Tenaris Announces 2023 Third Quarter Results
November 01, 2023
The financial and operational information contained in this press release is based on unaudited consolidated condensed interim financial statements presented in U.S. dollars and prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standard Board and adopted by the European Union, or IFRS. Additionally, this press release includes non-IFRS alternative performance measures i.e., EBITDA, Free Cash Flow, Net cash / debt and Operating working capital days. See exhibit I for more details on these alternative performance measures.
LUXEMBOURG, Nov. 01, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tenaris S.A. (NYSE and Mexico: TS and EXM Italy: TEN) (“Tenaris”) today announced its results for the quarter ended September 30, 2023 in comparison with its results for the quarter ended September 30, 2022.
Summary of 2023 Third Quarter Results
| 3Q 2023 | 2Q 2023 | 3Q 2022 | ||||||||
| Net sales ($ million) | 3,238 | 4,075 | (21 | %) | 2,975 | 9 | % | |||
| Operating income ($ million) | 868 | 1,278 | (32 | %) | 803 | 8 | % | |||
| Net income* ($ million) | 547 | 1,136 | (52 | %) | 608 | (10 | %) | |||
| Shareholders’ net income* ($ million) | 537 | 1,123 | (52 | %) | 606 | (11 | %) | |||
| Earnings per ADS ($) | 0.91 | 1.90 | (52 | %) | 1.03 | (11 | %) | |||
| Earnings per share ($) | 0.46 | 0.95 | (52 | %) | 0.51 | (11 | %) | |||
| EBITDA** ($ million) | 1,004 | 1,409 | (29 | %) | 946 | 6 | % | |||
| EBITDA margin (% of net sales) | 31.0 | % | 34.6 | % | 31.8 | % | ||||
* Net income in 3Q 2023 includes a non-cash charge of $144 million relating to the remeasurement and recycling of CTA to the income statement, of our direct and indirect investment in Usiminas. Excluding this one-off effect, for the quarter Net income would have been $691 million. Earnings per share and per ADS would have been $0.58 and $1.16, respectively.
** EBITDA in 3Q 2023 includes a one-off gain of $32 million on the transfer of court awards relating to Venezuelan nationalized assets. Excluding this one-off gain EBITDA would have been $972 million (30.0%) in 3Q 2023.
Our third quarter sales declined 21% sequentially reflecting activity and price declines throughout the Americas, lower quarterly shipments to offshore projects, lower pipeline shipments in Argentina as well as lower sales in market segments such as European mechanical products. Our EBITDA, excluding a one-off gain of $32 million on the transfer of court awards relating to Venezuelan nationalized assets, amounted to $972 million, with the margin adjusting to changes in market prices in the Americas. Our net income was affected by non-cash charges of $144 million relating to the remeasurement and recycling of currency translation reserve to the income statement, of our direct and indirect (through Ternium) investment in Usiminas, following the purchase of additional Usiminas shares by both companies.
Our free cash flow for the quarter amounted to $1.1 billion, and has reached $3.1 billion on a cumulative basis for the current fiscal year. This included a further reduction in working capital of $415 million during the quarter. After investing $100 million on the acquisition of additional pipe processing assets in the Houston area of the United States and a pipe coating facility in Italy, our net cash position rose to $3.3 billion at September 30, 2023.
Interim Dividend Payment
Our board of directors approved the payment of an interim dividend of $0.20 per share ($0.40 per ADS), or approximately $236 million. The payment date will be November 22, 2023 , with an ex-dividend date on November 20, 2023 and record date on November 21, 2023.
Tenaris Approves Share Buyback Program
Tenaris’s Board of Directors approved a share buyback program of up to $1.2 billion (which, at the closing price of November 1, 2023 on the Milan Stock Exchange would represent 75.4 million shares, or 6.4% of Tenaris’s outstanding shares), to be executed within a year, with the intention to cancel the ordinary shares acquired through the program.
The decision and opportunity of initiating the buyback program is driven by the company’s significant cash flow generation and strong balance sheet.
The buyback program will be carried out under the authority granted by the annual general meeting of shareholders held on June 2, 2020, which may be renewed or extended, up to a maximum of 10% of the Company´s shares.
The buyback program is expected to be launched in the near future. The program will be divided in tranches and purchases will be executed through a primary financial institution.
The buybacks may be ceased, paused and continued at any time, subject to compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
Tenaris will provide updates on the buyback program via press releases and on the Investors section of its corporate website. The buybacks will be carried out subject to market conditions and in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including the Market Abuse Regulation 596/2014 and the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052.
Market Background and Outlook
In the past few months, oil prices have remained above $80 per barrel, despite concerns about the impact of high interest rates on the global economy. US natural gas prices are rising along with LNG and European natural gas prices, which are showing high volatility in the face of potential supply interruptions and a positive demand outlook.
