Petra Diamonds Ltd (STU:FPO) (FY 2024) Earnings Call Highlights: Navigating Challenges with ...

In This Article:

  • Revenue: Increased from $325 million to $367 million.

  • Adjusted EBITDA: Decreased from $113 million to $66 million, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 18%.

  • Net Loss After Tax: $107 million, compared to a loss of $102 million in the prior year.

  • CapEx: Reduced from $117 million to $84 million.

  • Operational Free Cash Flow: Improved from negative $65 million in FY23 to negative $17 million in FY24.

  • Net Debt: Decreased from $212 million at the end of December '23 to $201 million at June '24.

  • Diamond Prices: Like-for-like prices down 12.4% compared to the prior year.

  • Cost Reductions: Achieved $80 million in CapEx savings and sustainable cost savings of $44 million for FY25.

  • Inventory Movement: $71 million swing in diamond inventory movement year on year.

Release Date: September 24, 2024

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

Positive Points

  • Petra Diamonds Ltd (STU:FPO) successfully reduced its operating cost base by $19 million and CapEx by $80 million in FY24, with plans to sustainably reduce operating costs by $44 million annually from FY25.

  • The company repurchased $12 million of its 2026 second lien loan notes at a discount, saving approximately $1.2 million in future annual interest costs.

  • Despite weaker diamond prices, Petra Diamonds Ltd (STU:FPO) reported an increase in revenue from $325 million to $367 million, supported by increased contributions from the Williamson operation.

  • The company has maintained a focus on safety, achieving seven fatality-free years and reducing its lost time injury frequency rate from 0.24 to 0.16.

  • Petra Diamonds Ltd (STU:FPO) is well-positioned to generate free cash flow through market cycles, with a smooth capital profile and reduced cost base, targeting net debt-to-EBITDA below 1.5x by FY26.

Negative Points

  • Adjusted EBITDA decreased significantly from $113 million to $66 million due to weaker diamond prices and inventory movements.

  • The company reported a net loss after tax of $107 million, compared to a loss of $102 million in the prior year, impacted by impairments totaling $78 million.

  • Operational free cash flow remained negative, improving only slightly from negative $65 million in FY23 to negative $17 million in FY24.

  • Diamond prices saw a 12.4% decline year-on-year, with market weakness persisting throughout FY24.

  • Net debt increased year-on-year, with consolidated net debt at $201 million as of June 2024, despite efforts to reduce operating costs and defer CapEx.

Q & A Highlights

Q: Could you provide guidance for fiscal year '25, specifically regarding the expected free cash flow inflection point? A: Richard Duffy, CEO: We are targeting net cash generation for the full year of FY25. While we anticipate modest cash generation in FY25 and FY26 due to ongoing project ramp-ups, significant growth is expected from FY27. Cash flow may fluctuate throughout the year, but the objective remains net cash generation for the full year.