Radius Recycling Reports Second Quarter Fiscal 2024 Financial Results

Increased Cost Reduction Target by $40 Million

Radius Board Declares Quarterly Dividend

PORTLAND, Ore., April 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Radius Recycling, Inc. (NASDAQ: RDUS) today reported results for the second quarter of fiscal 2024 ended February 29, 2024.

The Company reported a loss per share from continuing operations of $(1.19) and a net loss of $(34) million. Adjusted EBITDA was $3 million and adjusted loss per share from continuing operations was $(1.04).

Market conditions during the second quarter remained challenging, as tight supply flows for recycled metals and unusually wet winter weather impacted sales volumes and metals spreads for both recycled metals and finished steel. Scrap generation remained constrained due to persistently low levels of manufacturing activity in the U.S. After strengthening in the early part of the quarter driven by restocking, market conditions for ferrous recycled metals softened due to lower global demand including as a result of continued elevated levels of Chinese steel exports.

Ferrous sales volumes decreased by 15% sequentially due to the lower supply flows and delays of certain bulk shipments at the end of the quarter. Nonferrous sales volumes decreased by 3% sequentially, but increased by 7% year-over-year supported by additional production from the Company's advanced nonferrous recovery technologies and platform expansion. Finished steel sales volumes increased by 5% year-over-year, reflecting the continued strength of non-residential and infrastructure demand in the Western U.S. Sequentially, finished steel sales volumes decreased by 11% due to seasonally lower construction demand exacerbated by a prolonged period of rain on the West Coast.

During the second quarter, the Company implemented a plan to deliver $40 million in aggregate annual benefits by reducing selling, general, and administrative ("SG&A") expense by 10% and increasing production cost efficiencies. These benefits are in addition to the $30 million in annual benefits previously announced that were substantially implemented in the second quarter.

Tamara Lundgren, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said,“While the near-term market conditions for recycled metals are challenging amid cyclical headwinds, we continue to move forward with our strategic initiatives to strengthen our Company and position ourselves to benefit from an improvement in market conditions and positive structural demand tailwinds. During the quarter we significantly expanded our fiscal 2024 cost savings and productivity improvement program and saw benefits from our ongoing investments in advanced metal recovery technology systems and our recycling services platform."

Ms. Lundgren continued, "Scrap supply flows should benefit from a decline in U.S. interest rates and a recovery in global manufacturing activity. Additionally, the long-term structural demand for recycled metals remains positive, supported by the increased focus on decarbonization, the transition to low-carbon technologies, and the anticipated demand associated with the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, including Buy Clean provisions."

LT = Long Ton, which is equivalent to 2,240 pounds
ST = Short Ton, which is equivalent to 2,000 pounds

Second Quarter Fiscal 2024 Financial Review and Analysis

Average net selling prices for ferrous recycled metals increased by 8% sequentially, benefiting from the strengthening in global prices in the early part of the quarter driven by restocking, before softening due to lower demand including as a result of continued elevated levels of Chinese steel exports. Average net selling prices for nonferrous recycled metals increased by 3% sequentially and for finished steel products remained flat sequentially.

Results for the second quarter include a benefit from average inventory accounting of approximately $2 per ferrous ton, compared to a detriment of $1 per ferrous ton in the first quarter of fiscal 2024. The Company recognized insurance recoveries of $2 million in the second quarter, compared to $4 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2024, in connection with previously submitted claims related to certain property damage and business interruption matters that had occurred in prior periods.

During the second quarter, the Company implemented a plan to reduce SG&A expense by 10% and increase production cost efficiencies to deliver $40 million in aggregate annual benefits. The new measures include reductions in headcount and other employee-related expenses, as well as decreases in non-trade procurement spend, transportation and logistics, and other outside services. Approximately half of the targeted quarterly run-rate benefits from these initiatives are expected to be achieved in the third quarter, with substantially all of the remainder by the end of the fiscal year. The Company expects to incur related restructuring charges and other exit-related costs of approximately $6 million, of which $3 million were incurred during the second quarter.

The second quarter had an operating cash outflow of $55 million, reflecting an increase in net working capital due primarily to the timing of shipments and collections. At the end of the quarter, total debt was $374 million and net debt was $360 million.

Capital expenditures were $15 million in the second quarter. The Company expects fiscal 2024 capital expenditures to be approximately $80 million, including the completion of our nonferrous technology initiatives and investments to support recycling services expansion.

The effective tax rate for the second quarter was an expense of 4% on GAAP results and 8% on adjusted non-GAAP results, both including the recognition of a valuation allowance charge of $2 million on deferred tax assets in one of the Company's tax jurisdictions.

During the second quarter, the Company returned capital to shareholders through its 120th consecutive quarterly dividend.

Declaration of Quarterly Dividend

The Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.1875 per common share, payable May 6, 2024 to shareholders of record on April 22, 2024. The Company has paid a dividend every quarter since going public in November 1993.

Analysts' Conference Call: Second Quarter Fiscal 2024 Results

A conference call and slide presentation to discuss results will be held today, April 4, 2024, at 11:30 a.m. Eastern and will be hosted by Tamara Lundgren, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Stefano Gaggini, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. The call and accompanying slide presentation will be webcast and accessible under the Events Calendar on the Company's website at: Summary financial data is provided in the following pages. The slide presentation and related materials will be available prior to the call on the Company's website.

About Radius Recycling, Inc.

Radius Recycling, Inc. (formerly Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc.) is one of the largest manufacturers and exporters of recycled metal products in North America with operating facilities located in 25 states, Puerto Rico, and Western Canada. Radius has seven deep water export facilities located on both the East and West Coasts and in Hawaii and Puerto Rico. The Company's integrated operating platform also includes 50 stores which sell serviceable used auto parts from salvaged vehicles and receive over 4 million annual retail visits. The Company's steel manufacturing operations produce finished steel products, including rebar, wire rod, and other specialty products. The Company began operations in 1906 in Portland, Oregon.

