Orion S.A. Reports Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Orion S.A. (NYSE: OEC) reported its Q2 2024 financial results. Net sales increased 4% to $477 million, while net income decreased 31.9% to $20.5 million. Diluted EPS fell 31.4% to $0.35, and Adjusted EBITDA declined 14% to $75.1 million. The company faced challenges including softer Rubber segment demand and mixed global macro trends. However, the Specialty segment showed encouraging signs with strong double-digit volume growth.

For the first half of 2024, net sales rose 2.1% to $979.9 million, while net income decreased 34.8% to $47.2 million. The company revised its 2024 guidance, projecting Adjusted EBITDA between $315-330 million and Adjusted Diluted EPS of $1.75-$1.95. Orion plans to resume opportunistic stock buybacks in Q3 2024, citing confidence in industry fundamentals and medium-term earnings trajectory.

Positive

• Net sales increased 4% year-over-year to $477 million in Q2 2024
• Specialty Carbon Black segment volume increased 17.4% year-over-year
• Company plans to resume opportunistic stock buybacks in Q3 2024
• Six-month net sales increased 2.1% to $979.9 million

Negative

• Net income decreased 31.9% year-over-year to $20.5 million in Q2 2024
• Adjusted EBITDA declined 14% year-over-year to $75.1 million in Q2 2024
• Diluted EPS fell 31.4% year-over-year to $0.35 in Q2 2024
• Rubber Carbon Black segment volume declined 2% year-over-year
• Company revised down 2024 guidance for Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Diluted EPS

Financial Analyst

Orion S.A.'s Q2 2024 results present a mixed picture, with some concerning trends that investors should note. Net sales increased by 4% to $477 million, but net income declined by 31.9% to $20.5 million. The Adjusted EBITDA drop of 14% to $75.1 million is particularly worrying, as it suggests underlying profitability issues.

The Specialty Carbon Black segment showed volume growth of 17.4%, which is positive. However, the Adjusted EBITDA margin in this segment decreased by 310 basis points to 16.9%, indicating pressure on profitability despite higher sales. The Rubber Carbon Black segment faced challenges with a 2% volume decline and a 17.9% drop in Adjusted EBITDA.

The company's revised guidance for 2024, with Adjusted EBITDA now expected between $315 million and $330 million, suggests management anticipates continued headwinds. The projected free cash flow of $0 to $25 million for the year is concerning, as it limits financial flexibility.

Investors should closely monitor Orion's ability to improve margins and cash flow generation in the coming quarters, especially given the challenging macro environment the company acknowledges.

Market Research Analyst

Orion's Q2 results reflect broader market challenges in the specialty chemicals sector. The softer demand in the Rubber segment, particularly in Americas and Asia, aligns with global economic slowdowns and potentially reduced automotive production. However, the strong double-digit volume growth in the Specialty segment suggests resilience in certain end markets, possibly including electronics and packaging.

The company's decision to resume stock buybacks in Q3 2024 is intriguing. While it signals management's confidence in future prospects, it also raises questions about the best use of capital given the current market uncertainties and the need for plant investments.

Orion's mention of "improved industry fundamentals" contrasts with their cautious outlook, suggesting potential structural changes in the carbon black market that could benefit the company long-term, despite near-term headwinds. The focus on responsible capital allocation and reduced growth capital plans over the next two years indicates a shift towards consolidation rather than expansion.

Investors should watch for any signs of demand recovery in key markets, particularly in the automotive sector, which could significantly impact Orion's performance in the coming quarters.

Industry Expert

Orion's Q2 results highlight the ongoing challenges in the carbon black industry. The divergence between Specialty and Rubber segment performance is noteworthy. While Specialty volumes grew 17.4%, Rubber volumes declined 2%, reflecting differing end-market dynamics.

The decrease in gross profit per metric ton across both segments (Specialty down 21%, Rubber down 3.7%) suggests pricing pressures and potential raw material cost volatility. This is a common issue in the chemical industry, where passing through costs can lag market changes.

Orion's mention of "diminishing growth capital plans" over the next two years is significant. It could indicate a shift in industry dynamics, with major players focusing on optimizing existing assets rather than expanding capacity. This could lead to a more balanced supply-demand picture in the medium term.

The company's focus on plant investments and improved utilization in H2 2024 suggests efforts to enhance operational efficiency. If successful, this could help mitigate some of the margin pressures evident in the Q2 results.

Overall, Orion's results reflect a carbon black industry in transition, with companies navigating volatile input costs, shifting end-market demands and the need for operational optimization.

