NACCO Industries, Inc. (NC) Q3 2016 Earnings Report, Transcript and Summary

Good morning. My name is Julie and I will be your conference operator today. At this time, I'd like to welcome everyone to the Q3 2016 NACCO Industries Earnings Conference Call. [Operator Instructions] Thank you. Christina Kmetko, you may begin your conference.

Thank you. Good morning, everyone, and welcome to our 2016 third quarter earnings call. I am Christina Kmetko, and I am responsible for Investor Relations at NACCO Industries. I will be providing a brief overview of our quarterly results and business outlook, and then I will open up the call for your questions. Joining me on today's call are Al Rankin, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer; and J.C. Butler, our Senior Vice President Finance, Treasurer, and Chief Administrative Officer, as well as the President and Chief Executive Officer of our North American Coal subsidiary. Also joining us is Elizabeth Loveman, NACCO's Vice President and Controller. Yesterday, we published our third quarter 2016 results and filed our third quarter 10-Q. Copies of our earnings release and 10-Q are available on our Web site at NACCO.com. For anyone who is not able to listen to today's entire call, an archived version of this webcast will be on our Web site later this afternoon and available for approximately 12 months. As we begin, I would like to remind participants that this conference call may contain certain forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements made here today, in either our prepared remarks or during the following question-and-answer session. We disclaim any obligation to update these forward-looking statements, which may not be updated until our next quarterly conference call, if at all. Additional information regarding these risks and uncertainties was set forth in our earnings release and in our 10-Q. Also, certain amounts discussed during today's call are considered non-GAAP. The non-GAAP reconciliations of these amounts are included in your 2016 third quarter earnings release available on our Web site. Now, let me discuss our results for the third quarter. Our consolidated revenues were $220.8 million compared with $239.1 million in the third quarter of 2015. Our consolidated revenues declined primarily as a result of the cessation of mining activities at North American Coal Centennial Natural Resources Mining Operation during the fourth quarter of 2015, reduced sales volumes at Hamilton Beach and the reduction in the number of stores at Kitchen Collection. We reported a consolidated net loss of $400,000 or $0.07 per share for the third quarter of 2016 compared with net income of $3.1 million or $0.45 per share last year. The main reason for this quarter's net loss is because North American coal recognized a $17.4 million pretax impairment charge at Centennial to reduce the carrying value of coal and real estate [indiscernible] and assets held per sale to $5 million. The tax benefit of $4.9 million for this impairment charge is reflected in the consolidated effective tax rate included in our consolidating eliminations. There is no tax effect at the North American Coal subsidiary level because of the mix of North American Coal's earnings, mainly due to the benefit of percentage depletion. I’d also like to highlight that the consolidated third quarter 2015 net income includes the mine reclamation obligation charge we took last year resulting from the decision to cease mining operations at Centennial. This charge was $7.5 million or $5.8 million after tax. We have continued to provide financial results excluding Centennial to allow for a better understanding of the performance of the company's active operations. Excluding Centennial, our third quarter consolidated revenues were $220.7 million compared with $230.2 million in the prior year quarter. Consolidated adjusted income increased to $18.4 million or $2.70 per diluted share from $12.7 million or $1.83 per diluted share in the third quarter of 2015. Revenues at North American Coal including Centennial was $32.4 million in the third quarter of 2016 compared with $42.7 million in the prior year. North American Coal reported an operating loss of $10.9 million in 2016 compared with an operating loss of $4 million last year and the net loss of $12.7 million this quarter compared with the net loss of $5.3 million in 2015. These results include the 2016 asset impairment charge and the 2015 mine reclamation obligation charge. Let me focus on Centennial for just a minute before I talk about results excluding net operations. Centennial had an operating loss of $19.7 million and nominal revenue in the third quarter of 2016 compared with an operating loss of $15.4 million and revenues of $8.9 million in the prior year. The reduced revenue was a result of the cessation of mining activities during the fourth quarter of '15. Excluding the asset impairment and mine reclamation charges, Centennial's operating loss also declined as expected, a substantially