Alcoa Corporation Reports Second Quarter 2023 Results

Alcoa Corporation (NYSE: AA) today reported second quarter 2023 results that included higher sequential revenue as increased shipments outweighed lower average realized pricing.

Second Quarter

• Generated revenue of $2.68 billion
• Posted Net loss attributable to Alcoa of $102 million, or $0.57 per share, an improvement of 56 percent sequentially
• Recorded Adjusted EBITDA excluding special items of $137 million
• Finished the second quarter with a cash balance of $1.0 billion
• Paid quarterly cash dividend of $0.10 per share of common stock, totaling $18 million
• Completed the Company’s sixth pension annuity transaction for a total transfer of approximately $3.6 billion in pension obligations and assets since 2018
• Executed new multi-year agreement to supply up to 15.6 million metric tons of alumina to Emirates Global Aluminium over an 8-year period commencing in 2024

Financial Results

“While we saw lower pricing during the second quarter, our global teams have worked to address short-term challenges and drive operational improvements,” said Alcoa President and CEO Roy Harvey. “We expect to see financial improvement in the third quarter of 2023 as the Alumina and Aluminum segments are both forecast to have reduced costs for raw materials and production,” Harvey said.

“For the first half of the year, we’ve kept up with solid demand for value add aluminum products, which gives us access to a variety of end-use markets,” Harvey said. “As we look forward, we continue to be excited for the future because aluminum is a critical material, and we offer low-carbon solutions for our customers through our Sustana^TM family of products.”

Second Quarter 2023 Results

• Revenue: The Company’s total third-party revenue of $2.68 billion increased 1 percent sequentially with higher shipments in both the Alumina and Aluminum segments, which partially offset lower average realized third-party prices for alumina and aluminum of 2 percent and 5 percent, respectively.
  
  
  
  
• Shipments: In the Alumina segment, third-party shipments of alumina increased 11 percent sequentially, primarily due to increased trading. Third-party shipments in the second quarter of 2023 include alumina purchased to offset lower production.
  
  
  
  In Aluminum, total shipments increased 4 percent sequentially due to increased offtake under a joint venture supply agreement and higher volumes from European smelters. Most of the volume increase is attributable to value add aluminum products, primarily foundry and high purity.
  
  
  
  
• Production: Alumina production decreased 7 percent sequentially to 2.6 million metric tons primarily due to lower production at the Alumar refinery in Brazil, which had unplanned maintenance. Also, some Australian refineries had lower output as anticipated, due to lower grade bauxite. Increased production at the San Ciprián refinery in Spain partially offset decreases.
  
  
  
  In Aluminum, Alcoa produced 523,000 metric tons, a sequential increase of 1 percent above the first quarter’s strong output.
  
  

• Net loss attributable to Alcoa Corporation was $102 million, or $0.57 per share. The sequential results reflect lower aluminum prices and higher Alumina segment production costs primarily related to operating Australia refineries with lower grade bauxite, partially offset by lower raw material costs. The sequential improvement reflects the non-recurrence of first quarter restructuring related charges of $149 million primarily related to the permanent closure of the Intalco smelter and certain employee obligations related to the updated agreement for the San Ciprián smelter and a utility settlement of $41 million at the Ma’aden joint venture in Saudi Arabia.
  
  

• Adjusted net loss was $62 million, or $0.35 per share, excluding the impact from special items of $40 million. Notable special items include charges of $21 million in noncash pension settlement charges, and $13 million related to restart costs at the Alumar smelter.
  
  

• Adjusted EBITDA excluding special items was $137 million, a $103 million sequential decrease due primarily to higher Alumina segment production costs and lower prices for aluminum.
  
  
  
  
• Cash: Alcoa ended the quarter with a cash balance of $1.0 billion. Cash used for operations was $13 million. Cash used for financing activities was $24 million, primarily related to $18 million of cash dividends on common stock. Cash used for investing activities was $120 million, primarily related to capital expenditures of $115 million. Free cash flow was negative $128 million.
  