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Orion S.A. (NYSE: OEC), a specialty chemical company, today announced financial results for period ended June 30, 2024 as follows:

Second Quarter 2024 Highlights

• Net sales of $477.0 million, up $18.2 million, year over year
• Net income of $20.5 million, down $9.6 million, year over year
• Diluted EPS of $0.35, down $0.16, year over year
• Adjusted EBITDA¹ of $75.1 million, down 14%, year over year
• Adjusted Diluted EPS¹ of $0.41, down $0.12, year over year

Six Months 2024 Highlights

• Net sales of $979.9 million, up $20.4 million, year over year
• Net income of $47.2 million, down $25.2 million, year over year
• Diluted EPS of $0.80, down $0.40, year over year
• Adjusted EBITDA¹ of $160.4 million, down 15%, year over year
• Adjusted Diluted EPS¹ of $0.93, down $0.34, year over year

1 The reconciliations of Non-U.S. GAAP (“GAAP”) measures to the respective most comparable GAAP measures are provided in the section titled Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures below.

“Orion executed against a more challenging than contemplated backdrop in the second quarter of 2024, including softer Rubber segment demand and mixed macro trends globally. Still, our Specialty segment’s ongoing earnings recovery is encouraging, including strong double-digit volume growth and our Rubber segment’s profitability remained relatively steady. Bigger picture, we remain confident in the durability of the industry’s improved fundamentals, Orion-specific initiatives and the company’s medium-term earnings trajectory,” stated Corning Painter, Orion’s Chief Executive Officer.

“Considering our financial position, supportive industry fundamentals, ongoing plant investments and confidence in our prospects into 2025 and beyond, we will resume opportunistic stock buyback activity starting in the third quarter of 2024,” continued Painter. “Responsible and balanced capital allocation remains a key strategic consideration for Orion management and its Board. Considering diminishing growth capital plans over the next two years, we have the capacity for share repurchases, which represent a prudent use of excess capital.”

Jeff Glajch, Orion’s Chief Financial Officer added, “the optics of our quarterly comparison were again impacted by unusually high co-generation earnings in the prior year period. Additionally, we continued to see weaker Rubber volume in the second quarter of 2024. For the second half of 2024, we expect to see better profitability, despite the continuing softness of the Rubber market, thanks to improved plant utilization. Regarding the resumption of buybacks: we are comfortable with our current absolute net debt level and we believe our net leverage ratio is set to decline next year with continued EBITDA growth and better free cash flow.”

Second Quarter 2024 Overview:
(In millions, except volume, per metric ton and EPS data)		Q2 2024		Q2 2023		Y/Y Change			Y/Y Change in %
Volume (kmt)		233.1		227.3		5.8			2.6	%
Net sales		477.0		458.8		18.2			4.0	%
Gross profit		109.8		117.1		(7.3	)		(6.2	)%
Gross profit per metric ton(1)		471.0		515.2		(44.2	)		(8.6	)%
Income from operations		41.6		58.9		(17.3	)		(29.4	)%
Net income		20.5		30.1		(9.6	)		(31.9	)%
Adjusted net income(1)		24.5		31.5		(7.0	)		(22.2	)%
Adjusted EBITDA(1)		75.1		87.3		(12.2	)		(14.0	)%
Basic EPS		0.35		0.51		(0.16	)		(31.4	)%
Diluted EPS		0.35		0.51		(0.16	)		(31.4	)%
Adjusted Diluted EPS(1)		0.41		0.53		(0.12	)		(22.6	)%
(1) The reconciliations of Non-U.S. GAAP (“GAAP”) measures to the respective most comparable GAAP measures are provided in the section titled Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures below.

Volume increased by 5.8 kmt, year over year due to higher volume in Specialty Carbon Black segment.

Net sales increased by $18.2 million, or 4.0%, year over year, driven primarily by higher volume in Specialty Carbon Black segment, the pass-through effect from higher oil prices and improved contractual pricing. Those were partially offset by unfavorable currency translation.

Gross profit decreased by $7.3 million, or 6.2%, to $109.8 million, year over year. The decrease was driven primarily by favorable impact from the pass-through of raw material costs in the prior year, higher fixed costs and lower cogeneration.

Income from operations decreased by $17.3 million, or 29.4%, to $41.6 million, year over year. The decrease was driven primarily by favorable impact from the pass-through of raw material costs in the prior year, higher fixed costs and lower cogeneration. Those were partially offset by higher Specialty Carbon Black volume and improved contractual pricing.

