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Australia's Whitehaven Coal topples as earnings drops, dividend misses out on agreement

Australia's Whitehaven Coal reported an 86% drop in firsthalf earnings on Thursday and announced an interim dividend that missed market agreement, sending its shares more than 7% lower.

Shares of the nation's most significant independent coal miner fell as much as 7.3% to A$ 6.960, as of 01:03 GMT, and were on track for their worst session since Aug. 31.

Whitehaven posted a net profit after tax attributable of A$ 257.6 million ($ 167.23 million) for the half year ended December 2023, dramatically lower than A$ 1.78 billion in the year-earlier duration, as coal rates alleviated from record levels hit last year.

The company said it achieved an average coal rate of A$ 220. per tonne in the very first half of the 2024 financial year, compared. with A$ 552 per tonne a year previously.

The coal manufacturer announced an interim dividend of 7. Australian cents per share, down from 32 cents a year earlier,. and missing out on a Noticeable Alpha agreement of 12.3 cents.

A a little weaker dividend on the lower reported net profit. implies a marginally soft resulting in our view, analysts from. Jefferies said in a note.

In the very first half of FY24, high-CV (calorific worth). thermal coal prices moderated however stayed resilient, as energy. security is a priority for power energies internationally, said Paul. Flynn, Whitehaven CEO & & Managing Director.

Whitehaven concurred terms for a five-year credit center of. $ 1.1 billion to fund the acquisition of Daunia and Blackwater. mines, which is expected to be completed in early April.

The coal manufacturer expects a previously announced share. buyback will stay stopped briefly.

(source: Reuters)