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Centrus Energy (LEU) - 2024 Q3 - Earnings Call Transcript
LEUCentrus Energy (LEU)2024-10-29 14:46
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Financial Data and Key Metrics - Revenue for Q3 2024 was 57.7million,a57.7 million, a 6.4 million increase compared to the same quarter in the prior year [28] - Gross profit for Q3 2024 was 8.9million,aslightdecreasefrom8.9 million, a slight decrease from 11.3 million in the prior year [30] - Net loss for Q3 2024 was 5million,comparedtonetincomeof5 million, compared to net income of 8.2 million in the prior year [28] - LEU segment revenue was 34.8million,adecreaseof34.8 million, a decrease of 5.7 million compared to Q3 2023, due to a decrease in SWU volume sold, partially offset by an increase in average SWU price [28] - Technical Solutions segment revenue was 22.9million,anincreaseof22.9 million, an increase of 12.1 million compared to Q3 2023 [30] Business Line Data and Key Metrics - LEU segment gross profit was 5.2million,downfrom5.2 million, down from 10.1 million in Q3 2023, due to lower sales volume and higher average SWU cost [29] - Technical Solutions segment gross profit was 3.7million,animprovementof3.7 million, an improvement of 2.5 million compared to Q3 2023 [29] - The company has a total backlog of 3.8billionasofSeptember30,2024,extendingto2040[32]−LEUsegmentbacklogisapproximately3.8 billion as of September 30, 2024, extending to 2040 [32] - LEU segment backlog is approximately 2.8 billion, including future SWU and uranium deliveries under medium and long-term contracts [32] - Technical Solutions segment backlog is approximately 0.9billion,includingfundedamounts,unfundedamounts,andunexercisedoptions[33]MarketDataandKeyMetrics−ThecompanyistheonlylicensedandoperatingHALEUproductionfacilityintheWesternworld,locatedinPiketon,Ohio[13]−TheDepartmentofEnergyselectedthecompanyfora10−yearHALEUproductionawardwithatotalcontractceilingof0.9 billion, including funded amounts, unfunded amounts, and unexercised options [33] Market Data and Key Metrics - The company is the only licensed and operating HALEU production facility in the Western world, located in Piketon, Ohio [13] - The Department of Energy selected the company for a 10-year HALEU production award with a total contract ceiling of 2.7 billion [14] - The company has secured 2billionincustomercommitmentstosupportnewLEUproductioncapacityinPiketon,contingentonfinalcontractsandsecuringpublicandprivateinvestment[19][31]CompanyStrategyandIndustryCompetition−ThecompanyisfocusedonrestoringAmerica′snuclearfuelsupplychain,leveragingitsAmericantechnology,workforce,andsupplychain[39][40]−Thecompanyistheonlypublicly−tradeduraniumenrichmentcompanywithAmericantechnology,competingagainstforeign,government−ownedentities[18][39]−Thecompanyispositioningitselftocapitalizeonthe2 billion in customer commitments to support new LEU production capacity in Piketon, contingent on final contracts and securing public and private investment [19][31] Company Strategy and Industry Competition - The company is focused on restoring America's nuclear fuel supply chain, leveraging its American technology, workforce, and supply chain [39][40] - The company is the only publicly-traded uranium enrichment company with American technology, competing against foreign, government-owned entities [18][39] - The company is positioning itself to capitalize on the 3.4 billion appropriated by Congress for domestic nuclear fuel production [38] Management Commentary on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - The company sees growing momentum in the nuclear energy sector, driven by investments from major tech companies and government commitments to nuclear energy [8][9] - The company believes its annual results are more indicative of progress due to the nature of its contract cycles, which cause quarter-to-quarter fluctuations [10][11] - The company is optimistic about the future, given the increasing demand for nuclear fuel from both LEU and HALEU reactors [25][26] Other Important Information - The company raised 4.5millionthroughitsATMprograminQ32024,bringingtotalyear−endproceedsto4.5 million through its ATM program in Q3 2024, bringing total year-end proceeds to 23.8 million [34] - The company ended Q3 2024 with 194.3millionincashand194.3 million in cash and 32.6 million in restricted cash, totaling 226.9million[34]−Thecompanyreduceditspensionplanobligationsby226.9 million [34] - The company reduced its pension plan obligations by 21 million in Q3 2024, leaving 29 million remaining [35][36] Q&A Session Summary Question: Next steps and timing for HALEU contracts - The timing for next steps on HALEU contracts is uncertain and depends on the Department of Energy's discretion [44][45] Question: Impact of new demand sources on the market - The company views the growing demand for nuclear energy favorably, as it strengthens its business case and unique market positioning [46][47] Question: Structure of newly awarded contracts - The newly awarded contracts could be structured as fixed price, cost reimbursable, or other types, depending on the Department of Energy's discretion [50][51] Question: LEU segment margin trends - LEU segment margins have been lower due to the roll-off of high-margin contracts signed in previous years, but the company expects solid margins going forward [52][53][54] Question: Details on new contingent LEU sales commitments - The company has secured 2 billion in contingent LEU sales commitments, including an agreement with KHNP, but most customer identities remain confidential [57][58][60] Question: Timeline for LEU and HALEU production at Piketon - The company will provide further details on the timeline for LEU and HALEU production at Piketon, as it depends on funding and alignment of both projects [61] Question: Status of the current HALEU contract - The current HALEU contract expires in November 2024, and the company is working with the Department of Energy to extend it [63][64]