Worthington Steel(US:WS)2025-03-20 16:13Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Adjusted EBITDA for Q3 2025 was $41.9 million, down from $82.8 million in the prior year quarter, reflecting a significant decline [8] - Earnings per share decreased to $0.27 from $0.98 year-over-year [8] - Net sales were $687 million, a decrease of $118 million or 15% from the prior year quarter, primarily due to lower direct volumes and pricing [36] - Adjusted EBIT fell to $25.3 million, down from $66.9 million in the prior year quarter [31] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Shipments to the automotive market decreased by 3% year-over-year, impacted by production cuts at a major OEM [10][37] - Construction market shipments decreased by 20% year-over-year, attributed to economic uncertainty and a prior year pivot to a construction-heavy mix [40] - Agriculture market demand remains soft due to interest rates and commodity prices, while the heavy truck market is expected to show GDP-type growth for the remainder of 2025 [14] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Automotive production in North America for 2024 was 15.4 million units, with a forecast of approximately 15.3 million units for 2025, indicating flat growth [11] - The hot-rolled coil pricing increased to approximately $950 per ton in March, up from a range of $650 to $700 per ton [35] - Estimated pretax inventory holding gains for Q4 2025 are projected to be between $20 million to $25 million, compared to losses in Q3 2025 [35] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on investments in the electrical steel market, anticipating a 6% annual growth in power demand over the next 15 years [16] - Progress is being made towards acquiring a 52% stake in Sitem, a European electrical steel lamination manufacturer, which is expected to enhance the company's capabilities [17][18] - Capital investments in electrical steel capabilities in Canada and Mexico are ongoing, with production expected to begin in late 2025 and early 2026 respectively [20][21] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed cautious optimism about the North American automotive market for 2025, despite current uncertainties [10] - There is an expectation for the construction market to gain momentum in the second half of 2025, aided by interest rate cuts [13] - Overall, management believes that clarity will improve as the year progresses, leading to a more optimistic outlook for the second half of 2025 [27] Other Important Information - The company reported cash flow from operations of $54 million and free cash flow of $25 million for the quarter [44] - A quarterly dividend of $0.16 per share was announced, payable on June 27, 2025 [44] - The company ended the quarter with $63 million in cash and $112 million in outstanding debt, resulting in net debt of $49 million [44] Q&A Session Summary Question: Impact of tariff policy - Management anticipates minimal impact from tariff policies, emphasizing a localized strategy for steel procurement [48][49] Question: TWB charges and performance - Special charges related to TWB included a write-off of R&D and costs from a voluntary retirement program, impacting quarterly results [54][55] Question: Normalization of underlying EBITDA - Management indicated uncertainty in demand and market conditions, suggesting a cautious optimism for normalization by the end of the calendar year [60][61] Question: Serviacero performance - Serviacero faced similar demand compression as the U.S. market, with challenges from exchange rate movements and inventory holding losses [70][72] Question: Construction market share efforts - Management acknowledged a tough comparison with the previous year but indicated efforts to pursue more opportunities in the construction market [78][79] Question: New automotive customer awards - The company has gained share in the automotive market, with expectations for increased shipments and potential margin improvements in the coming months [82][84]