SUGAR LAND, Texas, Aug. 03, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CVR Energy, Inc. (“CVR Energy”) (NYSE: CVI) today announced a net loss of $5 million, or 5 cents per diluted share, inclusive of a $41 million pre-tax charge related to a goodwill impairment recognized within its Nitrogen Fertilizer Segment, on net sales of $675 million for the second quarter of 2020, compared to net income of $116 million, or $1.16 per diluted share, on net sales of $1.7 billion for the second quarter of 2019. Second quarter 2020 EBITDA was $68 million, compared to second quarter 2019 EBITDA of $273 million.

“CVR Energy’s second quarter 2020 results were negatively impacted by narrow crack spreads and tight crude oil differentials that resulted from COVID-19 demand destruction and global crude oil price wars,” said Dave Lamp, CVR Energy’s Chief Executive Officer. “These negative impacts were partially offset by a favorable inventory valuation, a strong crude oil contango and realized derivative gains. We also safely completed the planned turnaround at the Coffeyville refinery, which downtime coincided with the lowest margin environment in the quarter. While the duration of impacts of COVID-19 remains uncertain, gasoline demand in the Midcontinent has since recovered to approximately 90 percent of pre-COVID-19 levels.

“Highlights of the second quarter 2020 for CVR Partners included strong utilization rates at both fertilizer facilities, a successful spring planting season and record shipments of ammonia by the East Dubuque fertilizer facility in April as favorable weather conditions continued to support strong nitrogen fertilizer application,” Lamp said. “Pricing, however, has remained soft compared to a year ago as agriculture markets continue to be impacted by COVID-19.

“Looking ahead, we will remain focused on maximizing cash flow by maintaining safe and reliable operations while judiciously managing our costs and capital spending across our businesses,” Lamp concluded.

Petroleum

The Petroleum Segment reported second quarter 2020 operating income of $5 million on net sales of $572 million, compared to operating income of $163 million on net sales of $1.6 billion in the second quarter of 2019.

Refining margin per total throughput barrel was $10.43 in the second quarter of 2020, compared to $15.66 during the same period in 2019. Narrow crack spreads contributed to the reduction in refining margins during the second quarter of 2020. Partially offsetting these impacts, crude oil prices rose during the quarter, which led to a favorable inventory valuation impact of $46 million, or $3.25 per total throughout barrel, compared to an unfavorable inventory valuation impact of less than $1 million, or 2 cents per total throughput barrel during the second quarter of 2019. The Petroleum Segment also recognized a second quarter 2020 derivative gain of $20 million, or $1.39 per total throughput barrel, compared to a gain of $4 million, or 22 cents per total throughput barrel, for the second quarter of 2019. Included in this derivative gain for the second quarter of 2020 was a nominal unrealized gain, compared to an unrealized gain of $3 million for the second quarter of 2019.

Second quarter 2020 combined total throughput was approximately 156,000 barrels per day (bpd), compared to approximately 216,000 bpd of combined total throughput for the second quarter of 2019. This decrease was primarily attributable to the turnaround at our Coffeyville refinery, however, the Wynnewood refinery did operate at minimum rates while product demand was at its lowest.

Fertilizer

The Nitrogen Fertilizer Segment reported an operating loss of $26 million on net sales of $105 million for the second quarter of 2020, compared to operating income of $35 million on net sales of $138 million for the second quarter of 2019. A non-cash goodwill impairment of $41 million was recognized in the second quarter of 2020.

Second quarter 2020 average realized gate prices for urea ammonia nitrate (UAN) decreased over the prior year, down 24 percent to $165 per ton, and ammonia was down 27 percent over the prior year to $332 per ton. Average realized gate prices for UAN and ammonia were $217 per ton and $456 per ton, respectively, for the second quarter of 2019.

CVR Partners’ fertilizer facilities produced a combined 216,000 tons of ammonia during the second quarter of 2020, of which 79,000 net tons were available for sale while the rest was upgraded to other fertilizer products, including 321,000 tons of UAN. During the second quarter 2019, the fertilizer facilities produced 211,000 tons of ammonia, of which 71,000 net tons were available for sale while the remainder was upgraded to other fertilizer products, including 316,000 tons of UAN.

Corporate

The Company reported an income tax benefit of $5 million, or 13.9 percent of loss before income taxes, for the three months ended June 30, 2020, compared to income tax expense of $41 million, or 24.3 percent of income before income taxes for the three months ended June 30, 2019. The change in income tax (benefit) expense was due primarily to changes in pretax income during the three months ended June 30, 2020. The change in effective tax rate was due primarily to the effects of the Nitrogen Fertilizer Segment’s goodwill impairment recorded during the three months ended June 30, 2020. Additionally, the Company recognized investment income from marketable securities of $21 million during the three months ended June 30, 2020.

Cash, Debt and Dividend

Consolidated cash and cash equivalents was $606 million at June 30, 2020. Consolidated total debt and finance lease obligations was $1.7 billion at June 30, 2020, including $634 million held by the Nitrogen Fertilizer Segment.

