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Teck Reports Unaudited Third Quarter Results for 2024

Press Release

October 23, 2024

Vancouver, B.C. – Teck Resources Limited (TSX: TECK.A and TECK.B, NYSE: TECK) (Teck) today announced its unaudited third quarter results for 2024.

“The third quarter marked a new era for Teck as we successfully transformed into a pure-play energy transition metals company with leading copper growth,” said Jonathan Price, President and CEO. “We closed the sale of our remaining interest in the steelmaking coal business and have returned over $1.3 billion to shareholders so far this year, while also reducing debt and ramping-up copper production.”

Highlights

  • Adjusted EBITDA1 of $986 million in Q3 2024 was driven by record copper production as Quebrada Blanca (QB) continues to ramp-up operations, as well as strong base metals pricing and zinc sales volumes from Red Dog. Our loss from continuing operations before taxes was $759 million in Q3 2024, primarily due to an impairment charge at our Trail Operations.
  • Adjusted profit from continuing operations attributable to shareholders1 was $314 million, or $0.61 per share, in Q3 2024. Our loss from continuing operations attributable to shareholders was $748 million, $1.45 per share, in Q3 2024, primarily due to an impairment charge at our Trail Operations.
  • We completed the sale of the remaining 77% interest in our steelmaking coal business, Elk Valley Resources (EVR) and received cash proceeds of US$7.3 billion on July 11, 2024. We commenced deployment of these proceeds through shareholder returns and debt reductions in Q3.
  • We returned a total of $720 million to shareholders in the third quarter through the purchase of $398 million of Class B subordinate voting shares pursuant to our normal course issuer bid, and $322 million in dividends, reflecting our regular base quarterly dividend and a supplemental dividend of $0.50 per share, or $257 million.
  • From January 1 to October 23, 2024, we have returned over $1.3 billion to shareholders through share buybacks and dividends.
  • We reduced our debt by US$1.5 billion through a bond tender offer for our public notes in July and the repayment of short-term loans at Carmen de Andacollo.
  • Our liquidity as at October 23, 2024 is $11.9 billion, including $7.8 billion of cash. We generated cash flows from operations of $134 million in Q3 and had a net cash position of $1.8 billion at September 30, 2024.
  • We achieved another consecutive record quarter of copper production with 114,500 tonnes in the third quarter, of which 52,500 tonnes were from QB. Production at QB continues to ramp-up and we expect to be operating at full throughput rates by the end of 2024.
  • Copper prices (LME) remain strong, averaging US$4.18 per pound in the third quarter and closing the quarter at US$4.43 per pound, contributing to $103 million of positive pricing adjustments in the third quarter.
  • Red Dog’s performance was strong in the third quarter with zinc production increasing by 14% to 142,500 tonnes compared to the same period last year. Red Dog’s zinc net cash unit costs1 have improved and our 2024 annual unit cost guidance for zinc has been updated accordingly.

Note:
1. This is a non-GAAP financial measure or ratio. See “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Ratios” for further information.

Financial Summary Q3 2024

Financial Metrics
(CAD$ in millions, except per share data)Q3 2024Q3 2023
Revenue $ 2,858 $ 1,989
Gross profit $ 478 $ 261
Gross profit before depreciation and amortization1 $ 962 $ 533
Profit (loss) from continuing operations before taxes $ (759) $ 48
Adjusted EBITDA1 $ 986 $ 417
Loss from continuing operations attributable to shareholders $ (748) $ (48)
Adjusted profit from continuing operations attributable to shareholders1 $ 314 $ 85
Basic loss per share from continuing operations $ (1.45) $ (0.09)
Diluted loss per share from continuing operations $ (1.45) $ (0.09)
Adjusted basic earnings per share from continuing operations1 $ 0.61 $ 0.16
Adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations1 $ 0.60 $ 0.16

