Century Aluminum Co.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call
What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 7 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 new. The quarter’s numbers.
Key takeaways
- Net sales rose on higher metal prices: Net sales were $649.2 million, up $15.5 million sequentially, driven mainly by higher realized metal prices, despite lower shipments. Source
- Net income lifted by one-time gains: Net income attributable to Century was $337.5 million, or $3.23 diluted per share, up $335.7 million sequentially. Management attributed the rise mainly to a one-time Hawesville gain and an insurance gain. Source
- Adjusted EBITDA rose $60.8 million: Adjusted EBITDA attributable to Century was $231.4 million, up $60.8 million from the prior quarter, mainly from realized metal prices, sales mix and operating expenses. Source
- Adjusted earnings per share reached $1.63: Adjusted net income attributable to Century was $170.7 million, or $1.63 per share, up $42.5 million sequentially, after $166.8 million of net exceptional items. Source
- Power and raw material prices hurt realization: Realized power prices were unfavorable because of extreme winter weather in the United States, and raw material price realization was also unfavorable. Source
- Insurance proceeds reached $83 million: Insurance proceeds of $83 million have been received to date related to the Iceland equipment failure. Source
- One-time gain on Hawesville sale: The sale of Hawesville produced a one-time gain of $287.9 million, which is the largest single item in the quarter's net income. Source
“Achieved adjusted EBITDA attributable to Century of $231.4 million”
Century Aluminum Co., press release
Guidance
| Area | Period | Figure | Against last quarter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adjusted EBITDA attributable to Century Source | second quarter of 2026 | $315 to $335 million | New |
What changed from last quarter
- New guidance: A second quarter 2026 Adjusted EBITDA range was given. The prior release gave a range for the first quarter of 2026 only. Source
- New: The Hawesville sale, announced in February 2026, is reflected in the first quarter results as a one-time gain of $287.9 million. Source
- New: Insurance proceeds of $83 million had been received to date for the Iceland equipment failure. Source
- New: Expansion of the last 90 pots at Mt. Holly was initiated in April 2026. The prior release described a restart of idled production at Mt. Holly. Source
- Ended: Line 2 at Grundartangi restarted in April 2026, after the equipment failure in late October 2025 had taken it out of operation. Source
Results and growth drivers
- Net sales rose on higher metal prices: Net sales were $649.2 million, up $15.5 million sequentially, driven mainly by higher realized metal prices, despite lower shipments. Source
- Net income lifted by one-time gains: Net income attributable to Century was $337.5 million, or $3.23 diluted per share, up $335.7 million sequentially. Management attributed the rise mainly to a one-time Hawesville gain and an insurance gain. Source
- Adjusted EBITDA rose $60.8 million: Adjusted EBITDA attributable to Century was $231.4 million, up $60.8 million from the prior quarter, mainly from realized metal prices, sales mix and operating expenses. Source
- Adjusted earnings per share reached $1.63: Adjusted net income attributable to Century was $170.7 million, or $1.63 per share, up $42.5 million sequentially, after $166.8 million of net exceptional items. Source
Segments, regions and customers
- Total shipments fell with Iceland outage: Total primary shipments were 122,865 tonnes, against 140,257 in the fourth quarter, after the Iceland line 2 failure and lower third-party alumina sales. Source
- United States shipments and sales: United States primary shipments were 93,668 tonnes, with sales of $494.3 million, against 91,885 tonnes in the fourth quarter. Source
- Iceland shipments declined sharply: Iceland primary shipments were 29,197 tonnes, with sales of $87.3 million, against 48,372 tonnes in the fourth quarter. Source
- Related-party sales rose modestly: Net sales to related parties were $305.9 million and to other customers $343.3 million, compared with $299.6 million and $334.1 million in the fourth quarter. Source
“Initiated expansion of last 90 pots at Mt. Holly and restart of Line 2 at Grundartangi in April 2026”
Century Aluminum Co., press release
Costs, margins and pricing
- Gross profit rose to $118.8 million: Cost of goods sold was $530.4 million, against $543.1 million, and gross profit was $118.8 million, against $90.6 million in the fourth quarter. Source
- Selling and administrative costs eased: Selling, general and administrative expenses were $25.8 million, against $35.5 million, and other operating expenses were $6.9 million, against $13.8 million. Source
- Power and raw material prices hurt realization: Realized power prices were unfavorable because of extreme winter weather in the United States, and raw material price realization was also unfavorable. Source
Iceland equipment failure and insurance
- Insurance proceeds reached $83 million: Insurance proceeds of $83 million have been received to date related to the Iceland equipment failure. Source
- Insurance gain of $33.0 million: The company recorded a gain on insurance proceeds of $33.0 million in the quarter, shown as a separate line below operating income. Source
- Iceland failure costs $60.0 million after tax: Costs related to the Iceland equipment failures were $60.0 million, net of tax, and were treated as exceptional items in the adjusted results. Source
“Century's liquidity position at March 31, 2026 was $611.0 million, comprised of cash and cash equivalents of $244.1 million, restricted cash proceeds from the sale of Hawesville of $88.1 million, and $278.8 million in combined borrowing availability.”