In the United States, the decline in oil and gas drilling activity seen during the year so far is bottoming out and is expected to recover as we go into the next year. Oil inventories have declined to a low level as have the stock of drilled but uncompleted wells (DUCs). At the same time, OCTG inventories are coming down towards more normal levels. In Canada, drilling activity has fallen below the level of the previous year but is expected to recover in 2024 with additional takeaway and LNG capacity coming on stream. Around the world, offshore drilling has been increasing with a focus on highly productive reserves such as those in Brazil and Guyana. In the Middle East, activity has increased this year and is expected to increase further.
In the fourth quarter, our sales in the Americas will be affected by the ongoing adjustment in price levels (which continue to be affected by imports), while our sales in the Middle East and for offshore projects should increase and support our total sales. Our EBITDA margin will decline reflecting lower prices in the Americas and our free cash flow will adjust to a lower EBITDA and a more stable working capital position.
Wind Farm Investment
In October, we put into full operation, with its 24 turbines, our Buena Ventura Wind Farm in Argentina. The wind farm is supplying 103.2 MW of power, through the interconnected grid, to our industrial facilities in Campana, close to 50% of its total electric power requirements and will reduce our CO2 emissions at the facility by 152,000 tons per year.
On November 1, 2023, following a successful bid for priority connection rights to the interconnected grid, the Company’s Board of Directors approved an investment plan to build a second wind farm in Argentina at a cost of approximately $214 million, which would supply a further 30% of the current energy requirements of our facilities in Campana, and reduce our CO2 emissions by a further 102,500 tons per year. This investment is expected to be completed during 2025.
Analysis of 2023 Third Quarter Results
Tubes
The following table indicates, for our Tubes business segment, sales volumes of seamless and welded pipes for the periods indicated below:
| Tubes Sales volume (thousand metric tons) | 3Q 2023 | 2Q 2023 | 3Q 2022 | ||||
| Seamless | 744 | 844 | (12 | %) | 750 | (1 | %) |
| Welded | 169 | 255 | (34 | %) | 106 | 60 | % |
| Total | 913 | 1,099 | (17 | %) | 856 | 7 | % |
The following table indicates, for our Tubes business segment, net sales by geographic region, operating income and operating income as a percentage of net sales for the periods indicated below:
| Tubes | 3Q 2023 | 2Q 2023 | 3Q 2022 | |||||||
| (Net sales - $ million) | ||||||||||
| North America | 1,700 | 2,142 | (21 | %) | 1,761 | (3 | %) | |||
| South America | 608 | 893 | (32 | %) | 600 | 1 | % | |||
| Europe | 231 | 270 | (14 | %) | 190 | 22 | % | |||
| Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa | 556 | 612 | (9 | %) | 280 | 98 | % | |||
| Total net sales ($ million) | 3,095 | 3,918 | (21 | %) | 2,832 | 9 | % | |||
| Operating income ($ million) | 841 | 1,251 | (33 | %) | 780 | 8 | % | |||
| Operating margin (% of sales) | 27.2 | % | 31.9 | % | 27.5 | % | ||||
Net sales of tubular products and services decreased 21% sequentially and increased 9% year on year. On a sequential basis volumes shipped decreased 17% and average selling prices decreased 5%. In North America, activity and shipments declined in the US onshore market and in the Gulf of Mexico, with price declines across the region, while sales in Canada were held back by lower activity from key customers. In South America we had a further decline in sales for pipelines in Argentina, and lower sales of offshore OCTG and line pipe in Brazil following exceptionally high sales in the previous quarter. In Europe we had lower sales of mechanical pipe products to distributors amidst a declining market environment. In the AMEA region we had lower sales in Iraq, Egypt and Indonesia.
Operating results from tubular products and services amounted to a gain of $841 million in the third quarter of 2023 compared to a gain of $1,251 million in the previous quarter and $780 million in the third quarter of 2022. During the quarter, operating income includes a non-recurring gain of $32 million corresponding to the sale of the awards related to the Company’s Venezuelan nationalized assets. The decline in operating income during the quarter is related to the decrease in sales due to both volume and price declines together with an increase in unit costs due to higher raw material costs and a negative industrial performance and absorption of fixed and semi-fixed costs associated with lower volumes.
Others
The following table indicates, for our Others business segment, net sales, operating income and operating income as a percentage of net sales for the periods indicated below:
| Others | 3Q 2023 | 2Q 2023 | 3Q 2022 | |||||||
| Net sales ($ million) | 143 | 157 | (9 | %) | 143 | 0 | % | |||
| Operating income ($ million) | 27 | 27 | 0 | % | 23 | 17 | % | |||
| Operating margin (% of sales) | 19.0 | % | 17.3 | % | 16.2 | % | ||||
Net sales of other products and services decreased 9% sequentially and remained flat year on year. Sequentially, sales declined mainly due to lower sales of oilfield services in Argentina and lower sales of pipes for plumbing applications in Italy.
