SunCoke Energy (SXC) Is Up 27.70% in One Week: What You Should Know

The proven Zacks Rank system focuses on earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find winning stocks. Nevertheless, we know that our readers all have their own perspectives, so we are always looking at the latest trends in value, growth, and momentum to find strong picks.

Considering these trends, value investing is clearly one of the most preferred ways to find strong stocks in any type of market. Value investors use a variety of methods, including tried-and-true valuation metrics, to find these stocks.

On top of the Zacks Rank, investors can also look at our innovative Style Scores system to find stocks with specific traits. For example, value investors will want to focus on the "Value" category. Stocks with high Zacks Ranks and "A" grades for Value will be some of the highest-quality value stocks on the market today.

One stock to keep an eye on is SunCoke Energy (SXC). SXC is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy), as well as a Value grade of A.

Investors should also recognize that SXC has a P/B ratio of 1.50. Investors use the P/B ratio to look at a stock's market value versus its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. This company's current P/B looks solid when compared to its industry's average P/B of 1.75. SXC's P/B has been as high as 1.50 and as low as 0.97, with a median of 1.32, over the past year.

Value investors also love the P/S ratio, which is calculated by simply dividing a stock's price with the company's sales. This is a popular metric because sales are harder to manipulate on an income statement, so they are often considered a better performance indicator. SXC has a P/S ratio of 0.54. This compares to its industry's average P/S of 1.04.

Finally, we should also recognize that SXC has a P/CF ratio of 4.97. This metric focuses on a firm's operating cash flow and is often used to find stocks that are undervalued based on the strength of their cash outlook. SXC's P/CF compares to its industry's average P/CF of 6.41. SXC's P/CF has been as high as 5.11 and as low as 3.37, with a median of 4.35, all within the past year.

These figures are just a handful of the metrics value investors tend to look at, but they help show that SunCoke Energy is likely being undervalued right now. Considering this, as well as the strength of its earnings outlook, SXC feels like a great value stock at the moment.

Zacks Investment Research

Have you been paying attention to shares of SunCoke Energy (SXC)? Shares have been on the move with the stock up 44.6% over the past month. The stock hit a new 52-week high of $12.55 in the previous session. SunCoke Energy has gained 16.8% since the start of the year compared to the 6.7% move for the Zacks Oils-Energy sector and the 14.5% return for the Zacks Coal industry.

What's Driving the Outperformance?

The stock has a great record of positive earnings surprises, as it hasn't missed our earnings consensus estimate in any of the last four quarters. In its last earnings report on October 31, 2024, SunCoke reported EPS of $0.36 versus consensus estimate of $0.23.

For the current fiscal year, SunCoke is expected to post earnings of $1.14 per share on $1.81 billion in revenues. This represents a 67.65% change in EPS on a -12.2% change in revenues. For the next fiscal year, the company is expected to earn $0.71 per share on $1.39 billion in revenues. This represents a year-over-year change of -37.72% and -23.24%, respectively.

Valuation Metrics

SunCoke may be at a 52-week high right now, but what might the future hold for the stock? A key aspect of this question is taking a look at valuation metrics in order to determine if the company is due for a pullback from this level.

On this front, we can look at the Zacks Style Scores, as they provide investors with an additional way to sort through stocks (beyond looking at the Zacks Rank of a security). These styles are represented by grades running from A to F in the categories of Value, Growth, and Momentum, while there is a combined VGM Score as well. Investors should consider the style scores a valuable tool that can help you to pick the most appropriate Zacks Rank stocks based on their individual investment style.

SunCoke has a Value Score of A. The stock's Growth and Momentum Scores are A and A, respectively, giving the company a VGM Score of A.

In terms of its value breakdown, the stock currently trades at 11X current fiscal year EPS estimates, which is not in-line with the peer industry average of 11X. On a trailing cash flow basis, the stock currently trades at 5.2X versus its peer group's average of 5.1X. This isn't enough to put the company in the top echelon of all stocks we cover from a value perspective.

