Ramaco Resources, Inc. Reports First Quarter 2019 Financial Results

LEXINGTON, Ky., May 7, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Ramaco Resources, Inc. (NASDAQ: METC) ("Ramaco," "Ramaco Resources" or the "Company") today reported first quarter net income of $6.9 million, or $0.17 per diluted share for the quarter ended March 31, 2019, as compared to a net income of $5.3 million in the quarter ended March 31, 2018. The Company's adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and equity-based compensation expenses ("Adjusted EBITDA") was $13.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, as compared with Adjusted EBITDA of $9.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018. For frame of reference, without the negative impact from lower priced carryover tons resulting from November's silo failure, first quarter 2019 net income would have been approximately $9 million and Adjusted EBITDA would have been approximately $16 million. Despite this, Adjusted EBITDA from the first quarter of 2019 was the Company's second highest quarter since operations began.

First Quarter 2019 Summary

Year over Year Comparison
First quarter 2019 revenues were $57.5 million, an increase of 3% compared to the first quarter of 2018. Company production was 478,000 tons in the first quarter of 2019, an increase of 26% compared to 380,000 tons in the first quarter of 2018. Cash margins on Company produced and sold coal at Elk Creek improved by 39% from approximately $28 per ton in the first quarter of 2018 to approximately $39 per ton in the first quarter of 2019. Cash mine costs per ton on Company produced and sold coal at Elk Creek were $63 in the first quarter of 2019 compared to $62 in the first quarter of 2018. First quarter pricing per ton of $104 on overall Company produced tons, while a quarterly record, was negatively impacted by approximately $5 per ton due to carryover tons from 2018 that were priced well below 2019 levels.

Quarter over Quarter Comparison
First quarter 2019 revenues were up 30% from the fourth quarter of 2018. Company production of 478,000 tons in the first quarter of 2019 was up 16% from the fourth quarter of 2018. Cash margins on Company produced and sold coal at Elk Creek improved by 26% from approximately $31 per ton in the fourth quarter of 2018 to approximately $39 per ton in the first quarter of 2019. Cash mine costs per ton on Company produced and sold coal at Elk Creek were $63 in the first quarter of 2019, which is flat versus fourth quarter 2018 results.

Randall Atkins, Ramaco Resources' Executive Chairman remarked, "I am extremely proud that we've emerged from the operational challenges of the November silo failure at Elk Creek as an even stronger and more resilient company. We managed to produce our second-best quarter of Adjusted EBITDA ever. This was despite the carryover headwinds which we knew would cause the Elk Creek prep plant to run below capacity in the first quarter. We were also dealing with a massive coal stockpile situation at Elk Creek from the fourth quarter which curtailed full production capacity. The plant at Elk Creek still remains on track to be functioning at full capacity before the end of the second quarter of 2019. This will then mostly alleviate the operational burden and financial impacts we have been dealing with since early November. Since we are well underway, I am also pleased to say that although we still have seven weeks to go, we now expect that the second quarter Adjusted EBITDA will be the highest on record for Ramaco Resources. I also anticipate Ramaco will be generating substantial cash flow throughout the rest of the year."

Additional Financial Results

The Company ended the quarter with approximately $1.9 million of cash on hand, $27.3 million of accounts receivable and $19.5 million of availability under the Revolving Credit Facility. Free cash flow generated during 2019, as well as borrowings available through the Revolving Credit Facility, are expected to be used to fund working capital, mine expansion and related capital expenditures.

In the first quarter of 2019, the Company recorded income tax expense of $1.4 million for an annual effective tax rate of approximately 16.5%. Actual cash taxes payable for 2019 are expected to be less than $0.2 million.

Capital expenditures totaled approximately $8.2 million during the first quarter of 2019. This figure compared favorably to capital expenditures of approximately $8.3 million during the fourth quarter of 2018, and approximately $12.8 million during the first quarter of 2018, which is a 36% year over year decline.