In May 2020, the Board of Directors of CVR Partners’ general partner, on behalf of CVR Partners, authorized a unit repurchase program (the “Unit Repurchase Program”), which enables CVR Partners to repurchase up to $10 million of its common units. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, CVR Partners repurchased 890,218 common units on the open market at a cost of $1 million, inclusive of transaction costs, or an average price of $1.07 per common unit.

CVR Energy will not pay a cash dividend and CVR Partners will not pay a cash distribution for the 2020 second quarter.

Second Quarter 2020 Earnings Conference Call

CVR Energy previously announced that it will host its second quarter 2020 Earnings Conference Call on Tuesday, Aug. 4, at 1 p.m. Eastern. The Earnings Conference Call may also include discussion of Company developments, forward-looking information and other material information about business and financial matters.

The second quarter 2020 Earnings Conference Call will be webcast live and can be accessed on the Investor Relations section of CVR Energy’s website at www.CVREnergy.com. For investors or analysts who want to participate during the call, the dial-in number is (877) 407-8291. The webcast will be archived and available for 14 days at https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/poe2cn3o. A repeat of the call also can be accessed for 14 days by dialing (877) 660-6853, conference ID 13706820.

Forward-Looking Statements
This news release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Statements concerning current estimates, expectations and projections about future results, performance, prospects, opportunities, plans, actions and events and other statements, concerns, or matters that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements,” as that term is defined under the federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding future: impacts of COVID-19 including the duration thereof; gasoline demand, including recovery thereof in the Midcontinent; cash flow; safe and reliable operations; costs including management thereof; capital spending; derivatives activities and gains or losses associated therewith; income taxes including benefit or expense relating thereto, pretax income or loss and tax rates; value of securities, including marketability, income from and performance thereof; expectations for market conditions in the fertilizer industry; dividends and distributions including the timing, payment and amount (if any) thereof; impacts of global crude oil pricing; repurchases (if any) of CVR Partners common units including the amount and timing thereof; refinery throughput; crude oil prices including impacts to inventory valuation; direct operating expenses, capital expenditures, depreciation and amortization; turnaround expenditures and the impact of turnarounds; ammonia utilization rates; inventories and adjustments thereto; basis used for determining inventory value; and other matters. You can generally identify forward-looking statements by our use of forward-looking terminology such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “explore,” “evaluate,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “seek,” “should,” or “will,” or the negative thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. Investors are cautioned that various factors may affect these forward-looking statements, including the health and economic effects of COVID-19, the rate of any economic improvement, demand for fossil fuels, price volatility of crude oil, other feedstocks and refined products (among others); the ability of CVR Partners to make cash distributions; potential operating hazards; costs of compliance with existing, or compliance with new, laws and regulations and potential liabilities arising therefrom; impacts of planting season on CVR Partners; general economic and business conditions; and other risks. For additional discussion of risk factors which may affect our results, please see the risk factors and other disclosures included in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, any subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and our other SEC filings. These and other risks may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Given these risks and uncertainties, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements included in this news release are made only as of the date hereof. CVR Energy disclaims any intention or obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by law.

About CVR Energy, Inc.

Headquartered in Sugar Land, Texas, CVR Energy is a diversified holding company primarily engaged in the petroleum refining and marketing business through its interest in CVR Refining and the nitrogen fertilizer manufacturing business through its interest in CVR Partners, LP. CVR Energy subsidiaries serve as the general partner and own 35 percent of the common units of CVR Partners.

For further information, please contact:

Investor Relations:
Richard Roberts
CVR Energy, Inc.
(281) 207-3205
InvestorRelations@CVREnergy.com   

Media Relations:
Brandee Stephens
CVR Energy, Inc.
(281) 207-3516
MediaRelations@CVREnergy.com

Non-GAAP Measures

Our management uses certain non-GAAP performance measures to evaluate current and past performance and prospects for the future to supplement our GAAP financial information presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. These non-GAAP financial measures are important factors in assessing our operating results and profitability and include the performance and liquidity measures defined below.

The following are non-GAAP measures presented for the period ended June 30, 2020:

EBITDA - Consolidated net income (loss) before (i) interest expense, net, (ii) income tax expense and (iii) depreciation and amortization expense.

Petroleum EBITDA and Nitrogen Fertilizer EBITDA - Segment net income (loss) before segment (i) interest expense, net, (ii) income tax expense (benefit), and (iii) depreciation and amortization.

Refining Margin - The difference between our Petroleum Segment net sales and cost of materials and other.

Petroleum EBITDA and Refining Margin, adjusted for Inventory Valuation Impacts - Petroleum EBITDA and Refining Margin adjusted to exclude the impact of current period market price and volume fluctuations on crude oil and refined product inventories purchased in prior periods and lower of cost or net realizable value adjustments, if applicable. We record our commodity inventories on the first-in-first-out basis. As a result, significant current period fluctuations in market prices and the volumes we hold in inventory can have favorable or unfavorable impacts on our refining margins as compared to similar metrics used by other publicly-traded companies in the refining industry.

