CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CF), a leading global manufacturer of hydrogen and nitrogen products, today announced results for the full year and fourth quarter ended December 31, 2023.
Highlights
Full year net earnings(1)(2) of $1.53 billion, or $7.87 per diluted share, EBITDA(2) of $2.71 billion, and adjusted EBITDA(3) of $2.76 billion
Fourth quarter net earnings(1)(2) of $274 million, or $1.44 per diluted share, EBITDA of $556 million, and adjusted EBITDA of $592 million
Full year net cash from operating activities of $2.76 billion and free cash flow(4) of $1.80 billion
Closed acquisition of Waggaman ammonia production facility on December 1, 2023
Electrolyzer installation at Donaldsonville, LA, Complex mechanically complete; commissioning activities for green ammonia project underway
CF Industries and Mitsui & Co., Ltd. ('Mitsui') targeting second half 2024 for final investment decision (FID) on proposed greenfield low-carbon ammonia plant in Louisiana
Repurchased 2.9 million shares for $225 million during the fourth quarter of 2023
'CF Industries' 2023 results demonstrate the strength of our business and our team,' said Tony Will, president and chief executive officer, CF Industries Holdings, Inc. 'We ran our plants well, added the Waggaman ammonia production facility to our network, and advanced our clean energy strategy. We believe that the global energy cost structure presents attractive margin opportunities for our North American-based production network in the near-term and that the global nitrogen supply-demand balance will tighten considerably in the medium-term. As a result, we expect to continue to drive strong cash generation, underpinning our ability to create significant shareholder value from disciplined investments in growth opportunities and returning substantial capital to shareholders.'
Update on Proposed Greenfield Low-Carbon Ammonia Plant at CF Industries' Blue Point Complex
In the fourth quarter of 2023, CF Industries and Mitsui completed a front-end engineering and design (FEED) study on a greenfield steam methane reforming (SMR) ammonia facility with carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) technologies at CF Industries' Blue Point Complex in Louisiana. The FEED study estimates the cost of a project with these attributes to be in the range of $3 billion, with approximately $2.5 billion allocated to the ammonia facility and CCS technologies and approximately $500 million allocated to scalable common infrastructure for the site, such as ammonia storage and vessel loading docks.
CF Industries and Mitsui are progressing two additional FEED studies focused on technologies with the potential to further reduce the carbon intensity of the proposed low-carbon ammonia plant. These include a previously announced FEED study evaluating autothermal reforming (ATR) ammonia production technology and a recently added FEED study assessing the cost and viability of adding flue gas capture to an SMR ammonia facility. Both FEED studies are expected to be completed in the second half of 2024.
CF Industries and Mitsui also expect greater clarity later in 2024 regarding demand for low-carbon ammonia, including the ammonia carbon intensity requirements of offtake partners as well as government incentives and regulatory developments in partners' local jurisdictions. As a result of these factors, the companies are targeting the second half of 2024 for a final investment decision on the proposed low-carbon ammonia plant.
Operations Overview
The Company continues to operate safely and efficiently across its network. As of December 31, 2023, the 12-month rolling average recordable incident rate was 0.36 incidents per 200,000 work hours, significantly better than industry averages.
Gross ammonia production for the full year and fourth quarter of 2023 was approximately 9.5 million and 2.5 million tons, respectively. Gross ammonia production volume for the full year and fourth quarter of 2023 includes one month of production from the recently acquired Waggaman ammonia production facility in Louisiana. The Company expects gross ammonia production in 2024 to be approximately 10 million tons.
Financial Results Overview
Full Year 2023 Financial Results
For the full year 2023, net earnings attributable to common stockholders were $1.53 billion, or $7.87 per diluted share, EBITDA was $2.71 billion, and adjusted EBITDA was $2.76 billion. These results compare to full year 2022 net earnings attributable to common stockholders of $3.35 billion, or $16.38 per diluted share, EBITDA of $5.54 billion, and adjusted EBITDA of $5.88 billion.
Net sales for the full year 2023 were $6.63 billion compared to $11.19 billion for 2022. Average selling prices for 2023 were lower than 2022 as lower global energy costs reduced the global market clearing price required to meet global demand. Sales volumes for 2023 were higher compared to 2022 from higher urea ammonium nitrate (UAN), ammonia and diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) sales volumes.
Cost of sales for 2023 was lower compared to 2022 due primarily to lower realized natural gas costs.
In 2023, the average cost of natural gas reflected in the Company's cost of sales was $3.67 per MMBtu compared to the average cost of natural gas in cost of sales of $7.18 per MMBtu for 2022.
