United States Steel Corporation Reports Third Quarter 2023 Results

Rhea-AI Summary

United States Steel Corporation reports third quarter 2023 net earnings of $299 million, adjusted net earnings of $350 million, and adjusted EBITDA of $578 million. Company highlights diverse order book, well-run operations, and progress on strategic investments.

Positive

• United States Steel Corporation reports positive net earnings of $299 million for Q3 2023, a decrease from $490 million in Q3 2022. Adjusted net earnings for Q3 2023 were $350 million, a decrease from $526 million in Q3 2022. Adjusted EBITDA for Q3 2023 was $578 million.
• The company's diverse flat-rolled product portfolio allowed it to adapt to changing demand dynamics, driving cost benefits in the quarter. The Mini Mill segment's strategic investment of nearly $4 billion is progressing on-time and on budget.

Negative

• Net earnings for Q3 2023 decreased compared to Q3 2022. Adjusted net earnings also decreased in the same period. The company's ongoing strategic alternatives review process may impact stockholder value.

• Third quarter 2023 net earnings of $299 million, or $1.20 per diluted share

• Third quarter 2023 adjusted net earnings of $350 million, or $1.40 per diluted share

• Third quarter 2023 adjusted EBITDA of $578 million

PITTSBURGH--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- United States Steel Corporation (NYSE: X) reported third quarter 2023 net earnings of $299 million, or $1.20 per diluted share. Adjusted net earnings was $350 million, or $1.40 per diluted share. This compares to third quarter 2022 net earnings of $490 million, or $1.85 per diluted share. Adjusted net earnings for the third quarter 2022 was $526 million, or $1.98 per diluted share.

United States Steel Corporation Third Quarter 2023 Highlights (Photo: Business Wire)

Commenting on the third quarter’s performance, U. S. Steel President and Chief Executive Officer David B. Burritt said, “Our business continues to safely deliver strong results highlighting the benefits of a diverse order book, well-run operations and a focused U. S. Steel team. Our diverse flat-rolled product portfolio allowed us to adapt to changing demand dynamics and our teamwork drove cost benefits in the quarter.”

Commenting on the Company’s Best for All^® strategy, Burritt continued, “The third quarter marked another key milestone towards our Best for All future. Our non-grain oriented, or NGO, electrical steel line produced its first coil in September and first industrial grade coil in October. NGO steel is essential to our country’s green energy future and serves the automotive and power generation sectors. Our NGO line can produce the thinnest gauges, widest widths, and biggest coils in the domestic industry today. This investment further expands our capabilities to meet customers’ needs. The nearly $4 billion of strategic investment in the Mini Mill segment is progressing on-time and budget.”

Separately, Burritt provided an update on the Company's ongoing strategic alternatives review process, “As we announced in August, the Board of Directors, with the assistance of the management team and its advisors, is fully engaged in and is progressing a robust and competitive strategic alternatives review process to maximize stockholder value. Meanwhile, we are focused on running our business safely, delivering on our commitments to customers and executing on our on-going strategic investments to increase stockholder value. We continue to see strong performance in each of these areas. Thank you to our employees for remaining focused on the tasks at-hand and for continuing to put safety first while delivering the high quality steel customers expect.”

Earnings Highlights
	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts)		2023			2022			2023			2022
Net Sales	$	4,431		$	5,203		$	13,909		$	16,727
Segment earnings (loss) before interest and income taxes
Flat-Rolled	$	225		$	518		$	449		$	1,840
Mini Mill		42			1			186			549
U. S. Steel Europe		(13	)		(32	)		25			512
Tubular		87			155			476			339
Other		7			21			(2	)		16
Total segment earnings before interest and income taxes	$	348		$	663		$	1,134		$	3,256
Other items not allocated to segments		(71	)		(49	)		(104	)		(270	)
Earnings before interest and income taxes	$	277		$	614		$	1,030		$	2,986
Net interest and other financial benefits		(64	)		(30	)		(182	)		(48	)
Income tax expense		42			154			237			684
Net earnings	$	299		$	490		$	975		$	2,350
Earnings per diluted share	$	1.20		$	1.85		$	3.86		$	8.38
Adjusted net earnings (a)	$	350		$	526		$	1,028		$	2,552
Adjusted net earnings per diluted share (a)	$	1.40		$	1.98		$	4.07		$	9.06
Adjusted earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) (a)	$	578		$	861		$	1,809		$	3,850
(a) Please refer to the non-GAAP Financial Measures section of this document for the reconciliation of these amounts. The prior year was retroactively adjusted to reflect the reclassification of stock-based compensation expense.

