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2 months ago
Cleveland-Cliffs Reports First-Quarter 2026 ResultsApril 20, 2026 6:00 AM
Business Wire
Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (NYSE: CLF) today reported first-quarter results for the period ended March 31, 2026.
First-Quarter Consolidated Results
Steel shipments of 4.1 million net tons, a 338,000 increase from the prior quarter
Revenues of $4.9 billion, a $600 million increase from the prior quarter
GAAP net loss of $229 million, or $0.42 per diluted share
Adjusted EBITDA2 of $95 million, inclusive of an $80 million one-time energy cost impact driven by extreme cold weather
Liquidity of $3.1 billion as of March 31, 2026
First-quarter 2026 consolidated revenues were $4.9 billion, compared to $4.6 billion in the first quarter of 2025 and $4.3 billion in the fourth quarter of 2025.
For the first quarter of 2026, the Company recorded a GAAP net loss of $229 million, or $0.42 per diluted share, with an adjusted net loss1 of $0.40 per diluted share. This compares to a first quarter 2025 GAAP net loss of $486 million, or $1.01 per diluted share, with an adjusted net loss1 of $0.93 per diluted share; and a fourth quarter 2025 GAAP net loss of $235 million, or $0.44 per diluted share, with an adjusted net loss1 of $0.43 per diluted share.
For the first quarter of 2026, the Company reported Adjusted EBITDA2 of $95 million, which included an $80 million negative one-time impact due to a cold-weather driven energy price spike. This compares to an Adjusted EBITDA2 loss of $179 million and $21 million recorded in the first and fourth quarter of 2025, respectively.
Cliffs’ Chairman, President and CEO, Lourenco Goncalves, said: “Q1 results reflected the impact of short-term headwinds like energy prices and price realization lags. As we move through the year, each quarter is expected to improve sequentially, as the momentum already visible in both our order book and pricing continues to translate into earnings and cash flow. Importantly, we expect to generate healthy positive free cash flow in the second quarter, marking a return to the earnings and cash-generation profile this company is capable of delivering."
Mr. Goncalves added: "Trade enforcement in the United States is working exactly as intended, with steel imports at their lowest levels since the global financial crisis. Recent actions related to derivative products have brought needed clarity to the market, supporting manufacturing in the United States and creating new jobs for American workers. Additionally, we continue to request the Canadian government to further enhance its own defenses toward the achievement of what we call both in Canada and the United States 'Fortress North America.' At this point we feel encouraged by the level of understanding demonstrated by key Canadian officials to the urgency of resolving the problem and preserving Canadian jobs currently at risk."
Mr. Goncalves concluded: "Ongoing disruption in the Middle East has made Cliffs' competitive position stronger and underscores why global steel producers want to partner with Cleveland-Cliffs. While the current situation has not helped the timeline of a potential deal with POSCO, we continue to negotiate in good faith within the framework of our MoU toward a transaction that is accretive for our shareholders and fully reflects the value of our assets, our market position, and the strength of the U.S. steel demand."
Steelmaking Segment Results
Three Months Ended
March 31,
Three Months
Ended
2026
2025
Dec. 31, 2025
External Sales Volumes - In Thousands
Steel Products (net tons)
4,108
4,140
3,770
Selling Price - Per Net Ton
Average net selling price per net ton of steel products
$
1,048
$
980
$
993
Operating Results - In Millions
Revenues
$
4,757
$
4,467
$
4,154
Cash cost of goods sold
(4,621
)
(4,616
)
(4,129
)
Cash margin
136
(149
)
25
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization
(231
)
(256
)
(245
)
Gross margin
$
(95
)
$
(405
)
$
(220
)
First-quarter 2026 steel product sales volumes of 4.1 million net tons consisted of 44% hot-rolled, 29% coated, 15% cold-rolled, 5% plate, 3% stainless and electrical, and 4% other, including slabs.
Steelmaking revenues of $4.8 billion included $1.5 billion, or 31%, of sales to the distributors and converters market; $1.4 billion, or 29%, of sales to the infrastructure and manufacturing market; $1.4 billion, or 29%, of direct sales to the automotive market; and $552 million, or 11%, of sales to steel producers.
Liquidity
As of March 31, 2026, the Company had $3.1 billion in total liquidity.
Outlook
The Company maintains the following previously guided expectations for the full-year 2026, including:
Steel shipment volumes maintained at approximately 16.5-17.0 million net tons
Capital expenditures maintained at approximately $700 million
Selling, general and administrative expenses maintained at approximately $575 million
Depreciation, depletion and amortization maintained at approximately $1.1 billion
Cash Pension and OPEB payments and contributions maintained at approximately $125 million
Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. will host a conference call this morning, April 20, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. ET. The call will be broadcast live and archived on Cliffs' website: www.clevelandcliffs.com.