Operational Results

The exhibit below summarizes some of the key sales, production and financial metrics for the periods noted:

                                                         
      
      Three months ended




       
              In thousands, except per ton amounts 
      
      March 31,           
     
     December 31,        
     
     March 31,
                                                                          2019                       2018                  2018




       
              Sales Volume

    ---


       Company                                                            443                        315                   403



       Purchased                                                           35                         95                   119




       Total                                                              478                        410                   522





       
              Company Production

    ---


       Elk Creek Mining Complex                                           440                        408                   360



       Berwind Development Deep Mine                                       32                         15                    20




       Total                                                              472                        423                   380





       
              Company Financial Metrics(a)

    ---


       Average revenue per ton                                           $104                        $96                   $91



       Average cash costs of coal sold                                    $68                        $68                   $65




       Average cash margin per ton                                        $36                        $28                   $26





       
              Elk Creek Financial Metrics(a)

    ---


       Average revenue per ton                                           $102                        $94                   $90



       Average cash costs of coal sold                                    $63                        $63                   $62




       Average cash margin per ton                                        $39                        $31                   $28





       
              Purchased Coal Financial Metrics(a)

    ---


       Average revenue per ton                                           $127                       $103                  $100



       Average cash costs of coal sold                                   $108                        $97                   $89




       Average cash margin per ton                                        $19                         $6                   $11





       Capital Expenditures                                            $8,199                     $8,254               $12,769







       
              (a)   Excludes transportation.

2019 Outlook

Michael Bauersachs, Ramaco Resources' President and CEO commented, "The operating team at Elk Creek has done a tremendous job in overcoming the challenges of the November silo failure. Our first quarter 2019 cash costs came in at $63 per ton at Elk Creek despite our prep plant and stockpile issues. Our Elk Creek costs are easily in the first quartile of the U.S. metallurgical coal cost curve. Given our ability to control costs this quarter in the face of such challenging operational issues, we are now guiding to an overall lower 2019 cash cost per ton outlook at Elk Creek from $63-$69 per ton to $63-$67 per ton."

"On the pricing front, Ramaco's coal continues to be well received by both legacy and new domestic and international customers alike. For 2019, we now have over 1.7 million tons committed and priced at $113 per ton versus roughly 1.6 million tons committed and priced at $113/ton at the time of our year-end 2018 results. We also have an additional 0.3 million tons committed at index pricing for sale in 2019."

"In terms of our Berwind development deep mine, we continue to anticipate that by mid-2020, we should reach the more prolific Pocahontas #4 low-vol coal seam, with ultimate full annual production of approximately 750,000 tons. Given seam thickness we anticipate future cash mine cost in that seam in the $80 per ton range, with the potential for future logistical cost improvement. As a reminder, in 2019 we still expect to mine approximately 250,000 tons at Berwind in the thinner Pocahontas #3 seam."

Randall Atkins noted that, "As Berwind ramps up production, and Elk Creek continues to produce as expected, we hope to reach a 2.5 million ton annual production rate in 2020, even without any proposed new development activities. This level should increase to approximately 4.5 million tons by 2023 through capital investments in organic growth at our existing properties. Having emerged from the silo failure as a stronger company than before, we will be discussing with the board of directors the possibility of accelerating some new attractive opportunities to increase production, that we had originally planned for development in later years. These include a possible expansion of the Elk Creek preparation plant to add an additional 500,000 tons above the current nameplate capacity, with a corresponding increase in production. We are also exploring putting in a new High Vol A mine at our Knox Creek complex which will mine in the Tiller and Jawbone seams. We expect this new mine to provide the potential for an additional 500,000 ton per annum at full production. We would note that our 2019 capital expenditure guidance of $35-$40 million does not reflect the expenditures for any of these projects. As we proceed in the analysis and approvals for these projects, we will provide further guidance."

                    2019 Estimated Production, Sales, Cost and Capital Expenditure Guidance



     
     
                (In thousands, except per ton amounts)


                                                                                            2019 Guidance 
     2018 Actuals



     
     
                
                  Company Production



     
     Elk Creek                                                                                    1,600           1,900   1,669


     
     Berwind Development Deep Mine                                                                  200             300      81



     
     
                Total                                                                           1,800           2,200   1,750




     
     
                
                  Sales Mix



     
     Metallurgical                                                                                1,925           2,300   2,066


     
     Steam                                                                                           75             100      82



                                                                                                    2,000           2,400   2,148


     
     
                
                  Cost Per Ton



     
     Elk Creek                                                                                      $63             $67     $60




     
     
                
                  Capital Expenditures                                           $35,000         $40,000 $48,137



       
                Committed 2019 Sales Volume (a)

    ---


       
                (In thousands, except per ton amounts)


                                                            Volume 
     
     Average Price




       Company:



       Domestic, fixed priced                               1,548               $113



       Export, fixed priced                                   169               $122



       
                Total, fixed priced                     1,717               $113





       Domestic, indexed                                      230



       Export, indexed                                         44




       
                Total, indexed priced                     274



       
                Total Committed Company Tons            1,991



       
                (a) As of March 31, 2019

About Ramaco Resources, Inc.

