LUXEMBOURG / ACCESSWIRE / February 15, 2022 / Ternium S.A. (NYSE:TX) today announced its results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2021.

The financial and operational information contained in this press release is based on Ternium S.A.'s operational data and consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and presented in US dollars ($) and metric tons. This press release includes certain non-IFRS alternative performance measures such as EBITDA, Net Cash, Net Debt and Free Cash Flow. The reconciliation of these figures to the most directly comparable IFRS measures is included in Exhibit I.

Summary of 2021 Results

• EBITDA of $5.9 billion, highest on record, on steel shipments of 12.1 million tons, with EBITDA margin of 36% and EBITDA per ton of $485.9.
• Equity holders' net income of $3.8 billion, equivalent to earnings per ADS of $19.49.
• Net cash provided by operating activities of $2.7 billion, including a working capital increase of $2.6 billion mainly due to the impact of higher realized steel prices and costs, and higher inventory volumes.
• Free cash flow of $2.2 billion after capital expenditures of $523.6 million.
• Dividends paid to shareholders of $569.3 million.
• Net cash position of $1.2 billion at the end of December 2021, compared to net debt position of $0.4 billion at the end of December 2020.

Ternium's steel shipments in 2021 were 12.1 million tons, up 705,000 tons compared to shipment levels in 2020 reflecting the ramp-up of Ternium's new facilities in Colombia and Mexico, and a recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on economic activity and steel demand in 2020.

Shipments in Mexico increased 11% year-over-year in 2021, mainly due to higher activity levels in the export-led industrial sector. In the Southern Region, shipments increased 30% year-over-year in 2021 on higher durable goods consumption and increased activity in the construction sector. In the Other Markets region, shipments decreased 14% year-over-year, reflecting lower slab shipments to third parties partially offset by higher finished steel shipments. Revenue per ton reached $1,309 in 2021, the highest on record, increasing $561 compared to revenue per ton in 2020, on higher steel prices in all of Ternium's markets.

Operating income amounted to $5.3 billion in 2021, the highest on record, with EBITDA of $5.9 billion. EBITDA per ton reached $485.9 in 2021, increasing $351.7 year-over-year on higher steel prices partially offset by higher costs of raw materials and purchased slabs. The company's net income in 2021 was $4.4 billion.

Summary of Fourth Quarter of 2021 Results

• EBITDA of $1.5 billion on steel shipments of 2.8 million tons, with EBITDA margin of 35% and EBITDA per ton of $532.3.
• Equity holders' net income of $1.0 billion, equivalent to earnings per ADS of $5.08.
• Net cash provided by operating activities of $1.1 billion, including a working capital increase of $158.3 million.
• Free cash flow of $1.0 billion after capital expenditures of $121.9 million.

Ternium's shipments in the fourth quarter 2021 were 2.8 million tons, down 8% sequentially mainly as a result of lower steel shipments in Mexico partially offset by higher steel volumes in the Other Markets region. Shipments in Mexico decreased 17% sequentially in the fourth quarter, reflecting an increase in inventories in the value chain due to higher steel imports, a persistent scarcity of semiconductors for vehicle manufacturing and year-end seasonality. Shipments in the Other Markets region increased 8% sequentially due to higher finished steel shipments, partially offset by lower slab shipments to third parties. On an year-over-year basis, shipments in the fourth quarter 2021 were down 8% mainly due to decreased volumes in the Mexican market.

Revenue per ton reached $1,505 in the fourth quarter 2021, increasing 2% sequentially. Revenue per ton increased 2% in Mexico, as higher contract prices were partially offset by lower spot steel prices, 2% in the Southern Region and 5% in the Other Markets region, as a better product mix was partially offset by lower steel prices. On an year-over-year basis, revenue per ton increased $680 in the fourth quarter, reflecting higher steel prices in all of Ternium's steel markets.

Operating income amounted to $1.4 billion in the fourth quarter 2021, with EBITDA of $1.5 billion. EBITDA per ton was $532.3, down $80.1 from record-high EBITDA per ton in the previous quarter mainly reflecting higher costs of purchased slabs and raw materials, partially offset by higher realized steel prices. On an year-over-year basis, EBITDA per ton increased $322.0 in the fourth quarter mainly as a result of higher realized steel prices partially offset by higher costs of purchased slabs and raw materials. The company's net income in the fourth quarter 2021 was $1.1 billion.

Annual Dividend Proposal

Ternium's board of directors proposed that an annual dividend of $0.26 per share ($2.60 per ADS), or $510.4 million in the aggregate, be approved at the company's annual general shareholders' meeting, which is scheduled to be held on May 3, 2022. This dividend proposal reflects the significant improvement in the company's financial performance in 2021, the strength of its balance sheet and its positive prospects for cash generation in the year to come.