  

• Working capital: For the second quarter, Receivables from customers of $0.7 billion, Inventories of $2.4 billion and Accounts payable, trade of $1.5 billion comprised DWC working capital. The Company reported 55 Days working capital over days in the quarter, a sequential improvement of one day. The change primarily relates to a decrease of two days in accounts receivable primarily related to lower pricing for aluminum.

Key Strategic Actions:

Financial

• Pension annuitization: In May 2023, the Company completed the purchase of group annuity contracts to transfer approximately $235 million of pension obligations and assets associated with defined benefit pension plans for approximately 500 Canadian retirees and beneficiaries. The transfer, which required no cash funding from Alcoa, reduces the risk from volatility in pension plan obligations and continues to meet commitments to retirees and beneficiaries.

Commercial

• In May 2023, the Company and Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) announced a new multi-year agreement for Alcoa to supply EGA with smelter grade alumina. Over the life of the 8-year agreement, which commences in 2024, volume options will allow EGA to procure as much as 15.6 million metric tons of alumina from Western Australia. The supply agreement will represent a significant portion of Alcoa’s annual third-party alumina sales.

Operational

• Labor agreement: In May 2023, members of the United Steelworkers ratified a new three-year collective bargaining agreement that covers more than 800 active employees at two smelters: Warrick Operations in Indiana and Massena Operations in New York.
  
  
  
  
• Western Australia Mine Plan Approvals: During the second quarter of 2023, the Company continued to work with relevant state government agencies to support the annual mine approvals process. Alcoa seeks annual approvals from the Western Australian State Government for a rolling five-year mine plan and related forest clearing activities that are needed for the Huntly and Willowdale mines.
  
  
  
  In April 2023, Alcoa began mining lower grade bauxite in areas already permitted under Mine Management Programs (MMPs) at the Huntly Mine, which supplies the Pinjarra and Kwinana alumina refineries. The reduction in grade extends the ore supply to provide more time to work through the approvals process.
  
  
  
  Additionally, a third party has asked the Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority (WA EPA) to determine whether additional environmental review is needed on the Company’s MMPs. The WA EPA has indicated it could decide by the end of July 2023 whether to proceed to a public comment period, which would be the next stage in its consideration process on the third-party referrals.
  
  
  
  After a public comment period, the EPA would then consider whether to formally conduct additional review on all or part of the MMPs and, if so, at what level. The Company believes the MMPs can continue to be adapted to meet evolving needs and expectations for existing mine regions while transitioning to longer term plans for new regions that would fall under the WA EPA’s assessment process.

Sustainability

• On May 25, 2023, the Company announced it received certification from the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) for its Portland Aluminium joint venture in Australia. The latest ASI certification for Portland means that all of Alcoa of Australia’s operations are certified to ASI’s Performance Standard, which provides third-party validation of responsible production.
  
  
  
  The Company currently has 18 global sites certified to ASI and has also earned ASI’s Chain of Custody certification, which allows Alcoa to continue marketing globally ASI-certified bauxite, alumina and aluminum. The ASI certification program is the aluminum industry’s most comprehensive third-party program to validate responsible production practices.

Forward-Looking Non-GAAP financial measures

Alcoa Corporation does not provide reconciliations of the forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income, including transformation, intersegment eliminations and other corporate Adjusted EBITDA; operational tax expense; and other expense; each excluding special items, to the most directly comparable forward-looking GAAP financial measures because it is impractical to forecast certain special items, such as restructuring charges and mark-to-market contracts without unreasonable efforts due to the variability and complexity associated with predicting the occurrence and financial impact of such special items. For the same reasons, we are unable to address the probable significance of the unavailable information, which could be material to future results.

2023 Outlook

The Company expects 2023 total alumina and aluminum shipments to remain unchanged between 12.7 and 12.9 million metric tons, and between 2.5 and 2.6 million metric tons, respectively.

For third quarter 2023 Alumina Segment Adjusted EBITDA, the Company expects an improvement of $65 million due to lower raw material prices, and lower production costs and higher volumes as elevated maintenance from the second quarter of 2023 has concluded, to be partially offset by unfavorable impacts of $10 million related to operating the Kwinana and Pinjarra refineries with the lower bauxite grade.

