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Century Aluminum Co.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 19 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Reported net income fell to $1.8 million: Reported net income attributable to Century stockholders was $1.8 million, or $0.02 per diluted share, against $14.9 million in the third quarter. Adjusted net income was $128.2 million, or $1.25 per share. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose $69.5 million sequentially: Adjusted EBITDA attributable to Century stockholders was $170.6 million, up from $101.1 million in the third quarter. Source
  • Primary shipments down 14% sequentially: Primary aluminum shipments were 140,257 tonnes in the fourth quarter. The company attributed the decline to idled production at its Iceland facility due to equipment failure. Source
  • Iceland equipment failure cost $30.9 million: Fourth-quarter net exceptional items totaled $126.4 million. The largest was $30.9 million, net of tax, related to the Iceland equipment failure. Source
  • Winter storm energy costs partly offset: First-quarter 2026 guidance reflects improved metal pricing and regional premiums, partly offset by temporary higher United States energy costs from Winter Storm Fern. Source
  • Mt. Holly restart of over 50,000MT: The company announced the restart of over 50,000MT of idled Mt. Holly production by the end of the second quarter of 2026. Source
  • Joint development deal for Oklahoma smelter: A joint development agreement with Emirates Global Aluminium covers a new smelter in Oklahoma, described as the first new US primary aluminum smelter since 1980. Source
  • Liquidity of $418.0 million at year-end: Liquidity at December 31, 2025 was $418.0 million, made up of $134.2 million of cash and cash equivalents and $283.8 million of combined borrowing availability. Source

“Century reported net income attributable to Century stockholders of $1.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2025, a $13.1 million decrease sequentially primarily due to the Iceland equipment failure and costs related to recovery from Hurricane Melissa.”

Century Aluminum Co., press release

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted EBITDA attributable to Century stockholders Sourcefirst quarter 2026$215 to $235 millionNew
Mt. Holly idled production restart Sourceby the end of second quarter 2026over 50,000MTNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Quarterly guidance for first-quarter 2026 Adjusted EBITDA attributable to Century stockholders was given at $215 to $235 million. Source
  • New: A joint development agreement with Emirates Global Aluminium was announced in January 2026 for a new smelter in Oklahoma. Source
  • New: The sale and redevelopment of the previously curtailed Hawesville smelter was announced in February 2026. Source
  • New: The Mt. Holly restart of over 50,000MT of idled production was announced, with completion targeted by the end of the second quarter of 2026. Source
  • New: Jamalco assets are now fully consolidated in the financial statements, with all periods presented on that basis. Source

Fourth quarter and full-year results

  • Reported net income fell to $1.8 million: Reported net income attributable to Century stockholders was $1.8 million, or $0.02 per diluted share, against $14.9 million in the third quarter. Adjusted net income was $128.2 million, or $1.25 per share. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose $69.5 million sequentially: Adjusted EBITDA attributable to Century stockholders was $170.6 million, up from $101.1 million in the third quarter. Source
  • Net sales edged up on prices: Net sales were $633.7 million against $632.2 million in the third quarter. The company attributed the marginal increase to higher aluminum prices and regional premiums. Source
  • Full-year reported net income declined: Full-year 2025 net income attributable to Century stockholders was $41.8 million, or $0.42 per diluted share, with full-year net sales of $2,527.9 million. Source
  • Full-year Adjusted EBITDA up $180.9 million: Full-year 2025 Adjusted EBITDA attributable to Century stockholders was $425.1 million, driven mainly by higher realized aluminum prices and regional premiums. Source

Shipments by region

  • Primary shipments down 14% sequentially: Primary aluminum shipments were 140,257 tonnes in the fourth quarter. The company attributed the decline to idled production at its Iceland facility due to equipment failure. Source
  • Iceland shipments fell from third quarter: Iceland shipped 48,372 tonnes against 71,739 in the third quarter. United States shipments were 91,885 tonnes against 90,703 tonnes. Source
  • Full-year shipments 647,112 tonnes: Full-year 2025 primary shipments were 647,112 tonnes against 677,967 tonnes in 2024. The release describes the 5% decline as sequential. Source

“The Company expects first quarter Adjusted EBITDA attributable to Century stockholders to range between $215 to $235 million based on improved metal pricing and regional premiums”