Adjusted EBITDA decreased by $12.2 million, or 14.0%, to $75.1 million, year over year, impacted by the same factors as income from operations.

Quarterly Business Segment Results
SPECIALTY CARBON BLACK
(In millions, except volume and per metric ton data)		Q2 2024			Q2 2023			Y/Y Change			Y/Y Change in %
Volume (kmt)		62.9			53.6			9.3			17.4	%
Net sales		165.5			149.5			16.0			10.7	%
Gross profit		39.5			42.6			(3.1	)		(7.3	)%
Gross profit per metric ton		628.0			794.8			(166.8	)		(21.0	)%
Adjusted EBITDA		28.0			29.9			(1.9	)		(6.4	)%
Adjusted EBITDA/metric ton		445.2			557.8			(112.6	)		(20.2	)%
Adjusted EBITDA margin (%)		16.9	%		20.0	%		(310)bps			(15.5	)%

Specialty Carbon Black segment volume increased by 9.3 kmt, or 17.4%, year over year due to volume recovery across all regions and end markets.

Net sales rose by $16.0 million, or 10.7%, to $165.5 million, year over year, primarily due to higher volume across all regions.

Adjusted EBITDA declined by $1.9 million, or 6.4%, to $28.0 million, year over year. The decrease was primarily due to favorable impact from the pass-through of raw material costs in the prior year and lower cogeneration, partially offset by higher volume.

Year over year, Adjusted EBITDA per ton decreased by $112.6 or 20.2%, to $445.2.

Year over year, Adjusted EBITDA margin decreased 310 basis points to 16.9%.

RUBBER CARBON BLACK
(In millions, except volume and per metric ton data)		Q2 2024			Q2 2023			Y/Y Change			Y/Y Change in %
Volume (kmt)		170.2			173.7			(3.5	)		(2.0	)%
Net sales		311.5			309.3			2.2			0.7	%
Gross profit		70.3			74.5			(4.2	)		(5.6	)%
Gross profit per metric ton		413.0			428.9			(15.9	)		(3.7	)%
Adjusted EBITDA		47.1			57.4			(10.3	)		(17.9	)%
Adjusted EBITDA/metric ton		276.7			330.5			(53.8	)		(16.3	)%
Adjusted EBITDA margin (%)		15.1	%		18.6	%		(350)bps			(18.8	)%

Rubber Carbon Black segment volume declined by 3.5 kmt, or 2.0%, year over year due to lower demand in Americas and Asia.

Net sales increased by $2.2 million, or 0.7%, to $311.5 million, year over year.

Adjusted EBITDA declined by $10.3 million, or 17.9%, to $47.1 million, year over year. The decrease was driven primarily by higher fixed costs, favorable impact from the pass-through of raw material costs in the prior year and lower cogeneration, partially offset by higher volume in Europe and improved contractual pricing.

Year over year, Adjusted EBITDA per ton decreased by $53.8, or 16.3% to $276.7.

Adjusted EBITDA margin decreased 350 basis points to 15.1%.

Six Months 2024 Highlights
		Six Months Ended June 30,				Year-Over Year
(In millions, except volume, per metric ton and EPS data)		2024		2023		Delta
Volume (kmt)		481.5		460.8		20.7			4.5	%
Net sales		979.9		959.5		20.4			2.1	%
Gross profit		232.0		253.5		(21.5	)		(8.5	)%
Gross profit per metric ton(1)		481.8		550.1		(68.3	)		(12.4	)%
Income from operations		94.4		132.4		(38.0	)		(28.7	)%
Net income		47.2		72.4		(25.2	)		(34.8	)%
Adjusted net income(1)		55.3		76.6		(21.3	)		(27.8	)%
Adjusted EBITDA(1)		160.4		188.4		(28.0	)		(14.9	)%
Basic EPS		0.81		1.21		(0.40	)		(33.3	)%
Diluted EPS		0.80		1.20		(0.40	)		(33.3	)%
Adjusted Diluted EPS(1)		0.93		1.27		(0.34	)		(26.8	)%
(1) The reconciliations of these non-GAAP measures to the respective most comparable GAAP measures are provided in the section titled Reconciliation of non-GAAP Financial Measures.

Volume increased by 20.7 kmt to 481.5 kmt compared to the six months ended June 30, 2023, primarily due to higher volume in Specialty Carbon Black segment.

Net sales increased by $20.4 million, or 2.1%, in the six months ended June 30, 2024 to $979.9 million, year over year, primarily driven by higher volume in Specialty Carbon Black segment and improved contractual pricing. This was partially offset by the pass-through effect of lower raw material costs and lower cogeneration.