About Cleveland-Cliffs Inc.
Cleveland-Cliffs is a leading North America-based steel producer with focus on value-added sheet products, particularly for the automotive industry. The Company is vertically integrated from the mining of iron ore, production of pellets and direct reduced iron, and processing of ferrous scrap through primary steelmaking and downstream finishing, stamping, tooling, and tubing. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Cleveland-Cliffs employs approximately 25,000 people across its operations in the United States and Canada.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. As a general matter, forward-looking statements relate to anticipated trends and expectations rather than historical matters. Forward-looking statements are subject to uncertainties and factors relating to our operations and business environment that are difficult to predict and may be beyond our control. Such uncertainties and factors may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These statements speak only as of the date of this release, and we undertake no ongoing obligation, other than that imposed by law, to update these statements. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Uncertainties and risk factors that could affect our future performance and cause results to differ from the forward-looking statements in this release include, but are not limited to: continued volatility of steel, scrap metal and iron ore market prices, which directly and indirectly impact the prices of the products that we sell to our customers; uncertainties associated with the highly competitive and cyclical steel industry and our reliance on the demand for steel from the automotive industry; potential weaknesses and uncertainties in global economic conditions, excess global steelmaking capacity and production, prevalence of steel imports and reduced market demand; severe financial hardship, bankruptcy, temporary or permanent shutdowns or operational challenges of one or more of our major customers, key suppliers or contractors, which, among other adverse effects, could disrupt our operations or lead to reduced demand for our products, increased difficulty collecting receivables, and customers and/or suppliers asserting force majeure or other reasons for not performing their contractual obligations to us; risks related to U.S. and Canadian government actions and other countries' reactions with respect to Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 (as amended by the Trade Act of 1974), the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement and/or other trade agreements, tariffs, treaties or policies, as well as the uncertainty of obtaining and maintaining effective antidumping and countervailing duty orders to counteract the harmful effects of unfairly traded imports; impacts of extensive governmental regulation, including actual and potential environmental regulations relating to climate change and carbon emissions, and related costs and liabilities, including failure to receive or maintain required operating and environmental permits, approvals, modifications or other authorizations of, or from, any governmental or regulatory authority and costs related to implementing improvements to ensure compliance with regulatory changes, including potential financial assurance requirements, and reclamation and remediation obligations; potential impacts to the environment or exposure to hazardous substances resulting from our operations; our ability to maintain adequate liquidity, our level of indebtedness and the availability of capital could limit our financial flexibility and cash flow necessary to fund working capital, planned capital expenditures, acquisitions, and other general corporate purposes or ongoing needs of our business, or to repurchase our common shares; our ability to reduce our indebtedness or return capital to shareholders within the currently expected timeframes or at all; adverse changes in credit ratings, interest rates, foreign currency rates and tax laws; risks and uncertainties related to our ability to realize the anticipated synergies or other expected benefits of any acquisitions, including the acquisition of Stelco, any potential transaction arising out of our Memorandum of Understanding with POSCO and completing any proposed asset divestiture transactions; challenges to successfully implementing our business strategy to achieve operating results in line with our guidance; the outcome of, and costs incurred in connection with, lawsuits, claims, arbitrations or governmental proceedings relating to commercial and business disputes, antitrust claims, environmental matters, government investigations, occupational or personal injury claims, property-related matters, labor and employment matters, mineral royalty disputes, or suits involving legacy operations and other matters; supply chain disruptions or changes in the cost, quality or availability of energy sources, including electricity, natural gas and diesel fuel, water, critical raw materials and supplies, including iron ore, industrial gases, graphite electrodes, scrap metal, chrome, zinc, other alloys, coke and metallurgical coal, and critical manufacturing equipment and spare parts, including as a result of geopolitical conflicts; problems or disruptions associated with transporting products to our customers, moving manufacturing inputs or products internally among our facilities, or suppliers transporting raw materials and spare parts to us; our ability to implement strategic or sustaining capital projects on time and on budget; uncertainties associated with natural or human-caused disasters, adverse weather conditions, unanticipated geological conditions, critical equipment failures, infectious disease outbreaks, tailings dam failures and other unexpected events; cybersecurity incidents relating to, disruptions in, or failures of, information technology systems that are managed by us or third parties that host or have access to our data or systems, including the loss, theft or corruption of our or third parties' sensitive or essential business or personal information and the inability to access or control systems; emerging risks related to the adoption and regulation of artificial intelligence, including our ability to achieve the expected benefits of our adoption of information technology platforms that use artificial intelligence; liabilities and costs arising in connection with business decisions to temporarily or indefinitely idle or permanently close an operating facility or mine, which could adversely impact the carrying value of associated assets and give rise to impairment charges or closure and reclamation obligations, as well as uncertainties associated with resuming production at any previously idled operating facility or mine; our level of self-insurance and our ability to obtain sufficient third-party insurance to adequately cover potential adverse events and business risks; uncertainties associated with our ability to meet customers’ and suppliers’ decarbonization goals and reduce our emissions in alignment with our own announced targets; challenges to maintaining our social license to operate with our stakeholders, including the impacts of our operations on local communities, reputational impacts of operating in a carbon-intensive industry that produces greenhouse gas emissions, and our ability to foster a consistent operational and safety track record; our actual economic mineral reserves or reductions in current mineral reserve estimates, and any title defect or loss of any lease, license, option, easement or other possessory interest for any mining property; our ability to complete technical and economic studies to determine the potential for economic extraction of rare earth minerals at our mining properties, and the risk that rare-earth extraction at our properties may not be economically viable; our ability to maintain satisfactory labor relations with unions and our employees; unanticipated or higher costs associated with pension and other postretirement benefits obligations resulting from changes in the value of plan assets or contribution increases required for unfunded obligations, including for multiemployer plan withdrawal liability; uncertain availability or cost of skilled workers to fill critical operational positions and potential labor shortages caused by experienced employee attrition or otherwise, as well as our ability to attract, hire, develop and retain key personnel; and potential significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting.