*****

The Company will conduct a conference call on the third quarter earnings on Friday, October 27, 2023, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern. To listen to the webcast of the conference call and to access the Company's slide presentation, visit the U. S. Steel website, www.ussteel.com, and click on the “Investors” section. Replay will be available on the website after 10:30 a.m. Eastern on October 27, 2023.

UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION
PRELIMINARY SUPPLEMENTAL STATISTICS (Unaudited)
		Three Months Ended September 30,							Nine Months Ended September 30,
			2023			2022				2023			2022
OPERATING STATISTICS
Average realized price: ($/net ton unless otherwise noted) (a)
	Flat-Rolled		1,036			1,232				1,045			1,312
	Mini Mill		901			1,096				898			1,268
	U. S. Steel Europe		852			1,021				910			1,121
	U. S. Steel Europe (€/net ton)		783			1,013				840			1,049
	Tubular		2,927			3,217				3,422			2,761
Steel shipments (thousands of net tons): (a)
	Flat-Rolled		2,159			2,176				6,672			6,488
	Mini Mill		561			529				1,807			1,651
	U. S. Steel Europe		958			867				2,875			3,044
	Tubular		104			126				346			390
	Total steel shipments		3,782			3,698				11,700			11,573
Intersegment steel (unless otherwise noted) shipments (thousands of net tons):
	Mini Mill to Flat-Rolled		145			53				370			252
	Flat-Rolled to Mini Mill		2			7				2			30
	Flat-Rolled to Mini Mill (pig iron)		95			—				210			—
	Flat-Rolled to USSE		—			—				—			30
	Flat-Rolled to USSE (b)		174			62				632			144
Raw steel production (thousands of net tons):
	Flat-Rolled		2,390			2,265				7,312			6,894
	Mini Mill		693			616				2,201			1,967
	U. S. Steel Europe		990			946				3,295			3,250
	Tubular		111			173				411			497
Raw steel capability utilization: (c)
	Flat-Rolled		72	%		68	%			74	%		70	%
	Mini Mill		83	%		74	%			89	%		80	%
	U. S. Steel Europe		79	%		75	%			88	%		87	%
	Tubular		49	%		76	%			61	%		74	%
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES (dollars in millions)
	Flat-Rolled		132			136				375			365
	Mini Mill		423			320				1,474			710
	U. S. Steel Europe		24			19				66			53
	Tubular		7			3				24			10
	Other Businesses		—			—				—			—
	Total	$	586		$	478			$	1,939		$	1,138
(a) Excludes intersegment shipments.
(b) Consists of coal in 2023 and iron ore pellets and fines in 2022.
(c) Based on annual raw steel production capability of 13.2 million net tons for Flat-Rolled, 3.3 million net tons for Mini Mill, 5.0 million net tons for U. S. Steel Europe and 0.9 million net tons for Tubular.

UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION
CONDENSED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)
	Three Months Ended September 30,							Nine Months Ended September 30,
(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts)		2023			2022				2023			2022
Net Sales	$	4,431		$	5,203			$	13,909		$	16,727
Operating expenses (income):
Cost of sales		3,838			4,359				11,952			12,843
Selling, general and administrative expenses		118			95				320			324
Depreciation, depletion and amortization		230			198				675			594
Earnings from investees		(51	)		(71	)			(76	)		(202	)
Asset impairment charges		—			—				4			157
Restructuring and other charges		18			23				21			57
Other gains, net		1			(15	)			(17	)		(32	)
Total operating expenses		4,154			4,589				12,879			13,741
Earnings before interest and income taxes		277			614				1,030			2,986
Net interest and other financial benefits		(64	)		(30	)			(182	)		(48	)
Earnings before income taxes		341			644				1,212			3,034
Income tax expense		42			154				237			684
Net earnings		299			490				975			2,350
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests		—			—				—			—
Net earnings attributable to United States Steel Corporation	$	299		$	490			$	975		$	2,350
COMMON STOCK DATA:
Net earnings per share attributable to United States Steel Corporation Stockholders
Basic	$	1.34		$	2.07			$	4.33		$	9.33
Diluted	$	1.20		$	1.85			$	3.86		$	8.38
Weighted average shares, in thousands
Basic		223,109			237,094				225,311			251,848
Diluted		253,070			266,264				255,080			281,569
Dividends paid per common share	$	0.05		$	0.05			$	0.15		$	0.15

UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION
CONDENSED CASH FLOW STATEMENT (Unaudited)
		Nine Months Ended September 30,			Nine Months Ended September 30,
(Dollars in millions)			2023			2022
Increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
Operating activities:
	Net earnings	$	975		$	2,350
	Depreciation, depletion and amortization		675			594
	Asset impairment charges		4			157
	Restructuring and other charges		21			57
	Pensions and other postretirement benefits		(124	)		(164	)
	Deferred income taxes		275			561
	Working capital changes		227			(545	)
	Income taxes receivable/payable		(86	)		(88	)
	Other operating activities		(256	)		(172	)
Net cash provided by operating activities			1,711			2,750
Investing activities:
	Capital expenditures		(1,939	)		(1,138	)
	Proceeds from cost reimbursement government grants		—			53
	Proceeds from sale of assets		4			28
	Other investing activities		—			(8	)
Net cash used in investing activities			(1,935	)		(1,065	)
Financing activities:
	Issuance of long-term debt, net of financing costs		241			291
	Repayment of long-term debt		(69	)		(375	)
	Common stock repurchased		(175	)		(699	)
	Proceeds from government incentives		—			82
	Other financing activities		(50	)		(51	)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities			(53	)		(752	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash			(3	)		(46	)
Net (decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash			(280	)		887
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of year			3,539			2,600
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period		$	3,259		$	3,487

UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION
CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET (Unaudited)
		September 30,		December 31,
(Dollars in millions)			2023		2022
Cash and cash equivalents		$	3,222	$	3,504
Receivables, net			1,541		1,635
Inventories			2,304		2,359
Other current assets			328		368
	Total current assets		7,395		7,866
Operating lease assets			116		146
Property, plant and equipment, net			9,911		8,492
Investments and long-term receivables, net			863		840
Intangibles, net			447		478
Goodwill			920		920
Other noncurrent assets			743		716
	Total assets	$	20,395	$	19,458
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities			2,939		3,016
Payroll and benefits payable			498		493
Short-term debt and current maturities of long-term debt			98		63
Other current liabilities			266		387
	Total current liabilities		3,801		3,959
Noncurrent operating lease liabilities			79		105
Long-term debt, less unamortized discount and debt issuance costs			4,129		3,914
Employee benefits			138		209
Deferred income tax liabilities			712		456
Other long-term liabilities			439		504
United States Steel Corporation stockholders' equity			11,004		10,218
Noncontrolling interests			93		93
	Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	20,395	$	19,458

UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
RECONCILIATION OF ADJUSTED NET EARNINGS
		Three Months Ended September 30,										Nine Months Ended September 30,
(In millions of dollars)		2023					2022					2023					2022
Net earnings and diluted net earnings per share attributable to United States Steel Corporation, as reported		$	299		$	1.20	$	490		$	1.85	$	975		$	3.86	$	2,350		$	8.38
	Restructuring and other charges		18					23					21					57
	Stock-based compensation expense (a)		14					13					37					45
	VEBA asset surplus adjustment		(6	)				—					(36	)				—
	Asset impairment charges		—					—					4					157
	Environmental remediation charges		9					13					11					13
	Debt extinguishment		—					(2	)				—					(2	)
	Strategic alternatives review process costs		16					—					16					—
	Granite City idling costs		14					—					14					—
	Other charges, net		1					—					2					(2	)
Adjusted pre-tax net earnings to United States Steel Corporation			365					537					1,044					2,618
	Tax impact of adjusted items (b)		(15	)				(11	)				(16	)				(66	)
Adjusted net earnings and diluted net earnings per share attributable to United States Steel Corporation		$	350		$	1.40	$	526		$	1.98	$	1,028		$	4.07	$	2,552		$	9.06
Weight average diluted ordinary shares outstanding, in millions			253.1					266.3					255.1					281.6
(a) The prior year was retroactively adjusted to reflect the reclassification of stock-based compensation expense. The adjustment was $10 million, $28 million, $10 million and $34 million, net of taxes, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, and 2022, respectively.
(b) The tax impact of adjusted items for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2023, is calculated using a blended tax rate of 24% for domestic items and 21% for USSE items. The tax impact of adjusted items for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, was calculated using a blended tax rate of 25% for domestic items and 21% for USSE items.

UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
RECONCILIATION OF ADJUSTED EBITDA
		Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
(Dollars in millions)			2023			2022			2023			2022
Reconciliation to Adjusted EBITDA
	Net earnings attributable to United States Steel Corporation	$	299		$	490		$	975		$	2,350
	Income tax expense		42			154			237			684
	Net interest and other financial benefits		(64	)		(30	)		(182	)		(48	)
	Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense		230			198			675			594
EBITDA			507			812			1,705			3,580
	Restructuring and other charges		18			23			21			57
	Stock-based compensation expense (a)		14			13			37			45
	Asset impairment charges		—			—			4			157
	Environmental remediation charges		9			13			11			13
	Strategic alternatives review process costs		16			—			16			—
	Granite City idling costs		14			—			14			—
	Other charges, net		—			—			1			(2	)
Adjusted EBITDA		$	578		$	861		$	1,809		$	3,850
	Net earnings margin (b)		6.7	%		9.4	%		7.0	%		14.0	%
	Adjusted EBITDA margin (b)		13.0	%		16.5	%		13.0	%		23.0	%
(a) The prior year was retroactively adjusted to reflect the reclassification of stock-based compensation expense.
(b) The net earnings and adjusted EBITDA margins represent net earnings or adjusted EBITDA divided by net sales.

UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
RECONCILIATION OF PAST TWELVE MONTHS OF FREE AND INVESTABLE CASH FLOW
	4th			1st			2nd			3rd
	Quarter			Quarter			Quarter			Quarter			Total of the
(Dollars in millions)		2022			2023			2023			2023		Four Quarters
Net cash provided by operating activities	$	755		$	181		$	713		$	817		$	2,466
Net cash used in investing activities		(614	)		(738	)		(612	)		(585	)		(2,549	)
Free cash flow		141			(557	)		101			232			(83	)
Strategic capital expenditures		479			565			476			423			1,943
Investable free cash flow	$	620		$	8		$	577		$	655		$	1,860

We present adjusted net earnings, adjusted net earnings per diluted share, earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin, which are non-GAAP measures, as additional measurements to enhance the understanding of our operating performance. We believe that EBITDA, considered along with net earnings, is a relevant indicator of trends relating to our operating performance and provides management and investors with additional information for comparison of our operating results to the operating results of other companies.

Adjusted net earnings and adjusted net earnings per diluted share are non-GAAP measures that exclude the effects of items that include: restructuring and other charges, stock-based compensation expense, VEBA asset surplus adjustment, asset impairment charges, environmental remediation charges, debt extinguishment, strategic alternatives review process costs, Granite City idling costs, tax impact of adjusted items and other charges, net (Adjustment Items). Adjusted EBITDA is also a non-GAAP measure that excludes the effects of certain Adjustment Items. We present adjusted net earnings, adjusted net earnings per diluted share and adjusted EBITDA to enhance the understanding of our ongoing operating performance and established trends affecting our core operations by excluding the effects of events that can obscure underlying trends. U. S. Steel's management considers adjusted net earnings, adjusted net earnings per diluted share and adjusted EBITDA as alternative measures of operating performance and not alternative measures of the Company's liquidity. U. S. Steel’s management considers adjusted net earnings, adjusted net earnings per diluted share and adjusted EBITDA useful to investors by facilitating a comparison of our operating performance to the operating performance of our competitors. Additionally, the presentation of adjusted net earnings, adjusted net earnings per diluted share and adjusted EBITDA provides insight into management’s view and assessment of the Company’s ongoing operating performance because management does not consider the Adjustment Items when evaluating the Company’s financial performance. Adjusted net earnings, adjusted net earnings per diluted share and adjusted EBITDA should not be considered a substitute for net earnings, earnings per diluted share or other financial measures as computed in accordance with U.S. GAAP and is not necessarily comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.