LT = Long Ton, which is equivalent to 2,240 pounds
ST = Short Ton, which is equivalent to 2,000 pounds

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release contains performance based on adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations attributable to Radius shareholders, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA per ferrous ton, and adjusted selling, general, and administrative expense which are non-GAAP financial measures as defined under SEC rules. As required by SEC rules, the Company has provided a reconciliation of these measures for each period discussed to the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measure. Management believes that providing these non-GAAP financial measures adds a meaningful presentation of our results from business operations excluding adjustments for restructuring charges and other exit-related activities, asset impairment charges, amortization of capitalized cloud computing implementation costs, charges for legacy environmental matters (net of recoveries), business development costs not related to ongoing operations including pre-acquisition expenses, and the income tax benefit allocated to these adjustments, items which are not related to underlying business operational performance, and improves the period-to-period comparability of our results from business operations. We believe that presenting debt, net of cash is useful to investors as a measure of our leverage, as cash and cash equivalents can be used, among other things, to repay indebtedness. These non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for, the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measures.

LT = Long Ton, which is equivalent to 2,240 pounds

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements and information included in this press release by Radius Recycling, Inc. (formerly Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc.) that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and are made pursuant to the“safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Except as noted herein or as the context may otherwise require, all references in this press release to“we,”“our,”“us,”“the Company,”“Radius Recycling,” and“Radius” refer to Radius Recycling, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.

Forward-looking statements in this press release include statements regarding future events or our expectations, intentions, beliefs, and strategies regarding the future, which may include statements regarding the impact of equipment upgrades, equipment failures, and facility damage on production, including timing of repairs and resumption of operations; the realization of insurance recoveries; the Company's outlook, growth initiatives, or expected results or objectives, including pricing, margins, volumes, and profitability; completion of acquisitions and integration of acquired businesses; the progression and impact of investments in processing and manufacturing technology improvements and information technology systems; the impacts of supply chain disruptions, inflation, and rising interest rates; liquidity positions; our ability to generate cash from continuing operations; trends, cyclicality, and changes in the markets we sell into; strategic direction or goals; targets; changes to manufacturing and production processes; the realization of deferred tax assets; planned capital expenditures; the cost of and the status of any agreements or actions related to our compliance with environmental and other laws; expected tax rates, deductions, and credits; the impact of sanctions and tariffs, quotas, and other trade actions and import restrictions; the impact of pandemics, epidemics, or other public health emergencies, such as the coronavirus disease 2019 (“COVID-19”) pandemic; the impact of labor shortages or increased labor costs; obligations under our retirement plans; benefits, savings, or additional costs from business realignment, cost containment, and productivity improvement programs; the potential impact of adopting new accounting pronouncements; and the adequacy of accruals. Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain, and often contain words such as“outlook,”“target,”“aim,”“believes,”“expects,”“anticipates,”“intends,”“assumes,”“estimates,”“evaluates,”“may,”“will,”“should,”“could,”“opinions,”“forecasts,”“projects,”“plans,”“future,”“forward,”“potential,”“probable,” and similar expressions. However, the absence of these words or similar expressions does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. We may make other forward-looking statements from time to time, including in reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, press releases, presentations, and on public conference calls. All forward-looking statements we make are based on information available to us at the time the statements are made, and we assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law. Our business is subject to the effects of changes in domestic and global economic conditions and a number of other risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those included in, or implied by, such forward-looking statements. Some of these risks and uncertainties are discussed in“Item 1A. Risk Factors” of Part I of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K. Examples of these risks include: potential environmental cleanup costs related to the Portland Harbor Superfund site or other locations; the impact of goodwill impairment charges; the impact of equipment upgrades, equipment failures, and facility damage on production; failure to realize or delays in realizing expected benefits from capital and other projects, including investments in processing and manufacturing technology improvements and information technology systems; the cyclicality and impact of general economic conditions; the impact of inflation, rising interest rates, and foreign currency fluctuations; changing conditions in global markets including the impact of sanctions and tariffs, quotas, and other trade actions and import restrictions; increases in the relative value of the U.S. dollar; economic and geopolitical instability including as a result of military conflict; volatile supply and demand conditions affecting prices and volumes in the markets for raw materials and other inputs we purchase; significant decreases in recycled metal prices; imbalances in supply and demand conditions in the global steel industry; difficulties associated with acquisitions and integration of acquired businesses; supply chain disruptions; reliance on third-party shipping companies, including with respect to freight rates and the availability of transportation; the impact of impairment of assets other than goodwill; the impact of pandemics, epidemics, or other public health emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic; inability to achieve or sustain the benefits from productivity, cost savings, and restructuring initiatives; inability to renew facility leases; customer fulfillment of their contractual obligations; potential limitations on our ability to access capital resources and existing credit facilities; restrictions on our business and financial covenants under the agreement governing our bank credit facilities; the impact of consolidation in the steel industry; product liability claims; the impact of legal proceedings and legal compliance; the impact of climate change; the impact of not realizing deferred tax assets; the impact of tax increases and changes in tax rules; the impact of one or more cybersecurity incidents; the impact of increasing attention to environmental, social, and governance matters; translation risks associated with fluctuation in foreign exchange rates; the impact of hedging transactions; inability to obtain or renew business licenses and permits; environmental compliance costs and potential environmental liabilities; increased environmental regulations and enforcement; compliance with climate change and greenhouse gas emission laws and regulations; the impact of labor shortages or increased labor costs; reliance on employees subject to collective bargaining agreements; and the impact of the underfunded status of multiemployer plans in which we participate.

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