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Cleveland-Cliffs Inc.: Q3 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 20 October 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 2 lowered, 3 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Adjusted net loss narrowed sequentially: Revenues were $4.7 billion, down from $4.9 billion in the second quarter. GAAP net loss was $234 million. Adjusted net loss was $223 million, or $0.45 per diluted share, against $250 million, or $0.51, in the second quarter. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose from second quarter: Adjusted EBITDA was $143 million, compared with $94 million in the second quarter of 2025. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure reconciled to net loss in the filing. Source
  • Multi-year deals with automotive OEMs: Management said new and growing supply arrangements were won with all major automotive OEMs, on multi-year terms, following the new trade environment. Source
  • Liquidity reached $3.1 billion: Total liquidity was $3.1 billion at September 30, 2025, against $2.7 billion at June 30, 2025. Source
  • Operating cash flow was negative: Net cash used by operating activities was $143 million in the quarter and $449 million in the first nine months of 2025. Source
  • Memorandum of Understanding with global producer: Management said the MoU seeks to leverage the company's U.S. footprint and trade-compliant operations. Source
  • Rare-earth review at two sites: Management said two sites, one in Michigan and one in Minnesota, show the most potential among the company's ore bodies and tailings basins for rare earths. Source

“Our third quarter results marked a clear sign of demand recovery for automotive-grade steel made in the USA, and that is a direct consequence of the new trade environment implemented and enforced by the Trump Administration.”

Lourenco Goncalves, Chairman, President and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Capital expenditures SourceFull-year 2025approximately $525 millionLowered from $600 million
Selling, general and administrative expenses SourceFull-year 2025approximately $550 millionLowered from $575 million
Steel unit cost reduction versus 2024 SourceFull-year 2025approximately $50 per net ton reduction, adjusted for improved automotive shipping volumeKept
Depreciation, depletion and amortization SourceFull-year 2025approximately $1.2 billionKept
Cash pension and OPEB payments and contributions SourceFull-year 2025approximately $150 millionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance lowered: Full-year 2025 capital expenditures expectation lowered. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Full-year 2025 selling, general and administrative expenses expectation lowered. Source
  • New: Memorandum of Understanding entered with a major global steel producer. Source
  • New: Renewed focus on rare-earth potential at upstream mining assets. Source
  • Ended: Slab supply contract to a competitor ends and will not be extended.

Results and growth drivers

  • Adjusted net loss narrowed sequentially: Revenues were $4.7 billion, down from $4.9 billion in the second quarter. GAAP net loss was $234 million. Adjusted net loss was $223 million, or $0.45 per diluted share, against $250 million, or $0.51, in the second quarter. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose from second quarter: Adjusted EBITDA was $143 million, compared with $94 million in the second quarter of 2025. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure reconciled to net loss in the filing. Source
  • Richer sales mix and improved pricing: Management attributed the quarter to a richer sales mix and improved pricing, with further support from continued cost execution. Source

Steelmaking segment results

  • Shipments fell from second quarter: Steel product sales volumes were 4.0 million net tons, against 4.3 million in the second quarter. Hot-rolled was the largest share at 37%, followed by coated at 29%. Source
  • Infrastructure and distributors largest markets: Infrastructure and manufacturing took 29% of steelmaking revenue and distributors and converters 28%, each about $1.3 billion. Source

“We expect the ultimate outcome of this MoU to be highly accretive to our shareholders.”

Lourenco Goncalves, Chairman, President and CEO

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Net selling price below year-earlier level: Average net selling price was $1,032 per net ton, against $1,045 a year earlier and $1,015 in the second quarter. Nine-month average was $1,009. Source
  • Steelmaking cash margin improved: Cash margin was $205 million, against $110 million a year earlier and $138 million in the second quarter. Gross margin was a $56 million loss after depreciation of $261 million. Source
  • Selling, general and administrative costs: Consolidated SG&A was $130 million, against $137 million in the second quarter and $112 million a year earlier. Source
  • Net interest expense higher year over year: Net interest expense was $153 million, against $102 million a year earlier and $149 million in the second quarter. Source

Demand and customer supply deals

  • Multi-year deals with automotive OEMs: Management said new and growing supply arrangements were won with all major automotive OEMs, on multi-year terms, following the new trade environment. Source
  • Nine galvanizing plants serve automotive: Nine galvanizing plants are dedicated to automotive-grade steels, and five of them are specialized in exposed parts. Source
  • Direct automotive sales reached 30%: Direct sales to the automotive market were $1.4 billion, or 30% of steelmaking revenue, against $1.2 billion, or 26%, in the second quarter. Source

“If successful, it would align Cleveland-Cliffs with the broader national strategy for critical material independence, similar to what we achieved in steel.”

Lourenco Goncalves, Chairman, President and CEO

Cash, debt and liquidity

  • Liquidity reached $3.1 billion: Total liquidity was $3.1 billion at September 30, 2025, against $2.7 billion at June 30, 2025. Source
  • Operating cash flow was negative: Net cash used by operating activities was $143 million in the quarter and $449 million in the first nine months of 2025. Source
  • Senior notes proceeds in quarter: Proceeds from senior notes were $850 million in the quarter. Long-term debt was $8,039 million at September 30, 2025, against $7,065 million at December 31, 2024. Source
  • Capital spending in quarter: Purchases of property, plant and equipment were $157 million in the quarter and $421 million in the first nine months of 2025. Source
  • No share repurchases in 2025: The company repurchased no common shares in the third quarter or the first nine months of 2025. The first nine months of 2024 included $733 million. Source

Strategy: steel partner and rare earths

  • Memorandum of Understanding with global producer: Management said the MoU seeks to leverage the company's U.S. footprint and trade-compliant operations. Source
  • UBS advises on steel producer deal: UBS is financial advisor to the company on the transaction with the major global steel producer. Source
  • Rare-earth review at two sites: Management said two sites, one in Michigan and one in Minnesota, show the most potential among the company's ore bodies and tailings basins for rare earths. Source

Trade policy and US market view

  • US market described as hostile to imports: Management described the US steel market as large, growing, and hostile territory for dumped steel from abroad. Source
  • Foreign partners seek US capacity: Management said a foreign partner would find value in taking part in the US market through the company's footprint. Source
  • Focus on value-added sheet products: The company describes itself as focused on value-added sheet products, particularly for the automotive industry, and vertically integrated from iron ore to finishing. Source

Coming up, as management said on 20 October 2025

  • MoU update to follow soon: Management said it will share more on the ongoing MoU development soon. Source
  • Slab contract ends early December: Management expects the richer mix and improved pricing trend to accelerate into 2026 after the ArcelorMittal slab contract ends in early December. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Steel shipments (net tons) Source4.0 million net tons

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said the company updated previously guided full-year 2025 expectations. Source
  • Not stated: Management maintained the earlier steel unit cost reduction expectation, adjusted for automotive shipping volume. 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.