FORT WAYNE, Ind., April 16, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Steel Dynamics, Inc. (NASDAQ/GS: STLD) today announced first quarter net income of $39 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, on net sales of $1.8 billion. By comparison, prior year first quarter net income was $48 million, or $0.21 per diluted share, on net sales of $1.8 billion, and sequential fourth quarter 2013 net income was $55 million, or $0.24 per diluted share, on net sales of $1.9 billion.

First quarter 2014 earnings include a benefit of approximately $0.01 per diluted share related to a recent change in Indiana's corporate income tax rate which resulted in the reduction of the company's deferred income tax liability.

"The first quarter 2014 was one of the most severe winter periods in recent history across much of the United States, especially in the Midwest where a majority of our operations are located," said Chief Executive Officer, Mark Millett.  "The uncharacteristically severe and prolonged winter weather conditions resulted in increased energy costs, reduced production, diminished availability of transportation and lower shipments.  This environment was a major driver of the 25 percent decline in our consolidated operating income for the first quarter 2014, as compared to the sequential fourth quarter of 2013.

"Essentially all of our businesses were negatively impacted in some way; however, our Midwest steel operations were especially impacted.   Operating income for our steel operations declined $47 million for the first quarter 2014, as compared to the sequential quarter.  Most impactful, sheet steel volumes decreased 12 percent and metal spread also declined, as transportation issues delayed shipments; meaningfully higher energy costs were incurred; and the average quarterly product price improvement did not outpace the higher cost of scrap that was consumed earlier in the quarter.  As weather conditions improved, demand also strengthened with increased order activity throughout our steel operations.

"We achieved two important goals during the quarter," stated Millett.  "We shipped our first premium rail and the first product from our new smaller-diameter engineered bar rolling mill.   We anticipate continued growth in demand for these products throughout 2014 and into 2015." 

The company's fabrication business continues to improve, based on increased market share, and more importantly, increased construction demand.  Both order inquiries and bookings are strong, supporting the premise of a nonresidential construction market recovery.  While first quarter 2014 shipments were seasonally lower on a sequential basis, operating income improved meaningfully compared to both the sequential and prior year quarter. 

First Quarter Review

First quarter shipments across the company's operating platforms were generally lower, when compared to the fourth quarter 2013.  As a result of higher energy costs at our Midwest steel operations resulting from the severe weather and reduced metal spread at the Flat Roll Division, first quarter 2014 operating income for the company's steel operations decreased 31 percent to $108 million, as compared to the fourth quarter 2013, despite only a 3 percent decline in net sales.  Although overall steel metal margin increased in the first quarter 2014, metal margin for steel sheet decreased as improved product pricing was more than offset by early-quarter scrap costs.    The average selling price per ton for the company's total steel operations increased $30 sequentially to $835 in the first quarter 2014, while the average ferrous scrap cost per ton melted increased $24 per ton. 

First quarter 2014 operating income attributable to the company's sheet steel operations decreased 28 percent when compared to the sequential quarter, and operating income from long product operations decreased 34 percent.  The company's steel mill production utilization rate decreased slightly to 86 percent in the first quarter 2014, compared to 88 percent in the fourth quarter 2013, unrelated to demand dynamics but rather due to production interruptions related to power company curtailments. 

Operating income from the company's metals recycling operations was $10 million for the first quarter 2014, compared to $12 million for the fourth quarter 2013.  The $2 million reduction in profitability was directly related to costs associated with building damage related to excessive snow accumulation.  Operationally, external ferrous volumes and overall metal spreads were somewhat lower as transportation was hindered, while nonferrous volumes and metal spreads were somewhat improved. 

During the first quarter 2014, the company initiated a two week outage at the nugget production facility in February, due to significantly higher natural gas prices related to weather conditions.  The impact of losses from the company's Minnesota operations for first quarter 2014 consolidated net income was $8.9 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, as compared to $8.1 million, or $0.03 per diluted share in the fourth quarter 2013.  Despite the outage, the increased loss was directly related to the higher natural gas costs. As referenced in the company's fourth quarter 2013 earnings release, certain meaningful adjunct trials related to product yield and the cost of production were scheduled to be completed during the first quarter 2014. Due to the unanticipated severe weather, not all of the trials were able to be completed; however, meaningful progress was made.  The remaining trials are expected to be completed before the end of the second quarter 2014.  Given the increased cost of production while testing continues, current expectations concerning losses associated with the Minnesota operations for the second quarter of 2014 are anticipated to be similar to those recorded in the first quarter. 

