U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2023 Results

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Jul 27, 2023

PR Newswire

  • Net income increased 4% sequentially
  • GAAP and adjusted EPS for the quarter of $0.59 and $0.60 per diluted share, respectively
  • Oil & Gas segment contribution margin increased 28% year-over-year, driven by increased sand prices and expanded transportation margins for SandBox
  • Industrial & Specialty Products segment contribution margin increased 20% sequentially, driven by price increases and greater sales of higher-margin products
  • Operational performance improvements and cost reductions supported contribution margin expansions
  • Cash flow from operations increased 125% sequentially
  • Balance sheet strengthened with additional $25 million of debt extinguished

KATY, Texas, July 27, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SLCA) (the "Company"), a diversified industrial minerals company and the leading last-mile logistics provider to the oil and gas industry, today announced its second quarter results for the period ended June 30, 2023.

us_silica_logo.jpg

"We continued to strengthen our balance sheet and provide innovative and differentiated products to the markets and customers we serve during the second quarter," said Bryan Shinn, the Company's Chief Executive Officer. "Our robust Adjusted EBITDA and meaningful cash flow from operations enabled us to extinguish an additional $25 million of debt, achieving our net leverage ratio target of 1.5x ahead of plan.

"In our Oil & Gas segment, we delivered continued strong financial performance despite lower completions activity across the U.S. oilfield market. While our volumes sold were lower sequentially, pricing held up well during the quarter and with our ability to quickly match costs to market demand, our overall Oil & Gas profit margin per ton increased on a sequential quarter basis. During the second quarter, we also launched a new patent-pending well site system called Guardian, which was developed to help customers improve their completions productivity and reduce well costs.

"We continued to execute on our growth strategy for the Industrial & Specialty Products segment in the second quarter. Segment contribution margin expanded substantially, both sequentially and year-over-year, and was driven by improved pricing, reduced costs, and a shift to higher-value products. Furthermore, the recent launch of our EverWhite® Pigment has been well received by our customers who are finding additional benefits and unique properties which could increase our addressable market exposure.

"Our financial performance has been strong through the first half of this year and we are reaffirming our guidance from last quarter, after considering numerous factors including the unpredictability of the energy market and commodity prices, the strengthening outlook in our Industrials segment, the positive visibility provided by strong customer contracts across the company, and additional cost and productivity improvements. We continue to forecast a 25% to 30% year-over-year increase in Adjusted EBITDA, anticipate that we'll generate approximately $250 million of operating cash flow in 2023, and we expect our net leverage ratio to remain around current levels of 1.5x through the remainder of this year."

Second Quarter 2023 Financial Highlights

Net income for the second quarter was $46.3 million, or $0.59 per diluted share. The second quarter results were impacted by $1.4 million pre-tax, or $0.01 per diluted share after-tax, of charges primarily related to the loss on extinguishment of debt, resulting in adjusted EPS (a non-GAAP measure) of $0.60 per diluted share.

These results compared with net income of $44.6 million, or $0.57 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2023, which was impacted by $7.0 million pre-tax, or $0.07 per diluted share after-tax, of charges primarily related to the loss on extinguishment of debt and business optimization costs, resulting in adjusted EPS (a non-GAAP measure) of $0.64 per diluted share.

In the second quarter of 2023, the Company completed a $25 million voluntary term loan principal repayment, extinguishing the debt at par using excess cash on hand.

Total Company

In millions

Q2 2023

Q1 2023

Sequential
Change

Q2 2022

Year-over-
year
Change

Revenue

$406.8

$442.2

(8 %)

$388.5

5 %

Net Income

$46.3

$44.6

4 %

$22.9

102 %

Tons Sold

4.459

4.934

(10 %)

4.652

(4 %)

Contribution Margin*

$150.7

$152.8

(1 %)

$123.3

22 %

Adjusted EBITDA*

$123.6

$124.6

(1 %)

$93.8

32 %

Oil & Gas Segment

  • Second quarter 2023 results were driven by lower proppant volumes and fewer SandBox loads, partially offset by reduced operational costs and stable sand pricing.