Zacks Rank

We also need to consider the stock's Zacks Rank, as this supersedes any trend on the style score front. Fortunately, SunCoke currently has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy) thanks to rising earnings estimates.

Since we recommend that investors select stocks carrying Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) and Style Scores of A or B, it looks as if SunCoke meets the list of requirements. Thus, it seems as though SunCoke shares could have potential in the weeks and months to come.

Zacks Investment Research

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – November 8, 2024 – Today, Zacks Equity Research discusses Peabody Energy BTU, Warrior Met Coal HCC, CONSOL Energy CEIX and SunCoke Energy SXC.

Industry: Coal

Link: https://www.zacks.com/commentary/2366463/4-coal-stocks-to-watch-despite-ongoing-industry-headwinds

The Zacks Coal industry stocks are suffering due to a decline in the use of coal in thermal power plants in the United States. In 2024, the demand for coal has been adversely impacted by the planned retirement of coal units and the utilization of more renewable sources for electricity generation.

The ongoing energy transition, with utility operators steadily phasing out coal units, may hit the coal industry. Then again, the continuing conflict between Russia and Ukraine is creating fresh demand from European coal-importing countries.

Despite a drop in coal production, expected export volume improvements in 2024 are likely to boost the prospects of coal stocks like Peabody Energy. Other coal stocks like Warrior Met Coal, CONSOL Energy and SunCoke Energy, with high-quality met production volumes, are expected to gain during this difficult phase.

About The Coal Industry

The Zacks Coal industry comprises companies involved in the discovery and mining of coal. Coal is mined through the opencast or the underground method. The commodity is valued for its energy content and used worldwide to generate electricity and manufacture steel and cement. Per the U.S. Energy Information Administration ("EIA") report, the current U.S. estimated recoverable coal reserves are about 252 billion short tons, of which about 58% is underground mineable coal. Given the current production rates, coal resources are likely to last many years.

Five states in the U.S. contribute 70% of the yearly coal production and 60% of the coal production from surface mining. Per EIA, the demand for coal will decline due to the usage of more renewable assets and a gradual shutdown of coal-powered generation units, hurting the prospects of the coal industry.

3 Trends Likely to Impact the Coal Industry

U.S. Coal Production, Price & Exports Drops: Per EIA's projection, coal production in the United States is expected to drop in 2024 and 2025. The EIA projects U.S. coal production to decline 13.1% from 2023 levels to about 510 million short tons (MMst) in 2024 and register a decline of nearly 5.2% to 485 MMst in 2025 due to the expected reduction in coal usage in electricity production.

The EIA projects 2024 coal price to decrease 1.6% from the 2023 level to $2.48 per million British thermal units (Btu) and further drop 2.1% in 2025 to reach $2.43 per million Btu. This would adversely impact the coal operators as they continue to fight a tough battle against other cleaner energy sources. The EIA projects coal exports from the United States to drop by 2.4% in 2025 from the 2024 levels after improving 5.1% from 2023 levels. The World Steel Association forecasts a drop in global steel demand, dropping 0.9% in 2024 to touch 1,751 metric tons (Mt) and expected to increase by 1.2% in 2025 to reach 1,772 Mt.

Steel production requires ample high-quality coal and nearly 70% of global steel production depends on it. With the global weakness in steel demand, coal exports are expected to drop from current levels.

Despite Reliability, Emission Policy to Hurt Coal Industry: Coal is still a reliable source of energy and ensures 24x7 electricity production from the generation units. However, increasing emission concerns are resulting in reduced usage of coal in electricity generation. The United States' Sustainability Plan includes an aim toward transitioning to 100% carbon pollution-free electricity by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Utility operators are now focused on generating more electricity from clean energy sources, lowering coal usage and gradually shutting down the existing coal-based electricity generation units.