Ramaco Resources, Inc. is an operator and developer of high-quality, low cost metallurgical coal in southern West Virginia, southwestern Virginia and southwestern Pennsylvania. Its executive offices are in Lexington, Kentucky, with operational offices in Charleston, West Virginia. The Company has five active mines within two mining complexes at this time.

News and additional information about Ramaco Resources, including filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, are available at http://www.ramacoresources.com. For more information, contact investor relations at (859) 244-7455.

First Quarter Earnings Conference Call

Ramaco Resources will hold its quarterly conference call and webcast at 9:00 AM Eastern Time (ET) on Wednesday, May 8, 2019 to present its results for the first quarter of 2019.

The conference call can be accessed by calling (844) 852-8392 domestically or (703) 639-1226 internationally. The webcast for this release will be accessible by visiting https://edge.media-server.com/m6/p/cynyf3sv.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements represent Ramaco Resources' expectations or beliefs concerning future events, anticipated revenues, costs and expectations regarding operating results, and it is possible that the results described in this news release will not be achieved. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside of Ramaco Resources' control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. These factors include, without limitation, unexpected delays in our current mine development activities, failure of our sales commitment counterparties to perform, increased government regulation of coal in the United States or internationally, or unexpected decline of demand for coal in export markets and underperformance of the railroads. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and, except as required by law, Ramaco Resources does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for Ramaco Resources to predict all such factors. When considering these forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the risk factors and other cautionary statements found in Ramaco Resources' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including its Annual Report on Form 10-K. The risk factors and other factors noted in Ramaco Resources' SEC filings could cause its actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement.

                                                                  
       
            Ramaco Resources, Inc.


                                                                
       
       Consolidated Statements of Operations




                                                                                                                Three months ended



                                                                                                       
          
          March 31,     
     
     March 31,
                                                                                                                              2019             2018

                                                                                                                                               ---


     
                In thousands, except per share amounts



     Revenues                                                                                                             $57,460          $55,943





     Cost and expenses



     Cost of sales (exclusive of items shown separately below)                                                             41,006           44,331



     Asset retirement obligation accretion                                                                                    128              123



     Depreciation and amortization                                                                                          4,116            2,438



     Selling, general and administrative                                                                                    3,960            3,431




     Total cost and expenses                                                                                               49,210           50,323






     Operating income                                                                                                       8,250            5,620





     Other income                                                                                                             298              489



     Interest expense, net                                                                                                  (307)           (100)






     Income before taxes                                                                                                    8,241            6,009





     Income tax expense                                                                                                     1,358              743






     Net income                                                                                                            $6,883           $5,266

                                                                                                                                               ===




     Basic and diluted earnings per share



     Basic                                                                                                                  $0.17            $0.13



     Diluted                                                                                                                $0.17            $0.13





     Weighted average common shares outstanding



     Basic                                                                                                                 40,604           39,905



     Diluted                                                                                                               40,652           40,142

                                                                                                                    
              
                Ramaco Resources, Inc.


                                                                                                                  
              
                Consolidated Balance Sheets





              
                In thousands, except share amounts                                                                                                  
         
     March 31, 2019      
     
     December 31,
                                                                                                                                                                                                                  2018

                                                                                                                                                                                                                  ---


              
                Assets



              Current assets



              Cash and cash equivalents                                                                                                                                             $1,939                     $6,951



              Accounts receivable                                                                                                                                                   27,285                     10,729



              Inventories                                                                                                                                                           15,027                     14,185



              Prepaid expenses                                                                                                                                                       1,958                      3,154




              Total current assets                                                                                                                                                  46,209                     35,019





              Property, plant and equipment, net                                                                                                                                   156,343                    149,205





              Advanced coal royalties                                                                                                                                                3,126                      3,045



              Other assets                                                                                                                                                           1,013                        975




              
                Total Assets                                                                                                                                           $206,691                   $188,244

                                                                                                                                                                                                                  ===




              
                Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity



              
                Liabilities



              Current liabilities



              Accounts payable                                                                                                                                                     $15,247                    $16,393



              Accrued expenses                                                                                                                                                       9,124                      8,094



              Asset retirement obligations                                                                                                                                             292                         71



