Ryerson Reports Third Quarter 2022 Results

Quarterly results include strong operating cash flow generation, sequential reduction in debt and increase in book value of equity. Business highlights include increase in dividend, acquisition of value-add enterprises and retirement of all high-yield debt.

CHICAGO, Nov. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ryerson Holding Corporation (NYSE: RYI), a leading value-added processor and distributor of industrial metals, today reported results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2022. 

Highlights: 

• Diluted EPS¹ of $1.46 on $1.54 billion of revenue
• Net Income of $55.1 million and Adjusted EBITDA, excluding LIFO² of $78.5 million
• Generated Operating Cash Flow of $151.6 million and Free Cash Flow³ of $124.0 million
• Redeemed the final $50 million outstanding balance of 8.50% senior secured notes due 2028 (the "Notes")
• Reduced debt to $477 million and net debt⁴ to $426 million 
• Increased book value of equity⁵ to $893 million, up from $851 million at June 30, 2022
• Announced a fourth quarter 2022 dividend of $0.16 per share, a 7% increase from the prior quarter
• Completed acquisition of Howard Precision Metals, Inc
• Completed acquisition of Excelsior, Inc subsequent to quarter-end

A reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to the comparable GAAP measure is included below in this news release.

Management Commentary

Eddie Lehner, Ryerson's President and Chief Executive Officer, said "I want to thank all of my Ryerson Family of Companies colleagues for a job well done in transitioning to counter-cyclical industry conditions during the quarter while also realizing significant achievements and milestones toward preparing for the next industry upturn as positive secular drivers for industrial metals demand remain intact. In the third quarter of 2022, Ryerson delivered strong operational and financial performance. Despite decreasing metals prices and declining industry demand, we generated healthy operating cash flow and very strong free cash flow yields through our business model as well as working capital release due to the counter-cyclical nature of our balance sheet. Importantly, the work we have done over the past several quarters transforming our balance sheet means we are no longer a high-yield debt company. Ryerson is now in a historically strong position to reinvest in the modernization and growth of our intelligent and connected service center network, while continuing to provide returns to shareholders. After taking the opportunity to reflect on the progress we have made over the past several quarters and years, we look forward to providing further insight into Ryerson's plans for the future during our Investor Day at the New York Stock Exchange on November 8, 2022. As Ryerson celebrates its 180^th birthday this November, we hope to see you there in person or virtually." 

Third Quarter Results

Ryerson generated revenues of $1.54 billion in the third quarter of 2022, a decrease of 11.5%, compared to $1.74 billion for the second quarter of 2022 primarily driven by lower selling prices. Average selling prices declined 9.4% compared to the second quarter while volume declined 2.3%. Gross margin contracted sequentially by 910 basis points to 17.6% in the third quarter of 2022, compared to 26.7% in the second quarter of 2022. Gross margins were primarily impacted by the dramatic drop in spot prices versus the lagging average cost of goods sold decline.  Sequentially, supply constraints eased versus the second quarter while inventory availability increased and lead times decreased. Cost of goods sold in the third quarter of 2022 included LIFO income of $21.1 million, compared to LIFO income of $73.8 million in the second quarter of 2022. Excluding the impact of LIFO, gross margin contracted 630 basis points to 16.2% in the third quarter of 2022, compared to 22.5% in the second quarter of 2022. Warehousing, delivery, selling, general and administrative expenses increased 2% to $186.5 million in the third quarter of 2022, compared to $182.9 million in the second quarter of 2022 driven primarily by inflationary pressures.

Net income attributable to Ryerson Holding Corporation for the third quarter of 2022 was $55.1 million, or $1.46 per diluted share, compared to $196.4 million, or $5.10 per diluted share in the previous quarter. Net income in the third quarter of 2022 includes a charge of $1.5 million related to loss on the retirement of debt and a $0.6 million gain on bargain purchases. Excluding these one-time items and the associated income taxes, adjusted net income attributable to Ryerson Holding Corporation for the third quarter was $55.8 million, or $1.48 per diluted share, compared to $204.4 million, or $5.31 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2022. Ryerson generated Adjusted EBITDA, excluding LIFO of $78.5 million in the third quarter of 2022, compared to second quarter 2022 Adjusted EBITDA, excluding LIFO of $224.2 million.

Liquidity & Debt Management

Ryerson generated $151.6 million of operating cash in the third quarter of 2022 driven by a combination of strong operating profit and working capital release.  Ryerson's leverage ratio for the third quarter of 2022 remained flat quarter-over-quarter at 0.5x, a record low since our initial public offering in 2014. The Company ended the third quarter of 2022 with $477 million of debt and $426 million of net debt, a decrease in net debt of $66 million compared to the second quarter of 2022. The Company's global liquidity, composed of cash and cash equivalents and availability on its revolving credit facilities, increased to $906 million as of September 30, 2022, compared to $894 million as of June 30, 2022.