For additional factors affecting the business of Cliffs, refer to Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, and other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
CLEVELAND-CLIFFS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
STATEMENTS OF UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED OPERATIONS
Three Months Ended
March 31,
Three Months
Ended
(In millions, except per share amounts)
2026
2025
Dec. 31, 2025
Revenues
$
4,922
$
4,629
$
4,313
Operating costs:
Cost of goods sold
(5,004
)
(5,025
)
(4,519
)
Selling, general and administrative expenses
(125
)
(133
)
(144
)
Restructuring and other charges
—
(3
)
6
Miscellaneous – net
(6
)
(11
)
13
Total operating costs
(5,135
)
(5,172
)
(4,644
)
Operating loss
(213
)
(543
)
(331
)
Other income (expense):
Interest expense, net
(148
)
(140
)
(152
)
Loss on extinguishment of debt
—
—
(10
)
Net periodic benefit credits other than service cost component
64
57
66
Changes in fair value of derivatives, net
(10
)
(9
)
(11
)
Other non-operating expense
—
—
(1
)
Total other expense
(94
)
(92
)
(108
)
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes
(307
)
(635
)
(439
)
Income tax benefit
81
149
206
Loss from continuing operations
(226
)
(486
)
(233
)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax
(3
)
—
(2
)
Net loss
(229
)
(486
)
(235
)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
(8
)
(12
)
(8
)
Net loss attributable to Cliffs shareholders
$
(237
)
$
(498
)
$
(243
)
Loss per common share attributable to Cliffs shareholders - basic
Continuing operations
$
(0.42
)
$
(1.01
)
$
(0.44
)
Discontinued operations
—
—
—
$
(0.42
)
$
(1.01
)
$
(0.44
)
Loss per common share attributable to Cliffs shareholders - diluted
Continuing operations
$
(0.42
)
$
(1.01
)
$
(0.44
)
Discontinued operations
—
—
—
$
(0.42
)
$
(1.01
)
$
(0.44
)
CLEVELAND-CLIFFS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
STATEMENTS OF UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL POSITION
(In millions)
March 31,
2026
December 31,
2025
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
$
45
$
57
Accounts receivable, net
1,882
1,442
Inventories
4,591
4,772
Other current assets
192
164
Total current assets
6,710
6,435
Non-current assets:
Property, plant and equipment, net
9,345
9,481
Goodwill
1,800
1,814
Intangible assets, net
1,102
1,135
Pension and OPEB assets
515
469
Other non-current assets
643
678
TOTAL ASSETS
$
20,115
$
20,012
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable
$
2,011
$
1,893
Accrued employment costs
457
517
Accrued expenses
346
396
Other current liabilities
509
496
Total current liabilities
3,323
3,302
Non-current liabilities:
Long-term debt
7,763
7,253
Pension and OPEB liabilities
631
655
Deferred income taxes
305
375
Asset retirement and environmental obligations
693
682
Other non-current liabilities
1,381
1,422
TOTAL LIABILITIES
14,096
13,689
TOTAL EQUITY
6,019
6,323
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
$
20,115
$
20,012
CLEVELAND-CLIFFS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
STATEMENTS OF UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOWS
Three Months Ended
March 31,
(In millions)
2026
2025
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net loss
$
(229
)
$
(486
)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used by operating activities:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization
259
282
Pension and OPEB credits
(55
)
(48
)
Deferred income taxes
(85
)
(153
)
Restructuring and other charges
—
3
Other
57
62
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable, net
(441
)
(223
)
Inventories
174
182
Income taxes
4
7
Pension and OPEB payments and contributions
(51
)
(43
)
Payables, accrued employment and accrued expenses
41
62
Other, net
1
4
Net cash used by operating activities
(325
)
(351
)
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
(152
)
(152
)
Other investing activities
12
7
Net cash used by investing activities
(140
)
(145
)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes
—
850
Borrowings (repayments) under ABL Facility, net
507
(305
)
Debt issuance costs
—
(13
)
Other financing activities
(53
)
(33
)
Net cash provided by financing activities
454
499
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
(11
)
3
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period
63
60
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
—
—
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period
52
