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Core Natural Resources, Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 12 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 14 new, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net loss in the fourth quarter: The company reported a net loss of $79.0 million, or $1.54 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter, on revenues of $1.042 billion. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA fell from third quarter: Adjusted EBITDA was $103.1 million in the fourth quarter, compared with $141.2 million reported for the third quarter. Source
  • Operating cash flow and free cash flow: Net cash provided by operating activities was $107.3 million in the quarter, and free cash flow was $27.0 million. Source
  • Metallurgical cash cost reflected idle Leer South: Metallurgical cash cost of coal sold was $103.49 per ton, reflecting the absence of longwall production at Leer South until late in the quarter. Source
  • 2026 committed book expanded: Committed 2026 business is now 23.5 million tons in high calorific value thermal and 47.4 million tons in Powder River Basin, against about 17 and 40 million tons last quarter. Source
  • Coking coal commitments reached 6.7 million tons: Coking commitments total about 6.7 million tons, including 2.0 million tons for North American customers at around $125 per ton. Source
  • Leer South longwall back at targeted rates: The Leer South longwall resumed mining, and the mine enters 2026 at targeted production rates after being idled since January 13, 2025. Source

“During Q4, the Core team set the stage for a significant, value-driving step-change in both operational execution and financial performance in 2026”

Jimmy Brock, Core’s chairman and chief executive officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Sales volume, coking coal Source20268.6 - 9.4 million tonsNew
Sales volume, high calorific value thermal Source202630.0 - 32.0 million tonsNew
Sales volume, Powder River Basin Source202647.0 - 50.0 million tonsNew
Sales volume, total Source202685.6 - 91.4 million tonsNew
Metallurgical cash cost of coal sold per ton Source2026$88.00 - $94.00 per tonNew
High calorific value thermal cash cost of coal sold per ton Source2026$38.00 - $39.50 per tonNew
Powder River Basin cash cost of coal sold per ton Source2026$13.00 - $13.50 per tonNew
Capital expenditures Source2026$325 - $375 millionNew
Depreciation, depletion and amortization Source2026$600 - $650 millionNew
Cash basis selling, general and administrative Source2026$85 - $100 millionNew
Cash tax rate Source20260% - 5%New
Committed coking coal Source20262.4 million tons priced at $119.93; 6.7 million tons total committedNew
Committed high calorific value thermal coal Source202623.5 million tons total committed; 23.4 million tons priced at $57.27New
Committed Powder River Basin coal Source202647.4 million tons priced at $14.15New
Capital return to stockholders SourceOngoingaround 75 percent of free cash flowKept
Quarterly dividend SourceOngoing$0.10 per shareKept

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: 2026 guidance issued for sales volumes, cash costs, capital expenditures, DD&A, cash SG&A and cash tax rate. Source
  • Guidance kept: Capital return framework of around 75 percent of free cash flow and the $0.10 quarterly dividend are unchanged from the third quarter release. Source
  • New: Committed 2026 book is now 23.5 million tons in high calorific value thermal and 47.4 million tons in Powder River Basin, up from about 17 and 40 million tons last quarter. Source
  • New: Coking coal commitments reached about 6.7 million tons, against about 500,000 tons for North American buyers reported in the third quarter. Source
  • Ended: The Leer South longwall, idled since January 13, 2025, resumed mining and the mine enters 2026 at targeted production rates. Source
  • Ended: West Elk completed its transition to the new seam, which the third quarter release described as in progress. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net loss in the fourth quarter: The company reported a net loss of $79.0 million, or $1.54 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter, on revenues of $1.042 billion. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA fell from third quarter: Adjusted EBITDA was $103.1 million in the fourth quarter, compared with $141.2 million reported for the third quarter. Source
  • Operating cash flow and free cash flow: Net cash provided by operating activities was $107.3 million in the quarter, and free cash flow was $27.0 million. Source
  • Revenue higher than prior-year quarter: Revenues were $1,042.5 million in the fourth quarter, against $573.6 million a year earlier; full-year revenues were $4,164.8 million. Source
  • Full-year net loss: Full-year net loss was $153.2 million, or $2.98 per diluted share, compared with net income of $286.4 million in the prior year. Source

Segments and regions

  • High calorific value thermal sales rose: Sales rose 9 percent over the third quarter. Realized revenue was $58.11 per ton, with lower seaborne pricing cited as the main reason it trailed the third quarter. Source
  • Coking coal realized price: Coking coal realized $114.25 per ton and thermal byproduct realized $47.50 per ton, with the metallurgical segment averaging $105.45 per ton. Source
  • Powder River Basin spot pricing improved: Powder River Basin realized revenue rose to $14.21 per ton on improving spot pricing, while sales were modestly lower than the third quarter. Source
  • Powder River Basin revenue and costs lower year over year: Year-over-year Powder River Basin revenues and costs both fell, mainly from the federal coal royalty rate reduction. Source

“Looking ahead, we expect strong and improving free cash flow generation in 2026, supported by an improved cost performance in our key operating segments”