For the third quarter 2023, the Company expects a net improvement of $25 million in Aluminum Segment Adjusted EBITDA on favorable raw materials and lower production costs, partially offset by unfavorable value add aluminum products sales, primarily due to softer billet demand. In addition, the Company expects alumina costs to be favorable by $5 million.

The second quarter 2023 included favorable foreign currency gains of $40 million that may not recur.

Based on current alumina and aluminum market conditions, Alcoa expects third quarter operational tax expense to approximate $10 million to $20 million, which may vary with market conditions and jurisdictional profitability.

Conference Call

Alcoa will hold its quarterly conference call at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on Wednesday, July 19, 2023, to present second quarter 2023 financial results and discuss the business, developments, and market conditions.

The call will be webcast via the Company’s homepage on www.alcoa.com. Presentation materials for the call will be available for viewing on the same website at approximately 4:15 p.m. EDT on July 19, 2023. Call information and related details are available under the “Investors” section of www.alcoa.com.

Dissemination of Company Information

Alcoa intends to make future announcements regarding company developments and financial performance through its website, www.alcoa.com, as well as through press releases, filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, conference calls and webcasts. The Company does not incorporate the information contained on, or accessible through, its corporate website or such other websites or platforms referenced herein into this press release.

About Alcoa Corporation

Alcoa (NYSE: AA) is a global industry leader in bauxite, alumina and aluminum products with a vision to reinvent the aluminum industry for a sustainable future. Our purpose is to turn raw potential into real progress, underpinned by Alcoa Values that encompass integrity, operating excellence, care for people and courageous leadership. Since developing the process that made aluminum an affordable and vital part of modern life, our talented Alcoans have developed breakthrough innovations and best practices that have led to improved safety, sustainability, efficiency, and stronger communities wherever we operate.

Discover more by visiting www.alcoa.com. Follow us on our social media channels: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains statements that relate to future events and expectations and as such constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include those containing such words as “aims,” “ambition,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “could,” “develop,” “endeavors,” “estimates,” “expects,” “forecasts,” “goal,” “intends,” “may,” “outlook,” “potential,” “plans,” “projects,” “reach,” “seeks,” “sees,” “should,” “strive,” “targets,” “will,” “working,” “would,” or other words of similar meaning. All statements by Alcoa that reflect expectations, assumptions or projections about the future, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, forecasts concerning global demand growth for bauxite, alumina, and aluminum, and supply/demand balances; statements, projections or forecasts of future or targeted financial results, or operating performance (including our ability to execute on strategies related to environmental, social and governance matters); statements about strategies, outlook, and business and financial prospects; and statements about capital allocation and return of capital. These statements reflect beliefs and assumptions that are based on Alcoa’s perception of historical trends, current conditions, and expected future developments, as well as other factors that management believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Although Alcoa believes that the expectations reflected in any forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that these expectations will be attained and it is possible that actual results may differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements due to a variety of risks and uncertainties. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: (a) cyclicality of the aluminum industry and aluminum end use markets, including due to the influence of global economic conditions, and unfavorable changes in the markets served by Alcoa; (b) the effects of non-market forces, such as government policies and political instability, on global aluminum supply and demand; (c) volatility and declines in aluminum industry, including global supply and demand conditions and fluctuations in London Metal Exchange-based prices and premiums, as applicable, for primary aluminum and other commodities, and fluctuations in indexed-based and spot prices for alumina; (d) legal, regulatory, economic, political, trade, public health and safety, and reputational risks and conditions, including changes in conditions beyond our control as a result of our participation in increasingly competitive and complex global markets; (e) our ability to obtain, maintain, or renew permits or approvals necessary for our mining operations; (f) unfavorable changes in cost, quality, or availability of key inputs, including energy and raw materials, or uncertainty of or disruption to the supply chain including logistics; (g) our ability to realize expected benefits or achieve intended results, including as planned and by targeted completion dates, from announced strategies, plans, programs, or initiatives relating to our portfolio, profitability, capital investments, and developing technologies, and from joint ventures or other strategic alliances or business transactions; (h) fluctuations in foreign currency exchange and tax rates on costs and results; (i) changes in tax laws or exposure to additional tax liabilities; (j) changes in global economic and financial market conditions generally, such as inflation, recessionary conditions, and interest rate increases, which may also affect Alcoa’s ability to obtain credit or financing upon acceptable terms or at all; (k) current and potential future impacts to the global economy and our industry, business and financial condition caused by various worldwide or macroeconomic events, such as the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine; (l) global competition within and beyond the aluminum industry; (m) our ability to obtain or maintain adequate insurance coverage; (n) the outcomes of contingencies, including legal and tax proceedings, government or regulatory investigations, and environmental remediation, or changes in foreign and/or U.S. federal, state, or local laws, regulations, or policies; (o) the impacts of climate change, related legislation or regulations, and efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and our ability to achieve strategies and expectations related to climate change and other environmental matters; (p) claims, costs and liabilities resulting from the impact of our operations, including impoundments, or from health, safety, and environmental laws, regulations, and requirements, in the areas where we operate; (q) the impact of cyberattacks and potential information technology or data security breaches, including disruptions to our operations, liability, and reputational harm; (r) our ability to fund capital expenditures; (s) risks associated with long-term debt obligations including restrictions on our current and future operations as a result of our indebtedness; (t) our ability to continue to return capital to stockholders through cash dividends and/or share repurchases; (u) the impact of labor disputes, work stoppages and strikes, or other employee relations issues, as well as labor market conditions; (v) declines in the discount rates used to measure pension and other postretirement benefit liabilities or lower-than-expected investment returns on pension assets, or unfavorable changes in laws or regulations that govern pension plan funding; and (w) the other risk factors discussed in Alcoa’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 and other reports filed by Alcoa with the SEC. Alcoa disclaims any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether in response to new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Market projections are subject to the risks described above and other risks in the market.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This release contains reference to certain financial measures that are not calculated and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP). Alcoa Corporation believes that the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is useful to investors because such measures provide both additional information about the operating performance of Alcoa Corporation and insight on the ability of Alcoa Corporation to meet its financial obligations by adjusting the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure for the impact of, among others, “special items” as defined by the Company, non-cash items in nature, and/or nonoperating expense or income items. The presentation of non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be a substitute for, and should not be considered in isolation from, the financial measures reported in accordance with GAAP. Certain definitions, reconciliations to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures and additional details regarding management’s rationale for the use of the non-GAAP financial measures can be found in the schedules to this release.

