What happened?
Shares of Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (CLF -1.53%), the largest and oldest iron-ore mining company in the U.S., were up 10% as of 3:14 p.m. EDT Friday after the company announced better than expected second-quarter results.
So what
The company reported consolidated revenues of $714 million, significantly better than the prior year's $471 million, and higher than analysts' estimates of $692.2 million, per analysts surveyed by investment research firm Zacks. Income from continuing operations jumped to $229 million, or $0.76 per diluted share, which was again a large improvement from the prior year's $84 million, or $0.28 per share, and well ahead of analysts' estimates calling for $0.56 per share, per Zacks. Another bright spot was a 16% increase in its U.S. iron-ore realized revenue rate.
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President and CEO Lourenco Goncalves said in a press release: "Our second quarter is a definitive statement about the new Cliffs and our earnings power. After almost four years of consistent execution of a well-designed and thoroughly implemented strategy, our company has become a very powerful cash-generating enterprise."
Now what
It's understandable that investors pushed the stock higher today. The second-quarter surge in earnings reflects an end, or near-end, to its multiyear transformation to get back to its roots as a supplier of high-grade iron units. Now that the company is focused on its roots, it expects to generate cash this year at a level it hasn't seen in years, and for that strong momentum to continue into 2019. Business is looking good, and today's 10% jump means investors are buying into its future potential.
