Tronox Holdings plc TROX

Performance exceeded expectations as demand trajectory outpaced normal seasonal levels against a backdrop of improving production costs

STAMFORD, Conn., May 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Tronox Holdings plc (NYSE:TROX) ("Tronox" or the "Company"), the world's leading integrated manufacturer of titanium dioxide ("TiO₂") pigment, today reported its financial results for the quarter ending March 31, 2024, as follows:

First Quarter 2024 Financial Highlights:

• Produced revenue of $774 million, a 13% increase compared to the prior quarter, or a 9% increase compared to the prior year
• Generated income from operations of $41 million, and a net loss of $9 million; adjusted net loss was $7 million (non-GAAP)
• GAAP diluted loss per share of $0.06; Adjusted diluted loss per share was $0.05 (non-GAAP)
• Delivered Adjusted EBITDA of $131 million, exceeding previously issued guidance of $100-120 million, and an Adjusted EBITDA margin of 16.9%, slightly above the guided range (non-GAAP)
• Invested $76 million in capital expenditures in the quarter 

Second Quarter 2024 Outlook:

• TiO₂ volumes expected to increase 7-10% compared to Q1 2024
• Zircon volumes expected to be relatively flat compared to Q1 2024
• Adjusted EBITDA expected to be $160-180 million and Adjusted EBITDA margin to be in the range of 20%

This outlook is based on Tronox's views on current global economic activity and is subject to changes and impacts associated with the macroeconomic conditions, global supply chain, and inflation-related challenges, among others.

CEO's Remarks and Outlook
Chief Executive Officer John D. Romano commented, "As we stated in the release of our preliminary first quarter results, Tronox delivered a stronger first quarter than anticipated. This was driven by lower production costs across our operations, destocking having largely run its course through the supply chain paired with demand trajectory outpacing normal seasonal levels, and our ability to respond to that demand through the strength of our global footprint. Our revenue increased 13% compared to the prior quarter, or 20% on TiO₂ and zircon revenue alone, excluding other product sales which saw a decrease due to non-repeating sales of ilmenite and a portion of our rare earth tailings deposit in South Africa. The 18% increase in TiO₂ volumes from the fourth quarter exceeded the growth that would be more typical for this time of year. However, this type of rebound is indicative of what we would expect to see on the front end of a recovery. Demand improved across all regions, and outperformed even more so in Europe, Middle East, Africa and Latin America where volumes declined more significantly over the past six quarters. Zircon continued to recover from the trough volumes seen in July 2023, driven by strong underlying demand, despite the market in China remaining fairly muted. Pricing for both TiO₂ and zircon was in line with our expectations. 

"On the operational side, we incurred significant costs in 2023 from running our assets at low utilization rates due to soft underlying demand. As we saw the market start to turn late last year, we began increasing our operating rates. As a result, our first quarter manufacturing costs improved when compared to both the prior year and prior quarter. As the high-cost inventory continues to move through our internal supply chain, efficiencies from investments made in the business to reduce costs will enable margins to return to levels realized prior to the downturn. The first quarter has been a true inflection point, and we believe the trends on both the market side and in reducing our costs will continue going forward. We are well on our way to delivering a step change in earnings power, having already worked through much of the remaining high cost inventory on the balance sheet."

Mr. Romano concluded, "As we look ahead to the second quarter, we expect TiO₂ volumes to increase 7-10% and zircon volumes to be relatively flat, both compared to Q1 2024. As our production costs continue to decline from peak 2023 levels, we expect to see further improvements in absorption and non-repeating charges in the second quarter. As a result, we expect Adjusted EBITDA for the second quarter to be $160-180 million and our Adjusted EBITDA margin to be in the range of 20%."

First Quarter 2024 Results
(Comparisons are to prior year (Q1 2024 vs. Q1 2023) unless otherwise noted)

The Company recorded first quarter revenue of $774 million, an increase of 9% primarily driven by higher TiO₂ and zircon volumes, partially offset by lower pricing. 

Revenue from TiO₂ sales was $605 million, an increase of 8% driven by an 18% increase in volumes, partially offset by a 10% decrease in average selling prices including mix. Sequentially, TiO₂ sales increased 17%, driven by an 18% increase in sales volumes, partially offset by a 1% decrease in average selling prices including mix.

Zircon revenue increased 22% to $88 million, driven by a 43% increase in volumes, partially offset by a 21% decrease in average selling prices. Sequentially, zircon revenue increased 54%, driven by increased volumes, while pricing was level to the fourth quarter. 

Revenue from other products was $81 million, an increase of 7% year-over-year. Sequentially, revenue from other products decreased 26%, primarily due to the opportunistic sales of ilmenite and a portion of a rare earths tailings deposit in South Africa that occurred in the fourth quarter and did not repeat, as expected and communicated last quarter.  

Net loss attributable to Tronox in the quarter was $9 million, or $0.06 per diluted share, compared to net income attributable to Tronox of $23 million, or earnings of $0.15 per diluted share in the year-ago period. Adjusted net loss attributable to Tronox (non-GAAP) was $7 million, or $0.05 per diluted share. 

Adjusted EBITDA of $131 million represented a 10% decrease, driven by headwinds from product pricing and mix impacts and other company costs; this was partially offset by tailwinds from higher sales volumes, improved absorption from higher production volumes, exchange rates and lower freight costs. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 16.9%.

Sequentially, Adjusted EBITDA increased 39% due to improved absorption from higher production volumes, the absence of non-repeating charges in the prior quarter and higher sales volumes; this was partially offset by headwinds from product pricing and mix impacts, other company costs, exchange rates and higher freight costs due to Red Sea challenges. 