Gross profit decreased by $21.5 million, or 8.5%, to $232.0 million, and gross profit per metric ton decreased by 12.4% to $481.8 year over year. The decrease was primarily driven by higher fixed costs, favorable impact from the pass-through of raw material costs in the prior year and lower cogeneration.

Income from operations decreased by 38.0, or 28.7%, to 94.4, year over year, driven primarily by higher fixed costs, favorable impact from the pass-through of raw material costs in the prior year. Those were partially offset by higher Specialty Carbon Black volume and improved contractual pricing.

Adjusted EBITDA decreased by $28.0 million, or 14.9%, from $188.4 million in the six months ended June 30, 2023 to $160.4 million in the six months ended June 30, 2024. The decrease was driven by the same factors as income from operations.

Six Months Business Segment Results
SPECIALTY CARBON BLACK
		Six Months Ended June 30,
(In millions, except volume and per metric ton data)		2024			2023			Delta
Volume (kmt)		126.2			106.6			19.6			18.4	%
Net sales		336.4			311.5			24.9			8.0	%
Gross profit		81.2			94.7			(13.5	)		(14.3	)%
Gross profit per metric ton		643.4			888.4			(245.0	)		(27.6	)%
Adjusted EBITDA		55.9			67.2			(11.3	)		(16.8	)%
Adjusted EBITDA/metric ton		442.9			630.4			(187.5	)		(29.7	)%
Adjusted EBITDA margin (%)		16.6	%		21.6	%		(500)bps			(23.1	)%

Volumes increased by 19.6 kmt, or 18.4% year over year, to 126.2 kmt for the six months ended June 30, 2024, primarily due to volume recovery across all regions and end markets.

Net sales increased by $24.9 million, or 8.0%, year over year, to $336.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024, primarily due to higher volume across all regions.

Adjusted EBITDA decreased by $11.3 million, or 16.8%, year over year, to $55.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024. The decrease was primarily due to favorable impact from the pass-through of raw material costs in the prior year and higher fixed costs, partially offset by higher volume.

Year over year, Adjusted EBITDA per ton decreased by $187.5 or 29.7%, to $442.9.

Adjusted EBITDA margin decreased by 500 basis points, year over year, to 16.6% for the six months ended June 30, 2024.

RUBBER CARBON BLACK
		Six Months Ended June 30,
(In millions, except volume and per metric ton data)		2024			2023			Delta
Volume (kmt)		355.3			354.2			1.1			0.3	%
Net sales		643.5			648.0			(4.5	)		(0.7	)%
Gross profit		150.8			158.8			(8.0	)		(5.0	)%
Gross profit per metric ton		424.4			448.3			(23.9	)		(5.3	)%
Adjusted EBITDA		104.5			121.2			(16.7	)		(13.8	)%
Adjusted EBITDA/metric ton		294.1			342.2			(48.1	)		(14.1	)%
Adjusted EBITDA margin (%)		16.2	%		18.7	%		(250)bps			(13.4	)%

Volume increased by 1.1 kmt, or 0.3%, year over year, to 355.3 kmt, for the six months ended June 30, 2024.

Net sales decreased by $4.5 million, or 0.7%, year over year, to $643.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024.

Adjusted EBITDA decreased by $16.7 million, or 13.8%, to $104.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024. The decrease was driven primarily by higher fixed costs, favorable impact from the pass-through of raw material costs in the prior year, reduced volume in Americas and lower cogeneration, partially offset by higher volume in Europe and improved contractual pricing.

Year over year, Adjusted EBITDA per ton decreased by $48.1 or 14.1%, to $294.1.

For the six months ended June 30, 2024, Adjusted EBITDA margin decreased 250 basis points to 16.2%, year over year.

Debt

As of June 30, 2024, the company’s net debt was $803.5 million, up $22.8 million from the end of 2023 and net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio was 2.64 times.

Outlook

“We are revising our 2024 guidance for the year of an Adjusted EBITDA range of $315 million to $330 million and an Adjusted Diluted EPS range of $1.75 per share to $1.95 per share. Free cash flow should be $0 to $25 million this year. For planning purposes, and given considerable macro uncertainty, we are not anticipating any meaningful economic improvement over the balance of 2024,” Mr. Painter concluded.

