Olympic Steel Reports First-Quarter 2024 Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Olympic Steel, Inc. (Nasdaq: ZEUS) reported financial results for Q1 2024, with net income of $8.7 million and sales of $527 million. Despite a decline in income and sales compared to Q1 2023, the company remains in a strong financial position. The CEO highlighted growth in shipping volumes, diversification into higher-value products, and market share gains. The company plans to invest in organic growth, automation, and acquisitions. A cash dividend of $0.15 per share was approved. Adjusted net income per diluted share was $0.77, compared to $1.15 in Q1 2023.

Positive

• Olympic Steel's strategy to diversify and expand into higher-value products contributed to profitability despite pricing challenges.

• The company experienced growth in shipping volumes and maintained margins in the face of falling steel prices.

• Olympic Steel gained market share and expanded offerings of fabrication and value-added products, positioning itself for future success.

• The company's strong balance sheet allows for strategic investments in growth opportunities, automation, and acquisitions.

• A regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.15 per share was approved by the Board of Directors, demonstrating stability and commitment to shareholders.

Negative

• Net income and sales declined in Q1 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, reflecting ongoing challenges in the market.

• Adjusted net income per diluted share decreased to $0.77 from $1.15 in Q1 2023, indicating a decline in profitability year-over-year.

• The Company reported a $0.4 million LIFO expense in Q1 2024, impacting financial performance.

• Sales for Q1 2024 totaled $527 million, down from $573 million in Q1 2023, signaling a decrease in revenue.

• While pricing has begun to recover on some products in Q2, market dynamics continue to shift, posing potential challenges for the company.

Insights

Financial Analyst

Olympic Steel's reported net income of $8.7 million for Q1 2024, a slight decrease from Q1 2023's $9.9 million, signals a contraction in profitability. Despite a decline in hot-rolled steel prices by over 31% and falling stainless steel surcharges, the company maintained margins, indicative of effective cost management and a diversified portfolio. An increase in shipping volumes by 9% from Q4 2023 suggests a robust operational performance.

The steady sales figures, with Q1 2024 reporting $527 million against Q1 2023's $573 million, may reflect a resilience in the face of market volatility. The strategic expansion into higher-value processing and manufactured products as a hedge against cyclical price fluctuations can be seen as a strategic move to stabilize earnings. However, investors should note the reported LIFO expense of $0.4 million in Q1 2024, with no such adjustment in the previous year, which could be a factor to watch in future costing strategies.

Market Research Analyst

The company's strategic investments in growth opportunities, including automation and acquisitions, coupled with an emphasis on disciplined working capital management, may be supportive of long-term shareholder value. Olympic Steel's optimism about demand and recovery in product pricing in the near term could comfort investors wary of market ebbs and flows.

Dividend consistency, with a quarterly cash dividend of $0.15 per share announced, demonstrates a commitment to shareholder returns, with a history dating back to 2006. This reflects a strong balance sheet and a potentially attractive aspect for income-focused investors. Nonetheless, the juxtaposition of a strong balance sheet against a slight dip in EBITDA year-on-year—from $23.9 million in Q1 2023 to $23.3 million in Q1 2024—requires monitoring to assess whether this is an anomaly or the beginning of a trend.

Strategy to diversify and expand into higher-value processing and manufactured products contributes to financial performance in the face of pricing headwinds

Company remains in a strong operational and financial position to invest in additional higher-value growth opportunities to drive profitability and advance its strategy

CLEVELAND--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Olympic Steel, Inc. (Nasdaq: ZEUS), a leading national metals service center, today announced financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2024.

Net income for the first quarter totaled $8.7 million, or $0.75 per diluted share, compared with net income of $9.9 million, or $0.85 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2023. The results include $0.4 million of LIFO expense in the first quarter of 2024, compared with no LIFO adjustment in the first quarter of 2023. EBITDA for the first quarter of 2024 was $23.3 million, comparable to the $23.9 million earned in the first quarter of 2023.

The Company reported sales for the first quarter of 2024 totaling $527 million, compared with $573 million in the first quarter of 2023.

“Olympic Steel delivered solid results in the first quarter, with all three segments contributing to our profitability,” said Richard T. Marabito, Chief Executive Officer. “Shipping volumes were up over 9% sequentially from the fourth quarter, and we maintained our margins despite index pricing for hot-rolled steel falling more than 31% from January through mid-March. We also continued to navigate falling stainless steel surcharges throughout the first quarter. Our strategy to diversify and expand our portfolio of higher-value manufactured products provides a counter-cyclical benefit to falling metal prices and helps drive profitability regardless of market conditions.”

