| 3Q15 Earnings Call: What Is Century Aluminum’s Strategic Plan? | |
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Century Aluminum’s 3Q15 Earnings: Key Investor Takeaways (Continued from Prior Part) 3Q15 earnings call
Previously, we saw that Century Aluminum (CENX) generated a gross loss in 3Q15. Along with the accounting profits, it becomes imperative for investors in mining companies such as Rio Tinto (RIO) and Norsk Hydro (NHYDY) to track free cash flows—especially in the current, challenging operating environment. Let’s see how Century Aluminum’s cash flows shaped up in 3Q15.
Negative free cash flows
- Century Aluminum (CENX) has generated negative free cash flows for two consecutive quarters, as can be seen in the graph above. Century Aluminum’s cash balance decreased by $44 million in 3Q15. The company closed the quarter with $123 million in cash and cash equivalents. CENX also has a $100 million revolving credit facility.
- Alcoa (AA) also generated negative free cash flows of $65 million in the first nine months of 2015. However, the company expects to generate positive free cash flows of $500 million in fiscal 2015. Currently, Alcoa forms 0.14% of the iShares US Preferred Stock ETF (PFF).
Century Aluminum’s strategy
Century Aluminum’s president and CEO, Mike Bless, noted during the company’s 3Q15 earnings conference call, “We will only run each of our operations in a manner that yields nominally a breakeven result even in the current depressed environment.” He added, “We’ve got no interest in impairing our liquidity to fund losses.”
Bless discussed a two-pronged strategy to tackle the current downtrend. First, the company plans to make “modest investments,” assuming the current market conditions “persist for some period of time.” Second, CENX is “reconfiguring the other operations to be viable in the current environment.”
Operations
As discussed previously, Century Aluminum (CENX) has idled part of its operations at Sebree and Hawesville. More such portfolio actions can’t be ruled out when considering the deteriorating aluminum market conditions.
However, the company expects to run its Grundartangi smelter at 120% of its rated capacity next year, leading to 50,000 metric tons of incremental production. According to Century Aluminum, the Grundartangi plant “has a very competitive cost structure.”
Next, let’s look at how the current trend could affect Century Aluminum.
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Vale Inco est une société de production minière de nickel et de cuivre basée au Bresil. Vale Inco est productrice de nickel, de cuivre, d'or, de palladium et de platine au Canada, et détient divers projets d'exploration au Bresil, au Canada, au Perou, en Australie, en Indonesie, en Nouvelle-Caledonie et en Turquie. Ses principaux projets en production sont MCCREEDY WEST MINE et VICTORIA - INCO au Canada et ses principaux projets en exploration sont EAGLE CREEK, MEL PROJECT, B20, SHEBANDOWAN - BAND-ORE et GARSON MINE au Canada et GOONGARRIE SOUTH - GOONGARRIE, HIGHWAY - GOONGARRIE, SCOTIA - GOONGARRIE, BIG FOUR HERON - GOONGARRIE, GOONGARRIE HILL - GOONGARRIE, TOBY PROPERTY et BORDER DOWNS en Australie. |