Alliance Resource Partners(ARLP) - 2025 Q1 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenues for Q1 2025 were $540.5 million, down from$ 651.7 million in Q1 2024, primarily due to reduced coal sales volumes and prices as well as lower transportation revenues [5] - Average coal sales price per ton decreased by 6.9% year-over-year to $60.29, but increased by 0.5% sequentially [5] - Net income for Q1 2025 was$ 74 million, compared to $158.1 million in Q1 2024, reflecting lower coal sales volumes and realized prices [11] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q1 2025 was$ 159.9 million [11] - Total debt outstanding was $484.1 million, with total liquidity at$ 514.3 million [12] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total coal production in Q1 2025 was 8.5 million tons, a decrease of 7.2% compared to Q1 2024, while coal sales volumes decreased by 10.4% to 7.8 million tons [5][6] - In the Illinois Basin, coal sales price per ton decreased by 4.2%, while in Appalachia, it decreased by 8.5% [5] - Segment adjusted EBITDA expense per ton sold for coal operations was $42.75, an increase of 4.7% year-over-year [7] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The domestic market strengthened in early 2025 due to cold weather, higher natural gas prices, and declining coal inventories, leading to increased coal consumption [19] - The company has secured commitments for an additional 17.7 million tons over the 2025 to 2028 period, with 32.5 million tons committed in price for 2025 [14] - Coal consumption in Q1 2025 was 20% higher than the previous year [69] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company plans to prioritize domestic market contracts over new export contracts due to strong domestic demand [19] - The company is committed to maintaining a strong balance sheet and disciplined capital allocation while monitoring trade policy impacts [27] - The company expects to see cost improvements in Appalachia as mining conditions improve [18] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that the executive orders from the administration regarding coal and grid reliability are positive for the industry [21][22] - The company anticipates a material improvement in full-year costs to offset lower realized pricing in the coal business for 2025 [15] - Management expressed confidence in achieving cost guidance for Appalachia as operations improve [45] Other Important Information - The company declared a quarterly distribution of$ 0.70 per unit for Q1 2025, unchanged from previous quarters [12][27] - The company plans to invest in oil and gas minerals and data center infrastructure, depending on market conditions [50][56] Q&A Session Summary Question: Comments on President Trump's executive orders and coal plant retirement delays - Management indicated that most utilities served intend to take advantage of extensions for coal plants and are responsive to increased electricity demand [36][37] Question: Impact of trade policies on business - Management discussed the impact of tariff increases on steel and aluminum and the uncertainty surrounding trade policies, but noted the administration's awareness of the energy sector's importance [41][43] Question: Confidence in achieving cost per ton guidance for Appalachia - Management expressed confidence in achieving cost guidance, with improvements expected in the second half of 2025 as operations stabilize [45][46] Question: Capital allocation strategy in the current environment - Management stated that capital allocation is focused on maintenance capital for coal operations, while also evaluating growth opportunities in data center infrastructure [49][50]