Marabito continued, “During the first quarter, we gained market share and expanded our offerings of fabrication and value-added products. Moving into the second quarter, pricing has begun to recover on some products, and demand remains steady. While market dynamics continue to shift, we remain committed to our disciplines around working capital, operating expenses and cash flow. Our balance sheet remains strong, enabling us to continue to invest strategically in organic growth, automation and acquisition opportunities that align with our priorities for long-term success. We are optimistic about our ability to deliver results for our shareholders.”

The Board of Directors approved a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.15 per share, which is payable on June 17, 2024, to shareholders of record on June 3, 2024. The Company has paid regular quarterly dividends dating back to 2006.

The table that follows provides a reconciliation of non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable measures prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Olympic Steel, Inc. Reconciliation of Net Income Per Diluted Share to Adjusted Net Income Per Diluted Share (Figures may not foot due to rounding.) The following table reconciles adjusted net income per diluted share to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure:
		Three months ended
		March 31,
		2024			2023
Net income per diluted share (GAAP)		$	0.75		$	0.85
Excluding the following items
LIFO expense			0.03			-
Acquisition Inventory fair market value adjustment			-			0.13
Acquisition related expenses			-			0.16
Adjusted net income per diluted share (non-GAAP)		$	0.77		$	1.15

Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA (in thousands) The following table reconciles Adjusted EBITDA to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure:
		Three Months Ended
		3/31/2024			3/31/2023
Net income (GAAP):		$	8,697		$	9,872
Excluding the following items
Foreign exchange loss included in net income			19			11
Interest and other expense on debt			4,010			4,223
Income tax provision			3,212			3,617
Depreciation and amortization			7,334			6,201
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and
amortization (EBITDA)			23,272			23,924
LIFO expense			400			-
Acquisition Inventory fair market value adjustment			-			2,079
Acquisition related expenses			-			2,556
Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP)		$	23,672		$	28,559

Conference Call and Webcast

A simulcast of Olympic Steel’s 2024 first-quarter earnings conference call can be accessed via the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at www.olysteel.com. The live simulcast will begin at 10 a.m. ET on May 3, 2024, and a replay will be available for approximately 14 days thereafter.

