May 3, 2018 - NACCO Industries, Inc. (NYSE: NC) has announced first-quarter 2018 results.  As a result of NACCO's spin-off of its housewares-related businesses in September 2017, the attached financial statements and related 2017 financial information in this news release have been reclassified to reflect the operating results of the housewares-related businesses as discontinued operations.

For the first quarter of 2018, NACCO reported consolidated revenues of $31.2 million and consolidated income from continuing operations of $8.2 million, or $1.18 per diluted share, compared with consolidated revenues of $28.3 million and consolidated income from continuing operations of $8.2 million, or $1.20 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2017.  For the quarter ended March 31, 2018, NACCO's effective income tax rate was 9%.

NACCO's consolidated Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations for the first quarter of 2018 and the trailing twelve months ended March 31, 2018 was $12.9 million and $46.1 million, respectively.  Adjusted EBITDA in this press release is provided solely as a supplemental non-GAAP disclosure of operating results as defined in the reconciliation of GAAP results to Adjusted EBITDA on page 7.

NACCO ended the first quarter of 2018 with consolidated cash on hand of $83.4 million and debt of $50.8 million, resulting in a net cash position of $32.6 million.

In February 2018, NACCO's Board of Directors authorized a stock buyback program to purchase up to $25 million of the Company's outstanding Class A common stock through December 31, 2019.  The Company did not repurchase any shares during the first quarter of 2018.

North American Coal reported income before income tax of $10.9 million and revenues of $31.2 million in the first quarter of 2018, compared with income before income tax of $10.6 million and revenues of $28.3 million in the first quarter of 2017.  North American Coal had operating profit of $11.3 million in both the first quarter of 2018 and first quarter of 2017.

The first-quarter 2018 operating profit was comparable to 2017, as benefits from a $1.0 million reduction in the mine reclamation liability at Centennial Natural Resources and an increase in earnings at the unconsolidated operations were offset by higher operating expenses and a decrease in earnings at Mississippi Lignite Mining Company due to an increase in cost per ton delivered.  The increase in earnings at the unconsolidated operations was mainly due to an increase in limestone deliveries at North American Mining's unconsolidated operations, higher compensation at Liberty Fuels during the mine reclamation period despite the customer's decision to cease deliveries in the second half of 2017 and moderately increased earnings at other unconsolidated operations.  These improved earnings were partly offset by a decrease in results at Bisti due to fewer tons delivered.  The increase in operating expenses was primarily the result of higher employee-related expenses, additional business development costs and an increase in professional fees.  First-quarter 2018 income before income tax increased over the prior year first quarter primarily as a result of lower interest expense.

NACCO & Other - First Quarter

NACCO and Other, which includes the parent company operations and Bellaire Corporation, reported a loss from continuing operations before income taxes of $1.9 million in the first quarter of 2018 compared with a loss from continuing operations before income taxes of $1.8 million in the first quarter of 2017.

Consolidated Outlook

In 2018, NACCO expects consolidated income before income tax from continuing operations to decrease modestly compared with 2017 and expects an effective income tax rate in the range of 9% - 12%.  The effective income tax rate is affected by items such as percentage depletion and the mix of earnings, including losses at entities with higher effective income tax rates.

Income before income tax in 2017 included $5.1 million of gains on sales of assets, mostly realized at Centennial.  Excluding these gains, NACCO expects 2018 income before income tax to increase compared with the prior year primarily as a result of lower operating expenses, improved income at the unconsolidated operations and reduced interest expense.  These improvements are expected to be partially offset by an anticipated substantial decrease in royalty and other income and a decrease in income at Mississippi Lignite Mining Company.  Royalties on oil, gas and coal extracted by third parties are subject to changes in market forces and the activities of third parties, making it difficult to forecast whether recent high levels of income will continue.

Income from the unconsolidated operations is expected to be modestly higher in 2018 due in part to higher compensation at Liberty Fuels and increases at North American Mining's unconsolidated limestone operations as a result of new contracts signed in 2017 and increased customer demand.