Fourth Quarter 2023 Financial Results
For the fourth quarter of 2023, net earnings attributable to common stockholders were $274 million, or $1.44 per diluted share, EBITDA was $556 million, and adjusted EBITDA was $592 million. These results compare to fourth quarter of 2022 net earnings attributable to common stockholders of $860 million, or $4.35 per diluted share, EBITDA of $1.25 billion, and adjusted EBITDA of $1.30 billion.
Net sales in the fourth quarter of 2023 were $1.57 billion compared to $2.61 billion in 2022. Average selling prices for the fourth quarter of 2023 were lower than 2022 as lower global energy costs reduced the global market clearing price required to meet global demand. Sales volumes in the fourth quarter of 2023 were higher than 2022 driven by higher ammonia, UAN and DEF sales volumes.
Cost of sales for the fourth quarter of 2023 was lower compared to 2022 due primarily to lower realized natural gas costs.
The average cost of natural gas reflected in the Company's cost of sales was $3.01 per MMBtu in the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to the average cost of natural gas in cost of sales of $6.88 per MMBtu in the fourth quarter of 2022.
Capital Management
Acquisition of Waggaman, Louisiana, ammonia production facility
On December 1, 2023, CF Industries closed its acquisition of Incitec Pivot Limited's ('IPL') ammonia production plant and related assets located in Waggaman, Louisiana. In connection with the acquisition, the Company entered into a long-term ammonia offtake agreement providing for the Company to supply up to 200,000 tons of ammonia per year to IPL's Dyno Nobel, Inc. subsidiary. Under the terms of the asset purchase agreement, $425 million of the $1.675 billion purchase price, subject to adjustment, was allocated by the parties to the ammonia offtake agreement. The Company funded the balance of the purchase price with $1.223 billion in cash.
Capital Expenditures
Capital expenditures in the fourth quarter and full year 2023 were $188 million and $499 million, respectively. Management projects capital expenditures for full year 2024 will be in the range of $550 million.
Share Repurchase Program
The Company repurchased approximately 7.9 million shares for $580 million during 2023, which included the repurchase of 2.9 million shares for $225 million during the fourth quarter of 2023.
Quarterly Dividend
On January 31, 2024, the Board of Directors of CF Industries Holdings, Inc., declared a quarterly dividend of $0.50 per common share, representing a 25% increase compared to its prior quarterly dividend.
CHS Inc. Distribution
On January 31, 2024, the Board of Managers of CF Industries Nitrogen, LLC (CFN) approved a semi-annual distribution payment to CHS Inc. (CHS) of $144 million for the distribution period ended December 31, 2023. The distribution was paid on January 31, 2024. Distributions to CHS pertaining to 2023 distribution periods were approximately $348 million.
Nitrogen Market Outlook
Management believes that global nitrogen industry fundamentals point to a constructive global nitrogen supply-demand balance in the near-term and a tightening global nitrogen supply-demand balance in the medium-term.
In the near-term, the Company expects global nitrogen demand to remain resilient driven by continued strong agriculture applications and recovering industrial demand. Additionally, key producing regions continue to face challenging production economics due to the cost and availability of natural gas.
North America: Management believes nitrogen channel inventories remain below average following a strong fall 2023 ammonia season, nitrogen imports to the region that are below the 3-year average, and reported production downtime in the region during the fourth quarter of 2023. The Company projects that 91 million acres of corn will be planted in the United States in 2024 and that North American farm profitability will improve in 2024 compared to 2023 as lower crop prices are offset by lower input costs. As a result, management expects nitrogen demand in North America for the spring 2024 application season to remain strong.
Brazil: Imports of urea into Brazil totaled 7.3 million metric tons in 2023, an increase of approximately 3% year-over-year. Management expects Brazil to remain the largest importer of urea globally despite reported farmer caution regarding fertilizer purchases during this growing season as they evaluate the potential impact of poor weather conditions on the upcoming safrinha plantings.
India: Management expects India to remain a significant importer of urea in 2024 even as domestic production increases with higher operating rates at its new nitrogen facilities. Imports of urea in 2024 are projected to be in a range of 6.0-7.0 million metric tons.
Europe: Approximately 40% of ammonia and 25% of urea capacity were reported in shutdown/curtailment in Europe as of early January 2024 as high natural gas prices and lower global nitrogen values continue to challenge production economics in the region. Management believes that ammonia operating rates and overall domestic nitrogen product output in Europe will remain below historical averages over the long-term given the region's status as the global marginal producer. As a result, the Company expects nitrogen imports of ammonia and upgraded products to the region to be higher than historical averages.