Selling, general and administrative expenses, or SG&A, amounted to $433 million, or 13.4% of net sales, in the third quarter of 2023, compared to $529 million, 13.0% in the previous quarter and $403 million, 13.6% in the third quarter of 2022. Sequentially, our SG&A expenses decreased mainly due to lower shipment costs due to a reduction in volumes shipped and lower provisions for contingencies.
Other operating results amounted to a net gain of $36 million in the third quarter of 2023, compared to a net loss of $1 million in the previous quarter and $2 million net loss in the third quarter of 2022. During the quarter other operating income includes a non-recurring gain of $32 million corresponding to the transfer of court awards related to the Company’s Venezuelan nationalized assets.
Financial results amounted to a gain of $67 million in the third quarter of 2023, compared to a gain of $40 million in the previous quarter and a loss of $29 million in the third quarter of 2022. Net finance income increased $28 million sequentially due to the increase in the net cash position.
Equity in earnings of non-consolidated companies generated a loss of $110 million in the third quarter of 2023, compared to a gain of $96 million in the previous quarter and a gain of $5 million in the third quarter of 2022. The result of the quarter includes a non-cash loss of $144 million from our investment in Usiminas ($26 million from our direct investment in Usiminas and $118 million from our indirect investment in Usiminas through Ternium), related to the fair value measurement of the shares and the result of recycling Ternium´s negative accumulated currency translation reserve to the income statement.
Income tax charge amounted to $278 million in the third quarter of 2023, the same as in the previous quarter and compared to $171 million in the third quarter of 2022. Income tax of the quarter includes a net $62 million charge from foreign exchange effects net of inflation adjustments, mainly in Argentina and Mexico.
Cash Flow and Liquidity of 2023 Third Quarter
Net cash generated by operating activities during the third quarter of 2023 was $1.3 billion, compared to $1.3 billion in the previous quarter and $242 million in the third quarter of 2022. During the third quarter of 2023 cash generated by operating activities includes a reduction in working capital of $415 million mainly related to a reduction in trade receivables of $422 million.
With capital expenditures of $170 million, our free cash flow amounted to $1.1 billion during the quarter and our net cash position amounted to $3.3 billion at September 30, 2023.
Analysis of 2023 First Nine Months Results
| 9M 2023 | 9M 2022 | Increase/(Decrease) | ||||
| Net sales ($ million) | 11,454 | 8,142 | 41 | % | ||
| Operating income ($ million) | 3,497 | 1,950 | 79 | % | ||
| Net income* ($ million) | 2,812 | 1,746 | 61 | % | ||
| Shareholders’ net income ($ million) | 2,789 | 1,746 | 60 | % | ||
| Earnings per ADS ($) | 4.72 | 2.96 | 59 | % | ||
| Earnings per share ($) | 2.36 | 1.48 | 59 | % | ||
| EBITDA** ($ million) | 3,890 | 2,379 | 64 | % | ||
| EBITDA margin (% of net sales) | 34.0 | % | 29.2 | % | ||
* Net income in 9M 2023 includes a non-cash charge of $144 million relating to the remeasurement and recycling of CTA to the income statement, of our direct and indirect investment in Usiminas. Excluding this one-off effect, for the period Net income would have been $2,956 million. Earnings per share and per ADS would have been $2.48 and $4.97, respectively.
** EBITDA in 9M 2023 includes a one-off gain of $32 million on the transfer of court awards relating to Venezuelan nationalized assets. Excluding this one-off gain EBITDA would have been $3,922 million (34.2%) in the period.
The following table shows our net sales by business segment for the periods indicated below:
| Net sales ($ million) | 9M 2023 | 9M 2022 | Increase/(Decrease) | |||||
| Tubes | 10,987 | 96 | % | 7,667 | 94 | % | 43 | % |
| Others | 467 | 4 | % | 475 | 6 | % | (2 | %) |
| Total | 11,454 | 8,142 | 41 | % | ||||
Tubes
The following table indicates, for our Tubes business segment, sales volumes of seamless and welded pipes for the periods indicated below:
| Tubes Sales volume (thousand metric tons) | 9M 2023 | 9M 2022 | Increase/(Decrease) | |
| Seamless | 2,428 | 2,337 | 4 | % |
| Welded | 707 | 231 | 206 | % |
| Total | 3,136 | 2,568 | 22 | % |
The following table indicates, for our Tubes business segment, net sales by geographic region, operating income and operating income as a percentage of net sales for the periods indicated below: