Signature Sponsor
Warrior Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2025 Results

 

 

February 13, 2026 - Warrior Met Coal, Inc. (NYSE: HCC) (“Warrior” or the “Company”) has announced results for the fourth quarter and full year 2025. Warrior delivered strong fourth-quarter and full-year results driven by record sales volumes, the commencement of operations at the transformational Blue Creek mine, and continued cost improvements. The ahead-of-schedule start of Blue Creek's longwall in October 2025 is already reshaping Warrior's production profile, cost structure, and earnings potential heading into 2026.

Warrior reported net income for the fourth quarter of 2025 of $23.0 million, or $0.44 per diluted share, compared to net income of $1.1 million, or $0.02 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2024. Adjusted EBITDA in the fourth quarter of 2025 was $92.9 million, a significant increase from $53.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2024, reflecting improved operating performance and the initial ramp-up profitability contribution from the Blue Creek mine.

Fourth Quarter Highlights

  • Commissioning of the Blue Creek longwall operations began in October eight months ahead of schedule and on budget;

  • Achieved record quarterly sales volumes of 2.9 million short tons of steelmaking coal, including 881 thousand short tons sold from the Blue Creek mine;

  • Reduced cash cost of sales (free-on-board port) per short ton by 22% to $93.53 in the fourth quarter of 2025 from $119.55 in the fourth quarter of 2024, driven by the inherently lower cost structure of Blue Creek, lower variable costs and a disciplined approach to cost control and operational efficiency; and

  • Raised volume guidance for 2026 due to solid operational performance by Blue Creek.

“Our team's disciplined execution in the fourth quarter and throughout 2025 delivered exceptional progress at Blue Creek,” said Walt Scheller, CEO of Warrior. “We are poised for a significant expansion in scale in 2026 as the early start of the Blue Creek longwall operation is already driving higher production, improved cost performance and record quarterly sales volumes.”

“Even in these early stages of production and sales, Blue Creek's contributions to our financial results are having a notable impact – which we expect will only increase as the mine continues to ramp up toward full production. With a strengthened first quartile cost structure, a growing reserve base, and a clear pathway to higher volumes, Warrior is exceptionally well-positioned to capitalize on long-term demand for high-quality steelmaking coal. We continue to remain focused on disciplined capital deployment, operational reliability, and creating long-term shareholder value,” Mr. Scheller concluded.

Warrior's strong operational performance and meaningful cost reductions reflect the Company's variable cost structure and the early benefits of Blue Creek. The results came despite challenging global steelmaking coal markets, where pricing has been driven primarily by depressed global steel demand, record high Chinese steel exports, and abundant global supply of steelmaking coal. The average index price for premium low-volatility coal was 22% lower year-over-year.

Full Year Performance

Despite lower pricing in 2025, Warrior delivered higher production, improved costs, and the commencement of longwall operations at Blue Creek, positioning the Company for materially higher volumes and enhanced profitability. Warrior generated net income of $57.0 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $256.5 million, reflecting lower average selling prices despite higher production and sales volumes driven by the Blue Creek longwall operations. While investments in Blue Creek and other development projects drove higher capital spending in 2025, the Company continued to maintain strong liquidity and delivered year-over-year improvements in cost efficiency, creating the potential for enhanced profitability as Blue Creek ramps toward full production.

Operating Results

Sales volumes in the fourth quarter of 2025 were a record 2.9 million short tons compared to 1.9 million short tons in the fourth quarter of 2024, representing a 53% increase, driven primarily by sales of Blue Creek steelmaking coal of 881 thousand short tons. Sales volumes for the full year 2025 were a record 9.6 million short tons, or an increase of 21% compared to 2024, which was at the high end of our guidance range. The higher sales volumes for the full year 2025 were driven by sales of Blue Creek steelmaking coal of 1.5 million short tons.

The Company produced a record 3.4 million short tons of steelmaking coal in the fourth quarter of 2025, compared to 2.1 million short tons in the fourth quarter of 2024, representing a 61% increase, including 1.3 million short tons produced at Blue Creek. For the full year 2025, the Company produced a record 10.2 million short tons, or an increase of 24% compared to 2024, which exceeded our guidance for the full year and is attributed to the early longwall operation startup at Blue Creek. Inventory levels increased to 1.6 million short tons as of December 31, 2025, compared to 1.1 million short tons as of September 30, 2025.

Additional Financial Results

Total revenues were $384.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2025, which compares to total revenues of $297.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2024, reflecting the 53% increase in sales volumes, offset partially by a decline in the average net selling price. The average net selling price of the Company's steelmaking coal decreased 16% from $154.54 per short ton in the fourth quarter of 2024 to $129.60 per short ton in the fourth quarter of 2025. The average gross selling price realization was approximately 75% of the Platts Premium Low Vol FOB Australian index price for the fourth quarter of 2025 compared to 86% for the fourth quarter of 2024, primarily driven by a 12% higher sales mix of high-vol A steelmaking coal and an 18% increase in sales into the Pacific Basin.

