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Signature Sponsor
August 4, 2026 - Ramaco Resources, Inc. (NASDAQ: METC, METCB, "Ramaco" or the "Company") is a leading operator and developer of high-quality, low-cost metallurgical coal in Central Appalachia and is exploring a coal, rare earth, and other critical minerals project in Wyoming. Today it reported financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2026 (the "Results"). SECOND QUARTER 2026 HIGHLIGHTS
MARKET COMMENTARY / 2026 OUTLOOK Rare Earths and Critical Minerals:
Metallurgical Coal Sales, Marketing and Growth Projects:
Metallurgical Coal Guidance:
MANAGEMENT COMMENTARY Randall Atkins, Ramaco Resources' Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "As we continue to adjust our operations and corporate structure toward a dual platform model, we achieved a number of meaningful milestones over the past few months and indeed over the past week.
Last week, I released a Letter to Shareholders on the back of the finalization of the Hatch conceptual study. Importantly, the letter shows that roughly three quarters of our anticipated Brook Mine revenue will be tied to key critical mineral commodities whose main demand driver is the semiconductor industry. As a reflection of the projected growth trajectory of several key markets from data centers to AI, we view this as an important alignment of the Brook Mine with strong existing and dramatically expanding markets for our planned future oxide and metals product slate. We believe the economics of the Brook Project are strong. We hope they will be enhanced and strengthened as we methodically move forward. Initial reaction to my Letter has reflected the reality that development and construction of a complex carbo-chemical critical minerals refinery, even using known technology, involves both a long lead time and large amounts of capital. This project is a reflection of the supply chain dilemma that the United States currently faces. China has built upstream and midstream capacity over a 30+ year period. Even with U.S. Governmental encouragement and financial assistance to build the infrastructure necessary to solve this strategic long-term problem, it is not a quick fix. We intend to continue moving forward to help resolve this problem. We always remind ourselves that, fundamentally, the Brook Mine remains a unique upstream opportunity and is what we believe to be the largest unconventional deposit of rare earth elements and critical minerals discovered to date in the United States. Even at currently permitted levels, on roughly one-third of the mine's total acreage, we should be able to operate the mine for generations. This deposit contains what we now believe are some of the most valuable critical minerals and rare earths needed to solve the supply chain crisis. Indeed, it could supply feedstock capacity for critical mineral products which would address a large portion of both U.S. and foreign demand. On the midstream side, now that we have determined that carbochlorination is the optimal processing technique for refining and separating our coal-based feedstock, over the coming months we hope to provide additional independent analysis to improve on both economics and timing of the refinery portion of the Brook Project. I noted that our current figures do not factor in potential economic upside from the patent-pending use of blending e-waste and PVC into our existing critical mineral feedstock. We are also continuing to evaluate the deposit for additional critical minerals and rare earth elements within the deposit, which we intend to disclose as more complete assay information becomes available from our extensive ongoing testing. We continue ongoing geological, chemical and metallurgical testing to frame both the resource and ultimately reserve potential of the remaining roughly 11,500 acres. On downstream marketing, we remain in advanced stages regarding potential domestic and international both strategic and governmental offtake transactions. These offtake discussions continue to progress as the flowsheet is further defined. We look forward to being able to disclose offtake transactions as they are finalized. We are well financed to advance the Brook Project through all stages of project development up to construction of the critical mineral refinery. Indeed, we believe that we have sufficient capital for all mining aspects of the project. Our future financing for the refinery has taken on new optionality given the potential levels of cash flow generated from both the expected refining and downstream trading operations as well as from our strategic stockpile and terminal. We are currently in multiple discussions regarding non-dilutive third-party project financing to develop the Critical Mineral Refining complex, which may involve the public and/or private sectors. These discussions, just like our marketing efforts, will now proceed on an accelerated basis now that we have the Hatch report's technical findings as a starting point. We are mindful of the challenges ahead to develop this unique complex over the coming years. I have used the expression "transformative" before. Few could argue that the critical mineral business alongside our metallurgical coal business is a transformative step. Given the Brook Mine's importance not only to Ramaco, but also to the United States and friendly aligned nations, we continue to proceed methodically and look forward to discussing future milestones as they mature into disclosable matters. Moving to our legacy metallurgical coal business, in June our Board approved a $25 million development project for the first two underground sections at our Maben Complex, with spending planned over the next 12 months. Given stronger low-vol market conditions, we anticipate this current expansion at Maben will add 0.6 million premium low-vol tons of production at full capacity. This coal we expect to have cash margins roughly double the Company's overall second quarter margins. Maben's expansion will also translate into ultimate production levels of roughly 1.5 million tons annually from Maben, once the third and fourth underground sections are added. When combined with our previously announced growth at our Berwind Complex, our ongoing low-vol growth projects are expected to add more than 1 million annualized tons of low-vol production in 2027, when Berwind and the two underground sections at Maben are fully operational in the second half of next year. This will support our strategic objective of increasing low-vol production to at least 50% of our total production, up from roughly 25% today. I would like to once again commend our metallurgical