Olympic Steel Reports Second-Quarter 2024 Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Olympic Steel (Nasdaq: ZEUS) reported Q2 2024 financial results, with net income of $7.7 million ($0.66 per diluted share), compared to $15.0 million ($1.30 per diluted share) in Q2 2023. Adjusted EBITDA was $21.3 million, down from $31.2 million in Q2 2023. Sales decreased to $526 million from $569 million year-over-year, despite higher shipping volumes. The company's diversification strategy helped maintain profitability across all three business segments despite challenging market conditions, including a 22% drop in hot-rolled index pricing during Q2. Olympic Steel declared a quarterly dividend of $0.15 per share and reported over $340 million in borrowing availability, positioning it for potential growth opportunities.

Positive

• Maintained profitability across all three business segments despite challenging market conditions
• Higher year-over-year shipping volumes
• Strong balance sheet with over $340 million in borrowing availability
• Declared regular quarterly dividend of $0.15 per share
• Ordered new equipment to expand coated and specialty metals product lines

Negative

• Net income decreased to $7.7 million from $15.0 million year-over-year
• Adjusted EBITDA declined to $21.3 million from $31.2 million year-over-year
• Sales decreased to $526 million from $569 million year-over-year
• Hot-rolled index pricing fell 22% in Q2 and 39% since the beginning of the year

Insights

Financial Analyst

Olympic Steel's Q2 2024 results reveal a company navigating challenging market conditions with resilience. Despite a 22% drop in hot-rolled index pricing during the quarter and a 39% decline year-to-date, the company managed to maintain profitability across all three business segments. This achievement underscores the effectiveness of their diversification strategy.

Key financial highlights include:

• Net income of $7.7 million ($0.66 per diluted share), down from $15.0 million ($1.30 per diluted share) in Q2 2023
• Adjusted EBITDA of $21.3 million, compared to $31.2 million in Q2 2023
• Sales of $526 million, down from $569 million in Q2 2023

The company's focus on end products, higher-margin flat-rolled products and expanded fabrication capabilities has proven important in maintaining profitability amidst pricing pressures. With over $340 million in borrowing availability, Olympic Steel is well-positioned for both organic growth and potential acquisitions.

The declaration of a $0.15 per share quarterly dividend, payable on September 16, 2024, demonstrates confidence in the company's financial stability and commitment to shareholder returns. However, investors should note the expected continuation of challenging market conditions in the near term.

Market Research Analyst

Olympic Steel's Q2 2024 performance offers valuable insights into the current state of the metals industry. The 22% drop in hot-rolled index pricing during the quarter signals significant downward pressure on commodity prices, likely driven by broader economic factors such as slowing industrial demand or increased global supply.

Despite these headwinds, Olympic Steel's ability to maintain profitability across all segments highlights the importance of diversification in the metals service center business. The company's strategic focus on end products and higher-margin offerings has created a more resilient business model, better equipped to weather market volatility.

The investment in new cut-to-length lines and a high-speed slitter indicates a proactive approach to expanding capabilities in coated and specialty metals. This move could potentially open up new market opportunities and further insulate the company from commodity price fluctuations.

Looking ahead, the company's cautious outlook for the second half of 2024 suggests that the challenging pricing environment may persist. However, Olympic Steel's strong balance sheet and focus on operational efficiency position it well to navigate these challenges and potentially capitalize on market opportunities that may arise from industry consolidation or competitor weakness.

Diversified offerings in end products, higher-margin mix of flat-rolled products and additional fabrication capabilities drive profitability in a challenging pricing market

CLEVELAND--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Olympic Steel, Inc. (Nasdaq: ZEUS), a leading national metals service center, today announced financial results for the three months ended June 30, 2024.

Net income for the second quarter totaled $7.7 million, or $0.66 per diluted share, compared with net income of $15.0 million, or $1.30 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2023. The results include $1.0 million of LIFO pre-tax income in both the second quarter of 2024 and 2023. Adjusted EBITDA for the second quarter of 2024 was $21.3 million, compared with $31.2 million in the second quarter of 2023.

The Company reported higher year-over-year shipping volumes on sales of $526 million in the second quarter of 2024, compared with $569 million in the second quarter of 2023.

“Olympic Steel’s ability to capitalize on our diversification strategy was critical to delivering profitability across all three business segments in the second quarter,” said Richard T. Marabito, Chief Executive Officer. “During the second quarter of 2024, hot-rolled index pricing fell 22% and has fallen 39% since the beginning of the year. Our efforts to grow and expand in end products, higher-margin flat-rolled products including coated products, and additional fabrication capabilities have strengthened our business and make us more resilient in challenging pricing environments. Our second-quarter results are a testament to this strategy, as well as to the dedication of our team to drive profitability in all market conditions.”

Marabito continued, “We are in an excellent financial position with a strong balance sheet and more than $340 million of borrowing availability. This access to capital gives us flexibility to grow organically and through acquisition. We recently ordered two new cut-to-length lines and one high-speed slitter to further expand our efforts in our coated and specialty metals product lines.”

Marabito concluded, “As we move into the second half of 2024, we remain committed to driving profitability and delivering on our disciplines around working capital and operating efficiencies. While we expect market conditions to remain challenging in the near term, we are confident that Olympic Steel is well-positioned to navigate these pressures to deliver consistent results for our shareholders.”

The Board of Directors approved a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.15 per share, which is payable on September 16, 2024, to shareholders of record on September 2, 2024. The Company has paid a regular quarterly dividend since March 2006, increasing the dividend in each of the last three years.

The table that follows provides a reconciliation of certain non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. Additional reconciliations can be found in the Segment Financial Information table which also follows.

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								Six Months Ended
		June 30,								June 30,
			2024				2023				2024				2023
Net income per diluted share (GAAP)		$	0.66			$	1.30			$	1.40			$	2.15
Excluding the following items
LIFO income			(0.06	)			(0.06	)			(0.04	)			(0.06	)
Acquisition Inventory fair market value adjustment			-				-				-				0.13
Acquisition related expenses			-				-				-				0.16
Adjusted net income per diluted share (non-GAAP)		$	0.60			$	1.24			$	1.36			$	2.38

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								Six Months Ended
		6/30/2024				6/30/2023				6/30/2024				6/30/2023
Net income (GAAP):		$	7,660			$	15,019			$	16,357			$	24,891
Excluding the following items
Other loss, net			21				28				40				39
Interest and other expense on debt			4,393				4,203				8,403				8,426
Income tax provision			3,036				6,522				6,248				10,139
Depreciation and amortization			7,227				6,473				14,561				12,674
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and
amortization (EBITDA)			22,337				32,245				45,609				56,169
LIFO income			(1,000	)			(1,000	)			(600	)			(1,000	)
Acquisition Inventory fair market value adjustment			-				-				-				2,079
Acquisition related expenses			-				-				-				2,556
Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP)		$	21,337			$	31,245			$	45,009			$	59,804

Conference Call and Webcast

A simulcast of Olympic Steel’s 2024 second-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 August 2, 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; supplier consolidation or addition of new capacity; rising interest rates and their impacts on our variable interest rate debt; 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, legislation passed under the current administration and the 2024 U.S. presidential election; 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; 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; cyclicality and volatility within the metals industry; 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 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						Six Months Ended
		June 30,						June 30,
		2024			2023			2024			2023
Net sales		$	526,250		$	569,268		$	1,052,892		$	1,142,344
Costs and expenses
Cost of materials sold (excludes items shown separately below)			406,547			441,872			814,085			894,508
Warehouse and processing			33,243			31,522			66,136			62,171
Administrative and general			29,167			31,681			59,319			64,866
Distribution			17,462			17,448			34,220			35,189
Selling			13,201			10,389			24,737			20,786
Occupancy			4,293			4,111			8,786			8,655
Depreciation			5,839			5,245			11,845			10,322
Amortization			1,388			1,228			2,716			2,352
Total costs and expenses			511,140			543,496			1,021,844			1,098,849
Operating income			15,110			25,772			31,048			43,495
Other loss, net			21			28			40			39
Income before interest and income taxes			15,089			25,744			31,008			43,456
Interest and other expense on debt			4,393			4,203			8,403			8,426
Income before income taxes			10,696			21,541			22,605			35,030
Income tax provision			3,036			6,522			6,248			10,139
Net income		$	7,660		$	15,019		$	16,357		$	24,891
Earnings per share:
Net income per share - basic		$	0.66		$	1.30		$	1.40		$	2.15
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic			11,662			11,569			11,663			11,570
Net income per share - diluted		$	0.66		$	1.30		$	1.40		$	2.15
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted			11,662			11,572			11,663			11,572

Olympic Steel, Inc. Balance Sheets (in thousands)
		As of June 30, 2024				As of December 31, 2023
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents		$	9,443			$	13,224
Accounts receivable, net			216,682				191,149
Inventories, net (includes LIFO reserves of $11,443 and $12,043 as of June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively)			386,240				386,535
Prepaid expenses and other			10,725				12,261
Total current assets			623,090				603,169
Property and equipment, at cost			495,879				483,448
Accumulated depreciation			(308,685	)			(297,340	)
Net property and equipment			187,194				186,108
Goodwill			52,091				52,091
Intangible assets, net			90,474				92,621
Other long-term assets			19,150				16,466
Right of use asset, net			34,297				34,380
Total assets		$	1,006,296			$	984,835
Liabilities
Accounts payable		$	119,104			$	119,718
Accrued payroll			20,545				30,113
Other accrued liabilities			19,084				22,593
Current portion of lease liabilities			6,582				7,813
Total current liabilities			165,315				180,237
Credit facility revolver			209,186				190,198
Other long-term liabilities			23,281				20,151
Deferred income taxes			10,613				11,510
Lease liabilities			28,448				27,261
Total liabilities			436,843				429,357
Shareholders' Equity
Preferred stock			-				-
Common stock			137,541				136,541
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			-				41
Retained earnings			431,912				418,896
Total shareholders' equity			569,453				555,478
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity		$	1,006,296			$	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 June 30,
		Carbon Flat Products						Specialty Metals Flat Products						Tubular and Pipe Products
		2024			2023			2024			2023			2024				2023
Tons sold 1			229,090			226,275			31,695			28,711			N/A				N/A
Net sales		$	307,755		$	326,629		$	130,873		$	147,000		$	87,622			$	95,639
Average selling price per ton			1,343			1,444			4,129			5,120			N/A				N/A
Cost of materials sold			243,996			253,072			104,944			122,600			57,607				66,200
Gross profit			63,759			73,557			25,929			24,400			30,015				29,439
Operating expenses			58,398			58,862			18,080			17,721			23,518				20,068
Operating income			5,361			14,695			7,849			6,679			6,497				9,371
Depreciation and amortization			4,112			3,716			929			1,023			2,168				1,716
LIFO (income) / expense			-			-			-			-			(1,000	)			(1,000	)
		Six Months Ended June 30,
		Carbon Flat Products						Specialty Metals Flat Products						Tubular and Pipe Products
		2024			2023			2024			2023			2024				2023
Tons sold 1			448,765			444,613			61,598			61,227			N/A				N/A
Net sales		$	608,730		$	636,447		$	260,407		$	313,564		$	183,755			$	192,333
Average selling price per ton			1,356			1,431			4,228			5,121			N/A				N/A
Cost of materials sold			479,611			501,508			212,534			260,313			121,940				132,687
Gross profit			129,119			134,939			47,873			53,251			61,815				59,646
Operating expenses			115,101			114,298			36,093			37,313			47,691				40,534
Operating income			14,018			20,641			11,780			15,938			14,124				19,112
Depreciation and amortization			8,193			7,323			1,917			2,007			4,416				3,309
LIFO (income) / expense			-			-			-			-			(600	)			(1,000	)
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.

Other Information (in thousands, except per-share and ratio data)
		As of June 30, 2024				As of December 31, 2023
Assets
Flat-products		$	665,840			$	649,744
Tubular and pipe products			339,175				333,677
Corporate			1,281				1,414
Total assets		$	1,006,296			$	984,835
Other information
		As of June 30, 2024				As of December 31, 2023
Shareholders' equity per share		$	51.15			$	49.90
Debt to equity ratio		0.37 to 1				0.34 to 1
		Six Months Ended June 30,
		2024				2023
Net cash from (used for) operating activities		$	(5,512	)		$	79,196
Cash dividends per share		$	0.30			$	0.25

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240731141949/en/

Richard A. Manson

Chief Financial Officer

(216) 672-0522

ir@olysteel.com

Source: Olympic Steel, Inc.

FAQ

What was Olympic Steel's (ZEUS) net income for Q2 2024?

Olympic Steel (ZEUS) reported a net income of $7.7 million, or $0.66 per diluted share, for Q2 2024.

How did Olympic Steel's (ZEUS) Q2 2024 results compare to Q2 2023?

Olympic Steel's Q2 2024 net income of $7.7 million was lower compared to $15.0 million in Q2 2023. Adjusted EBITDA also decreased from $31.2 million in Q2 2023 to $21.3 million in Q2 2024.

What was Olympic Steel's (ZEUS) sales figure for Q2 2024?

Olympic Steel (ZEUS) reported sales of $526 million in Q2 2024, down from $569 million in Q2 2023, despite higher shipping volumes.

How much did hot-rolled index pricing decline for Olympic Steel (ZEUS) in Q2 2024?

Olympic Steel reported that hot-rolled index pricing fell 22% during Q2 2024 and has fallen 39% since the beginning of the year.

What dividend did Olympic Steel (ZEUS) declare for Q2 2024?

Olympic Steel (ZEUS) declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.15 per share, payable on September 16, 2024, to shareholders of record on September 2, 2024.