Century Aluminum Co., press release

Exceptional items and charges

  • Iceland equipment failure cost $30.9 million: Fourth-quarter net exceptional items totaled $126.4 million. The largest was $30.9 million, net of tax, related to the Iceland equipment failure. Source
  • Share-based pay and derivative losses: Other fourth-quarter exceptional items included $32.6 million of share-based compensation and $27.6 million of unrealized losses on forward derivative contracts. Source
  • Hawesville write-down and inventory charge: Exceptional items also included a $5.7 million Jamalco hurricane impact, a $9.9 million Hawesville inventory write-down, and a $9.8 million lower of cost or net realizable value adjustment. Source

Prices, premiums and energy costs

  • Realized prices and premiums lifted EBITDA: Adjusted EBITDA improved on favorable realized LME and regional price premiums, improved operating costs, and higher Mt. Holly volume compared with the prior quarter. Source
  • Winter storm energy costs partly offset: First-quarter 2026 guidance reflects improved metal pricing and regional premiums, partly offset by temporary higher United States energy costs from Winter Storm Fern. Source
  • Full-year sales rose on realized prices: The company said full-year 2025 net sales rose $307.6 million sequentially, primarily from higher realized aluminum prices. Source

“Century reported net income attributable to Century stockholders of $41.8 million for the full year 2025, a $295.0 million decrease from the full year 2024.”

Century Aluminum Co., press release

Restart and new smelter projects

  • Mt. Holly restart of over 50,000MT: The company announced the restart of over 50,000MT of idled Mt. Holly production by the end of the second quarter of 2026. Source
  • Mt. Holly power agreement through 2031: The prior-quarter release said the Mt. Holly power agreement was finalized through 2031, described as a critical step toward restarting idled capacity.
  • Mt. Holly restart project costs: Mt. Holly restart project costs were $8.5 million for the full year 2025, with $8.0 million recorded in the fourth quarter. Source
  • Joint development deal for Oklahoma smelter: A joint development agreement with Emirates Global Aluminium covers a new smelter in Oklahoma, described as the first new US primary aluminum smelter since 1980. Source
  • Hawesville smelter sale and redevelopment: The company announced the sale and redevelopment of the Hawesville smelter, which had been curtailed. Source

Capital, liquidity and cash flow

  • Liquidity of $418.0 million at year-end: Liquidity at December 31, 2025 was $418.0 million, made up of $134.2 million of cash and cash equivalents and $283.8 million of combined borrowing availability. Source
  • Operating cash flow and capital spending: Full-year 2025 net cash provided by operating activities was $183.6 million, and capital expenditures were $98.8 million. Source
  • Senior notes refinanced in 2025: The company repaid $250.0 million of Senior Notes due 2028 and issued $400.0 million of Senior Notes due 2032 during 2025, with $4.7 million of early redemption premiums paid. Source

Reporting change at Jamalco

  • Jamalco now fully consolidated: Assets used by the Jamalco joint venture were previously consolidated proportionately. They are now fully consolidated, with all periods presented on that basis. Source
  • No effect on net income or non-GAAP: The company stated that the consolidation change does not affect net income attributable to Century stockholders or any of the non-GAAP measures presented. Source

Coming up, as management said on 19 February 2026

  • Mt. Holly restart by mid-2026: Management said the Mt. Holly restart of over 50,000MT of idled production is to be completed by the end of the second quarter of 2026. Source
  • Jamalco detail in Form 10-K: Additional information on the Jamalco consolidation change will appear in the notes to the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Primary aluminum shipments, fourth quarter 2025 (tonnes) Source140,257
United States primary aluminum shipments, fourth quarter 2025 (tonnes) Source91,885
Iceland primary aluminum shipments, fourth quarter 2025 (tonnes) Source48,372
Primary aluminum shipments, full year 2025 (tonnes) Source647,112

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Idled production at the Iceland facility after an equipment failure reduced fourth-quarter primary shipments by 14% sequentially. Source
  • Operational: Hurricane Melissa recovery at Jamalco added exceptional costs in the fourth quarter. Source
  • Financial: Forward derivative contracts produced net losses in 2025, including unrealized losses in the fourth quarter. Source
  • External: Temporary higher United States energy costs from Winter Storm Fern are expected to partly offset first-quarter 2026 gains from metal pricing and premiums. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The prior release gave a fourth-quarter 2025 Adjusted EBITDA range of $170 to $180 million. The current release reports $170.6 million, and does not state whether the range was met.
  • Not stated: The company announced the Mt. Holly restart of idled production with completion targeted by the end of the second quarter of 2026. No status is given. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.