Koppers Holdings Inc. (NYSE: KOP), an integrated global provider of treated wood products, wood treatment chemicals, and carbon compounds, today reported net income attributable to Koppers for the third quarter of 2024 of $22.8 million, or $1.09 per diluted share, compared to $26.3 million, or $1.22 per diluted share, in the prior year quarter. The financial results in the current year quarter reflect the acquisition of Brown Wood Preserving Company (Brown Wood), which closed on April 1, 2024.
Adjusted net income attributable to Koppers and adjusted earnings per share (EPS) were $28.7 million and $1.37 per share for the third quarter of 2024, compared to $28.6 million and $1.32 per share in the prior year quarter.
Consolidated sales of $554.3 million were a record third quarter and increased by $3.9 million, or 0.7 percent, compared with $550.4 million in the prior year quarter. Excluding a $2.5 million favorable impact from foreign currency changes, sales increased by $1.4 million, or 0.3 percent.
The Railroad and Utility Products and Services (RUPS) business generated record third-quarter sales, but profitability remained flat as higher costs and decreased activity in the crosstie recovery business offset sales increases and improved plant utilization.
The Performance Chemicals (PC) segment reported a slight decline in sales, as sales to Brown Wood are now considered affiliate sales, while profitability increased year-over-year as a result of lower costs, which were favorably impacted by timing.
The Carbon Materials and Chemicals (CMC) segment saw increased profitability despite experiencing lower sales prices, primarily driven by reduced raw material costs, lower selling, general and administrative costs, and higher volumes of carbon pitch and phthalic anhydride.
Chief Executive Officer Leroy Ball said, “Once again, I am pleased with the solid performance delivered by our global Koppers team in the third quarter, as evidenced by our strong financial results and solid safety performance. On the plus side, we generated improved sequential profitability in our railroad and carbon materials businesses, primarily driven by cost reduction initiatives undertaken earlier this year. However, we continued to experience reduced volumes year-over-year in our legacy utility pole business and lower sequential profitability in Performance Chemicals as a result of higher raw material costs. As always, the balance of our diversified business portfolio and our team’s ongoing commitment to solving everyday challenges demonstrated its value, keeping us on track to meet our 2024 goals.”
Third Quarter Financial Performance
- RUPS delivered record third-quarter sales of $248.1 million, an increase of $14.1 million, or 6.0 percent, compared to $234.0 million in the prior year quarter. The sales growth was largely due to $10.0 million of pricing increases across multiple markets, particularly for domestic crossties and utility poles in Australia, and increased activity in the railroad bridge services business, partly offset by lower activity in the crosstie recovery business. Sales in the domestic utility pole business increased 11.0 percent, primarily attributable to Brown Wood. Adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter of 2024 was $24.7 million, or 10.0 percent, compared with $25.1 million, or 10.7 percent, in the prior year quarter. Profitability was essentially flat as the net sales increase and $3.4 million from improved plant utilization were offset by $14.1 million of higher raw material, operating and selling, general and administrative expenses.
- PC generated third quarter sales of $176.7 million, a decrease of $2.7 million, or 1.5 percent, compared to sales of $179.4 million in the prior year quarter. Sales were lower primarily as a result of sales to Brown Wood now being affiliated sales. Adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter of 2024 was $40.0 million, or 22.6 percent, compared with $35.2 million, or 19.6 percent, in the prior year quarter. Profitability increased despite lower sales, primarily due to lower year-over-year raw material and logistics costs, which were favorably impacted by timing.
- CMC reported third quarter sales of $129.5 million, a decrease of $7.5 million, or 5.5 percent, compared to sales of $137.0 million in the prior year quarter. Excluding a favorable impact from foreign currency changes of $1.8 million, sales decreased by $9.3 million, or 6.8 percent, from the prior year quarter. The sales decline was mainly due to $16.6 million of lower sales prices across most products, especially carbon pitch where prices were down approximately 20 percent globally, along with lower volumes of carbon black feedstock. The reduced prices for carbon pitch were driven by market dynamics, particularly in Europe. The decreases were partly offset by volume increases for carbon pitch and phthalic anhydride. Adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter of 2024 was $12.7 million, or 9.8 percent, compared with $10.4 million, or 7.6 percent, in the prior year quarter. Profitability increased due to a $9.2 million reduction in raw material costs, particularly in Europe, lower selling, general and administrative costs, and higher volumes of carbon pitch and phthalic anhydride. These favorable drivers were partly offset by price decreases and higher operating expenses.
- Capital expenditures for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, were $58.8 million, compared with $91.3 million for the prior year period. Net of insurance proceeds and cash provided from asset sales, capital expenditures were $55.0 million for the current year period, compared with $88.3 million for the prior year period.
2024 Outlook
After considering the current competitive environment, global economic conditions, as well as the ongoing uncertainty associated with geopolitical and supply chain challenges, Koppers expects 2024 sales of approximately $2.1 billion, compared with sales of $2.15 billion in 2023. As a result, adjusted EBITDA is anticipated to be approximately $270 million to $275 million in 2024, including the acquisition of Brown Wood which closed on April 1, 2024, compared with $256.4 million in 2023.
The effective tax rate for adjusted net income attributable to Koppers in 2024 is projected to be approximately 28 percent, consistent with the adjusted tax rate in 2023. Accordingly, 2024 adjusted EPS is forecasted to be in the range of $4.25 to $4.45 per share, compared with $4.36 per share in 2023.
Koppers now expects operating cash flows of approximately $100 million to $125 million in 2024, excluding any impact from pension termination. The company is pursuing a termination of its U.S. qualified pension plan and is targeting this effort for completion in the first quarter 2025. An estimated $25 million of funding will be required when this is completed, which will impact operating cash flow in 2025.
Koppers continues to anticipate capital expenditures of approximately $80 million in 2024, including capitalized interest but excluding acquisitions, with approximately $20 million allocated to discretionary projects.
Commenting on the forecast, Mr. Ball said, “As 2024 winds down, I am gratified by our team’s resilience in the face of adversity. To be posting new highs across a number of important metrics in a challenging market environment is a testament to our grit and determination. Looking beyond this year, I believe we remain on track for continued growth in profitability and free cash flow, despite an intensely competitive environment. To ensure that improvement, during the fourth quarter, we will begin taking measures to streamline our organization to support an increasingly cost-conscious customer base. I believe these actions will help to extend our decade-long growth in profitability and support a higher margin profile by leveraging a smaller global team highly focused on serving customer preferences.”
Koppers does not provide reconciliations of guidance for adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EPS to comparable GAAP measures, in reliance on the unreasonable efforts exception. Koppers is unable, without unreasonable efforts, to forecast certain items required to develop meaningful comparable GAAP financial measures. These items include, but are not limited to, restructuring and impairment charges, acquisition-related costs, mark-to-market commodity hedging, and LIFO adjustments that are difficult to forecast for a GAAP estimate and may be significant.
About Koppers
Koppers (NYSE: KOP) is an integrated global provider of essential treated wood products, wood preservation technologies and carbon compounds. Our team of 2,200 employees create, protect and preserve key elements of our global infrastructure – including railroad crossties, utility poles, outdoor wooden structures, and production feedstocks for steel, aluminum and construction materials, among others – applying decades of industry-leading expertise while constantly innovating to anticipate the needs of tomorrow. Together we are providing safe and sustainable solutions to enable rail transportation, keep power flowing, and create spaces of enjoyment for people everywhere. Protecting What Matters, Preserving The Future. Learn more at Koppers.com.