China: Management expects urea export controls and inspections imposed by the Chinese government on domestic producers to remain in place in 2024 in order to prioritize fertilizer production for domestic consumption. The Company also anticipates that the Chinese government will allow windows during the year that will enable Chinese producers to export. Urea exports from China are projected to be approximately 4 million metric tons for 2024.
Trinidad: Ammonia production in Trinidad in recent years has been approximately 1 million metric tons lower annually compared to the 2018-2020 average. Management expects ammonia production to remain below average due to anticipated higher natural gas prices and lower natural gas availability in the country for nitrogen producers.
Russia: Exports of ammonia from Russia continue to remain lower compared to prior years due to geopolitical disruptions arising from Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the resulting closure of the ammonia pipeline from Russia to the port of Odessa in Ukraine. Exports of other nitrogen products from Russia are at pre-war levels, with product moving to countries willing to purchase Russian fertilizer, including Brazil and the United States.
Over the near- and medium-terms, significant energy cost differentials between North American producers and high-cost producers in Europe and Asia are expected to persist. As a result, the Company believes the global nitrogen cost curve will remain supportive of strong margin opportunities for low-cost North American producers.
Longer-term, management expects the global nitrogen supply-demand balance to tighten as global nitrogen capacity growth over the next four years is not projected to keep pace with expected global nitrogen demand growth of approximately 1.5% per year. Global production is expected to be further constrained by continued challenges related to cost and availability of natural gas.
Strategic Initiatives Update
Donaldsonville Complex green ammonia project
CF Industries' green ammonia project at its Donaldsonville Complex in Louisiana, which involves installing an electrolysis system to generate hydrogen from water that will then be supplied to existing ammonia plants to produce ammonia, continues to progress. The electrolysis system is mechanically complete and commissioning activities are underway. At full capacity, the project will enable the Company to produce approximately 20,000 tons of green ammonia per year. Green ammonia refers to ammonia produced with hydrogen sourced through an electrolysis process that produces no carbon emissions. This represents North America's first commercial-scale green ammonia capacity.
Donaldsonville Complex carbon capture and sequestration project
Engineering activities for the construction of a dehydration and compression unit at CF Industries' Donaldsonville Complex continue to advance, all major equipment for the facility has been procured, and fabrication of the CO2 compressors is proceeding. Once in service, the dehydration and compression unit will enable up to 2 million tons of captured process CO2 to be transported and permanently stored by ExxonMobil. Start-up for the project is scheduled for 2025, at which point CF Industries will be able to produce significant volumes of low-carbon ammonia.
Certified natural gas purchase
CF Industries has entered into an agreement for 2024 with bp for the purchase of 4.4 billion cubic feet of certified natural gas, which is double its purchase in 2023. The certificates purchased by CF Industries are issued by not-for-profit MiQ and certify that certain natural gas produced by bp has a 90% lower methane emissions intensity - the ratio of methane emissions to natural gas produced - than the industry average. Methane emissions throughout the natural gas supply chain are a significant contributor to the lifecycle carbon intensity of ammonia production and the second largest source of Scope 3 emissions for CF Industries.
About CF Industries Holdings, Inc.
At CF Industries, our mission is to provide clean energy to feed and fuel the world sustainably. With our employees focused on safe and reliable operations, environmental stewardship, and disciplined capital and corporate management, we are on a path to decarbonize our ammonia production network - the world's largest - to enable green and blue hydrogen and nitrogen products for energy, fertilizer, emissions abatement and other industrial activities. Our manufacturing complexes in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, an unparalleled storage, transportation and distribution network in North America, and logistics capabilities enabling a global reach underpin our strategy to leverage our unique capabilities to accelerate the world's transition to clean energy. CF Industries routinely posts investor announcements and additional information on the Company's website at www.cfindustries.com and encourages those interested in the Company to check there frequently.
Note Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures
The Company reports its financial results in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Management believes that EBITDA, EBITDA per ton, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA per ton, free cash flow, and, on a segment basis, adjusted gross margin, adjusted gross margin as a percent of net sales and adjusted gross margin per product ton and per nutrient ton, which are non-GAAP financial measures, provide additional meaningful information regarding the Company's performance and financial strength. Management uses these measures, and believes they are useful to investors, as supplemental financial measures in the comparison of year-over-year performance. Non-GAAP financial measures should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternative for, the Company's reported results prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, because not all companies use identical calculations, EBITDA, EBITDA per ton, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA per ton, free cash flow, adjusted gross margin, adjusted gross margin as a percent of net sales and adjusted gross margin per product ton and per nutrient ton, included in this release may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. Reconciliations of EBITDA, EBITDA per ton, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA per ton, and free cash flow to the most directly comparable GAAP measures are provided in the tables accompanying this release under 'CF Industries Holdings, Inc.-Selected Financial Information-Non-GAAP Disclosure Items.' Reconciliations of adjusted gross margin, adjusted gross margin as a percent of net sales and adjusted gross margin per product ton and per nutrient ton to the most directly comparable GAAP measures are provided in the segment tables included in this release.