For the full year 2025, total revenues were $1.3 billion, or a decrease of 14% compared to 2024, driven by a 30% decrease in the average net selling prices of the Company's steelmaking coal offset partially by a 21% increase in sales volumes. The average net selling price of the Company's steelmaking coal decreased 29% from $188.09 per short ton for the full year 2024 to $132.62 per short ton for the full year 2025. The average gross selling price realization was approximately 80% of the Platts Premium Low Vol FOB Australian index price for the full year 2025 compared to 89% for the full year 2024, primarily driven by 13% higher sales mix of high-vol A steelmaking coal sold primarily into the Pacific Basin, a lower price index relative to premium low-vol and elevated freight rates to the Pacific Basin.

Cost of sales for the fourth quarter of 2025 were $270.7 million compared to $228.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2024. Cash cost of sales (free-on-board port) for the fourth quarter of 2025 were $269.6 million, or 72.2% of mining revenues, compared to $225.6 million, or 77.4% of mining revenues in the same period of 2024. Cash cost of sales (free-on-board port) per short ton decreased to $93.53 in the fourth quarter of 2025 from $119.55 in the fourth quarter of 2024. This was driven primarily by the sales mix of Blue Creek coal and its inherent lower cost structure and lower steelmaking coal prices and their effect on Warrior's variable cost structure, primarily for wages, transportation and royalties. For the full year 2025, cash cost of sales (free-on-board port) per short ton was $101.30 and was better than Warrior's guidance range.

Depreciation and depletion expenses for the fourth quarter of 2025 were $56.4 million, or 14.7% of total revenues and were higher than the same period last year of $39.2 million, or 13.2% of total revenues. This was primarily due to depreciation expense recognized on additional assets placed into service at Blue Creek and higher sales volumes. For the full year 2025, depreciation and depletion expenses of $188.6 million was at the low end of Warrior's guidance range.

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the fourth quarter of 2025 were $18.1 million, or 4.7% of total revenues, and were higher than the same period last year of $17.7 million due to higher employee-related expenses. For the full year 2025, selling, general and administrative expenses of $65.7 million were at the low end of Warrior's guidance range.

Warrior achieved net interest income of $1.2 million during the fourth quarter of 2025, which is lower than the prior year due to lower interest income on lower cash balances and lower earned rates of return combined with higher interest expense due to interest on new leased equipment. For the full year 2025, interest expense of $9.7 million was at the low end of Warrior's guidance range and interest income earned of $18.5 million was within Warrior's guidance range.

Income tax expense was $12.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2025 on pre-tax income of $35.9 million. The effective income tax rate for the twelve months ended December 31, 2025 varied from the statutory federal income tax rate of 21%, primarily due to tax benefits recognized for depletion expense, marginal gas well tax credits and foreign-derived intangible income deduction. This compares to an income tax expense of $0.8 million on pre-tax income of $2.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2024.

Cash Flow and Liquidity

The Company generated positive cash flows from operations of $76.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2025, compared to $54.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2024. Net working capital, excluding cash, for the fourth quarter of 2025 increased by $8.0 million from the third quarter of 2025, primarily reflecting higher accounts receivable and inventories primarily due to the ramp up of Blue Creek.

Cash used in investing activities for capital expenditures and mine development for the fourth quarter of 2025 was $104.4 million compared to $142.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2024. The fourth quarter of 2025 includes $69.1 million of capital expenditures for the continued development of Blue Creek, which brings the total year-to-date capital expenditures to $240.3 million and project-to-date capital expenditures to $956.8 million. Free cash flows in the fourth quarter of 2025 were negative $28.3 million compared to free cash flows of negative $88.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2024, driven primarily by the continued development of Blue Creek.

Cash flows used in financing activities for the fourth quarter of 2025 were $13.1 million, primarily due to principal repayments of financing lease obligations of $8.9 million and payment of a regular quarterly dividend of $4.2 million.

The Company’s total liquidity as of December 31, 2025 was $483.9 million, consisting of cash and cash equivalents of $300.0 million, short-term investments of $43.4 million, which is net of $9.9 million posted as collateral and available liquidity under its ABL Facility of $140.5 million, net of outstanding letters of credit of $2.5 million.

Capital Allocation

On February 10, 2026, the Board declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.08 per share, which the Company plans to distribute on March 2, 2026, to stockholders of record as of the close of business on February 23, 2026.