lower operating cost required to conduct the remaining day-to-day operations of selling equipment, maintaining permits and mine reclamation. Excluding Centennial, North American Coal's revenues declined $1.5 million from the prior year third quarter primarily because of lower royalty and other income. Operating profit excluding Centennial's results also declined $2.6 million compared with the prior year. A decrease was primarily due to lower operating results at the Mississippi Lignite Mining Company and a reduction in royalty and other income partially offset by an increase in operating profit at the unconsolidated mining operations, as new mining operations began and increase production. Operating results were lower at the Mississippi Lignite Mining Company due to a decrease in revenue, and an increase in cost of sales, which includes both production cost and changes in inventory. Our production costs were comparable between periods, Mississippi Lignite Mining Company sold more times than it produced during the third quarter of 2016, resulting in the recognition of a portion of production costs previously capitalized in inventory. Looking forward, we expect tons sold at North American Coal's mining operations to increase in the fourth quarter of 2016 compared with last year and we expect an increase in income before income taxes, a net income both including and excluding Centennial. Excluding Centennial, the increase in income is expected to be driven by additional income from the unconsolidated mining operations due to production from Coyote Creek Mining Company, which began producing in 2016, partially offset by a substantial decline in the Mississippi Lignite Mining Company results, and increased Otter Creek Mine expenses associated with land leases. The expected decline in Mississippi Lignite Mining Company is due to an increase in production costs because the fourth quarter of 2015 included a benefit for the reversal of an accrual related to a leased asset. We expect Centennial to incur a moderate loss in the fourth quarter of 2016 as it manages mine reclamation obligations and disposals of certain assets. Although we continue to evaluate strategies to maximize cash flow including through the sale of mineral reserves and equipment. We expect cash flow before financing activities in the fourth quarter and for the full-year 2016 to be substantially lower compared with the respective period in 2015. Capital expenditures are estimated to be $7.9 million for the fourth quarter of 2016 and $15.2 million for the full-year, rounding out 2016 excluding Centennial, we expect North American Coal's full-year 2016 operating profit to decrease compared with 2015. At Centennial, excluding the asset impairment and asset repairmen charges, we expect the current year operating losses to be significantly less than in the prior year. Looking forward to 2017, excluding the effect of the asset impairment charge in 2016, we expect a significant increase in North American Coal's income before income taxes compared with this year. Results in 2017 are expected to benefit from higher income from the unconsolidated mining operations as North American Coal transitions into the contract miner role at Bisti Fuels in early January when the production period begins, and from the realization of a full-year of income at its Coyote Creek Mine. A lower, more moderate, operating loss at Centennial is also expected to contribute to the improvement. Partially offsetting this improvement is an expected moderate continued decrease in Mississippi Lignite Mining Company results, primarily in the first half of 2017, as well as the anticipated decreases in royalty and other income, and at the limerock mining operations as delivered from a new limerock mining operations are not expected to offset and anticipated decline in customer requirements at the existing limerock mining operations. Cash flow before financing activities is expected to increase in 2017 compared with 2016. Capital expenditures are expected to be approximately $14 million in 2017. Now let me discuss Hamilton Beach. Hamilton Beach's third quarter 2016 revenues, decreased moderately from $163.3 million in '15 to $157.3 million this quarter. Net operating profit and net income increased substantially over the prior year third quarter. Revenues declined primarily as a result of reduced sales volumes in the U.S. specialty housewares market and in the Canadian consumer retail market. An improvement in gross profit as a result of reduced product costs and a shift in sales mix to higher price and higher margin products was the main driver for the improved operating profit. Looking forward we believe overall consumer confidence and financial pressures experienced by the middle market consumer continue to create uncertainty about the overall growth prospects for the U.S. retail market for small appliances, including growth prospects for both in-store and Internet sales. As a result, market volumes in the fourth quarter of 2016 are projected