Safe Harbor Statement
All statements in this communication by CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, the 'Company'), other than those relating to historical facts, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by their use of terms such as 'anticipate,' 'believe,' 'could,' 'estimate,' 'expect,' 'intend,' 'may,' 'plan,' 'predict,' 'project,' 'will' or 'would' and similar terms and phrases, including references to assumptions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements. These statements may include, but are not limited to, statements about the synergies and other benefits, and other aspects of the transactions with Incitec Pivot Limited ('IPL'), strategic plans and management's expectations with respect to the production of green and blue (low-carbon) ammonia, the development of carbon capture and sequestration projects, the transition to and growth of a hydrogen economy, greenhouse gas reduction targets, projected capital expenditures, statements about future financial and operating results, and other items described in this communication.
Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, among others, the risk of obstacles to realization of the benefits of the transactions with IPL; the risk that the synergies from the transactions with IPL may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected; the risk that the completion of the transactions with IPL, including integration of the Waggaman ammonia production complex into the Company's operations, disrupt current operations or harm relationships with customers, employees and suppliers; the risk that integration of the Waggaman ammonia production complex with the Company's current operations will be more costly or difficult than expected or may otherwise be unsuccessful; diversion of management time and attention to issues relating to the transactions with IPL; unanticipated costs or liabilities associated with the IPL transactions; the cyclical nature of the Company's business and the impact of global supply and demand on the Company's selling prices; the global commodity nature of the Company's nitrogen products, the conditions in the international market for nitrogen products, and the intense global competition from other producers; conditions in the United States, Europe and other agricultural areas, including the influence of governmental policies and technological developments on the demand for our fertilizer products; the volatility of natural gas prices in North America and the United Kingdom; weather conditions and the impact of adverse weather events; the seasonality of the fertilizer business; the impact of changing market conditions on the Company's forward sales programs; difficulties in securing the supply and delivery of raw materials, increases in their costs or delays or interruptions in their delivery; reliance on third party providers of transportation services and equipment; the Company's reliance on a limited number of key facilities; risks associated with cybersecurity; acts of terrorism and regulations to combat terrorism; risks associated with international operations; the significant risks and hazards involved in producing and handling the Company's products against which the Company may not be fully insured; the Company's ability to manage its indebtedness and any additional indebtedness that may be incurred; the Company's ability to maintain compliance with covenants under its revolving credit agreement and the agreements governing its indebtedness; downgrades of the Company's credit ratings; risks associated with changes in tax laws and disagreements with taxing authorities; risks involving derivatives and the effectiveness of the Company's risk management and hedging activities; potential liabilities and expenditures related to environmental, health and safety laws and regulations and permitting requirements; regulatory restrictions and requirements related to greenhouse gas emissions; the development and growth of the market for green and blue (low-carbon) ammonia and the risks and uncertainties relating to the development and implementation of the Company's green and blue ammonia projects; risks associated with expansions of the Company's business, including unanticipated adverse consequences and the significant resources that could be required; and risks associated with the operation or management of the strategic venture with CHS (the 'CHS Strategic Venture'), risks and uncertainties relating to the market prices of the fertilizer products that are the subject of the supply agreement with CHS over the life of the supply agreement, and the risk that any challenges related to the CHS Strategic Venture will harm the Company's other business relationships.
More detailed information about factors that may affect the Company's performance and could cause actual results to differ materially from those in any forward-looking statements may be found in CF Industries Holdings, Inc.'s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including CF Industries Holdings, Inc.'s most recent annual and quarterly reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q, which are available in the Investor Relations section of the Company's web site. It is not possible to predict or identify all risks and uncertainties that might affect the accuracy of our forward-looking statements and, consequently, our descriptions of such risks and uncertainties should not be considered exhaustive. There is no guarantee that any of the events, plans or goals anticipated by these forward-looking statements will occur, and if any of the events do occur, there is no guarantee what effect they will have on our business, results of operations, cash flows, financial condition and future prospects. Forward-looking statements are given only as of the date of this communication and the Company disclaims any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
Contact:
Chris Close
Senior Director, Corporate Communications
Tel: 847-405-2542
Email: cclose@cfindustries.com
Darla Rivera
Director, Investor Relations
Tel: 847-405-2045
Email: darla.rivera@cfindustries.com
CF INDUSTRIES HOLDINGS, INC. 