In millions

Q2 2023

Q1 2023

Sequential
Change

Q2 2022

Year-over-
year
Change

Revenue

$262.3

$300.0

(13 %)

$244.2

7 %

Tons Sold

3.419

3.921

(13 %)

3.528

(3 %)

Contribution Margin*

$99.1

$109.9

(10 %)

$77.4

28 %

Industrial & Specialty Products (ISP) Segment

  • Improvements in operational efficiencies, price increases, and beneficial product mix are driving GDP+ profitability.

In millions

Q2 2023

Q1 2023

Sequential
Change

Q2 2022

Year-over-
year
Change

Revenue

$144.5

$142.2

2 %

$144.3

0.1 %

Tons Sold

1.040

1.013

3 %

1.124

(7 %)

Contribution Margin*

$51.6

$42.9

20 %

$45.9

12 %

*Contribution Margin and Adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP financial measures; see the discussion of non-GAAP information below and the reconciliation of non-GAAP to GAAP results included as an exhibit to this press release.

Capital Update

As of June 30, 2023, the Company had $187.0 million in cash and cash equivalents and total debt of $882.1 million. The Company's $150.0 million Revolver had zero drawn with $21.3 million allocated for letters of credit and availability of $128.7 million. During the second quarter of 2023, the Company generated $92.1 million in cash flow from operations while capital expenditures totaled $15.1 million.

Outlook and Guidance

Looking forward to the third quarter, the Company's two business segments remain well positioned in their respective markets. The Company has a strong portfolio of industrial and specialty products that serve numerous essential, high growth and attractive end markets, supported by a robust pipeline of new products under development. The Company also expects growth in its underlying base business, coupled with pricing increases.

The oil and gas industry is progressing through a multi-year growth cycle. Constructive through-cycle commodity prices are supportive of an active well completions environment over the next few years. The Company has strong contractual commitments for its sand production capacity for this year and is maintaining pricing discipline despite the current, short-term decline in well completions activity.

The Company remains focused on generating free cash flow and de-levering the balance sheet. It expects to produce significant operating cash flow in 2023, and projects investing at the high-end of capital expenditures guidance of $50-$60 million for the year.

Conference Call

U.S. Silica will host a conference call for investors tomorrow, July 28, 2023, at 7:30 a.m. Central Time to discuss these results. Hosting the call will be Bryan Shinn, Chief Executive Officer and Don Merril, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Investors are invited to listen to a live webcast of the conference call and find supporting materials by visiting the "Investors- Events & Presentations" section of the Company's website at www.ussilica.com. The webcast will be archived for one year. The call can also be accessed live over the telephone by dialing (877) 869-3847 or for international callers, (201) 689-8261. A replay will be available shortly after the call and can be accessed by dialing (877) 660-6853 or for international callers, (201) 612-7415. The conference ID for the replay is 13739961. The replay will be available through August 28, 2023.

About U.S. Silica

U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc. is a global performance materials company and is a member of the Russell 2000. The Company is a leading producer of commercial silica used in the oil and gas industry and in a wide range of industrial applications. Over its 123-year history, U.S. Silica has developed core competencies in mining, processing, logistics and materials science that enable it to produce and cost-effectively deliver over 600 diversified products to customers across our end markets.

U.S. Silica's wholly-owned subsidiaries include EP Minerals and SandBox Logisticsâ„¢. EP Minerals is an industry leader in the production of products derived from diatomaceous earth, perlite, engineered clays, and non-activated clays. SandBox Logisticsâ„¢ is a state-of-the-art leader in proppant storage, handling and well-site delivery, dedicated to making proppant logistics cleaner, safer and more efficient. The Company has 27 operating mines and processing facilities and two additional exploration stage properties across the United States and is headquartered in Katy, Texas.