              Current portion of long-term debt                                                                                                                                      5,000                      5,000



              Other                                                                                                                                                                    116                        287




              Total current liabilities                                                                                                                                             29,779                     29,845





              Asset retirement obligations                                                                                                                                          12,657                     12,707



              Long-term debt, net                                                                                                                                                   13,737                      4,474



              Deferred tax liability                                                                                                                                                 1,450                        109



              Other long-term liabilities                                                                                                                                              182                          -




              Total liabilities                                                                                                                                                     57,805                     47,135





              Commitments and contingencies                                                                                                                                              -





              
                Stockholders' Equity



              Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized, none                                                                                                       -
    issued and outstanding


               Common stock, $0.01 par value, 260,000,000 shares authorized, 40,832,467and 40,082,467 shares issued and outstanding, respectively                                       408                        401



              Additional paid-in capital                                                                                                                                           151,813                    150,926



              Accumulated deficit                                                                                                                                                  (3,335)                  (10,218)




              Total stockholders' equity                                                                                                                                           148,886                    141,109




              
                Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity                                                                                                             $206,691                   $188,244

                                                                                                                                                                                                                  ===

      
              
                Ramaco Resources, Inc.


     
              
                Statement of Cash Flows




                                                          Three months ended
                                                           March 31,



                   In thousands                      2019                   2018

                                                                            ---

      Cash flows from operating activities


      Net income                                   $6,883                 $5,266


      Adjustments to reconcile net income to
       net cash from operating activities


      Accretion of
       asset
       retirement
       obligations                                    128                    123


      Depreciation and
       amortization                                 4,116                  2,438


      Amortization of
       debt issuance
       costs                                           14                     48


      Stock-based
       compensation                                   894                    551


      Deferred income
       tax expense                                  1,341                    709


      Changes in operating assets and
       liabilities


      Accounts
       receivable                                (16,556)              (16,331)


      Prepaid expenses                              1,196                (1,464)


      Inventories                                   (842)                  (74)


      Advanced coal
       royalties                                     (81)


      Other assets and
       liabilities                                    144                     44


      Accounts payable                            (4,159)                 8,562


      Accrued expenses                              1,031                  3,564

                                                                            ---

      Net cash from
       operating
       activities                                 (5,891)                 3,436




      Cash flow from investing activities


      Purchases of
       property, plant
       and equipment                              (8,199)              (12,769)


      Proceeds from
       maturities of
       investment
       securities                                                         5,200



      Net cash from
       investing
       activities                                 (8,199)               (7,569)




      Cash flows from financing activities


      Proceeds from
       borrowings                                  26,500                  6,000


      Repayments of
       borrowings                                (17,251)


      Repayments of
       financed
       insurance
       payable                                      (171)                 (220)


      Payment of debt
       issuance costs                                                     (257)



      Net cash from
       financing
       activities                                   9,078                  5,523




      Net change in
       cash and cash
       equivalents                                (5,012)                 1,390


      Cash and cash
       equivalents,
       beginning of
       period                                       6,951                  5,934

                                                                            ---



      Cash and cash
       equivalents,
       end of period                               $1,939                 $7,324


Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measure

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA is used as a supplemental non-GAAP financial measure by management and external users of our financial statements, such as industry analysts, investors, lenders and rating agencies. The Company believes Adjusted EBITDA is useful because it allows us to more effectively evaluate our operating performance.

We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) plus net interest expense, equity-based compensation, depreciation and amortization expenses and any transaction related costs. A reconciliation of income (loss) from continuing operations, net of income taxes to Adjusted EBITDA is included below. Adjusted EBITDA is not intended to serve as an alternative to U.S. GAAP measures of performance and may not be comparable to similarly-titled measures presented by other companies.

                                                                                  Three months ended March 31,



                                                                             2019              2018




     
                In thousands


                   Reconciliation of Net Income (Loss) to Adjusted EBITDA



     Net income (loss)                                                    $6,883            $5,266



     Depreciation and amortization                                         4,116             2,438



     Interest expense, net                                                   307               100



     Income taxes                                                          1,358               743




     EBITDA                                                               12,664             8,547



     Stock-based compensation                                                894               551



     Accretion of asset retirement obligation                                128               123




     Adjusted EBITDA                                                     $13,686            $9,221