Per the EIA, the share of coal in U.S. electricity generation is likely to drop from 17% in 2023 to 16% in 2024 and 2025. Unless utility operators invest heavily in pollution-control measures to reduce emissions from power plants, domestic coal usage will continue to drop. Coal industry operators should brace themselves for challenges as several electric utilities have decided to become carbon neutral and are aggressively cutting down on coal usage. Coal-fired units are gradually becoming backup units for utility operators in case of emergency power requirements, and 12 GW of coal-fired electricity generating capacity is going into retirement.

Interest Rate Decline is a Tailwind: In order to maintain, upgrade and expand coal operations, coal company operators approach capital markets for loans. The U.S. Federal Reserve has finally lowered the benchmark rate by 50 basis points, bringing down rates to a range of 4.75%-5%. The rates were lowered for the first time in four years. Capital-intensive coal companies will benefit from the Fed's decision to reduce interest rates. The drop in interest rates is a big positive for coal operators that are planning investments in infrastructure upgrades.

Zacks Industry Rank Indicates Dull Prospects

The Zacks Coal industry is a nine-stock group within the broader Zacks Oil and Energy sector. The industry currently carries a Zacks Industry Rank #151, which places it in the bottom 40% out of 251 Zacks industries.

The group's Zacks Industry Rank, which is basically the average of the Zacks Rank of all the member stocks, indicates lackluster performance in the near term. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than two to one.

The industry's position in the bottom 40% of the Zacks-ranked industries is a result of the negative earnings outlook for the constituent companies in aggregate. Looking at the aggregate earnings estimate revisions, it appears that analysts have lost confidence in this group's earnings growth potential. Since November 2024, the coal industry's earnings estimates for 2024 have declined 6.2% to $3.52 per share.

Before we present a few coal stocks that you may want to keep track of, let's take a look at the industry's recent stock market performance and valuation picture.

Industry Outperforms Sector & S&P 500

The Zacks Coal industry has outperformed the Zacks Oil and Gas sector and Zacks S&P 500 composite over the past year.

The stocks in the coal industry have gained 37.9% compared with the Zacks Oil-Energy sector's rally of 13.5%. The Zacks S&P 500 composite has gained 37.5% in the same time frame.

Coal Industry's Current Valuation

Since coal companies have a lot of debt on their balance sheet, it makes sense to value them based on the EV/EBITDA (Enterprise Value/ Earnings before Interest Tax Depreciation and Amortization) ratio.

The industry is currently trading at a trailing 12-month EV/EBITDA of 5.55X compared with the Zacks S&P 500 composite's 17.77X and the sector's 3.41X.

In the past five years, the industry has traded as high as 7.79X and as low as 2.04X, with the median being 4.41X.

4 Coal Industry Stocks to Keep an Eye On

CONSOL Energy: Canonsburg, PA-based CONSOL Energy produces and exports bituminous thermal coal and metallurgical coal. The company owns and operates the Pennsylvania Mining Complex and the Baltimore Marine Terminal and controls more than 1.3 billion tons of thermal and metallurgical coal reserves and resources located in the major coal-producing basins of the eastern United States. The company is consistently operating multiple longwalls to meet increasing demand.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 earnings and revenues suggests a year-over-year rise of 31.8% and 112.1%, respectively. The stock has gained 37.2% over the past 12 months, outperforming its industry's rally of 27%. CEIX currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Peabody Energy: St Louis, MO-based Peabody Energy engages in the coal mining business and has thermal and metallurgical operations. Peabody has the flexibility to increase volumes should demand warrant. Peabody expects its 2024 seaborne Thermal and Metallurgical coal export volumes to better than expected due to high demand from its customers.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Peabody Energy's 2024 and 2025 earnings per share has increased 1.3% and 3.7%, respectively, over the past 90 days. The company's current dividend yield is 1.1% compared with the industry's yield of 0.68%. The stock has gained 33.6% over the past 12 months. Peabody Energy currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

