United States Steel Corporation Reports 2012 Second Quarter Results

PITTSBURGH, July 31, 2012 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --

United States Steel Corporation (NYSE: X) reported second quarter 2012 net income of $101 million, or $0.62 per diluted share, compared to a first quarter 2012 net loss of $219 million, or $1.52 per diluted share, and second quarter 2011 net income of $222 million, or $1.33 per diluted share. Adjusted second quarter 2012 net income was $112 million, or $0.69 per diluted share, excluding an $11 million after-tax early redemption premium on our $300 million 5.65% Senior Notes due 2013. Adjusted first quarter 2012 net income was $110 million, or $0.67 per diluted share, excluding a $399 million after-tax loss on the sale of U. S. Steel Serbia; a $58 million after-tax gain on the sale of transportation assets; and a $12 million after-tax gain on property tax settlements. Adjusted second quarter 2011 net income was $185 million, or $1.12 per diluted share, excluding $37 million of net foreign currency gains, primarily related to the accounting remeasurement of a U.S. dollar denominated intercompany loan to a European entity.

Earnings Highlights






(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts)

2Q 2012

1Q 2012

2Q 2011

Net Sales

$   5,017

$   5,172

$     5,120

Segment income (loss) from operations





Flat-rolled

$     177

$     183

$       374


U. S. Steel Europe

34

(34)

(18)


Tubular

103

129

31


Other Businesses

16

17

9

Total reportable segment and Other Businesses income from operations

$     330

$     295

$       396

Postretirement benefit expense

(77)

(77)

(96)

Other items not allocated to segments

-

(291)

-

Income (loss) from operations

$     253

$      (73)

$       300

Net interest and other financial costs 

82

50

13

Income tax provision

70

96

65

Net income (loss) attributable to United States Steel Corporation

$     101

$    (219)

$       222

-Per basic share

$    0.70

$   (1.52)

$      1.54

-Per diluted share

$    0.62

$   (1.52)

$      1.33

Commenting on results, U. S. Steel Chairman and CEO John P. Surma said, "We reported good operating results for the second quarter reflecting positive results from all three of our operating segments. Our Flat-rolled and Tubular segments had solid results considering the very fragile nature of the U.S. economic recovery. U. S. Steel Europe returned to profitability with significantly improved results but continues to be challenged by the economic situation in the region."

The company reported second quarter 2012 reportable segment and Other Businesses income from operations of $330 million, compared with income of $295 million in the first quarter of 2012 and income of $396 million in the second quarter of 2011.

For the second quarter 2012, we recorded a tax provision of $70 million on our pre-tax income of $171 million. The tax provision does not reflect any tax benefit for pre-tax losses in Canada, which is a jurisdiction where we have recorded a full valuation allowance on deferred tax assets.

As of June 30, 2012, U. S. Steel had $565 million of cash and $2.4 billion of total liquidity.

Reportable Segments and Other Businesses

Management believes segment income from operations is a key measure in evaluating company performance. U. S. Steel's reportable segments and Other Businesses had income from operations of $330 million, or $61 per ton, in the second quarter of 2012, compared with income of $295 million, or $52 per ton, in the first quarter of 2012 and income of $396 million, or $72 per ton, in the second quarter of 2011.

Flat-rolled second quarter results were comparable to the first quarter. The benefits of an $8 per ton increase in average realized prices more than offset the effects of lower shipments, which reflected the adverse effect of a large increase in flat-rolled imports. Maintenance costs increased by $40 million over the first quarter, primarily related to scheduled blast furnace and other maintenance projects. Reduced energy costs in the second quarter partially offset the increased maintenance costs.

While the economic conditions in Europe remained challenging, second quarter results for our European segment improved significantly compared to the first quarter. Average realized prices increased due to higher spot market and quarterly contract prices. Operating costs decreased in the second quarter as a result of lower raw materials and energy costs. U. S. Steel Kosice shipments and utilization rates remained in line with the first quarter as modest end user increases in demand were offset by weaker spot market sales. The restocking that drove first quarter spot market sales moderated as service centers and distributors reduced purchases to match real demand. Additionally, first quarter results included a $17 million operating loss from our former Serbian operations.

Tubular second quarter income from operations decreased compared to the first quarter. Shipments of 493 thousand tons were approximately 7 percent lower than the record levels of the first quarter as distributors rebalanced their inventory to reflect lower forecasts for drilling activity and we carried out a planned facility outage. Average realized prices of $1,706 per ton remained near first quarter levels.

Outlook

Commenting on U. S. Steel's outlook for the third quarter, Surma said, "We expect total reportable segment and Other Businesses operating results to be positive in the third quarter but below our second quarter results, reflecting the continued weakness in the North American, European and emerging market economies. Average realized prices are expected to be lower for all three operating segments with total reportable segment shipments slightly lower than the second quarter. Our Tubular segment is expected to continue its trend of solid operating profits."

We expect near break-even results for our Flat-rolled segment in the third quarter due to lower average realized prices. Proceeds are expected to be lower compared to the second quarter as spot and index-based contract prices decrease. While average realized spot prices are projected to be lower for the third quarter, spot transaction prices are expected to increase as the quarter progresses. Shipments for our Flat-rolled segment are expected to be comparable to the second quarter, as end user demand appears stable and supply chain inventories remain balanced. Operating costs are expected to be comparable to the second quarter.

We expect our European segment results to remain positive but lower than the second quarter reflecting the continued economic challenges in Europe. Average realized prices are expected to decrease compared to the second quarter as lower spot market prices carry over into the third quarter. Shipments are expected to be lower as service centers and distributors maintain a conservative buying pattern to minimize inventory and Europe enters its summer holiday period. Operating costs should be comparable to the second quarter.

We expect third quarter 2012 results for our Tubular segment to be in line with the second quarter results. Shipments are expected to be lower as end users continue to adjust their drilling plans due to economic uncertainty and concern over energy prices. Similarly, average realized prices are projected to decline as supply has outpaced demand, mainly due to a substantial increase of imported products. Operating costs are expected to decrease compared to the second quarter due to lower substrate and facility maintenance costs.

We are currently negotiating with the United Steelworkers for a new labor agreement covering most of our domestic operations. The current agreement expires on September 1, 2012. We anticipate reaching a competitive agreement without a work stoppage.

This release contains forward-looking statements with respect to market conditions, operating costs, shipments, prices, capital spending, and employee benefit costs and payments. Although we believe that we are experiencing a gradual economic recovery, there are signs of continued economic issues in Europe and U. S. Steel cannot control or predict the impact. Other more normal factors that could affect market conditions, costs, shipments and prices for both North American and European operations include: (a) foreign currency fluctuations and related activities; (b) global product demand, prices and mix; (c) global and company steel production levels; (d) plant operating performance; (e) natural gas, electricity, raw materials and transportation prices, usage and availability; (f) international trade developments, including court decisions, legislation and agency decisions on petitions and sunsets; (g) the impact of fixed prices in energy and raw materials contracts (many of which have terms of one year or longer) as compared to short-term contract and spot prices of steel products; (h) changes in environmental, tax, pension and other laws; (i) the terms of collective bargaining agreements; (j) employee strikes or other labor issues, in particular the outcome of our currently pending labor negotiations; and (k) U.S. and global economic performance and political developments. Domestic steel shipments and prices could be affected by import levels and actions taken by the U.S. Government and its agencies, including those related to CO2 emissions, climate change and shale gas development. Economic conditions and political factors in Europe and Canada that may affect U. S. Steel Europe's and U. S. Steel Canada's results include, but are not limited to: (l) taxation; (m) nationalization; (n) inflation; (o) government instability; (p) political unrest; (q) regulatory actions; and (r) quotas, tariffs, and other protectionist measures. We present adjusted net income and adjusted net income per diluted share, which are non-GAAP measures, to better enable investors and others to assess our results and compare them with our competitors without the distorting impact of items not allocated to segments. Additionally, the effect of the items not allocated to segments is not considered in the management of our business. In accordance with "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, cautionary statements identifying important factors, but not necessarily all factors, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements have been included in U. S. Steel's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, and in subsequent filings for U. S. Steel.

A Consolidated Statement of Operations (Unaudited), Consolidated Cash Flow Statement (Unaudited), Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet (Unaudited) and Preliminary Supplemental Statistics (Unaudited) for U. S. Steel are attached.

The company will conduct a conference call on second quarter earnings on Tuesday, July 31, at 3 p.m. EDT. To listen to the webcast of the conference call, visit the U. S. Steel website, www.ussteel.com, and click on "Overview" then "Current Information" under the "Investors" section.

For more information on U. S. Steel, visit our website at www.ussteel.com.

UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)
















Quarter Ended


Six Months Ended




June 30


March 31


June 30


June 30

(Dollars in millions)

2012


2012


2011


2012


2011













NET SALES


$       5,017


$       5,172


$       5,120


$ 10,189


$   9,984













OPERATING EXPENSES (INCOME):











Cost of sales (excludes items shown below)

4,477


4,626


4,498


9,103


9,119


Selling, general and administrative expenses

173


173


189


346


369


Depreciation, depletion and amortization

164


163


171


327


340


Income from investees

(44)


(24)


(31)


(68)


(39)


Net loss (gain) on disposal of assets

-


309


(4)


309


(10)


Other income, net

(6)


(2)


(3)


(8)


(4)















Total operating expenses

4,764


5,245


4,820


10,009


9,775













INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS

253


(73)


300


180


209

Net interest and other financial costs (income)

82


50


13


132


(8)













INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES 











AND NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS

171


(123)


287


48


217

Income tax provision 

70


96


65


166


81













Net income (loss)


101


(219)


222


(118)


136


Less: Net loss attributable to the 











noncontrolling interests

-


-


-


-


-

NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO UNITED STATES 











STEEL CORPORATION

$         101


$        (219)


$         222


$    (118)


$     136

























COMMON STOCK DATA:






















Net income (loss) per share attributable to United










States Steel Corporation shareholders:











-Basic


$        0.70


$       (1.52)


$        1.54


$   (0.82)


$    0.95


-Diluted


$        0.62


$       (1.52)


$        1.33


$   (0.82)


$    0.85













Weighted average shares, in thousands











-Basic


144,176


144,075


143,922


144,123


143,863


-Diluted


171,416


144,075


171,591


144,123


171,583













Dividends paid per common share

$        0.05


$        0.05


$        0.05


$    0.10


$    0.10

UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION

CASH FLOW STATEMENT (Unaudited)














Six Months Ended






June 30

(Dollars in millions)


2012


2011









Cash (used in) provided by operating activities:





Net (loss) income


$        (118)


$         136


Depreciation, depletion and amortization


327


340


Pensions and other postretirement benefits

(111)


55


Deferred income taxes


107


43


Net loss on disposal of assets


309


-


Working capital changes


282


(516)


Income taxes receivable/payable


22


151


Currency remeasurement loss (gain)


6


(145)


Other operating activities


37


(26)



Total



861


38









Cash (used in) provided by investing activities:






Capital expenditures(a)


(397)


(401)


Disposal of assets


133


16


Other investing activities


9


6



Total



(255)


(379)









Cash provided by (used in) financing activities:





Revolving credit facilities

- borrowings

523


1,273





- repayments

(653)


(1,100)


Receivables Purchase Agreement payments

(380)


-


Issuance of long-term debt, net of financing costs

392


-


Repayment of long-term debt


(315)


(14)


Common stock issued


-


4


Dividends paid


(14)


(14)



Total



(447)


149









Effect of exchange rate changes on cash


(2)


7









Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

157


(185)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year

408


578









Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period

$         565


$         393









(a) Excludes the change in accrued capital expenditures of $40 million for the six months ended June
    30, 2012.  The change in accrued capital expenditures was immaterial for the six months ended
    June 30, 2011.  

UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION

CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET (Unaudited)










June 30


Dec. 31

(Dollars in millions)


2012


2011







Cash and cash equivalents

$         565


$         408

Receivables, net


2,469


2,053

Receivables sold to third party conduits

-


380

Inventories


2,412


2,775

Other current assets


179


158


Total current assets

5,625


5,774

Property, plant and equipment, net

6,316


6,579

Investment and long-term receivables, net

643


683

Goodwill and intangible assets, net

2,038


2,045

Other assets


782


992








Total assets


$     15,404


$     16,073







Accounts payable


$       2,030


$       2,063

Payroll and benefits payable

1,019


1,003

Short-term debt and current maturities of long-term debt

5


20

Borrowings under Receivables Purchase Agreement

-


380

Other current liabilities


256


183


Total current liabilities

3,310


3,649

Long-term debt, less unamortized discount

3,801


3,828

Employee benefits


4,287


4,600

Other long-term liabilities

473


495

United States Steel Corporation stockholders' equity

3,532


3,500

Noncontrolling interests

1


1








Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

$     15,404


$     16,073







UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION

PRELIMINARY SUPPLEMENTAL STATISTICS (Unaudited)




















Quarter Ended


Six Months Ended






June 30


March 31


June 30


June 30

(Dollars in millions)


2012


2012


2011


2012


2011















INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS












Flat-rolled


$     177


$     183


$  374


$  360


$     338


U. S. Steel Europe


34


(34)


(18)


-


(23)


Tubular


103


129


31


232


63


Other Businesses 


16


17


9


33


22















Reportable Segment and Other Businesses Income from Operations

330


295


396


625


400


Postretirement benefit expense


(77)


(77)


(96)


(154)


(191)


Other items not allocated to segments:













Loss on sale of U. S. Steel Serbia


-


(399)


-


(399)


-



Gain on sale of transportation assets


-


89


-


89


-



Property tax settlements 


-


19


-


19


-


















Total Income (Loss) from Operations


$     253


$     (73)


$  300


$  180


$     209















CAPITAL EXPENDITURES












Flat-rolled


$     151


$     181


$  142


$  332


$     267


U. S. Steel Europe


12


2


44


14


67


Tubular


4


4


33


8


64


Other Businesses


1


2


2


3


3


















Total


$     168


$     189


$  221


$  357

 (a) 

$     401















(a) Capital expenditures include $40 million of changes in accrued but unpaid capital expenditures for the six months ended June 30, 2012.  Changes in the accrued but unpaid capital expenditures for the six months ended June 30, 2011 were not material. 

UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION

PRELIMINARY SUPPLEMENTAL STATISTICS (Unaudited)


















Quarter Ended


Six Months Ended





June 30


March 31


June 30


June 30





2012


2012


2011


2012


2011














OPERATING STATISTICS











Average realized price: ($/net ton) (a)












Flat-rolled

772


764


803


768


761



U. S. Steel Europe

767


749


930


757


870



Tubular

1,706


1,727


1,565


1,717


1,506


Steel Shipments: (a) (b)












Flat-rolled

3,986


4,092


3,936


8,078


7,890



U. S. Steel Europe

955


1,045


1,138


2,000


2,583



Tubular

493


529


424


1,022


849

















Total Steel Shipments

5,434


5,666


5,498


11,100


11,322


Intersegment Shipments: (b)












Flat-rolled to Tubular

460


499


458


959


847


Raw Steel Production : (b)












Flat-rolled  

4,688


5,043


4,894


9,731


9,492



U. S. Steel Europe

1,173


1,240


1,431


2,413


3,112


Raw Steel Capability Utilization: (c)












Flat-rolled

77%


83%


81%


80%


79%



U. S. Steel Europe

94%


85%


78%


89%


85%



    USSK

94%


92%


83%


93%


90%















(a) Excludes intersegment shipments.










(b) Thousands of net tons.










(c) Based on annual raw steel production capability of 24.3 million net tons for Flat-rolled and  




7.4 million net tons for U. S. Steel Europe (USSE).  Subsequent to the sale of USSS 





on January 31, 2012, annual raw steel production capability for USSE is 5.0 million net tons.




CONTACT: Media, Erin DiPietro, +1-412-433-6845, or Investors/Analysts, Dan Lesnak, +1-412-433-1184