The annual dividend would include the interim dividend of $0.08 per share ($0.80 per ADS), or $157.0 million, paid in November 2021. If the board of directors' proposal is approved at the shareholders' meeting, a net dividend of $0.18 per share ($1.80 per ADS), or $353.4 million in the aggregate, will be paid on May 11, 2022, with record-date on May 6, 2022.

Outlook

Following an outstanding 2021, during which Ternium achieved record profitability and successfully completed its capacity expansion program, the company expects to deliver solid performance in 2022, despite a business environment with gradually normalizing steel prices and margins, supported by the ongoing ramp-up of the new hot-rolling mill in its Pesquería facility.

In the USMCA region, supply chain disruptions continue to affect several manufacturing industries' input procurement. For the automotive industry specifically, ongoing semiconductor scarcity is causing low unit inventory levels and significant pent-up demand. During 2022, Ternium anticipates this situation to gradually adjust and drive increased apparent steel demand in the region that, coupled with a decrease in steel imports, should cause declining steel prices to stabilize during the first half of the year.

In Argentina, shipments remained at relatively stable levels during 2021, and the company expects this to continue in the first quarter, driven by healthy activity in the construction, agribusiness and automotive industries. The outlook for the Argentine market in 2022, however, remains significantly uncertain, given the unstable macroeconomic variables that persist in the country.

Ternium expects a sequential decrease in EBITDA in the first quarter of 2022, primarily resulting from lower margins, partially offset by higher shipments in the USMCA region.

Analysis of 2021 Results

Net sales in 2021 were $16.1 billion, 84% higher than net sales in 2020. The following table outlines Ternium's consolidated net sales for 2021 and 2020:

Cost of sales was $9.9 billion in 2021, an increase of $2.8 billion compared to 2020. This was principally due to a $2.4 billion, or 44%, increase in raw materials and consumables used, mainly reflecting higher purchased slabs and raw material costs and a 6% increase in steel volumes; and to a $394.1 million increase in other costs, mainly including a $211.3 million increase in maintenance expenses, a $143.6 million increase in labor costs and a $38.3 million increase in services and fees.

Selling, General & Administrative (SG&A) expenses in 2021 were $950.1 million, or 6% of net sales, an increase of $187.2 million compared to SG&A expenses in 2020, mainly due to a $79.0 million increase in freight and transportation expenses, a $63.2 million increase in taxes and a $57.8 million increase in labor costs, partially offset by a $33.9 million decrease in amortization of intangible assets.

Operating income in 2021 was $5.3 billion, or 33% of net sales, compared to operating income of $1.1 billion, or 12% of net sales in 2020. The following table outlines Ternium's operating result by segment for 2021 and 2020:

Net financial results were a gain of $92.5 million in 2021, including a $77.3 million gain related to changes in the fair value of financial assets and a $35.9 million gain related to investment returns on the company's liquidity position net of borrowing costs. These positive results were partially offset by a $36.8 million net foreign exchange loss, mainly related to the net negative impact of the depreciation of the Argentine Peso against the US dollar (18% in the year) on the net local currency position of Ternium's Argentine subsidiary. Net financial results in the full year of 2020 were a gain of $22.3 million.

Equity in results of non-consolidated companies was a gain of $400.7 million in 2021, mainly as a result of Ternium's investment in Usiminas, compared to a gain of $57.6 million in 2020. In addition to better operating and financial results, in 2021 Usiminas recorded a gain related to a favorable Brazilian Federal Supreme Court ruling in connection with the calculation method for certain sales tax credits.

Income tax expense in 2021 was $1.4 billion, with a 24% effective tax rate, compared to $291.5 million in 2020.

Analysis of Fourth Quarter of 2021 Results

Net sales in the fourth quarter of 2021 were $4.3 billion, 68% higher than net sales in the fourth quarter of 2020. The following table outlines Ternium's consolidated net sales for the fourth quarter of 2021 and the fourth quarter of 2020:

Cost of sales was $2.7 billion in the fourth quarter of 2021, an increase of $805.9 million compared to the fourth quarter of 2020. This was principally due to a $726.2 million, or 49%, increase in raw material and consumables used, mainly reflecting higher purchased slab and raw material costs, partially offset by an 8% decrease in steel volumes; and to a $79.7 million increase in other costs, mainly including a $59.9 million increase in maintenance expenses, an $11.9 million increase in labor costs and an $8.8 million increase in services and fees.

Selling, General & Administrative (SG&A) expenses in the fourth quarter of 2021 were $257.9 million, or 6% of net sales, an increase of $61.1 million compared to SG&A in the fourth quarter of 2020, mainly due to a $36.8 million increase in freight and transportation expenses, a $10.0 million increase in taxes and a $6.3 million increase in labor costs.

