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Orica Ltd (OCLDF) (Q4 2024) Earnings Call Highlights: Record EBIT and Strategic Growth Drive ...

In This Article:

  • EBIT: Highest in a decade, increased by 15% to $806 million.

  • Net Profit: Rose by 11% to $409 million.

  • Statutory Net Profit After Tax: Increased by 77% to $525 million.

  • Operating Cash Flow: Robust at $808 million.

  • Return on Net Assets: Improved by 20 basis points from 12.6% to 12.8%.

  • Earnings Per Share (pre-significant items): Increased by $0.052 to $0.864.

  • Dividends: Increased to $0.47 per share, a 9% increase from the prior year.

  • Capital Expenditure: Total of $456 million, including $161 million in growth capital.

  • Net Debt: Increased by $705 million to $1.6 billion.

  • Gearing: Increased to 26.2%, below the target range of 30% to 40%.

  • Blasting Solutions EBIT: Increased by 13% to $755 million.

  • Specialty Mining Chemicals EBIT: Increased by 36%, driven by Cyanco acquisition.

  • Digital Solutions EBIT: Increased by 29%.

Release Date: November 14, 2024

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

Positive Points

  • Orica Ltd (OCLDF) achieved its highest EBIT in a decade, reflecting strong strategic execution and operational excellence.

  • The company reported a 15% increase in underlying earnings to $806 million and an 11% rise in net profit to $409 million.

  • Orica Ltd (OCLDF) has made significant progress in sustainability, achieving a 43% reduction in Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions from its 2019 baseline.

  • The company successfully completed two strategic acquisitions, Terra Insights and Cyanco, which are expected to contribute to future growth.

  • Orica Ltd (OCLDF) reported strong earnings growth across all segments and regions, driven by increased adoption of premium products and innovative technologies.

Negative Points

  • The company faced a tragic incident involving the loss of a colleague in India, highlighting ongoing safety challenges.

  • Despite improvements, Orica Ltd (OCLDF) continues to focus on fatality prevention and harm reduction, indicating room for further safety enhancements.

  • The North American segment experienced reduced demand for thermal coal and lower activity in the quarry and construction market.

  • The company anticipates supply constraints in its cyanide assets due to necessary safety upgrades and maintenance work.

  • Orica Ltd (OCLDF) faces ongoing challenges from macroeconomic factors such as inflation and geopolitical risks, which could impact future performance.

Q & A Highlights

Q: Can you provide a timeline for achieving the target of 50% earnings from beyond blasting, and how much of this growth will be organic versus acquired? A: Sanjeev Gandhi, CEO, stated that while a specific timeline cannot be provided, the goal is to achieve this target quickly. The current portfolio is sufficient to make significant progress, with a notable step-up expected in FY 2025 due to full-year contributions from specialty mining chemicals and digital acquisitions. The growth will be driven by both organic scaling and new product introductions.