Key Updates

Executing on Our Copper Growth Strategy

  • QB copper production of 52,500 tonnes in the third quarter increased compared to 51,300 tonnes in the second quarter of 2024, as quarter over quarter production ramp-up continues.
  • Mill throughput rates increased quarter over quarter confirming plant design is robust. We continue to expect to be at design mill throughput rates by the end of 2024.
  • The localized geotechnical issue identified and disclosed in Q2 2024 has now stabilized with controls in place and we are advancing the mine plan.
  • Grades in Q3 were lower, consistent with our previously disclosed guidance, and we continue to expect higher grades in Q4. Normal grade variability is expected within any given period, as considered in our mine plans.
  • Based on current production levels and expected throughput and recoveries, the upper end of our 2024 annual QB copper production guidance range has been updated and our guidance range is now 200,000 to 210,000 tonnes. In addition, as a result of our lower than expected molybdenum production levels, we have updated our previously disclosed annual QB molybdenum production guidance to 0.8 to 1.2 thousand tonnes.
  • We continue to expect QB’s total and net cash unit costs1 for 2024 to be within our previously disclosed guidance, despite the reduction in annual molybdenum production guidance.
  • Due to the ongoing work to improve copper recovery and equipment reliability extending into the first half of 2025, we have updated our previously disclosed 2025 QB annual copper production guidance to 240,000 to 280,000 tonnes and molybdenum production to 4.0 to 5.5 thousand tonnes.
  • Mill optimization work to push performance past nameplate by improving throughput is currently underway with plans for debottlenecking efforts being advanced.
  • In the third quarter, we continued to make progress in advancing Teck’s copper growth strategy, reinforcing our commitment to long-term value creation through a balanced approach of growth investments and shareholder returns. While maintaining a strong balance sheet, Teck’s prudent investment plans are designed to de-risk the development of our assets, including navigating the permitting process. As previously disclosed, Teck does not anticipate sanctioning any growth projects in 2024. The focus remains on advancing our near-term projects for potential sanctioning in 2025. All growth projects must meet stringent criteria, delivering attractive risk-adjusted returns and competing for capital in alignment with Teck’s capital allocation framework.

New Business Structure to Support Transition to Pure-Play Energy Transition Metals Company

  • In August, we announced a new business structure to support our shift to a pure-play energy transition metals company focused on growth. The new business structure organizes Teck around two regional business units for North America and Latin America (LATAM), and a dedicated Projects group to develop and execute brownfield and greenfield projects.
  • This structure simplifies Teck with a streamlined executive leadership team and regional structure to deliver on our strategy of copper growth balanced with shareholder returns and long-term resiliency. It positions Teck to drive improved operational performance, while efficiently and responsibly capitalizing on profitable growth opportunities to enhance value for all stakeholders.
  • Our reported segmented financial results and summary information contained in our Management Discussion and Analysis will continue to be disclosed on a commodity basis for our copper and zinc operations in addition to our corporate segment.

Deployment of Transaction Proceeds from Sale of Steelmaking Coal Business

  • We completed the sale of our remaining 77% interest in our steelmaking coal business, EVR, to Glencore and received transaction proceeds of US$7.3 billion on July 11, 2024.
  • On closing of the transaction, we announced our intention to allocate the transaction proceeds consistent with Teck’s Capital Allocation Framework. This included the repurchase of up to $2.75 billion of Class B subordinate voting shares, a one-time supplemental dividend of $0.50 per share, a debt reduction program of up to $2.75 billion, funding retained for our value-accretive copper growth projects, and approximately $1.0 billion for final taxes and transaction costs.
  • Combined with the $500 million share buyback announced in February, total cash returns to shareholders of $3.5 billion from the sale of the steelmaking coal business have been authorized.
  • In Q3, we commenced deployment of the proceeds through shareholder returns and debt reduction. We returned a total of $720 million to shareholders in the third quarter through the purchase of $398 million of Class B subordinate voting shares pursuant to our normal course issuer bid, and $322 million in dividends, reflecting our regular base quarterly dividend and a supplemental dividend of $0.50 per share, or $257 million. We reduced our debt by US$1.5 billion through a bond tender offer for our public notes in July and the repayment of short-term loans at Carmen de Andacollo.
  • From January 1 to October 23, 2024, we have returned over $1.3 billion to shareholders through share buybacks and dividends.
  • In our third quarter News Release, Management’s Discussion and Analysis, and Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements, EVR’s results have been presented as discontinued operations for all periods reported.

