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Century Aluminum Co.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net sales rose on higher shipments: Net sales were $961.2 million, up $209.1 million from the second quarter, with the increase attributed mainly to higher shipments and favorable realized metal prices. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose on volume and prices: Adjusted EBITDA attributable to Century was $331.6 million, up $4.7 million. Higher operating expenses and unfavorable power price realization offset part of the gain. Source
  • Fourth quarter Adjusted EBITDA range set: Management gave fourth quarter 2026 Adjusted EBITDA guidance of $275 to $300 million, a figure not given for that period in the prior release. Source
  • Grundartangi Line 2 restart drove sales: Management attributed the sequential sales gain partly to the restart of Line 2 at Grundartangi, which returned to near full production during the quarter. Source
  • Power prices hurt realization: Power price realization was unfavorable because of extreme hot weather in the third quarter. Source
  • Net exceptional items totaled $31.0M: Net exceptional items were $31.0 million, with unrealized derivative gains of $34.5 million, net of tax, as the largest component. Source
  • Liquidity was $1.16 billion: Liquidity at September 30, 2026 was $1,161.5 million: cash of $713.0 million, restricted cash of $41.6 million and $406.9 million of borrowing availability. Source
  • Operating cash flow rose sharply: Net cash provided by operating activities was $630.9 million for the nine months, against $76.1 million in the prior-year period. Source

“The increase in net earnings during the third quarter of 2026 was primarily attributable to higher shipments resulting from the restart of line 2 at Grundartangi and favorable realized metal prices”

Century Aluminum Co., press release

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Adjusted EBITDA attributable to Century SourceFourth quarter 2026$275 to $300 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: A fourth quarter 2026 Adjusted EBITDA range of $275 million to $300 million was given. The documents contain no earlier fourth quarter figure. Source

Results and fourth quarter guidance

  • Net sales rose on higher shipments: Net sales were $961.2 million, up $209.1 million from the second quarter, with the increase attributed mainly to higher shipments and favorable realized metal prices. Source
  • Net income attributable rose $53.3 million: Net income attributable to Century was $302.6 million, against $249.3 million. Diluted EPS was $2.89, against $2.39. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose on volume and prices: Adjusted EBITDA attributable to Century was $331.6 million, up $4.7 million. Higher operating expenses and unfavorable power price realization offset part of the gain. Source
  • Adjusted EPS was $2.58: Adjusted earnings per common share were $2.58, against $2.46. Adjusted net income attributable to Century rose $14.3 million to $271.6 million. Source
  • Fourth quarter Adjusted EBITDA range set: Management gave fourth quarter 2026 Adjusted EBITDA guidance of $275 to $300 million, a figure not given for that period in the prior release. Source

Segments and regions

  • US primary sales rose modestly: US primary aluminum sales were $580.0 million in the third quarter, against $572.3 million in the second quarter. Source
  • Iceland primary sales rose sharply: Iceland primary aluminum sales were $316.9 million in the third quarter, against $121.2 million in the second quarter. Source
  • Grundartangi Line 2 restart drove sales: Management attributed the sequential sales gain partly to the restart of Line 2 at Grundartangi, which returned to near full production during the quarter. Source

“Adjusted EBITDA attributable to Century for the third quarter of 2026 was $331.6 million”

Century Aluminum Co., press release

Costs, margins and power prices

  • Cost of goods sold rose with volume: Cost of goods sold was $658.3 million, against $524.2 million. Gross profit was $302.9 million, against $227.9 million. Source
  • Power prices hurt realization: Power price realization was unfavorable because of extreme hot weather in the third quarter. Source
  • Selling and admin costs fell: Selling, general and administrative expenses were $10.8 million, against $15.9 million in the second quarter. Source
  • Mt. Holly expansion costs declined: Mt. Holly expansion costs were $1.1 million, against $10.7 million. Emergency energy charges were $1.1 million, against $0.2 million. Source

Exceptional items and insurance

  • Net exceptional items totaled $31.0M: Net exceptional items were $31.0 million, with unrealized derivative gains of $34.5 million, net of tax, as the largest component. Source
  • Insurance gain was lower: The gain on insurance proceeds was lower than in the second quarter. The $12.7 million gain, net of tax, was excluded from adjusted net income. Source
  • Iceland equipment failure costs fell: Equipment failure costs at Grundartangi were $15.1 million net of tax, against $61.3 million in the second quarter, and are excluded from adjusted results. Source

“The Company expects fourth quarter Adjusted EBITDA to range between $275 to $300 million”

Century Aluminum Co., press release

Cash, liquidity and capital

  • Liquidity was $1.16 billion: Liquidity at September 30, 2026 was $1,161.5 million: cash of $713.0 million, restricted cash of $41.6 million and $406.9 million of borrowing availability. Source
  • Operating cash flow rose sharply: Net cash provided by operating activities was $630.9 million for the nine months, against $76.1 million in the prior-year period. Source
  • Capital spending rose: Purchases of property, plant and equipment were $172.2 million for the nine months, against $65.1 million a year earlier. Source
  • 45X refund received in July: The company received a $94.3 million 2025 45X refund in July. Cash exceeded total debt as of the end of July.

Balance sheet and share count

  • Long-term debt was little changed: Long-term debt was $480.3 million at September 30, against $479.5 million at December 31, 2025. Current maturities were nil, against $68.8 million. Source
  • Shareholders' equity rose: Total shareholders' equity was $1,712.0 million, against $805.6 million at December 31, 2025. Total equity was $1,846.6 million. Source
  • Diluted share count edged up: Diluted weighted-average shares were 105.2 million, against 104.8 million in the second quarter. Basic shares were 99.0 million in both periods. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 November 2026

  • Fourth quarter Adjusted EBITDA range: The fourth quarter 2026 Adjusted EBITDA range is the only forward figure given. The documents list no other dated events. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Primary aluminum shipments, total (tonnes) Source173,483
US primary aluminum shipments (tonnes) Source98,183
Iceland primary aluminum shipments (tonnes) Source75,300

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Equipment failures at Grundartangi carried a $15.1 million net-of-tax cost this quarter, against $61.3 million in the second quarter. Source
  • External: Power price realization was unfavorable in the quarter because of extreme hot weather. Source
  • Financial: Unrealized derivative gains of $34.5 million, net of tax, were excluded from adjusted results as exceptional items. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The prior release gave this third quarter range. The current release reports $331.6 million without comparing it to that range.

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.