Finalization of Federal Lease Acquisition

In the fourth quarter of 2025, the Company finalized two federal coal leases with the U.S. Department of Interior and Bureau of Land Management. The mining plans for these leases, which were approved in the first quarter of 2026, authorize development and mining activities across approximately 14,050 acres in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, which contain approximately 53 million short tons of reserves, further strengthening the resource base underpinning our strategic growth initiatives. The approval of these mining plans marks an important milestone in supporting the long-term development of the Company's high quality steelmaking coal operations, provides long-term visibility into future production and allows for incremental reserves to be mined at both Blue Creek and Mine No. 4.

Company Outlook

Warrior expects 2026 to reflect a substantial step-change in production and sales volumes, driven by Blue Creek operating for the full year and continued operational excellence at Mines No. 4 and 7. While volumes are expected to be higher, the Company anticipates a continued challenging pricing environment given weak demand, record high Chinese steel exports and ample global supply, particularly in the High Vol A quality tier. The Company's outlook for 2026 is subject to many risks that may impact performance, such as global trade and tariff uncertainties, market conditions in the steel and steelmaking coal industries and overall global economic and competitive conditions, all as more fully described under Forward-Looking Statements. The Company's guidance for the full year 2026 is outlined below.

Coal sales

12.5 - 13.5 million short tons

Coal production

12.0 - 13.0 million short tons

Cash cost of sales (free-on-board port)

$95 - $110 per short ton

Capital expenditures for sustaining existing mines

$105 - $115 million

Capital expenditures for Blue Creek project

$50 - $75 million

Depreciation and depletion

$225 - $250 million

Selling, general and administrative expenses

$75 - $85 million

Interest expense

$20 - $25 million

Interest income

$3 - $8 million

The Company's guidance for its capital expenditures consists of sustaining capital spending of approximately $105-$115 million, including regulatory gas requirements and discretionary capital spending of $50-$75 million for the final construction of the Blue Creek mine. While the longwall operations have recently commenced, there remains a significant amount of surface infrastructure to be completed to finish the overall project. Warrior remains on budget and expects total Blue Creek project capital expenditures of $995 million to $1.075 billion. The remaining amounts are expected to be primarily spent by the end of the first quarter of 2026.

Key factors that may affect the full year 2026 outlook include:

  • four planned longwall moves (two in Q2, one in Q3, one in Q4);

  • HCC index pricing, geography of sales and freight rates;

  • global trade and tariff policies;

  • exclusion of other non-recurring costs;

  • new labor contract; and

  • inflationary pressures.

The Company does not provide reconciliations of its outlook for cash cost of sales (free-on-board port) to cost of sales in reliance on the unreasonable efforts exception provided for under Item 10(e)(1)(i)(B) of Regulation S-K. The Company is unable, without unreasonable efforts, to forecast certain items required to develop the meaningful comparable Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP") cost of sales. These items typically include non-cash asset retirement obligation accretion expenses and other non-recurring indirect mining expenses that are difficult to predict in advance in order to include in a GAAP estimate. The unavailable information could have a significant impact on the Company's reported financial results.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This release contains the use of certain non-GAAP financial measures. These non-GAAP financial measures are provided as supplemental information for financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. Management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide additional insights into the performance of the Company, and they reflect how management analyzes Company performance and compares that performance against other companies. These non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures used by other entities. The definition of these non-GAAP financial measures and a reconciliation of non-GAAP to GAAP financial measures is provided in the financial tables section of this release.

Conference Call

The Company will hold a conference call to discuss its fourth quarter 2025 results today, February 12, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. ET. To listen to the event live or access an archived recording, please visit http://investors.warriormetcoal.com. Analysts and investors who would like to participate in the conference call should dial 1-844-340-9047 (domestic) or 1-412-858-5206 (international) 10 minutes prior to the start time and reference the Warrior Met Coal conference call. Telephone playback will also be available from 6:30 p.m. ET on February 12, 2026 until 6:30 p.m. ET on February 19, 2026. The replay will be available by calling: 1-855-669-9658 (domestic) or 1-412-317-0088 (international) and entering passcode 6566838.

About Warrior

Warrior is a U.S.-based, environmentally and socially minded supplier to the global steel industry. It is dedicated entirely to mining non-thermal metallurgical (met) steelmaking coal used as a critical component of steel production by metal manufacturers in Europe, South America and Asia. Warrior is a large-scale, low-cost producer and exporter of premium quality met coal, also known as hard-coking coal (HCC), operating highly efficient longwall operations in its underground mines based in Alabama. The HCC that Warrior produces from the Blue Creek coal seam contains very low sulfur and has strong coking properties. The premium nature of Warrior’s HCC makes it ideally suited as a base feed coal for steel makers. For more information, please visit www.warriormetcoal.com.

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