Century Aluminum Co., press release
Mt. Holly and smelter restarts
- Mt. Holly expansion and Line 2 restart: In April 2026 the company initiated expansion of the last 90 pots at Mt. Holly and restarted Line 2 at Grundartangi. Source
- Mt. Holly expansion costs $7.5 million: Costs of the Mt. Holly expansion project were $7.5 million in the quarter and were excluded from adjusted results. Source
- Emergency energy charges at Mt. Holly: Emergency energy charges at Mt. Holly were $13.3 million, linked to extreme winter weather, and were excluded from adjusted results. Source
Hawesville sale and gain
- One-time gain on Hawesville sale: The sale of Hawesville produced a one-time gain of $287.9 million, which is the largest single item in the quarter's net income. Source
- Hawesville sale proceeds in investing cash: The cash flow statement shows $200.0 million of Hawesville sale proceeds in investing activities, and restricted cash was $89.5 million at March 31, 2026. Source
- Hawesville sale announced in February: The sale and redevelopment of the previously curtailed Hawesville smelter was announced in February 2026, ahead of the first quarter results.
Cash, debt and borrowing
- Operating cash flow and capital spending: Net cash provided by operating activities was $68.4 million, while purchases of property, plant and equipment were $74.8 million, against $21.2 million in the prior-year quarter. Source
- Revolver borrowings and repayments: Revolving credit borrowings were $160.6 million and repayments were $155.7 million; repayments of Industrial Revenue Bonds were $7.8 million. Source
- Cash balance rose from year-end: Cash and cash equivalents were $244.1 million at March 31, 2026, against $134.2 million at December 31, 2025, and restricted cash was $89.5 million, against $1.4 million. Source
Equity and share count
- Shareholders' equity increased: Total shareholders' equity was $1,150.9 million, against $805.6 million at year-end, and the accumulated deficit narrowed to $1,288.1 million from $1,625.5 million. Source
- Diluted share count rose: Diluted weighted-average shares were 104.6 million, against 98.0 million in the fourth quarter; basic shares were 99.0 million, against 96.9 million. Source
- Share-based compensation of $9.4 million: Share-based compensation was $9.4 million in the quarter and was excluded from adjusted results, against $32.6 million in the fourth quarter. Source
Exceptional items and adjusted results
- Net exceptional items of $166.8 million: First quarter results included $166.8 million of net exceptional items, led by the gains on the Hawesville sale and the insurance proceeds. Source
- Unrealized derivative losses of $48.1 million: Unrealized losses on derivative instruments were $48.1 million, net of tax, and were excluded from adjusted results. Net losses on forward and derivative contracts totaled $65.3 million. Source
- Jamalco hurricane impact of $5.9 million: The impact of Hurricane Melissa on Jamalco's operations was $5.9 million, which was excluded from adjusted results. Source
Figures management reported
| Figure | Reported |
|---|---|
| Primary aluminum shipments, total (tonnes), first quarter 2026 Source | 122,865 |
| Primary aluminum shipments, United States (tonnes), first quarter 2026 Source | 93,668 |
| Primary aluminum shipments, Iceland (tonnes), first quarter 2026 Source | 29,197 |
Risks management discussed
- Operational: Iceland line 2 equipment failure in late October 2025 reduced shipments in the first full quarter after the failure. Source
- External: Realized power prices were unfavorable because of extreme winter weather in the United States. Source
- Financial: Unrealized losses on derivative instruments reduced net income by $48.1 million after tax in the quarter. Source
- Operational: Hurricane Melissa affected operations at the Jamalco alumina refinery, with an impact of $5.9 million in the quarter. Source
Earlier plans management reported on
- Not stated: The prior release guided first quarter 2026 Adjusted EBITDA to $215 million to $235 million. The current release reports $231.4 million without comparing it to the range.
- Not stated: The prior release announced this Mt. Holly restart plan for completion by the end of the second quarter of 2026. The current release describes expansion work initiated in April 2026.
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.