63
Restricted cash
(7
)
$
(6
)
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$
45
$
57
1 CLEVELAND-CLIFFS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
ADJUSTED NET INCOME AND ADJUSTED EARNINGS PER SHARE RECONCILIATION
In addition to the consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP, the Company has presented adjusted net income (loss) attributable to Cliffs shareholders and adjusted earnings (loss) per common share attributable to Cliffs shareholders - diluted. These measures are used by management, investors, lenders and other external users of our financial statements to assess our operating performance and to compare operating performance to other companies in the steel industry, showing results exclusive of certain non-recurring and/or non-cash items. The presentation of these measures is not intended to be considered in isolation from, as a substitute for, or as superior to, the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The presentation of these measures may be different from non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. A reconciliation of these consolidated measures to their most directly comparable GAAP measures is provided in the table below.
Three Months Ended
March 31,
Three Months
Ended
(In millions)
2026
2025
Dec. 31, 2025
Net loss attributable to Cliffs shareholders
$
(237
)
$
(498
)
$
(243
)
Adjustments:
Idled facilities credits (charges)A
10
(44
)
6
Currency exchange
(14
)
(2
)
11
Changes in fair value of derivatives, net
(10
)
(9
)
(11
)
Gain (loss) on disposal of assets, net
7
(2
)
(1
)
Loss on extinguishment of debt
—
—
(10
)
Gain on sale of business
—
—
9
Amortization of inventory step-up
—
7
—
Other, net
(6
)
(2
)
(15
)
Income tax effect
4
13
5
Adjusted net loss attributable to Cliffs shareholders
$
(228
)
$
(459
)
$
(237
)
Loss per common share attributable to Cliffs shareholders - diluted
$
(0.42
)
$
(1.01
)
$
(0.44
)
Adjusted loss per common share attributable to Cliffs shareholders - diluted
$
(0.40
)
$
(0.93
)
$
(0.43
)
A Primarily includes asset impairments, accelerated depreciation, employee-related costs and asset retirement obligation charges
2 CLEVELAND-CLIFFS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION - EBITDA AND ADJUSTED EBITDA
In addition to the consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP, the Company has presented EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA on a consolidated basis. These measures are used by management, investors, lenders and other external users of our financial statements to assess our operating performance and to compare operating performance to other companies in the steel industry, showing results exclusive of certain non-recurring and/or non-cash items. The presentation of these measures is not intended to be considered in isolation from, as a substitute for, or as superior to, the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The presentation of these measures may be different from non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. A reconciliation of these consolidated measures to their most directly comparable GAAP measures is provided in the table below.
Three Months Ended
March 31,
Three Months
Ended
(In millions)
2026
2025
Dec. 31, 2025
Net loss
$
(229
)
$
(486
)
$
(235
)
Less:
Interest expense, net
(148
)
(140
)
(152
)
Income tax benefit
81
149
206
Depreciation, depletion and amortization
(259
)
(282
)
(272
)
Total EBITDA
$
97
$
(213
)
$
(17
)
Less:
EBITDA from noncontrolling interests
15
18
15
Idled facilities credits (charges)
10
(44
)
6
Currency exchange
(14
)
(2
)
11
Changes in fair value of derivatives, net
(10
)
(9
)
(11
)
Gain (loss) on disposal of assets, net
7
(2
)
(1
)
Loss on extinguishment of debt
—
—
(10
)
Gain on sale of business
—
—
9
Amortization of inventory step-up
—
7
—
Other, net
(6
)
(2
)
(15
)
Total Adjusted EBITDA
$
95
$
(179
)
$
(21
)
EBITDA from noncontrolling interests includes the following:
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
$
8
$
12
$
8
Depreciation, depletion and amortization
7
6
7
EBITDA from noncontrolling interests
$
15
$
18
$
15
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260420759625/en/
MEDIA CONTACT:
Patricia Persico
Senior Director, Corporate Communications
(216) 694-5316
INVESTOR CONTACT:
James Kerr
Director, Investor Relations
(216) 694-7719
Original: Cleveland-Cliffs Reports First-Quarter 2026 Results
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