Non-GAAP revenue and cash cost per ton

Non-GAAP revenue per ton (FOB mine) is calculated as coal sales revenues less transportation costs, divided by tons sold. Non-GAAP cash cost per ton sold is calculated as cash cost of coal sales less transportation costs, divided by tons sold. We believe revenue per ton (FOB mine) and cash cost per ton provides useful information to investors as it enables investors to compare revenue per ton and cash cost per ton for the Company against similar measures made by other publicly-traded coal companies and more effectively monitor changes in coal prices and costs from period to period excluding the impact of transportation costs which are beyond our control. The adjustments made to arrive at these measures are significant in understanding and assessing the Company's financial condition. Revenue per ton sold (FOB mine) and cash cost per ton are not measures of financial performance in accordance with U.S. GAAP and therefore should not be considered as an alternative to revenues and cost of sales under U.S. GAAP. The tables below show how we calculate Non-GAAP revenue and cash cost per ton:

Non-GAAP revenue per ton

                                                                                 Three Months Ended March 31, 2019                     Three Months Ended March 31, 2018



                                                                      
     
              Company                              Purchased  
     
     Total                
              
             Company          Purchased     
     
     Total
                                                                        Produced                                   Coal                                                 Produced             Coal




     
                In thousands, except per ton amounts



     Revenues                                                                      $52,486                                 $4,974        $57,460                                    $42,959            $12,984         $55,943


      Less:  Adjustments to reconcile to Non-GAAP revenues (FOB mine)



     Transportation costs                                                            6,636                                    531          7,167                                      6,106              1,148           7,254




     Non-GAAP revenues (FOB mine)                                                  $45,850                                 $4,443        $50,293                                    $36,853            $11,836         $48,689



     Tons sold                                                                         443                                     35            478                                        403                119             522



     Revenues per ton sold (FOB mine)                                                 $104                                   $127           $105                                        $91               $100             $93

                                                                                 Three Months December 31, 2018



                                                                      
     
              Company                           Purchased  
     
     Total
                                                                        Produced                                Coal




     
                (In thousands, except per ton amounts)



     Revenues (a)                                                                  $33,342                             $10,845        $44,187


      Less:  Adjustments to reconcile to Non-GAAP revenues (FOB mine)



     Transportation costs                                                            3,108                               1,013          4,121




     Non-GAAP revenues (FOB mine)                                                  $30,234                              $9,832        $40,066



     Tons sold                                                                         315                                  95            410



     Revenues per ton sold (FOB mine)                                                  $96                                $103            $98

Non-GAAP cash cost per ton

                                                                                     Three Months Ended March 31, 2019                     Three Months Ended March 31, 2018



                                                                          
     
                Company                            Purchased  
     
       Total               
              
             Company          Purchased     
     
     Total
                                                                            Produced                                   Coal                                                  Produced             Coal




     
                In thousands, except per ton amounts



     Cost of sales                                                                         $36,710                             $4,296          $41,006                                   $32,435            $11,896         $44,331


      Less:  Adjustments to reconcile to Non-GAAP cash cost of coal sales



     Transportation costs                                                                    6,636                                531            7,167                                     6,361              1,221           7,582




     Non-GAAP cash cost of coal sales                                                      $30,074                             $3,765          $33,839                                   $26,074            $10,675         $36,749



     Tons sold                                                                                 443                                 35              478                                       403                119             522



     Cash cost per ton sold                                                                    $68                               $108              $71                                       $65                $90             $70

                                                                                     Three months ended December 31, 2018



                                                                          
     
                Company                               Purchased  
     
     Total
                                                                            Produced                                      Coal




     
                (In thousands, except per ton amounts)



     Cost of sales(a)                                                                      $24,521                               $10,437       $34,958


      Less:  Adjustments to reconcile to Non-GAAP cash cost of coal sales



     Transportation costs                                                                    3,049                                 1,197         4,246




     Non-GAAP cash cost of coal sales                                                      $21,472                                $9,240       $30,712



     Tons sold                                                                                 315                                    95           410



     Cash cost per ton sold                                                                    $68                                   $97           $75

We do not provide reconciliations of our outlook for cash cost per ton to cost of sales in reliance on the unreasonable efforts exception provided for under Item 10(e)(1)(i)(B) of Regulation S-K. We are unable, without unreasonable efforts, to forecast certain items required to develop the meaningful comparable GAAP cost of sales. These items typically include non-cash asset retirement obligation accretion expenses, mine idling expenses and other non-recurring indirect mining expenses that are difficult to predict in advance in order to include a GAAP estimate.

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SOURCE Ramaco Resources