Bisti Fuels, one of North American Coal's unconsolidated operations, operates the Navajo Mine, which supplies coal to the Four Corners Generating Station.  The owners of the Four Corners Generating Station are in the process of installing additional environmental controls at the plant.  This installation limited the plant's ability to take coal deliveries in the first quarter of 2018 and is expected to continue to limit deliveries in the second quarter, resulting in a reduction in coal deliveries and income in the first half of 2018 compared with 2017.  Despite the anticipated lower deliveries and earnings in the first half of the year, principally in the first quarter, Bisti's full-year 2018 income is expected to be comparable to 2017, as an anticipated increase in Bisti's income in the second half of 2018 is expected to offset the decrease in the first half of the year.  Once installation of this equipment is complete, this plant should enjoy the benefits of an improved environmental profile.  Production at Bisti Fuels is anticipated to be 5 million to 6 million tons of coal per year when the plant is operating at expected levels, which is currently anticipated to occur in 2019.          

On June 28, 2017, Southern Company and its subsidiary, Mississippi Power, suspended operations involving the coal gasifier portion of the Kemper County energy facility.  Liberty Fuels, an unconsolidated operation, was the sole supplier of coal to fuel the gasifier under its contract with Mississippi Power.  On February 8, 2018, Mississippi Power instructed Liberty Fuels to permanently cease all mining and delivery of lignite and to commence mine reclamation.  The terms of the contract specify that Mississippi Power is responsible for all mine closure costs.  Under the contract, Liberty Fuels is specified as the contractor to complete final mine closure and receives compensation for these services.  The customer's decision to close the mine does not negatively impact the 2018 earnings outlook for Liberty Fuels, but it does unfavorably affect North American Coal's long-term earnings potential from this mine.

At the consolidated operations, Mississippi Lignite Mining Company's pre-tax income in the first half of 2018 is expected to decrease substantially from the first half of 2017, primarily as a result of an increase in the cost per ton delivered.  In general, cost per ton delivered is lowest when the power plant requires a consistently high level of coal deliveries, primarily because costs are spread over more tons.  Historically, periods of reduced or fluctuating deliveries, such as during planned or unplanned power plant outages or periods of fluctuating demand for electricity generated by the plant, have adversely affected Mississippi Lignite Mining Company's tons delivered, resulting in an increase in cost per ton delivered and reduced profitability.  Pre-tax income in the second half of 2018 is expected to increase compared with the second half of 2017, but is not expected to fully offset the decrease from the first half of 2018.  As a result, Mississippi Lignite Mining Company's full-year income is expected to decrease in 2018 compared with 2017.  Customer demand in the second half of 2018 is expected to return to higher levels due to reduced plant outage days.  If customer demand remains low at Mississippi Lignite Mining Company, it could continue to unfavorably affect North American Coal's 2018 and future earnings significantly.

Centennial's pre-tax loss in 2018 is expected to be comparable to its 2017 pre-tax loss excluding gains on sales of assets of $3.1 million.  Centennial will continue to evaluate strategies to optimize cash flow, including the continued assessment of a range of strategies for its remaining Alabama mineral reserves, including holding reserves with substantial unmined coal tons for sale or contract mining when conditions permit.  Cash expenditures related to mine reclamation will continue until reclamation is complete, or ownership of, or responsibility for, the remaining mines is transferred.

Cash flow before financing activities is expected to decrease substantially in 2018 compared with 2017.  Capital expenditures are expected to be up to $32 million in 2018, of which $2.4 million was expended in the first quarter.  Planned expenditures at Mississippi Lignite Mining Company and North American Mining include expenditures for new and replacement equipment and land required for future mining.  However, the timing of spending for some items could shift to later periods as capital expenditures can vary significantly in any given year based on the type of asset needed and its relative cost.

While the current regulatory environment for development of new coal projects has improved, continued low natural gas prices and growth in renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, could unfavorably affect the amount of electricity generation attributable to coal-fired power plants over the longer term.  North American Coal continues to seek opportunities for new coal mining projects, although future opportunities are likely to be very limited.  In addition, North American Coal continues to pursue additional non-coal mining opportunities, principally related to its North American Mining business and elsewhere where it might provide value-added services. 

To read the full quarterly report with financial figures, please click here. 

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