitigation credits and provides services to those engaged in permittee-responsible mitigation.

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Conference Call

In conjunction with this news release, the management of NACCO Industries, Inc. will host a conference call on Thursday, May 2, 2019 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time.  The call may be accessed by dialing (844) 855-9691 (Toll Free) or (647) 689-2407 (International), Conference ID: 2378565, or over the Internet through NACCO Industries' website at www.nacco.com.  Please allow 15 minutes to register, download and install any necessary audio software required to listen to the broadcast.  A replay of the call will be available shortly after the end of the conference call through May 9, 2019.  The online archive of the broadcast will be available on the NACCO website.

Non-GAAP and Other Measures

This release contains non-GAAP financial measures within the meaning of Regulation G promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Included in this release are reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). EBITDA is provided solely as a supplemental non-GAAP disclosure of operating results. Management believes that EBITDA assists investors in understanding the results of operations of NACCO Industries, Inc.  In addition, management evaluates results using this non-GAAP measure.

Forward-looking Statements Disclaimer

The statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  These forward-looking statements are made subject to certain risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those presented.  Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof.  The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date hereof.  Among the factors that could cause plans, actions and results to differ materially from current expectations are, without limitation: (1) changes in tax laws or regulatory requirements, including changes in mining or power plant emission regulations and health, safety or environmental legislation, (2) changes in costs related to geological and geotechnical conditions, repairs and maintenance, new equipment and replacement parts, fuel or other similar items, (3) regulatory actions, changes in mining permit requirements or delays in obtaining mining permits that could affect deliveries to customers, (4) weather conditions, extended power plant outages, liquidity events or other events that would change the level of customers' coal or aggregates requirements, (5) weather or equipment problems that could affect deliveries to customers, (6) changes in the power industry that would affect demand for the Company's mineral reserves, (7) failure or delays by the Company's lessees in achieving expected production of natural gas and other hydrocarbons; the availability and cost of transportation and processing services in the areas where the Company's oil and gas reserves are located; federal and state legislative and regulatory initiatives relating to hydraulic fracturing; and the ability of lessees to obtain capital or financing needed for well development operations, (8) changes in the costs to reclaim mining areas, (9) costs to pursue and develop new mining and value-added service opportunities, (10) changes to or termination of a long-term mining contract, or a customer default under a contract, (11) delays or reductions in coal or aggregates deliveries, (12) changes in the prices of hydrocarbons, particularly diesel fuel, natural gas and oil, and (13) increased competition, including consolidation within the coal and aggregates industries.

About NACCO Industries, Inc.

NACCO Industries, Inc. is the public holding company for The North American Coal Corporation. The Company and its affiliates operate in the mining and natural resources industries through three operating segments:  Coal Mining, North American Mining and Minerals Management.  The Coal Mining segment operates surface coal mines pursuant to a service-based business model under long-term contracts with power generation companies and activated carbon producers.  The North American Mining segment provides value-added contract mining services for producers of aggregates and other minerals, primarily operating and maintaining draglines and other equipment.  The Minerals Management segment promotes the development of the Company's oil, gas and coal reserves, generating income primarily from royalty-based lease payments from third parties. For more information about NACCO Industries, visit the Company's website at www.nacco.com.

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SOURCE NACCO Industries, Inc.