Yahoo Finance Cleveland-Cliffs (CLF) Lands New Labor Agreement With USW
Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. CLF and the United Steelworkers (USW) have landed a tentative agreement on the new four-year labor contract for Cleveland-Cliffs’ Michigan and Minnesota mining operations. The contract is effective Oct 1, 2018.
The contract will cover around 1,800 USW-represented workers at Tilden and Empire mines in Michigan, and United Taconite and Hibbing Taconite mines in Minnesota.
The agreement offers the company a competitive cost structure. The contract also reflects Cleveland-Cliffs’ strong partnership with United Steelworkers. However, the ratification of the agreement by United Steelworkers local union members is pending.
In a year’s time, shares of Cleveland-Cliffs have outperformed the industry it belongs to. The shares have rallied around 71.4% compared with the industry’s growth of 7.6%.
During second-quarter earnings call, Cleveland-Cliffs raised the U.S. Iron Ore volume expectation to 21 million long tons. Production volume expectation was maintained at 20 million tons. The company also reduced sustaining capital expectation by $10 million to $75 million for 2018.
In the second quarter, the company’s U.S Iron Ore pellet sales volume was up year over year on increased demand and adaptation of the new revenue recognition accounting standard. Moreover, cash cost of goods sold and operating expense per long ton increased year over year, driven by higher costs related to energy rates, product mix, employee-related expenses, repairs and royalties.
Cleveland-Cliffs, in August, completed the sale of its Asia Pacific Iron Ore assets to Mineral Resources Limited. The company’s previously disclosed costs of closing the Australian operations were reduced by roughly $85 million due to this transaction.
Notably, Cleveland-Cliffs will record reversal of currency translation adjustments in the third quarter resulting from the deal. This is expected to lead to a positive contribution to net income of roughly $230 million or 75 cents per share.
Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. Price and Consensus
Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. Price and Consensus | Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. Quote
Zacks Rank & Other Stocks to Consider
Cleveland-Cliffs is a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stock.
A few other top-ranked companies in the basic materials space are ArcelorMittal MT, CF Industries Holdings, Inc. CF and Steel Dynamics, Inc. STLD.
ArcelorMittal has an expected long-term earnings growth rate of 4.8% and a Zacks Rank #1. The company’s shares have gained 17.2% in the past year. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
CF Industries has an expected long-term earnings growth rate of 6% and a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). The company’s shares have rallied 53.7% in the past year.
Steel Dynamics has an expected long-term earnings growth rate of 12% and a Zacks Rank #2. Its shares have risen 29.8% in a year’s time.
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