Mitesh Thakkar, Core’s president and chief financial officer

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Metallurgical cash cost reflected idle Leer South: Metallurgical cash cost of coal sold was $103.49 per ton, reflecting the absence of longwall production at Leer South until late in the quarter. Source
  • Thermal cash cost hit by maintenance and West Elk: High calorific value thermal cash cost was $41.42 per ton, with higher PAMC maintenance expenses and lower West Elk volumes during the B-Seam transition. Source
  • Powder River Basin cash cost on maintenance: Powder River Basin cash cost was $13.62 per ton, with higher maintenance costs and lower fixed cost absorption than the third quarter. Source
  • Leer South and West Elk idle costs: Fire extinguishment and idle mine cash costs at Leer South and West Elk totaled $36.4 million; the quarter also included $23.9 million of Baltimore bridge insurance proceeds. Source

Contracting and customer commitments

  • Over 38 million tons contracted in quarter: The marketing team signed commitments for 2026 and future years across all three segments, totaling more than 38 million tons. Source
  • 2026 committed book expanded: Committed 2026 business is now 23.5 million tons in high calorific value thermal and 47.4 million tons in Powder River Basin, against about 17 and 40 million tons last quarter. Source
  • Coking coal commitments reached 6.7 million tons: Coking commitments total about 6.7 million tons, including 2.0 million tons for North American customers at around $125 per ton. Source

“Core is now poised to deliver on its full potential as a low-cost, diversified, logistically advantaged supplier of high-quality coal products to growing steel and industrial markets around the world”

Jimmy Brock, Core’s chairman and chief executive officer

Demand and market conditions

  • U.S. utility coal consumption rose in 2025: Estimated utility coal consumption rose about 45 million tons, or around 12 percent, in 2025, on a second year of power demand growth. Source
  • U.S. thermal coal demand expected to climb: Management expects U.S. thermal coal demand to keep rising, with the U.S. coal fleet operating at a capacity factor below 50 percent. Source
  • Premium Queensland coal price rose: Premium low-vol coal in Queensland rose about 25 percent since early December, to approximately $250 per metric ton. Source
  • Indian cement demand strengthened: Management said Indian cement markets strengthened markedly in recent weeks and are expected to keep growing in the years ahead. Source
  • Metallurgical market moving toward balance: Management said global metallurgical coal markets appear to be shifting into better balance as high-cost supply is rationalized. Source

Capital and shareholder returns

  • Fourth quarter buybacks of $21.7 million: Share repurchases in the quarter cost $21.7 million for 264,487 shares, at an average price of $81.95 per share. Source
  • Repurchase program totals to date: Since launch, the program has cost $224.3 million for 3.1 million shares, about 6 percent of shares outstanding at launch; $245.1 million was returned including dividends. Source
  • Year-end liquidity and cash: Total liquidity was $948.9 million at December 31, 2025, including $432.2 million of cash and cash equivalents. Source
  • Remaining buyback authorization: Remaining authorization under the $1.0 billion repurchase program was $775.7 million at December 31, 2025. Source

Operations, insurance and synergies

  • Leer South longwall back at targeted rates: The Leer South longwall resumed mining, and the mine enters 2026 at targeted production rates after being idled since January 13, 2025. Source
  • Merger synergies largely in effect: Management said the vast majority of merger-related operating synergies are now in full effect, and it expects 2026 to mark an inflection point. Source
  • More insurance recoveries anticipated: Management anticipates incremental insurance recoveries from the Leer South combustion event, which it expects to support free cash flow and capital returns. Source

Coming up, as management said on 12 February 2026

  • Free cash flow for future capital returns: Management expects substantial free cash flow in future quarters for deployment in the capital return program. Source
  • Dividend payable March 16, 2026: The $0.10 quarterly dividend is payable March 16, 2026 to stockholders of record on March 2, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
High calorific value thermal sales volume, fourth quarter Source7.8 million tons
Powder River Basin sales volume, fourth quarter Source12.6 million tons
Coking coal sales volume, fourth quarter Source2.0 million tons
Committed 2026 high calorific value thermal volume Source23.5 million tons
Committed 2026 Powder River Basin volume Source47.4 million tons
Committed coking coal volume Source6.7 million tons

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Volumes at West Elk remained depressed during the B-Seam transition in the quarter. Source
  • Regulatory: Many existing Powder River Basin contracts require policy-related cost savings to be passed along to customers. Source
  • External: Management cited recent weather-related disruptions in Australia as underscoring the fragility of the global supply chain. Source
  • External: Management said the major seaborne market indices remain range-bound. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Prior release said the team would mobilize once MSHA personnel were available; the current release says the longwall resumed mining. Source
  • Not stated: Management said the B-Seam results were as expected, with seam thickness and coal quality better than before. Source
  • Not stated: The prior release estimated these costs for the fourth quarter; the current release does not compare its figures against that estimate.
  • Not stated: The framework targets around 75 percent of free cash flow returned; management reported about 100 percent returned in fiscal 2025. 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.