to be comparable or down slightly compared with 2015. We also expect the Canadian retail market to be difficult as the Canadian economy continues to struggle. However, the international and commercial markets in which Hamilton Beach participates are expected to grow moderately in the fourth quarter of 2016, but at a slower pace than in the first part of this year. Despite the current market conditions, we expect Hamilton Beach’s consolidated sales volumes to increase in the fourth quarter of '16 compared with '15 as a result of increased placements and promotions of higher priced products in the core small kitchen appliance business for the fourth quarter holiday selling season, as well as anticipated improvements in its other U.S. consumer product lines. We also expect international and commercial product sales volumes to increase as a result of the continued execution of Hamilton Beach's strategic initiatives. With the number of new products in the pipeline and the execution of these initiatives both domestically and internationally, we expect an increase in revenues at Hamilton Beach in the 2016 fourth quarter compared with the prior year provided consumer spending is at expected levels. The fourth quarter revenue increase is also expected to offset the revenue decline in the first part of the year resulting in a full year 2016 revenues comparable to 2015. In addition, we expect Hamilton Beach's fourth quarter net income to increase substantially compared with last year's fourth quarter resulting in a significant increase in full year 2016 net income compared with '15. However the anticipated improvement from increased sales volumes of higher margin products and reduced product costs are expected to partly offset by increased SG&A expense and by higher transportation and warehousing cost from the higher sales volumes. We expect full year 2016 cash flow before financing activities to be substantially higher than in '15. Capital expenditures are estimated to be $2.8 million in the fourth quarter of '16 and $6.1 million for the full year. In 2017 we expect the consumer retail market for small kitchen appliances to be comparable to this year. The international markets are expected to continue to grow moderately. Overall we expect Hamilton Beach's sales volumes and revenues to increase in 2017 compared with '16 due to enhanced distribution and increased higher margin product placements resulting from the execution of the company's strategic initiatives. Net income in 2017 is expected to be comparable to 2016. In '17 cash flow before financing activities is expect to be substantial but lower than this year and capital expenditures are expected to be approximately $8 million. Finally our Kitchen Collection business reported a net loss of approximately $700,000 in the third quarter of '16, slightly higher than the net loss of approximately $600,000 in '15 on a moderate decrease in revenues. We expect changing consumer habits and continued financial pressures to continue to limit Kitchen Collection's target consumer spending on housewares and small appliances in the remainder of '16 and in ’17. Given this market environment Kitchen Collection has continued to reduce the number of stores and to focus on a smaller core number of Kitchen Collection outlet stores. As a result of ongoing market weakness and fewer stores, we expect Kitchen Collection's revenues to decline modestly in the fourth quarter and for the full year of '16 compared with the respective 2015 periods. Fourth quarter and full year '16 results are expected to be comparable to the prior year period as a result of a lower effective income tax rate. We believe Kitchen Collection’s smaller core store portfolio is well positioned to allow it to perform at improved operating levels, take advantage of any future market rebound and optimize its operating performance over time. Cash flow before financing activities is expected to be positive in ’16 but substantially lower than 2015. Capital expenditures are expected to be approximately $400,000 in the remainder of the year at $1.5 million for the 2016 full year. Kitchen Collection continues to focus on a number of store initiatives to improve the customer experience, products and store profitability. As result of these initiatives we expect Kitchen Collection to achieve near breakeven results in 2017 on lower revenues provided customer visits are at expected levels. Revenues in 2017 are expected to decrease modestly compared with '16 as Kitchen Collection continues to prudently close non-performing stores. Cash flow before financing activities is expected to be positive in '17 but lower than '16. Before I open up the call for your questions, I want to note that for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 we have repurchased $6 million of Class A common stock under our $50 million stock repurchase program including $2.2 million stock purchased during this quarter. That concludes my prepared remarks. I will now open up the call for your questions.