Forward-Looking Statements

It is the Company's policy not to endorse any analyst's sales or earnings estimates. Forward-looking statements in this release are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words or phrases such as "may," "will," "anticipate," "should," "intend," "expect," "believe," "estimate," "project," "plan," "potential," and "continue," as well as the negative of these terms or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those implied by such statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: risks of falling metals prices and inventory devaluation; supply disruptions and inflationary pressures, including the availability and rising costs of transportation, energy, logistical services and labor; risks associated with shortages of skilled labor, increased labor costs and our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel; rising interest rates and their impacts on our variable interest rate debt; supplier consolidation or addition of new capacity; risks associated with the invasion of Ukraine, including economic sanctions, and the conflicts in the Middle East, or additional war, military conflict, or hostilities could adversely affect global metals supply and pricing; general and global business, economic, financial and political conditions, including, but not limited to, recessionary conditions and legislation passed under the current administration; reduced production schedules, layoffs or work stoppages by our own, our suppliers' or customers' personnel; risks associated with supply chain disruption resulting from the imbalance of metal supply and end-user demands, including additional shutdowns as a result of infectious disease outbreaks in large markets, such as China, and other factors; our ability to successfully integrate recent acquisitions into our business and risks inherent with the acquisitions in the achievement of expected results, including whether the acquisition will be accretive and within the expected timeframe; the adequacy of our existing information technology and business system software, including duplication and security processes; the levels of imported steel in the United States and the tariffs initiated by the U.S. government in 2018 under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 and imposed tariffs and duties on exported steel or other products, U.S. trade policy and its impact on the U.S. manufacturing industry; the inflation or deflation existing within the metals industry, as well as product mix and inventory levels on hand, which can impact our cost of materials sold as a result of the fluctuations in the last-in, first-out, or LIFO, inventory valuation; risks associated with infectious disease outbreaks, including, but not limited to customer closures, reduced sales and profit levels, slower payment of accounts receivable and potential increases in uncollectible accounts receivable, falling metals prices that could lead to lower of cost or net realizable value inventory adjustments and the impairment of intangible and long-lived assets, negative impacts on our liquidity position, inability to access our traditional financing sources and increased costs associated with and less ability to access funds under our asset-based credit facility, or ABL Credit Facility, and the capital markets; increased customer demand without corresponding increase in metal supply could lead to an inability to meet customer demand and result in lower sales and profits; competitive factors such as the availability, and global pricing of metals and production levels, industry shipping and inventory levels and rapid fluctuations in customer demand and metals pricing; customer, supplier and competitor consolidation, bankruptcy or insolvency; the timing and outcomes of inventory lower of cost or net realizable value adjustments and LIFO income or expense; cyclicality and volatility within the metals industry; reduced availability and productivity of our employees, increased operational risks as a result of remote work arrangements, including the potential effects on internal controls, as well as cybersecurity risks and increased vulnerability to security breaches, information technology disruptions and other similar events; fluctuations in the value of the U.S. dollar and the related impact on foreign steel pricing, U.S. exports, and foreign imports to the United States; the successes of our efforts and initiatives to improve working capital turnover and cash flows, and achieve cost savings; risks and uncertainties associated with intangible assets, including impairment charges related to indefinite lived intangible assets; our ability to generate free cash flow through operations and repay debt; the amounts, successes and our ability to continue our capital investments and strategic growth initiatives, including acquisitions and our business information system implementations; events or circumstances that could adversely impact the successful operation of our processing equipment and operations; the impacts of union organizing activities and the success of union contract renewals; changes in laws or regulations or the manner of their interpretation or enforcement could impact our financial performance and restrict our ability to operate our business or execute our strategies; events or circumstances that could impair or adversely impact the carrying value of any of our assets; our ability to pay regular quarterly cash dividends and the amounts and timing of any future dividends; our ability to repurchase shares of our common stock and the amounts and timing of repurchases, if any; our ability to sell shares of our common stock under the at-the-market equity program; and unanticipated developments that could occur with respect to contingencies such as litigation, arbitration and environmental matters, including any developments that would require any increase in our costs for such contingencies.

In addition to financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP, this document also contains adjusted earnings per diluted share and adjusted EBITDA, which are non-GAAP financial measures. Management's view of the Company's performance includes adjusted earnings per share and adjusted EBITDA, and management uses these non-GAAP financial measures internally for planning and forecasting purposes and to measure the performance of the Company. We believe these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful and meaningful information to us and investors because they enhance investors' understanding of the continuing operating performance of our business and facilitate the comparison of performance between past and future periods. These non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for, the information prepared in accordance with GAAP. Additionally, the presentation of these measures may be different from non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. A reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures is provided above.

About Olympic Steel

Founded in 1954, Olympic Steel (NASDAQ: ZEUS) is a leading U.S. metals service center focused on the direct sale and value-added processing of carbon and coated sheet, plate, and coil products; stainless steel sheet, plate, bar and coil; aluminum sheet, plate and coil; pipe, tube, bar, valves and fittings; tin plate and metal-intensive end-use products, including bollards, water treatment systems; commercial, residential and industrial venting and air filtration systems; Wright^® brand self-dumping hoppers; and EZ-Dumper^® dump inserts. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Olympic Steel operates from 47 facilities.

For additional information, please visit the Company’s website at www.olysteel.com.

Olympic Steel, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Net Income (in thousands, except per-share data)
		Three months ended
		March 31
		2024			2023
Net sales		$	526,642		$	573,076
Costs and expenses
Cost of materials sold (excludes items shown separately below)			407,538			452,636
Warehouse and processing			32,893			30,649
Administrative and general			30,152			33,185
Distribution			16,758			17,741
Selling			11,536			10,397
Occupancy			4,493			4,544
Depreciation			6,006			5,077
Amortization			1,328			1,124
Total costs and expenses			510,704			555,353
Operating income			15,938			17,723
Other loss, net			19			11
Income before interest and income taxes			15,919			17,712
Interest and other expense on debt			4,010			4,223
Income before income taxes			11,909			13,489
Income tax provision			3,212			3,617
Net income		$	8,697		$	9,872
Earnings per share:
Net income per share - basic		$	0.75		$	0.85
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic			11,663			11,570
Net income per share - diluted		$	0.75		$	0.85
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted			11,663			11,571