Conference Call

As previously announced, Orion will hold a conference call tomorrow, Friday, August 2, 2024, at 8:30 a.m. (EDT). The dial-in details for the live conference call are as follows:

U.S. Toll Free:			1-877-407-4018
International:			1-201-689-8471

A replay of the conference call may be accessed by phone at the following numbers to Friday, August 9, 2024:

U.S. Toll Free:			1-844-512-2921
International:			1-412-317-6671
Conference ID:			13743654

Additionally, an archived webcast of the conference call will be available on the investor section of the company’s website at www.orioncarbons.com.

To learn more about Orion S.A., visit the company’s investor website at www.orioncarbons.com, where we regularly post information including notification of events, news, financial performance, investor presentations and webcasts, non-GAAP reconciliations, SEC filings and other information regarding our company, its businesses and the markets it serves.

About Orion S.A.

Orion S.A. (NYSE: OEC) is a leading global supplier of carbon black, a solid form of carbon produced as powder or pellets. The material is made to customers’ exacting specifications for tires, coatings, ink, batteries, plastics and numerous other specialty, high-performance applications. Carbon black is used to tint, colorize, provide reinforcement, conduct electricity, increase durability, and add UV protection. Orion has innovation centers on three continents and produces carbon black at 15 plants worldwide, offering the most diverse variety of production processes in the industry. The company’s corporate lineage goes back more than 160 years to Germany, where it operates the world’s longest-running carbon black plant. Orion is a leading innovator, applying a deep understanding of customers’ needs to deliver sustainable solutions. For more information, please visit www.orioncarbons.com.

Cautionary Statement for the Purposes of the “Safe Harbor” Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

This document contains and refers to certain forward-looking statements with respect to our financial condition, results of operations and business, including those in the “Outlook ” and “Quarterly Business Segment Results” sections above. These statements constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Forward-looking statements are statements of future expectations that are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, among others, statements concerning the potential exposure to market risks, statements expressing management’s expectations, beliefs, estimates, forecasts, projections and assumptions and statements that are not limited to statements of historical or present facts or conditions. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as “anticipate,” "assume," “assure,” “believe,” “confident,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “objectives,” “outlook,” “probably,” “project,” “will,” “seek,” “target” “to be,” and other words of similar meaning.

These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements about the following matters: • our outlook and expectations for 2024 and 2025, including with respect to profitability, plant utilization, net leverage, EBITDA growth and free cash flow; • share repurchases; • growth and strategies; • supply; • customer actions, behavior and demand for our products; • macroeconomic conditions; and • expectations and plans with respect to our capital, including investments and potential returns to our shareholders.

All these forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions that, although believed to be reasonable, are inherently uncertain. Therefore, undue reliance should not be placed upon any forward-looking statements. There are important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, among others: • possible negative or uncertain worldwide economic conditions and developments; • the volatility and cyclicality of the industries in which we operate; • the operational risks inherent in chemicals manufacturing, including disruptions due to technical facilities, severe weather conditions or natural disasters; • our dependence on major customers and suppliers; • unanticipated fluctuations in demand for our products, including due to factors beyond our control; • our ability to compete in the industries and markets in which we operate; • changes in the nature of transportation in the future, which may impact our customers and our business; • our ability to successfully develop new products and technologies; • the availability of substitutes for our products; • our ability to implement our business strategies; • our ability to respond to changes in feedstock prices and quality; • our ability to realize benefits from investments, joint ventures, acquisitions or alliances; our ability to negotiate satisfactory terms with counterparties, the satisfactory performance by such counterparties of their obligations to us, as well as our ability to meet our performance obligations towards such counterparties; • our ability to realize benefits from planned plant capacity expansions and planned and current site development projects, including our conductive additives facility at La Porte, Texas, and the impacts of potential delays to such expansions and development projects; • any information technology systems failures, network disruptions and breaches of data security; • our relationships with our workforce, including negotiations with labor unions, strikes and work stoppages; • our ability to recruit or retain key management and personnel; • our exposure to political or country risks inherent in doing business globally; • any and all impacts from the Russia-Ukraine war and the Hamas-Israel conflict and/or any escalation thereof related energy costs, raw material availability or other economic disruptions; • geopolitical events in the United States (“U.S.”), Middle-East, European Union (“EU”) and China, relations amongst Western countries and their neighbors as well as future relations between the U.S., EU, China and other countries and organizations; • all environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, including nanomaterial and greenhouse gas emissions regulations, and the related costs of maintaining compliance and addressing liabilities; • any possible future investigations and enforcement actions by governmental, supranational agencies or other organizations; • our operations as a company in the chemical sector, including the related risks of leaks, fires and toxic releases as well as other accidents; • any market and regulatory changes that may affect our ability to sell or otherwise benefit from co-generated energy; • any litigation or legal proceedings, including product liability, environmental or asbestos related claims; • our ability to protect our intellectual property rights and know-how; • our ability to generate the funds required to service our debt and finance our operations; • any fluctuations in foreign currency exchange and interest rates; • the availability and efficiency of hedging; • any changes in international and local economic conditions, dislocations in credit and capital markets and inflation or deflation; • any potential impairments or write-offs of certain assets; • any required increases in our pension fund or retirement-related contributions; • the adequacy of our insurance coverage; • any changes in our jurisdictional earnings mix or in the tax laws or accepted interpretations of tax laws in those jurisdictions; • any challenges to our decisions and assumptions in assessing and complying with our tax obligations; • the potential difficulty in obtaining or enforcing judgments or bringing legal actions against Orion S.A. (a Luxembourg incorporated entity) in the U.S. or elsewhere outside Luxembourg; and • any current or future changes to disclosure requirements and obligations, including but not limited to new ESG-related disclosures, related audit requirements and our ability to comply with such obligations and requirements.

Factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements include those factors detailed under the captions “Cautionary Statement for Purposes of the “Safe Harbor” Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995” and “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report in Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and in Note Q. Commitments and Contingencies to our audited Consolidated Financial Statements and in Note J. Commitments and Contingencies to our unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2024. It is not possible for our management to predict all risk factors and uncertainties, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or other information, other than as required by applicable law.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We present certain financial measures that are not prepared in accordance with GAAP or the accounting standards of any other jurisdiction and may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. For a reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to their nearest comparable GAAP measures, see section Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures below.

These non-GAAP measures include, but are not limited to, Gross profit per metric ton, Adjusted EBITDA, Net Working Capital, Capital Expenditures, Segment Adjusted EBITDA Margin (in percentage), Net debt and Net leverage.

We define Gross profit per metric ton as Gross profit divided by volume measured in metric tons. We define Adjusted EBITDA as Income from operations before depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation, and non-recurring items (such as, restructuring expenses, legal settlement gain, etc.) plus Earnings in affiliated companies, net of tax. We definite Net Working Capital as Inventories, net plus Accounts receivable, net minus Accounts payable. We define Capital Expenditures as Cash paid for the acquisition of intangible assets and property, plant and equipment. We define Segment Adjusted EBITDA Margin (in percentage) as Segment Adjusted EBITDA divided by segment revenue. We define Net debt as Total debt per Consolidated Balance Sheets plus Deferred debt issuance cost - Term loans minus Cash and cash equivalents. We define Net leverage as Net debt divided by trailing twelve month Adjusted EBITDA.

Adjusted EBITDA is used by our chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) to evaluate our operating performance and to make decisions regarding allocation of capital, because it excludes the effects of items that have less bearing on the performance of our underlying core business. We use this measure, together with other measures of performance under GAAP, to compare the relative performance of operations in planning, budgeting and reviewing our business. By eliminating potential differences in results of operations between periods caused by factors such as depreciation and amortization, historic cost and age of assets, financing and capital structures and taxation positions or regimes, we believe that Adjusted EBITDA provides a useful additional basis for evaluating and comparing the current performance of the underlying operations.

We believe our non-GAAP measures are useful measures of financial performance in addition to Net income, Income from operations and other profitability measures under GAAP, because they facilitate operating performance comparisons from period to period. In addition, we believe these non-GAAP measures aid investors by providing additional insight into our operational performance and help clarify trends affecting our business.

Other companies and analysts may calculate non-GAAP financial measures differently, so making comparisons among companies on this basis should be done carefully. Non-GAAP measures are not performance measures under GAAP and should not be considered in isolation or construed as substitutes for Net sales, Net income, Income from operations, Gross profit and other GAAP measures as an indicator of our operations in accordance with GAAP.