The Company's selling, general and administrative expenses were $79 million for the quarter, an increase of 11%. Tronox's net interest expense in the quarter was $38 million. Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense was $72 million.

Balance Sheet, Cash Flow and Capital Allocation
Tronox ended the quarter with $2.8 billion of total debt, $2.7 billion of net debt and a net leverage ratio of 5.2x on a trailing twelve-month basis. Available liquidity at the end of the quarter totaled $629 million, including $152 million in cash and cash equivalents and $477 million available under our revolving credit agreements. There are no significant debt maturities until 2028 and no financial covenants on the Company's term loans or bonds. 

Free cash flow for the quarter was a use of $105 million, primarily due to higher working capital needs including higher accounts receivable driven by improved sales, which were partially offset by lower inventories. Accounts payable also decreased in the quarter. Capital expenditures were $76 million, including investments in the Company's key capital projects to extend existing mines reaching their end of life and sustain the Company's vertical integration benefit. The Company declared a dividend of $0.50 per share on an annualized basis for the first quarter that was paid in the second quarter.

Sustainability
Tronox officially began receiving power from the 200MW solar project in South Africa, which will reduce the Company's Scope 1 and Scope 2 carbon emissions intensity by 13% globally. This is a significant step on the Company's journey to "net zero" by 2050, a commitment Tronox will maintain in its 2023 Sustainability Report, expected to be published in the second quarter. The report will also outline a number of key initiatives across emissions and waste reduction, water management, social initiatives and more. 

Webcast Conference Call 
Tronox will conduct a webcast conference call on Thursday, May 2, 2024, at 8:00 AM ET (New York).  The live call is open to the public via internet broadcast and telephone.

Internet Broadcast: http://investor.tronox.com 
Dial-in Telephone Numbers:
United States: +1 (800) 549-8228 
International: +44 800 2797 040
Conference ID: 98071

Conference Call Presentation Slides will be used during the conference call and made available on our website: http://investor.tronox.com

Conference Call Replay: Available via the internet and telephone beginning on May 2, 2024, by 11:00 AM ET, until May 8, 2024, 8:00 AM ET.

Internet Replay: http://investor.tronox.com
Replay Dial-in Telephone Numbers:
US Toll Free: +1 (888) 660-6264
International: +44 20 8609 4320 
Replay Access Code: 98071 #

About Tronox
Tronox Holdings plc is one of the world's leading producers of high-quality titanium products, including titanium dioxide pigment, specialty-grade titanium dioxide products and high-purity titanium chemicals, and zircon. We mine titanium-bearing mineral sands and operate upgrading facilities that produce high-grade titanium feedstock materials, pig iron and other minerals, including the rare earth-bearing mineral, monazite. With approximately 6,500 employees across six continents, our rich diversity, unmatched vertical integration model, and unparalleled operational and technical expertise across the value chain, position Tronox as the preeminent titanium dioxide producer in the world. For more information about how our products add brightness and durability to paints, plastics, paper and other everyday products, visit tronox.com.

Cautionary Statement about Forward-Looking Statements 
Statements in this release that are not historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements, which are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions about us, may include projections of our future financial performance, anticipated completion of extensions and upgrades to our mining operations, anticipated trends in our business and industry, anticipated costs, benefits and timing of capital projects including planned mining expansions, the Company's anticipated capital allocation strategy including future capital expenditures, and our sustainability goals, commitments and programs. These statements are only predictions based on our current expectations and projections about future events. There are important factors that could cause our actual results, level of activity, performance, actual costs, benefits and timing of capital projects, or achievements to differ materially from the results, level of activity, performance, anticipated costs, benefits and timing of capital projects, or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Significant risks and uncertainties may relate to, but are not limited to, macroeconomic conditions; inflationary pressures and energy costs; currency movements; political instability, including the ongoing conflicts in Eastern Europe and the Middle East and any expansion of such conflicts, and other geopolitical events; supply chain disruptions; market conditions and price volatility for titanium dioxide, zircon and other feedstock materials, as well as global and regional economic downturns, that adversely affect the demand for our end-use products; disruptions in production at our mining and manufacturing facilities; and other financial, economic, competitive, environmental, political, legal and regulatory factors. These and other risk factors are discussed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for our management to predict all risks and uncertainties, nor can management assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Although we believe the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, level of activity, performance, synergies or achievements. Neither we nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of any of these forward-looking statements. You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Unless otherwise required by applicable laws, we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether because of new information or future developments.

Use of Non-GAAP Information 
To provide investors and others with additional information regarding the financial results of Tronox Holdings plc, we have disclosed in this release certain non-U.S. GAAP operating performance measures of EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin and Adjusted net income attributable to Tronox, including its presentation on a per share basis, a non-U.S. GAAP liquidity measure of Free Cash Flow and net leverage ratio on a trailing twelve-month basis. These non-U.S. GAAP financial measures are a supplement to and not a substitute for or superior to, the Company's results presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP.  The non-U.S. GAAP financial measures presented by the Company may be different from non-U.S. GAAP financial measures presented by other companies. Specifically, the Company believes the non-U.S. GAAP information provides useful measures to investors regarding the Company's financial performance by excluding certain costs and expenses that the Company believes are not indicative of its core operating results.  The presentation of these non-U.S. GAAP financial measures is not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for results or guidance prepared and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP.  A reconciliation of the non-U.S. GAAP financial measures to U.S. GAAP results is included herein. 

Media Contact: Melissa Zona
+1.636.751.4057

Investor Contact: Jennifer Guenther
+1.646.960.6598

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SOURCE Tronox Holdings plc