Olympic Steel, Inc. Balance Sheets (in thousands)
		As of March 31, 2024				As of December 31, 2023
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents		$	10,340			$	13,224
Accounts receivable, net			214,753				191,149
Inventories, net (includes LIFO reserves of $12,443 and $12,043 as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively)			397,567				386,535
Prepaid expenses and other			9,304				12,261
Total current assets			631,964				603,169
Property and equipment, at cost			487,968				483,448
Accumulated depreciation			(303,462	)			(297,340	)
Net property and equipment			184,506				186,108
Goodwill			52,091				52,091
Intangible assets, net			91,559				92,621
Other long-term assets			18,864				16,466
Right of use asset, net			32,795				34,380
Total assets		$	1,011,779			$	984,835
Liabilities
Accounts payable		$	149,429			$	119,718
Accrued payroll			16,475				30,113
Other accrued liabilities			19,273				22,593
Current portion of lease liabilities			7,786				7,813
Total current liabilities			192,963				180,237
Credit facility revolver			196,800				190,198
Other long-term liabilities			22,420				20,151
Deferred income taxes			10,897				11,510
Lease liabilities			25,714				27,261
Total liabilities			448,794				429,357
Shareholders' Equity
Preferred stock			-				-
Common stock			137,063				136,541
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			-				41
Retained earnings			425,922				418,896
Total shareholders' equity			562,985				555,478
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity		$	1,011,779			$	984,835

Olympic Steel, Inc. Segment Financial Information (In thousands, except tonnage and per-ton data. Figures may not foot to consolidated totals due to Corporate expenses.)
		Three months ended March 31,
		Carbon Flat Products						Specialty Metals Flat Products						Tubular and Pipe Products
		2024			2023			2024			2023			2024			2023
Tons sold 1			219,675			218,338			29,903			32,516			N/A			N/A
Net sales		$	300,975		$	309,818		$	129,534		$	166,564		$	96,133		$	96,694
Average selling price per ton			1,370			1,419			4,332			5,123			N/A			N/A
Cost of materials sold			235,615			248,436			107,590			137,713			64,333			66,487
Gross profit			65,360			61,382			21,944			28,851			31,800			30,207
Operating expenses			56,703			55,436			18,013			19,592			24,173			20,466
Operating income			8,657			5,946			3,931			9,259			7,627			9,741
Depreciation and amortization			4,081			3,607			988			984			2,248			1,593
LIFO (income) / expense			-			-			-			-			400			-

1 The Company does not report tons sold for McCullough Industries, EZ Dumper, or Metal-Fab in the Carbon Flat Products Segment, Shaw Stainless in the Specialty Metals Flat Products Segment or for the entire Tubular and Pipe Products Segment.

		As of March 31, 2024			As of December 31, 2023
Assets
Flat-products		$	674,903		$	649,744
Tubular and pipe products			335,528			333,677
Corporate			1,348			1,414
Total assets		$	1,011,779		$	984,835

Other Information (in thousands, except per-share and ratio data)
		As of March 31, 2024				As of December 31, 2023
Shareholders' equity per share		$	50.58			$	49.90
Debt to equity ratio			0.35 to 1			0.34 to 1
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2024				2023
Net cash from (used for) operating activities		$	(2,608	)		$	52,440
Cash dividends per share		$	0.15			$	0.13

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240501942669/en/

Richard A. Manson

Chief Financial Officer

(216) 672-0522

ir@olysteel.com

Source: Olympic Steel, Inc.

FAQ

What was Olympic Steel's net income for the first quarter of 2024?

Olympic Steel reported a net income of $8.7 million for the first quarter of 2024.

What was the sales figure for Olympic Steel in the first quarter of 2024?

Olympic Steel reported sales of $527 million in the first quarter of 2024.

What was the adjusted net income per diluted share for Olympic Steel in the first quarter of 2024?

Olympic Steel's adjusted net income per diluted share was $0.77 in the first quarter of 2024, compared to $1.15 in the same period of 2023.

What dividend did Olympic Steel's Board of Directors approve for shareholders?

The Board of Directors approved a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.15 per share, payable on June 17, 2024.

How did Olympic Steel address pricing challenges in the first quarter of 2024?

Olympic Steel navigated falling steel prices by diversifying into higher-value manufactured products, which helped drive profitability regardless of market conditions.