With respect to Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Diluted EPS outlook for 2024, we are not able to reconcile the forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures to the closest corresponding GAAP measure without unreasonable efforts because we are unable to predict the ultimate outcome of certain significant items. These items include, but are not limited to, significant legal settlements, tax and regulatory reserve changes, restructuring costs and acquisition and financing related impacts.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP to GAAP Financial Measures

The following tables present a reconciliation of each of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Diluted EPS to the most directly comparable GAAP measure:

Reconciliation of Net income to Adjusted EBITDA:
	Second Quarter								Six Months Ended June 30,
(In millions)	2024				2023				2024				2023
Net income	$	20.5			$	30.1			$	47.2			$	72.4
Add back Income tax expense		9.1				17.8				22.6				36.1
Add back Equity in earnings of affiliated companies, net of tax		(0.2	)			(0.2	)			(0.3	)			(0.3	)
Income before earnings in affiliated companies and income taxes		29.4				47.7				69.5				108.2
Add back Interest and other financial expense, net		12.2				13.5				24.9				28.7
Add back Reclassification of actuarial gain from AOCI		—				(2.3	)			—				(4.5	)
Income from operations		41.6				58.9				94.4				132.4
Add back Depreciation of property, plant and equipment and amortization of intangible assets and right of use assets		30.3				27.2				59.2				52.9
EBITDA		71.9				86.1				153.6				185.3
Equity in earnings of affiliated companies, net of tax		0.2				0.2				0.3				0.3
Long term incentive plan		3.0				2.6				6.5				4.7
Other adjustments		—				0.6				—				0.3
Adjusted EBITDA	$	75.1			$	87.3			$	160.4			$	188.4

Reconciliation of Gross profit per metric ton:
	Second Quarter								Six Months Ended June 30,
(In millions, unless otherwise indicated)	2024				2023				2024				2023
Net sales	$	477.0			$	458.8			$	979.9			$	959.5
Cost of sales		(367.2	)			(341.7	)			(747.9	)			(706.0	)
Gross profit	$	109.8			$	117.1			$	232.0			$	253.5
Volume (in kmt)		233.1				227.3				481.5				460.8
Gross profit per metric ton	$	471.0			$	515.2			$	481.8			$	550.1

Reconciliation of total debt per the Consolidated Balance Sheet to Net debt:
(In millions)	June 30, 2024
Current portion of long term debt and other financial liabilities	$	173.6
Long-term debt, net		660.7
Total debt as per Consolidated Balance Sheets		834.3
Add: Deferred debt issuance costs - Term loans		3.4
Less: Cash and cash equivalents		34.2
Net debt	$	803.5

Reconciliation of Net income to Adjusted net income and Diluted EPS to Adjusted Diluted EPS:
	Second Quarter								Six Months Ended June 30,
(In millions, except per share data)	2024				2023				2024				2023
Net income	$	20.5			$	30.1			$	47.2			$	72.4
add back long-term incentive plan		3.0				2.6				6.5				4.7
add back other adjustment items		—				(1.6	)			—				(1.9	)
add back reclassification of actuarial gains from AOCI		—				(2.3	)			—				(4.5	)
add back intangible assets amortization		1.8				1.8				3.6				3.6
add back foreign exchange rate impacts		0.4				0.9				0.7				3.0
add back amortization of transaction costs		0.4				0.7				0.8				1.3
Tax effect on add back items at estimated tax rate		(1.6	)			(0.7	)			(3.5	)			(2.0	)
Adjusted net income	$	24.5			$	31.5			$	55.3			$	76.6
Total add back items	$	4.0			$	1.4			$	8.1			$	4.2
Impact of add-back items per share	$	0.06			$	0.02			$	0.13			$	0.07
Diluted EPS	$	0.35			$	0.51			$	0.80			$	1.20
Adjusted Diluted EPS	$	0.41			$	0.53			$	0.93			$	1.27

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)
	Three Months Ended June 30,							Six Months Ended June 30,
(In millions, except share and per share data)	2024			2023				2024			2023
Net sales	$	477.0		$	458.8			$	979.9		$	959.5
Cost of sales		367.2			341.7				747.9			706.0
Gross profit		109.8			117.1				232.0			253.5
Selling, general and administrative expenses		60.3			55.0				121.8			112.7
Research and development costs		6.5			5.9				13.1			12.1
Other (income) expenses, net		1.4			(2.7	)			2.7			(3.7	)
Income from operations		41.6			58.9				94.4			132.4
Interest and other financial expense, net		12.2			13.5				24.9			28.7
Reclassification of actuarial gain from AOCI		—			(2.3	)			—			(4.5	)
Income before earnings in affiliated companies and income taxes		29.4			47.7				69.5			108.2
Income tax expense		9.1			17.8				22.6			36.1
Earnings in affiliated companies, net of tax		0.2			0.2				0.3			0.3
Net income	$	20.5		$	30.1			$	47.2		$	72.4
Weighted-average shares outstanding (in thousands):
Basic		58,388			59,012				58,514			59,646
Diluted		59,185			59,510				59,229			60,085
Earnings per share:
Basic	$	0.35		$	0.51			$	0.81		$	1.21
Diluted	$	0.35		$	0.51			$	0.80		$	1.20