operations team. Our second quarter cash mine cost per ton sold of $99 represented the fourth consecutive quarter of sub-$100 per ton cash cost. This was achieved despite diesel prices increasing by approximately 33% in the second quarter compared to the first quarter. Based on this operational discipline, our cash costs remain in the first quartile of the U.S. metallurgical coal cost curve. Lastly, I will comment on our share repurchase program. During the second quarter we repurchased 3.5 million Class A common shares in the open market at an average price of $14.41 per share, spending roughly $51 million. Year to date, we have repurchased nearly 4.6 million Class A common shares, over 8%, at an average price of $14.44. Our view is that these repurchases represented a prudent use of our capital, which we will continue to review as market conditions present themselves. In summary, this quarter has been a watershed in our overall growth strategy as well as our dual platform evolution. We are excited about the continued progress we have made in our critical mineral business at the Brook Mine and the projected potential for future development of our unique deposit resource. We look forward to announcing continued future milestones in the coming months. We are also pleased with the advancements and production acceleration in our low-vol metallurgical coal growth program. In a still-challenging market landscape, we are exercising the discipline and control needed to successfully position for future improvements in the overall metallurgical markets." SECOND QUARTER 2026 PERFORMANCE In the following paragraphs, all references to "quarterly" periods or to "the quarter" refer to the second quarter of 2026, unless specified otherwise. Quarterly 2026 over 2025 Year Comparison Overall coal production of 931,000 tons in the second quarter of 2026 was down 7% from the same period of 2025. The decline was largely due to the previously announced idling of higher-cost metallurgical coal production prompted by weak market conditions. U.S. high-vol metallurgical coal indices fell 6% versus the second quarter of 2025. As a result, quarterly pricing was $116 per ton, or 6% lower, compared to $123 per ton in the second quarter of 2025. Of note, Australian premium low-vol indices were up 29% year-over-year in the second quarter of 2026, while U.S. low-vol indices were up almost 10% year-over-year. Cash mine costs were $99 per ton sold, excluding transportation costs and idle mine costs, and were 4% lower than in the same period of 2025 on the back of continued gains in productivity. Resultant cash margins were $17 per ton during the second quarter, down 15% from $20 per ton in the same period of 2025. This was based on non-GAAP revenue (FOB mine) and non-GAAP cash cost of sales (FOB mine). Quarterly 2026 Sequential Comparison Second quarter of 2026 production of 931,000 tons was down 2% from the first quarter of 2026. The decrease was due to high-vol production discipline in the current challenging market environment. Second quarter of 2026 sales of 1,056,000 tons were up 18% from the first quarter of 2026, slightly exceeding our guidance. Realized second quarter pricing of $116 per ton was up 2% from $114 per ton in the first quarter of 2026. This increase was primarily due to a higher percentage of second quarter shipments linked to either U.S. or Australian low-vol indices. Quarterly cash costs of $99 per ton were up $1 per ton, or 1%, compared to the first quarter of 2026. The slight increase in cash costs was largely due to higher diesel prices. Quarterly cash margins were $17 per ton, up 6% compared to the first quarter, mainly due to favorable pricing. These figures are based on non-GAAP revenue (FOB mine) and non-GAAP cash cost of sales (FOB mine). BALANCE SHEET AND LIQUIDITY As of June 30, 2026, the Company had liquidity of $400.1 million, consisting of approximately $282.5 million of cash and $117.6 million of borrowing availability under our revolving credit facility. There were zero borrowings under our revolving credit facility as of June 30, 2026. Liquidity was up nearly 360% compared to the same period of 2025. Quarterly capital expenditures totaled $27.4 million, up 81% compared to $15.1 million in the same period of 2025. This compared to $17.1 million for the first quarter of 2026. The increase was driven by the ramp-up of the Company's low-vol growth projects at both the Berwind and Maben Complexes. For the second quarter of 2026, the Company recognized an income tax benefit of $4.2 million, an approximate 21% effective tax benefit rate, excluding the impact of discrete items. ABOUT RAMACO RESOURCES Ramaco Resources, Inc. is an operator and developer of high-quality, low-cost metallurgical coal in southern West Virginia and southwestern Virginia, and is exploring a coal, rare earth, and other critical minerals project in Wyoming. The Company's executive offices are located in Lexington, Kentucky, with operational offices in Charleston, West Virginia and Sheridan, Wyoming. The Company currently has four active metallurgical coal mining complexes in Central Appalachia and one coal mine and rare earth element and other critical mineral exploration stage property near Sheridan, Wyoming (the "Brook Mine"). The Brook Mine remains an exploration stage property, and no assurance can be given that it will be successfully developed into a commercial scale mine or that any inferred mineral resources estimated will be converted into higher confidence mineral resources or eventually mineral reserves. Contiguous to the Brook Mine, the Company operates a carbon research facility related to the potential production of advanced carbon products and materials from coal. In connection with these activities, it holds a body of more than 70 intellectual property patents, pending applications, exclusive licensing agreements and various trademarks. News and additional information about Ramaco Resources, including filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, are available at https://www.ramacoresources.com. For more information, contact investor relations at (859) 244-7455. SECOND QUARTER 2026 CONFERENCE CALL Ramaco Resources will hold its quarterly conference call and webcast at 11:00 AM Eastern Time (ET) on Wednesday, August 5, 2026. An accompanying slide deck will be available at https://www.ramacoresources.com/investors/investor-presentations/ immediately before the conference call. To participate in the live teleconference on August 5, 2026: Domestic Live: (833) 890-6680 To see the full results with financial figures included, click here. |
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