Investing
Stainless steel maker Outokumpu shares up more than 6% on strong Q1
Global Banking & Finance Review®
Company
HELSINKI (Reuters) -Finnish stainless steel maker Outokumpu saw its shares soar more than 6% on Thursday after reporting stronger-than-expected quarterly profits, boosted by higher prices for stainless steel and ferrochrome.
HELSINKI (Reuters) -Finnish stainless steel maker Outokumpu saw its shares soar more than 6% on Thursday after reporting stronger-than-expected quarterly profits, boosted by higher prices for stainless steel and ferrochrome.
The company said it expects the strong performance to continue in the second quarter, seeing a further rise in its adjusted earnings from the first quarter but stainless steel deliveries at a similar level.
“We are doing well in the Americas,” Chief Financial Officer Pia Aaltonen-Forsell told Reuters, adding that she expected sales there to continue to be strong although the company is already operating close to its maximum capacity in the region.
The group’s global stainless steel deliveries increased more than 6% year-on-year in the first quarter and 10% from the previous quarter, beating analysts’ expectations.
“However, imports from Asia into Europe increased to a significant level of 35%, creating uncertainty going forward,” Chief Executive Heikki Malinen said in a statement.
Aaltonen-Forsell said Asian sellers were looking to European markets due to a slowdown in Asian economies following their strong rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The company’s adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation rose to 377 million euros ($400 million) in the January-March quarter from 177 million a year earlier.
That beat the median forecast of 354.8 million euros from 12 analysts in a company-provided poll.
“The positive impact from higher prices more than offset the negative impact from significant cost inflation,” the company said in its report.
In Finland, Outokumpu is preparing for the possibility of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies being sanctioned by the European Union by taking steps to replace them with propane.
“We are preparing for this in all seriousness, and we have several backup plans,” Aaltonen-Forsell said.
($1 = 0.9429 euros)
(Reporting by Anne Kauranen; Editing by Jason Neely and Jan Harvey)
Adjusted earnings refer to a company's earnings that have been modified to exclude certain one-time items, providing a clearer view of its ongoing profitability.
Ferrochrome is an alloy of chromium and iron, used primarily in the production of stainless steel, enhancing its corrosion resistance and strength.
Quarterly profits are the earnings a company reports for a specific three-month period, reflecting its financial performance during that time.
Stainless steel is a corrosion-resistant alloy made primarily from iron, chromium, and other elements, widely used in various applications due to its durability.
Cost inflation refers to the increase in the prices of goods and services, which can affect a company's expenses and profitability.
Explore more articles in the Investing category