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position (Unaudited)
(In millions, except share amounts)		June 30, 2024				December 31, 2023
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents		$	34.2			$	37.5
Accounts receivable, net			272.2				241.0
Inventories, net			284.5				287.1
Income tax receivables			9.2				6.1
Prepaid expenses and other current assets			77.8				74.4
Total current assets			677.9				646.1
Property, plant and equipment, net			919.5				900.1
Right-of-use assets			123.6				110.6
Goodwill			73.7				76.1
Intangible assets, net			22.5				25.5
Investment in equity method affiliates			5.0				5.1
Deferred income tax assets			44.2				30.0
Other assets			42.4				39.9
Total non-current assets			1,230.9				1,187.3
Total assets		$	1,908.8			$	1,833.4
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities
Accounts payable		$	186.2			$	183.7
Current portion of long-term debt and other financial liabilities			173.6				137.0
Accrued liabilities			38.3				41.7
Income taxes payable			30.2				34.2
Other current liabilities			61.0				43.7
Total current liabilities			489.3				440.3
Long-term debt, net			660.7				677.3
Employee benefit plan obligation			59.8				60.4
Deferred income tax liabilities			75.1				66.3
Other liabilities			120.0				110.6
Total non-current liabilities			915.6				914.6
Stockholders' Equity
Common stock
Authorized: 65,035,579 and 65,035,579 shares with no par value
Issued – 60,992,259 and 60,992,259 shares with no par value
Outstanding – 58,356,621 and 57,898,772 shares			85.3				85.3
Treasury stock, at cost, 2,635,638 and 3,093,487			(62.7	)			(70.1	)
Additional paid-in capital			76.2				85.6
Retained earnings			461.2				417.6
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(56.1	)			(39.9	)
Total stockholders' equity			503.9				478.5
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity		$	1,908.8			$	1,833.4

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)
		Six Months Ended June 30,
(In millions)		2024				2023
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income		$	47.2			$	72.4
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment and amortization of intangible assets and right of use assets			59.2				52.9
Amortization of debt issuance costs			0.8				1.3
Share-based compensation			6.5				4.7
Deferred tax provision			(6.0	)			1.4
Foreign currency transactions			0.3				4.9
Reclassification of actuarial gain from AOCI			—				(4.5	)
Other operating non-cash items, net			—				(0.5	)
Gain/loss on disposal of assets			—				—
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net:
Trade receivables			(39.3	)			99.0
Inventories			(5.4	)			6.2
Trade payables			5.1				(8.3	)
Other provisions			(0.7	)			(9.3	)
Income tax liabilities			(3.0	)			(7.4	)
Other assets and liabilities, net			(3.0	)			(6.6	)
Net cash provided by operating activities			61.7				206.2
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment			(87.8	)			(69.1	)
Net cash used in investing activities			(87.8	)			(69.1	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt borrowings			—				7.8
Repayments of long-term debt			(2.1	)			(1.5	)
Payments for debt issue costs			(0.2	)			(0.2	)
Cash inflows related to current financial liabilities			115.9				85.6
Cash outflows related to current financial liabilities			(80.9	)			(160.4	)
Dividends paid to shareholders			(2.4	)			(2.5	)
Repurchase of common stock			(6.8	)			(49.5	)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities			23.5				(120.7	)
Increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash			(2.6	)			16.4
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at the beginning of the period			40.2				63.4
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash			(1.8	)			0.1
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at the end of the period			35.8				79.9
Less restricted cash at the end of the period			1.6				2.6
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period		$	34.2			$	77.3

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240801330142/en/

Christopher Kapsch

Vice President of Investor Relations

+1 281-318-4413

christopher.kapsch@orioncarbons.com

Source: Orion Engineered Carbons S.A.

FAQ

What were Orion's (OEC) Q2 2024 net sales?

Orion's net sales for Q2 2024 were $477.0 million, up 4% year-over-year.

How did Orion's (OEC) net income change in Q2 2024 compared to Q2 2023?

Orion's net income decreased by $9.6 million or 31.9% to $20.5 million in Q2 2024 compared to Q2 2023.

What is Orion's (OEC) revised Adjusted EBITDA guidance for 2024?

Orion revised its 2024 Adjusted EBITDA guidance to a range of $315 million to $330 million.

When does Orion (OEC) plan to resume stock buybacks?

Orion plans to resume opportunistic stock buybacks starting in the third quarter of 2024.