Outlook

"We are optimistic," said Millett. "Rather than a structural change in growth during the first quarter, we believe weather conditions impacted the economy.  We have confidence that the broader U.S. economy will continue to improve and that the non-service sector portion of domestic GDP has the ability to grow at a higher rate than overall GDP, driven by strengthened asset values, domestic energy investment and increased infrastructure spending. Steel consuming industries, such as manufacturing, automotive, heavy machinery and the construction market continue to grow, indicative of underlying strength in steel demand.  We are poised to be the beneficiaries.  We believe our broad range of quality products, our differentiated customer value, combined with the strength of our exceptional employees and historically low-cost operating platforms, uniquely position us to capitalize on the imminent opportunities."

Summary Operating Information

The following tables highlight operating results for each of the company's primary operating platforms. References to operating income in the following paragraphs exclude profit-sharing expenses and amortization pertaining to intangible assets.  Dollar amounts are in thousands, except for per ton data. 

Steel Operations

This segment includes five electric-arc-furnace steel mills and related steel finishing and processing facilities, including The Techs. The company's steel operations produce flat-rolled steel, structural steel, merchant bars, special-bar-quality steel, rebar, rail, and specialty shapes.

Metals Recycling and Ferrous Resources Operations

This segment principally includes the company's metals recycling operations (OmniSource Corporation), a liquid pig iron production facility (Iron Dynamics), and the company's Minnesota operations.

Steel Fabrication Operations

Steel fabrication operations include New Millennium Building Systems, which fabricates steel joists, trusses, and decking used in the construction of non-residential buildings. 

About Steel Dynamics, Inc.

Steel Dynamics, Inc. is one of the largest domestic steel producers and metals recyclers in the United States based on estimated annual steelmaking and metals recycling capability, with annual sales of $7.4 billion in 2013, over 6,800 employees, and manufacturing facilities primarily located throughout the United States (including five steel mills, six steel processing facilities, two iron production facilities, over 90 metals recycling locations and six steel fabrication plants). 

Forward-Looking Statement

This press release contains some predictive statements about future events, including statements related to conditions in the steel and metallic scrap markets, Steel Dynamics' revenues, costs of purchased materials, future profitability and earnings, and the operation of new or existing facilities. These statements are intended to be made as "forward-looking," subject to many risks and uncertainties, within the safe harbor protections of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements speak only as of this date and are based upon information and assumptions, which we consider reasonable as of this date, concerning our businesses and the environments in which they operate. Such predictive statements are not guarantees of future performance, and we undertake no duty to update or revise any such statements. Some factors that could cause such forward-looking statements to turn out differently than anticipated include: (1) the effects of a recurrent slowing economy on industrial demand; (2) changes in economic conditions, either generally or in any of the steel or scrap-consuming sectors which affect demand for our products, including the strength of the non-residential and residential construction, automotive, appliance, and other steel-consuming industries; (3) fluctuations in the cost of key raw materials (including steel scrap, iron units, and energy costs) and our ability to pass-on any cost increases; (4) the impact of domestic and foreign import price competition; (5) risks and uncertainties involving product and/or technology development; and (6) occurrences of unexpected plant outages or equipment failures.

More specifically, we refer you to SDI's more detailed explanation of these and other factors and risks that may cause such predictive statements to turn out differently, as set forth in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q or in other reports which we from time to time file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These are available publicly on the SEC Web site, www.sec.gov, and on the Steel Dynamics Web site, www.steeldynamics.com.

Conference Call and Webcast

On Thursday, April 17, 2014, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time, Steel Dynamics will host a conference call with investors and analysts to discuss the company's first quarter 2014 operating and financial results.  We invite you to listen to the live audiocast of the conference call accessible from our website (http://www.steeldynamics.com), or via telephone (the conference call number may also be obtained on our website).   A replay of the discussion will be available on our website until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on April 24, 2014.  A podcast/MP3 file of the event will also be available and can be downloaded from our website.    

SOURCE Steel Dynamics, Inc.