[Operator instructions] Your first question comes from the line of Jacob Wagner from Oaktree Capital. Your line is open.

Hi, good morning. Congrats on a good quarter. So NACCO is generating a lot of cash flow but without reinvestment opportunities, you are forced to pay down cheap debt or buy back even more of your limited growth. The company doesn’t need the capital markets for financing as you haven't raised public equity or bonds in decades. And at this point, Mr. Rankin even your family control over 80% of the voting rights and nearly 50% of the company's economics. These facts have created a massive valuation overhang where we think NACCO trades at a discount to Hamilton Beach's competitors without any value ascribes North American Coal's contracted cash flow. So, Mr. Rankin, in your and the Board's opinion why is keeping NACCO as an independent public company the best path forward for all shareholders?

Well, obviously any question of that nature would be handled by our Board of Directors and would be thought about periodically and we look at all of our options over time. I think that at the moment one of our key concerns is that we have some substantial debt at our coal company and it isn't crystal clear by any means how banks will view coal companies and the amount of debt that we might think as appropriate in the coal company itself as we move forward. So we are pretty cautious about thinking about cash flow at this point. Our views may change in the future but at this point those are really our focuses. We think about returning cash to shareholders through dividends, we think about returning cash to shareholders through our share buyback program. As you know we have been returning cash in the share buyback program to some degree. Those are the main focuses for us at this point in time. You know we are also from time to time looking for opportunities to invest in businesses that have a high degree of synergy value with the businesses that we are already in and I think Western is a good example of that. We felt that it worked well for us, it was highly complementary, it got us in Hamilton Beach and to a new channel, and new products which we could then use to sell additional traditional Hamilton Beach products through Western's channels and traditional Western products through Hamilton Beach channels. We look at opportunities to take advantage of some of the significant skills we have in our coal business and various like reclamation and things of that nature. So we continue at this point to look for opportunities to invest in related businesses but I must say too that in no way are we willing to over pay for those. And we take a very long term view about when we might invest in any of those and this upturn in stock market won’t last forever and there may be opportunities as we look forward in the future. So we have a very long term view of building value for all shareholders, that's our primary concern, we treat them equally as we look forward. J.C, you want to add anything to that?

No, I mean you know my primary focus is North American Coal and we do have a number of initiatives underway looking at opportunities to grow that business. We mentioned in the earnings released that we signed an additional contract in Florida, it’s a very small part of our business but we think it’s a place where we might have growth opportunities.

That's in the limerock mining business

Right. And that particular project didn't take much capital but you don’t know what might be the future.

All right. Thank you.

Your next question comes from the line of Michael Fisherman with Zuckerman. Your line is open.

Thank you. Good morning, Al. My question is very similar to Jacob's, during the quarter Goldman Sachs took company [indiscernible] for 1.4 times revenue or 17 times EBIT. If we apply those multiples to Hamilton Beach trailing 12 month revenue and earnings or EBIT. You get a value about $630 million to $820 million which is greater than the whole company of NACCO. My question is why don't you explore strategic alternatives for this division?

So you suggest we don't explore strategic alternatives - I try to say in the answer to the earlier question, we do look at the strategic alternatives and with - but primarily we take a long view about building the value of our individual businesses, trying to build the profits over time to use the capital and its generated in a wise way and we think that in the long term that's in the best interest of all of our shareholders and I just wouldn’t comment any further than that.

Well 10 years ago, even 13 years ago 2003, Hamilton Beach did $36 million of EBIT, right, you are going to 36 million, 40 million today so why do you think Hamilton Beach is best in your hands versus selling to someone from more value than the total company today and let someone else grow the business that you guys haven't been able to do over 10, 15 year period.

I've really said all I want to say at this point.

Okay.

There are no other questions at this time. I will turn the call back over to the presenters.

Al, do you have any further comments.

No, I don’t have any further comments. At this point I would just echo the comments that I made earlier and J.C. made about looking for opportunities to use the skills and spend on the capabilities that we have in the businesses that we have. And that remains a primary focus but also with real attention to ensuring that we have the appropriate levels of debt in each of our businesses given the financing conditions as we look forward and I would close there.