Forward-looking Statements

This second quarter 2023 earnings release, as well as other statements we make, contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws - that is, statements about the future, not about past events. Forward-looking statements give our current expectations and projections relating to our financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance and business. These statements may include words such as "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "project," "plan," "intend," "believe," "may," "will," "should," "could," "can have," "likely" and other words and terms of similar meaning. Forward-looking statements made include any statement that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact and may include, but are not limited to, statements regarding U.S. Silica's estimated and projected costs and cost reduction programs, reserves and finished products estimates, growth opportunities, strategy, future financial results, forecasts, projections, plans and capital expenditures, technological innovations, and the expected outcome or impact of pending or threatened litigation. Forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and assumptions, which may not prove to be accurate. These statements are not guarantees and are subject to risks, uncertainties and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Many factors could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from these forward-looking statements. Among these factors are global economic conditions; heightened levels of inflation and rising interest rates; supply chain and logistics constraints for our company and our customers, fluctuations in demand for commercial silica, diatomaceous earth, perlite, clay and cellulose; fluctuations in demand for frac sand or the development of either effective alternative proppants or new processes to replace hydraulic fracturing; the entry of competitors into our marketplace; changes in production spending by companies in the oil and gas industry and changes in the level of oil and natural gas exploration and development; changes in oil and gas inventories; general economic, political and business conditions in key regions of the world including the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine; pricing pressure; cost inflation; weather and seasonal factors; the cyclical nature of our customers' business; our inability to meet our financial and performance targets and other forecasts or expectations; our substantial indebtedness and pension obligations, including restrictions on our operations imposed by our indebtedness; operational modifications, delays or cancellations; prices for electricity, natural gas and diesel fuel; our ability to maintain our transportation network; changes in government regulations and regulatory requirements, including those related to mining, explosives, chemicals, and oil and gas production; silica-related health issues and corresponding litigation; and other risks and uncertainties detailed in this press release and our most recent Forms 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K filed with or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. If one or more of these or other risks or uncertainties materialize (or the consequences of such a development changes), or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual outcomes may vary materially from those reflected in our forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof, and we disclaim any intention or obligation to update publicly or revise such statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

U.S. SILICA HOLDINGS, INC.

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA FROM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited; dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Three Months Ended

June 30,
2023

March 31, 2023

June 30,
2022

Total sales

$ 406,784

$ 442,240

$ 388,513

Total cost of sales (excluding depreciation, depletion and amortization)

259,773

293,133

268,896

Operating expenses:

Selling, general and administrative

28,694

29,163

34,817

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

33,546

35,386

34,715

Total operating expenses

62,240

64,549

69,532

Operating income

84,771

84,558

50,085

Other (expense) income:

Interest expense

(25,987)

(24,061)

(17,430)

Other income (expense), net, including interest income

2,497

(2,352)

2,099

Total other expense

(23,490)

(26,413)

(15,331)

Income before income taxes

61,281

58,145

34,754

Income tax expense

(15,137)

(13,573)

(11,919)

Net income

$ 46,144

$ 44,572

$ 22,835

Less: Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest

(115)

(76)

(73)

Net income attributable to U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc.

$ 46,259

$ 44,648

$ 22,908

Earnings per share attributable to U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc.:

Basic

$ 0.60

$ 0.58

$ 0.30

Diluted

$ 0.59

$ 0.57

$ 0.29

Weighted average shares outstanding:

Basic

77,089

76,517

75,508

Diluted

78,338

78,292

77,966

Dividends declared per share

$ —

$ —

$ —

U.S. SILICA HOLDINGS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Dollars in thousands)

Unaudited

Audited

June 30, 2023

December 31, 2022

ASSETS

Current Assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

$ 186,961

$ 280,845

Accounts receivable, net

194,679

208,631

Inventories, net

161,820

147,626

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

13,678

20,182

Total current assets

557,138

657,284

Property, plant and mine development, net

1,148,681

1,178,834

Lease right-of-use assets

43,619

42,374

Goodwill

185,649

185,649

Intangible assets, net

136,097

140,809

Other assets

10,182

9,630

Total assets

$ 2,081,366

$ 2,214,580

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

Current Liabilities:

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

$ 156,973

$ 216,239

Current portion of operating lease liabilities

19,654

19,773

Current portion of long-term debt

10,152

19,535

Current portion of deferred revenue

8,244

16,275

Income tax payable

3,362

128

Total current liabilities

198,385

271,950

Long-term debt, net

871,913

1,037,458

Deferred revenue

13,355

14,477

Liability for pension and other post-retirement benefits

28,343

30,911

Deferred income taxes, net

85,444

64,636

Operating lease liabilities

61,937

64,478

Other long-term liabilities

27,649

25,976

Total liabilities

1,287,026

1,509,886

Stockholders' Equity:

Preferred stock

—

—

Common stock

877

854

Additional paid-in capital

1,241,828

1,234,834

Retained deficit

(260,177)

(351,084)

Treasury stock, at cost

(196,162)

(186,196)

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

857

(1,723)

Total U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc. stockholders' equity

787,223

696,685

Non-controlling interest

7,117

8,009

Total stockholders' equity

794,340

704,694

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

$ 2,081,366

$ 2,214,580

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Segment Contribution Margin

Segment contribution margin is a key metric that management uses to evaluate our operating performance and to determine resource allocation between segments. Segment contribution margin excludes selling, general, and administrative costs, corporate costs, plant capacity expenses, and facility closure costs.

The following table sets forth a reconciliation of net income, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, to segment contribution margin.

(All amounts in thousands)

Three Months Ended

June 30,
2023

March 31, 2023

June 30,
2022

Sales:

Oil & Gas Proppants

$ 262,285

$ 300,013

$ 244,246

Industrial & Specialty Products

144,499

142,227

144,267

Total sales

406,784

442,240

388,513

Segment contribution margin:

Oil & Gas Proppants

99,069

109,897

77,353

Industrial & Specialty Products

51,595

42,929

45,915

Total segment contribution margin

150,664

152,826

123,268

Operating activities excluded from segment cost of sales

(3,653)

(3,719)

(3,651)

Selling, general and administrative

(28,694)

(29,163)

(34,817)

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

(33,546)

(35,386)

(34,715)

Interest expense

(25,987)

(24,061)

(17,430)

Other income (expense), net, including interest income

2,497

(2,352)

2,099

Income tax expense

(15,137)

(13,573)

(11,919)

Net income

$ 46,144

$ 44,572

$ 22,835

Less: Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest

(115)

(76)

(73)

Net income attributable to U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc.

$ 46,259

$ 44,648

$ 22,908

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of our financial performance or liquidity under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to net income (loss) as a measure of operating performance, cash flows from operating activities as a measure of liquidity or any other performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP. Additionally, Adjusted EBITDA is not intended to be a measure of free cash flow for management's discretionary use, as it does not consider certain cash requirements such as interest payments, tax payments and debt service requirements. Adjusted EBITDA contains certain other limitations, including the failure to reflect our cash expenditures, cash requirements for working capital needs and cash costs to replace assets being depreciated and amortized, and excludes certain charges that may recur in the future. Management compensates for these limitations by relying primarily on our GAAP results and by using Adjusted EBITDA only supplementally. Our measure of Adjusted EBITDA is not necessarily comparable to other similarly titled captions of other companies due to potential inconsistencies in the methods of calculation.

The following table sets forth a reconciliation of net income, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, to Adjusted EBITDA:

(All amounts in thousands)

Three Months Ended

June 30,
2023

March 31, 2023

June 30,
2022

Net income attributable to U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc.

$ 46,259

$ 44,648

$ 22,908

Total interest expense, net of interest income

24,368

21,568

17,278

Provision for taxes

15,137

13,573

11,919

Total depreciation, depletion and amortization expenses

33,546