Bond Repurchase. During the third quarter of 2022, Ryerson redeemed the remaining $50 million of Notes by exercising an optional redemption feature. As of September 30, 2022, Ryerson no longer has any high yield debt outstanding.  Related to the Note redemption in the third quarter, a loss on retirement of debt of $1.5 million was recognized and is excluded from adjusted net income and adjusted diluted EPS.

Shareholder Return Activity

Dividends. On November 2, 2022, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.16 per share of common stock, payable on December 15, 2022, to stockholders of record as of December 1, 2022.  Ryerson paid a quarterly dividend in the amount of $0.15 per share, amounting to a cash return of approximately $5.5 million for the third quarter of 2022.

Share Repurchase. Ryerson repurchased approximately 34,000 shares of common stock resulting in a return to shareholders of approximately $0.9 million for the third quarter of 2022.  Ryerson made these repurchases in accordance with its share repurchase program, which authorizes the Company to acquire up to an aggregate amount of $75.0 million of the Company's common stock through August 3, 2024. During the third quarter of 2022, Ryerson returned approximately $6.4 million to shareholders in the form of dividends and share repurchases.

Outlook Commentary

Ryerson expects counter-cyclical business conditions to continue through the fourth quarter of 2022. Benchmark carbon, aluminum and nickel price decreases are anticipated to continue into the fourth quarter while sales volumes experience slow-down driven by seasonal declines in buying as well as decelerating economies in North America, Europe, and China. As such, Ryerson anticipates fourth quarter 2022 revenues in the range of $1.25 billion to $1.30 billion, with a sequential average selling price decrease of 7% to 11%, and a shipment volume decrease of 8% to 10%. LIFO income in the fourth quarter of 2022 is expected to be $20 million. We expect adjusted EBITDA, excluding LIFO in the range of $40 million to $44 million and earnings per diluted share in the range of $0.70 to $0.78.

Earnings Call Information

Ryerson will host a conference call to discuss third quarter 2022 financial results for the period ended September 30, 2022, on Thursday, November 3, 2022, at 10 a.m. Eastern Time. The live online broadcast will be available on the Company's investor relations website, ir.ryerson.com. A replay will be available at the same website for 90 days.

About Ryerson

Ryerson is a leading value-added processor and distributor of industrial metals, with operations in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and China. Founded in 1842, Ryerson has around 4,000 employees in approximately 100 locations. Visit Ryerson at www.ryerson.com.

Notes:

¹EPS is Earnings per Share

²For EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA excluding LIFO please see Schedule 2 

³Free Cash Flow is defined as Net Cash provided by operating activities less capital expenditures. See Schedule 4

⁴Net Debt is defined as Long Term Debt plus Short Term Debt less Cash and Cash Equivalents and excludes Restricted Cash

⁵Book value of Equity is defined as Total Assets less Total Liabilities

Legal Disclaimer 

The contents herein are provided for general information purposes only and do not constitute an offer to sell or buy, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any security ("Security") of the Company or its affiliates ("Ryerson") in any jurisdiction. Ryerson does not intend to solicit, and is not soliciting, any action with respect to any Security or any other contractual relationship with the Ryerson. Nothing in this release, individually or taken in the aggregate, constitutes an offer of securities for sale or buy, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any Security in the United States, or to U.S. persons, or in any other jurisdiction in which such an offer or solicitation is unlawful.

Safe Harbor Provision

Certain statements made in this presentation and other written or oral statements made by or on behalf of the Company constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including statements regarding our future performance, as well as management's expectations, beliefs, intentions, plans, estimates, objectives, or projections relating to the future. Such statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "objectives," "goals," "preliminary," "range," "believes," "expects," "may," "estimates," "will," "should," "plans," or "anticipates" or the negative thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy. The Company cautions that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and may involve significant risks and uncertainties, and that actual results may vary materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. Among the factors that significantly impact our business are: the cyclicality of our business; the highly competitive, volatile, and fragmented metals industry in which we operate; fluctuating metal prices; our substantial indebtedness and the covenants in instruments governing such indebtedness; the integration of acquired operations; regulatory and other operational risks associated with our operations located inside and outside of the United States; impacts and implications of adverse health events, including the COVID-19 pandemic; work stoppages; obligations under certain employee retirement benefit plans; the ownership of a majority of our equity securities by a single investor group; currency fluctuations; and consolidation in the metals industry. Forward-looking statements should, therefore, be considered in light of various factors, including those set forth above and those set forth under "Risk Factors" in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2022, and in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Moreover, we caution against placing undue reliance on these statements, which speak only as of the date they were made. The Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances, new information or otherwise.