We also present free cash flow, a non-GAAP measure of cash generated from operations after any investing activity and investable free cash flow, a non-GAAP measure of cash generated from operations, after any investing activity adjusted for strategic capital expenditures. We believe that free cash flow and investable free cash flow provides further insight into the Company's overall utilization of cash. A condensed consolidated statement of operations (unaudited), condensed consolidated cash flow statement (unaudited), condensed consolidated balance sheet (unaudited) and preliminary supplemental statistics (unaudited) for U. S. Steel are attached.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This release contains information that may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. We intend the forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements in those sections. Generally, we have identified such forward-looking statements by using the words “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “project,” “target,” “forecast,” “aim,” “should,” “plan,” “goal,” “future,” “will,” “may,” and similar expressions or by using future dates in connection with any discussion of, among other things, the construction or operation of new or existing facilities or operating capabilities, the timing, size and form of share repurchase transactions, operating or financial performance, trends, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future, statements relating to volume changes, share of sales and earnings per share changes, anticipated cost savings, potential capital and operational cash improvements, changes in the global economic environment, including supply and demand conditions, inflation, interest rates, supply chain disruptions and changes in prices for our products, international trade duties and other aspects of international trade policy, statements regarding our future strategies, products and innovations, statements regarding our greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals, statements regarding existing or new regulations and statements expressing general views about future operating results. However, the absence of these words or similar expressions does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical facts, but instead represent only the Company’s beliefs regarding goals, plans and expectations about our prospects for the future and other future events, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain, qualified by important factors and outside of the Company’s control. It is possible that the Company’s actual results and financial condition may differ, possibly materially, from the anticipated results and financial condition indicated in these forward-looking statements. Management believes that these forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the time made. However, caution should be taken not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements because such statements speak only as of the date when made. Our Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. In addition, forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from our Company's historical experience and our present expectations or projections. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, whether the objectives of the Company's previously announced strategic alternatives review process will be achieved; the terms, structure, timing, benefits and costs of any strategic transaction; and whether any such transaction will be consummated at all; the risk that the strategic alternatives review process and its announcement could have an adverse effect on the ability of the Company to retain customers and retain and hire key personnel and maintain relationships with customers, suppliers, employees, shareholders and other business relationships and on its operating results and business generally; the risk that the strategic alternatives review process could divert the attention and time of the Company’s management, the risk of any unexpected costs or expenses resulting from the strategic alternatives review process; the risk of any litigation relating to the strategic alternatives review process; and the risks and uncertainties described in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 and those described from time to time in our future reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

References to (i) “U. S. Steel,” “the Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to United States Steel Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise indicated by the context and (ii) “Big River Steel” refer to Big River Steel Holdings LLC and its direct and indirect subsidiaries unless otherwise indicated by the context.

Founded in 1901, United States Steel Corporation is a leading steel producer. With an unwavering focus on safety, the Company’s customer-centric Best for All^® strategy is advancing a more secure, sustainable future for U. S. Steel and its stakeholders. With a renewed emphasis on innovation, U. S. Steel serves the automotive, construction, appliance, energy, containers, and packaging industries with high value-added steel products such as U. S. Steel’s proprietary XG3^® advanced high-strength steel. The Company also maintains competitively advantaged iron ore production and has an annual raw steelmaking capability of 22.4 million net tons. U. S. Steel is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with world-class operations across the United States and in Central Europe. For more information, please visit www.ussteel.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231026322773/en/

Corporate Communications

T - (412) 433-1300

E - media@uss.com

Emily Chieng

Investor Relations Officer

T - (412) 618-9554

E - ecchieng@uss.com

Source: United States Steel Corporation

FAQ

What were the net earnings for United States Steel Corporation in Q3 2023?

United States Steel Corporation reported net earnings of $299 million in Q3 2023.

What were the adjusted net earnings for United States Steel Corporation in Q3 2023?

United States Steel Corporation reported adjusted net earnings of $350 million in Q3 2023.

What was the adjusted EBITDA for United States Steel Corporation in Q3 2023?

United States Steel Corporation reported adjusted EBITDA of $578 million in Q3 2023.

How did United States Steel Corporation's net earnings in Q3 2023 compare to Q3 2022?

Net earnings for United States Steel Corporation decreased in Q3 2023 compared to Q3 2022.

What is the status of United States Steel Corporation's strategic investments?

The Mini Mill segment's strategic investment of nearly $4 billion is progressing on-time and on budget.

What is the ongoing strategic alternatives review process mentioned in the press release?

The company's board of directors is conducting a robust and competitive strategic alternatives review process to maximize stockholder value.