Safety and Sustainability Leadership

  • We were saddened to report a fatality on July 24 at the Antamina Mine, our joint venture with BHP, Glencore and Mitsubishi. Antamina has conducted a full investigation and learnings will be shared across our company and industry.
  • We continued to focus on driving health and safety at our sites, with our High-Potential Incident (HPI) Frequency rate remaining steady at 0.10 in Q3 2024, a 33% reduction compared to the same period last year.
  • On October 9, 2024, Teck was named to the Forbes list of the World’s Best Employers 2024, an employee-driven ranking of multinational companies and institutions from over 50 countries around the world.

Guidance

  • We have updated our previously disclosed 2024 annual guidance for zinc net cash unit costs1, and copper, molybdenum and refined zinc production. The remainder of our previously disclosed guidance for 2024 is unchanged. We have updated our previously disclosed 2025 annual copper and molybdenum production guidance for QB, as outlined above.
  • Continued strong performance at Red Dog has resulted in an improvement in net cash unit costs1 and accordingly, our 2024 annual zinc net cash unit costs1 are now expected to be US$0.45 to $0.55 per pound, compared to our previously disclosed guidance range of US$0.55 to $0.65 per pound.
  • Our 2024 annual copper production guidance has been updated to a range of 420,000 to 455,000 tonnes, a reduction from our previously disclosed guidance of 435,000 to 500,000 tonnes. The reduction relates to Highland Valley Copper, as well as a reduction to the upper end of QB’s production guidance range. Highland Valley Copper’s guidance reduction was a result of a delay in mining in the Lornex pit due to challenges with labour availability and the autonomous systems of our new haul trucks. This has been largely resolved and we expect to process more ore from the Lornex pit in the fourth quarter.
  • Molybdenum production for 2024 has been reduced by 1.3 to 1.5 thousand tonnes to 3.0 to 4.0 thousand tonnes due to lower production at Highland Valley Copper and QB.
  • Refined zinc production at Trail for 2024 has been reduced to a range of 240,000 to 250,000 tonnes as a result of a localized fire in the electrolytic zinc plant on September 24, 2024.
  • Our guidance is outlined in summary below and our usual guidance tables, including three-year production guidance, can be found on pages 26–29 of Teck’s third quarter results for 2024 at the link below.
2024 Guidance – SummaryCurrent
Production Guidance
Copper (000’s tonnes) 420 – 455
Zinc (000’s tonnes) 565 – 630
Refined zinc (000’s tonnes) 240 – 250
Sales Guidance – Q4 2024
Red Dog zinc in concentrate sales (000’s tonnes) 155 – 185
Unit Cost Guidance
Copper net cash unit costs (US$/lb.)1 1.90 – 2.30
Zinc net cash unit costs (US$/lb.)1 0.45 – 0.55

Note:
1. This is a non-GAAP financial measure or ratio. See “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Ratios” for further information.

Click here to view Teck’s full third quarter results for 2024.

WEBCAST

Teck will host an Investor Conference Call to discuss its Q3/2024 financial results at 11:00 AM Eastern time, 8:00 AM Pacific time, on October 24, 2024. A live audio webcast of the conference call, together with supporting presentation slides, will be available at our website at www.teck.com. The webcast will be archived at www.teck.com.

REFERENCE

Fraser Phillips, Senior Vice President, Investor Relations and Strategic Analysis: 604.699.4621

Dale Steeves, Director, Stakeholder Relations: 236.987.7405

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