Operating income in the fourth quarter of 2021 was $1.4 billion, or 31% of net sales, compared to operating income of $871.3 million, or 34% of net sales, in the fourth quarter of 2020. The following table outlines Ternium's operating result by segment for the fourth quarter of 2021 and fourth quarter of 2020:

Net financial results were a gain of $20.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2021, including a $26.6 million gain related to changes in the fair value of financial assets and an $11.3 million gain related to investment returns on the company's liquidity position net of borrowing costs. These positive results were partially offset by an $11.4 million net foreign exchange loss, mainly related to the negative impact of the depreciation of the Argentine Peso against the US dollar (4% in the period) on the net local currency position of Ternium's Argentine subsidiary. Net financial results in the fourth quarter of 2020 were a loss of $55.5 million.

Equity in earnings of non-consolidated companies was a gain of $98.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2021, compared to a gain of $57.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2020, mainly due to better results from Ternium's investment in Usiminas.

Income tax expense in the fourth quarter of 2021 was $342.4 million, with a 23% effective tax rate, compared to $9.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2020.

Cash Flow and Liquidity

Net cash provided by operating activities in 2021 was $2.7 billion. Working capital increased by $2.6 billion in 2021 as a result of a $1.9 billion increase in inventories and an aggregate $926.7 million increase in trade and other receivables, partially offset by an aggregate $215.5 million increase in accounts payable and other liabilities. The inventory value increase in 2021 was due to a $672.9 million higher steel volume, a $662.5 million higher cost of steel and a $571.1 million inventory value increase in raw materials, supplies and others.

Capital expenditures in 2021 were $523.6 million, $36.4 million lower than in 2020. Of note during the year were the investments made for Ternium's new hot-rolling mill at the company's Pesquería industrial center in Mexico.

In 2021, Ternium's free cash flow reached $2.2 billion. The company paid dividends to shareholders of $569.3 million, and paid borrowings and financial leases for a total of $285.1 million. As of December 31, 2021, Ternium had a net cash position of $1.2 billion.

Net cash provided by operating activities in the fourth quarter of 2021 was $1.1 billion. Working capital increased by $158.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2021 as a result of a $282.0 million increase in inventories and an aggregate $125.7 million decrease in accounts payable and other liabilities, partially offset by an aggregate $249.3 million net decrease in trade and other receivables. The inventory value increase in the fourth quarter of 2021 was due to a $325.9 million higher steel volume and a $45.8 million inventory value increase in raw materials, supplies and others, partially offset by an $89.8 million lower cost of steel. In the fourth quarter of 2021, Ternium's free cash flow was $1.0 billion.

Conference Call and Webcast

Ternium will host a conference call on February 16, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. ET in which management will discuss fourth quarter and full year 2021 results. A webcast link will be available in the Investor Center section of the company's website at www.ternium.com.

Forward Looking Statements

Some of the statements contained in this press release are "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements are based on management's current views and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by those statements. These risks include but are not limited to risks arising from uncertainties as to gross domestic product, related market demand, global production capacity, tariffs, cyclicality in the industries that purchase steel products and other factors beyond Ternium's control.

About Ternium

Ternium is Latin America's leading flat steel producer, with operating facilities in Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, the southern United States and Central America. The company offers a broad range of high value-added steel products for customers active in the automotive, home appliances, HVAC, construction, capital goods, container, food and energy industries through its manufacturing facilities, service center and distribution networks, and advanced customer integration systems. More information about Ternium is available at www.ternium.com.

Consolidated Income Statement

Consolidated Statement of Financial Position

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

^*The item "Other products" primarily includes electricity sales in Brazil and Mexico.

Exhibit I - Alternative performance measures

These non-IFRS measures should not be considered in isolation of, or as a substitute for, measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. These non-IFRS measures do not have a standardized meaning under IFRS and, therefore, may not correspond to similar non-IFRS financial measures reported by other companies.

EBITDA

EBITDA equals operating income (loss) adjusted to exclude depreciation and amortization and certain other non-cash operating results:

Free cash flow
Free cash flow equals net cash provided by operating activities less capital expenditures:

Net debt (cash)
Net debt (cash) equals borrowings less the consolidated position of cash and cash equivalents and other investments:

Notes

¹ American Depositary Share. Each ADS represents 10 shares of Ternium's common stock. Results are based on a weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding (net of treasury shares) of 1,963,076,776.

² As reported in Ternium's results press release dated November 2, 2021, comparative information as of September 30, 2020, was adjusted to reflect the derecognition of an asset of $194.1 million arising from Ternium's right to recover 50% of a contingency amount from Thyssenkrupp. As an offsetting adjustment was included in the fourth quarter of 2020, the Income Statement, Statement of Comprehensive Income, Statement of Financial Position, Statement of Changes in Equity and Statement of Cash Flows as of and for the full year ended December 31, 2020, was not affected. See note 24 (i) (g) "ICMS deferral tax benefit - Action of Unconstitutionality" to Ternium's Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 and for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019.

³ Ternium Argentina's consolidated position of cash and cash equivalents and other investments amounted to $0.9, $0.4 and $0.7 billion as of December 31, 2021, December 31, 2020 and September 30, 2021, respectively.

SOURCE: Ternium