Ryerson Reports First Quarter 2018 Results

First Quarter 2018 Highlights: 

• Reported net income attributable to Ryerson Holding Corporation of $10.4 million, or $0.28 per diluted share. Generated Adjusted EBITDA, excluding LIFO of $62.2 million, compared to $40.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2017 and $54.3 million in the first quarter of 2017.
• Grew revenues by 15.6 percent compared to the first quarter of 2017 with average selling prices per ton 9.2 percent higher and tons sold 5.8 percent higher. The Company gained market share as Ryerson North American tons sold increased by 5.6 percent compared to North American industry volume growth of 2.6 percent according to the Metals Service Center Institute (MSCI).
• Achieved gross margin of 17.5 percent. Increased gross margin, excluding LIFO by 110 basis points to 18.9 percent compared to the fourth quarter of 2017.
• Realized expense leverage with warehousing, delivery, selling, general, and administrative expenses as a percentage of sales declining to 13.8 percent compared to 15.0 percent in the fourth quarter of 2017 and 14.6% in the first quarter of 2017.

CHICAGO – May 2, 2018 – Ryerson Holding Corporation (NYSE: RYI), a leading value-added processor and distributor of industrial metals, today reported results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2018.

Eddie Lehner, Ryerson’s President and Chief Executive Officer said, “Thank you to our customers and to my Ryerson teammates as the Company executed exceptionally well in the first quarter, exceeding industry volume growth paired with sequential margin expansion and further expense leverage improvement all combining to generate higher Adjusted EBITDA, excluding LIFO, compared to both the fourth quarter of 2017 and first quarter of 2017. In addition to these key earnings improvements, Ryerson remains atop our industry in inventory management, reducing days of supply to a multi-year low of 68 from 69 in the first quarter of 2017, while maintaining high service levels in providing an expanding array of value-added solutions to our customers.” 

First Quarter 2018 Financial Results

Revenues were $941.3 million for the first quarter of 2018, up 16.1 percent compared to the fourth quarter of 2017 due to 11.9 percent higher volume, exceeding Ryerson’s average seasonal improvement of 8 percent, and a 3.8 percent increase in average selling price per ton. Compared to the year-ago period, revenues increased 15.6 percent driven by an increase in average selling price per ton of 9.2 percent and higher volume of 5.8 percent.

Gross margin improved to 17.5 percent for the first quarter of 2018, compared to 16.8 percent in the fourth quarter of 2017, but was lower than first quarter 2017 gross margin of 19.7 percent. Included in cost of materials sold was LIFO expense of $13.3 million for the first quarter of 2018 and $8.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2017, compared to net LIFO income of $0.7 million in the year-ago period. Gross margin, excluding LIFO was 18.9 percent for the first quarter of 2018, compared to 17.8 percent in the fourth quarter of 2017, and 19.6 percent in the first quarter of 2017. Erich Schnaufer, Ryerson’s Chief Financial Officer, said, “Ryerson was able to expand our gross margins, excluding LIFO by 110 basis points sequentially as we executed on improving pricing and demand conditions, contributing to stronger quarterly earnings.” A reconciliation of gross margin to gross margin, excluding LIFO is included below in this news release.

Warehousing, delivery, selling, general, and administrative expense increased by $11.1 million, or 9.3 percent, for the first quarter of 2018 compared to the year-ago period, driven by increased shipments during the quarter. Ryerson demonstrated expense leverage as warehousing, delivery, selling, general, and administrative expenses declined to 13.8 percent of sales in the first quarter of 2018 compared to 15.0 percent in the fourth quarter of 2017, and 14.6 percent in the first quarter of 2017.

Net income attributable to Ryerson Holding Corporation was $10.4 million, or $0.28 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2018 compared to net income of $14.8 million, or $0.40 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2017. Adjusted EBITDA, excluding LIFO, was $62.2 million in the first quarter of 2018, compared to $54.3 million in the year-ago period. A reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA, excluding LIFO and net income attributable to Ryerson Holding Corporation is included below in this news release.

First Quarter 2018 Balance Sheet, Cash Flow, and Liquidity

Ryerson improved from a book equity deficit of $7.4 million as of December 31, 2017 to positive book equity of $5.2 million in the first quarter of 2018, a noteworthy event for the organization as we continue marking our progress while continuing to solidify our balance sheet and deleverage the business. In the first quarter of 2018, Ryerson’s inventory balance improved by one day to a multi-year low of 68 days of supply compared to the year-ago period. Ryerson maintained ample liquidity in the first quarter of 2018. As of March 31, 2018, borrowings were $366 million on our primary revolving credit facility with additional availability of $323 million. Including cash, marketable securities, and availability from foreign sources, Ryerson’s total liquidity was $381 million as of March 31, 2018 compared to $338 million as of December 31, 2017.

Ryerson generated $32 million of cash from operating activities in the first quarter of 2018, driven by stronger earnings with net operating assets and liabilities relatively unchanged from the fourth quarter of 2017. Ryerson had a use of cash of $33 million from operating activities in the first quarter of 2017. 

Fanello Industries Acquisition

In April 2018, Ryerson acquired Fanello Industries, a privately-owned metal processor and service company located in Lavonia, Georgia. Fanello Industries supplies blanking, stamping, laser cutting, bending, and machining metal solutions to a diverse group of industries in the Southeastern United States, with annual revenue of approximately $20 million. The Fanello Industries acquisition increases Ryerson’s breadth of value-added services to leverage across its intelligent service center network for the benefit of current and future customers.

Second Quarter 2018 Commentary

Ryerson continues to see improved demand and pricing conditions in the second quarter of 2018. U.S. industrial production, as measured by the Federal Reserve, increased to a five-year high of 4.4 percent in February 2018 and remained elevated at 4.3 percent in March. Further, U.S. steel capacity utilization reached a 40 month high of 77.4 percent in March 2018, as domestic producers supplied a greater percentage of U.S. steel demand. Trade policy actions muted imported tons in the first quarter of 2018, as evidenced by a nine percent reduction in metal imports compared to the first quarter of 2017. Ryerson’s strong relationships with domestic mills support supply continuity for our customers as we move through the impacts of trade policy implementation and adaptation in the second quarter of 2018. From a pricing perspective, industrial metal commodity prices continued to increase in April from March for CRU hot-rolled carbon steel, Midwest aluminum, and the stainless 304 surcharge, signaling higher average selling prices for Ryerson as the second quarter of 2018 unfolds.

First Quarter 2018 Business Metrics

Fourth Quarter 2018 Major Product Metrics