Refining Margin and Refining Margin adjusted for Inventory Valuation Impacts, per Throughput Barrel - Refining Margin divided by the total throughput barrels during period, which is calculated as total throughput barrels per day times the number of days in the period.

Direct Operating Expenses per Throughput Barrel - Direct operating expenses for our Petroleum Segment divided by total throughput barrels for the period, which is calculated as total throughput barrels per day times the number of days in the period.

Adjusted (Loss) Earnings per Share - (Loss) Earnings per share adjusted for inventory valuation impacts and other significant non-cash items on an after-tax basis.

Net Debt and Finance Lease Obligations Exclusive of Nitrogen Fertilizer - Net debt is total debt and finance lease obligations reduced for cash and cash equivalents.

Total Debt and Net Debt and Finance Lease Obligations to EBITDA Exclusive of Nitrogen Fertilizer - Total debt and net debt and finance lease obligations is calculated as the consolidated debt and net debt and finance lease obligations less the Nitrogen Fertilizer Segment debt and net debt and finance lease obligations as of the most recent period ended divided by EBITDA exclusive of the Nitrogen Fertilizer Segment for the most recent twelve-month period.

Free Cash Flow - Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities less capital expenditures and capitalized turnaround expenditures.

We present these measures because we believe they may help investors, analysts, lenders and ratings agencies analyze our results of operations and liquidity in conjunction with our U.S. GAAP results, including but not limited to our operating performance as compared to other publicly-traded companies in the refining industry, without regard to historical cost basis or financing methods and our ability to incur and service debt and fund capital expenditures. Non-GAAP measures have important limitations as analytical tools, because they exclude some, but not all, items that affect net earnings and operating income. These measures should not be considered substitutes for their most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measures. See “Non-GAAP Reconciliations” section included herein for reconciliation of these amounts. Due to rounding, numbers presented within this section may not add or equal to numbers or totals presented elsewhere within this document.

Items or Events Impacting Comparability

Our results over the past two years have been affects by the following events, the understanding of which will aid in assessing the comparability of our period to period financial performance and financial condition.

Petroleum Segment

Coffeyville Refinery - During the three and six months ended June 30, 2020, we capitalized costs of $27 million and $149 million, respectively, related the planned turnaround which began in March 2020 and was completed in April 2020.

Nitrogen Fertilizer Segment

Goodwill Impairment

As of December 31, 2019, the Company had a goodwill balance of $41 million associated with our Coffeyville Facility reporting unit for which the estimated fair value had been in excess of carrying value based on our 2018 and 2019 assessments. As a result of lower expectations for market conditions in the fertilizer industry, the market performance of CVR Partners’ common units, a qualitative analysis, and additional risks associated with the business, the Company concluded a triggering event had occurred that required an interim quantitative impairment assessment of goodwill for this reporting unit as of June 30, 2020. Significant assumptions inherent in the valuation methodologies for goodwill include, but are not limited to, prospective financial information, growth rates, discount rates, inflationary factors, and cost of capital. The results of the impairment test indicated that the carrying amount of the Coffeyville Facility reporting unit exceeded the estimated fair value of the reporting unit, and a full impairment of the asset was required. No such charge was recognized during 2019.

CVR Energy, Inc. 
(all information in this release is unaudited)

Financial and Operational Data

Selected Balance Sheet Data

Selected Cash Flow Data

Selected Segment Data

Selected Balance Sheet Data

Petroleum Segment

Key Operating Metrics per Total Throughput Barrel

Throughput Data by Refinery

Production Data by Refinery

Q3 2020 Petroleum Segment Outlook

The table below summarizes our outlook for certain operational statistics and financial information for the third quarter of 2020. See “Forward-Looking Statements” above.

Nitrogen Fertilizer Segment:

Key Operating Data:

Sales and Production Data

Key Market Indicators

Q3 2020 Nitrogen Fertilizer Segment Outlook

The table below summarizes our outlook for certain operational statistics and financial information for the third quarter of 2020. See “Forward-Looking Statements” above.

Non-GAAP Reconciliations:

Reconciliation of Net (Loss) Income to EBITDA

Reconciliation of Net Cash (Used In) Provided By Operating Activities to Free Cash Flow

Reconciliation of Petroleum Segment Net Income (Loss) to EBITDA and EBITDA Adjusted for Inventory Valuation Impacts

Reconciliation of Petroleum Segment Gross Profit to Refining Margin and Refining Margin Adjusted for Inventory Valuation Impacts

Reconciliation of Petroleum Segment Total Throughput Barrels

Reconciliation of Petroleum Segment Refining Margin per Total Throughput Barrels

Reconciliation of Petroleum Segment Refining Margin Adjusted for Inventory Valuation Impact per Total Throughput Barrel

Reconciliation of Petroleum Segment Direct Operating Expenses per Total Throughput Barrel

Reconciliation of Nitrogen Fertilizer Segment Net Loss to EBITDA

Reconciliation of Basic and Diluted (Loss) Earnings per Share to Adjusted (Loss) Earnings per Share

Reconciliation of Total Debt and Net Debt and Finance Lease Obligations to EBITDA Exclusive of Nitrogen Fertilizer

Source: CVR Energy, Inc.