The difference between segment totals and consolidated amounts is in Corporate.

Net (loss) income attributable to Alcoa Corporation – as adjusted is a non-GAAP financial measure. Management believes this measure is meaningful to investors because management reviews the operating results of Alcoa Corporation excluding the impacts of restructuring and other charges, various tax items, and other special items (collectively, “special items”). There can be no assurances that additional special items will not occur in future periods. To compensate for this limitation, management believes it is appropriate to consider both Net (loss) income attributable to Alcoa Corporation determined under GAAP as well as Net (loss) income attributable to Alcoa Corporation – as adjusted.

Alcoa’s Corporation’s definition of Adjusted EBITDA (Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) is net margin plus an add-back for depreciation, depletion, and amortization. Net margin is equivalent to Sales minus the following items: Cost of goods sold; Selling, general administrative, and other expenses; Research and development expenses; and Provision for depreciation, depletion, and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure. Management believes this measure is meaningful to investors because Adjusted EBITDA provides additional information with respect to Alcoa Corporation’s operating performance and the Company’s ability to meet its financial obligations. The Adjusted EBITDA presented may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.

Free Cash Flow is a non-GAAP financial measure. Management believes this measure is meaningful to investors because management reviews cash flows generated from operations after taking into consideration capital expenditures, which are both necessary to maintain and expand Alcoa Corporation’s asset base and expected to generate future cash flows from operations. It is important to note that Free Cash Flow does not represent the residual cash flow available for discretionary expenditures since other non-discretionary expenditures, such as mandatory debt service requirements, are not deducted from the measure.

Net debt is a non-GAAP financial measure. Management believes this measure is meaningful to investors because management assesses Alcoa Corporation’s leverage position after considering available cash that could be used to repay outstanding debt. When cash exceeds total debt, the measure is expressed as net cash.