Warrior Met Coal, Inc.: Brookwood, AL-based Warrior Met produces and exports metallurgical coal for the steel industry. The company will benefit from the end of the labor strike and the resulting incremental production volume as eligible employees return to work. Warrior Met plans to invest $435-$500 million in 2024 to further strengthen its coal operation. The company is presently developing its Blue Creek mine.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its 2024 earnings per share has moved up by 1.3% in the last 60 days. The current dividend yield of the company is 0.47%. The stock has gained 62.1% in the past year. Warrior Met Coal currently carries a Zacks Rank of 3.

SunCoke Energy: Lisle, IL-based SunCoke Energy is a raw material processing and handling company serving steel and power customers, with principal businesses in coke making and logistics. With an annual 5.9 million tons of coke-making capacity, it is poised to benefit from rising met coal exports and increasing demand for met coal from the steel industry. The company plans to invest between $75 million and $80 million in 2024 to expand its operations.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its 2024 earnings per share indicates an year-over-year increase of 38.3%. The current dividend yield of the company is 4.36%. The stock has gained 49.8% in the past year. SunCoke Energy carries a Zacks Rank #3 at present.

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Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.

Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Coal industry stocks are suffering due to a decline in the use of coal in thermal power plants in the United States. In 2024, the demand for coal has been adversely impacted by the planned retirement of coal units and the utilization of more renewable sources for electricity generation. The ongoing energy transition, with utility operators steadily phasing out coal units, may hit the coal industry. Then again, the continuing conflict between Russia and Ukraine is creating fresh demand from European coal-importing countries. Despite a drop in coal production, expected export volume improvements in 2024 are likely to boost the prospects of coal stocks like Peabody Energy BTU. Other coal stocks like Warrior Met Coal HCC, CONSOL Energy CEIX and SunCoke Energy SXC, with high-quality met production volumes, are expected to gain during this difficult phase.

About The Coal Industry

The Zacks Coal industry comprises companies involved in the discovery and mining of coal. Coal is mined through the opencast or the underground method. The commodity is valued for its energy content and used worldwide to generate electricity and manufacture steel and cement. Per the U.S. Energy Information Administration (“EIA”) report, the current U.S. estimated recoverable coal reserves are about 252 billion short tons, of which about 58% is underground mineable coal. Given the current production rates, coal resources are likely to last many years. Five states in the United States contribute 70% of the yearly coal production and 60% of the coal production from surface mining. Per EIA, the demand for coal will decline due to the usage of more renewable assets and a gradual shutdown of coal-powered generation units, hurting the prospects of the coal industry.

3 Trends Likely to Impact the Coal Industry

U.S. Coal Production, Price & Exports Drops: Per EIA’s projection, coal production in the United States is expected to drop in 2024 and 2025. EIA projects U.S. coal production to decline 13.1% from 2023 levels to about 510 million short tons (MMst) in 2024 and register a decline of nearly 5.2% to 485 MMst in 2025 due to the expected reduction in coal usage in electricity production. EIA projects 2024 coal price to decrease 1.6% from the 2023 level to $2.48 per million British thermal units (Btu) and further drop 2.1% in 2025 to reach $2.43 per million Btu. This would adversely impact the coal operators as they continue to fight a tough battle against other cleaner energy sources. EIA projects coal exports from the United States to drop by 2.4% in 2025 from the 2024 levels after improving 5.1% from 2023 levels. The World Steel Association forecasts a drop in global steel demand, dropping 0.9% in 2024 to touch 1,751 metric tons (Mt) and expected to increase by 1.2% in 2025 to reach 1,772 Mt. Steel production requires ample high-quality coal and nearly 70% of global steel production depends on it. With the global weakness in steel demand, coal exports are expected to drop from current levels.

Despite Reliability, Emission Policy to Hurt Coal Industry: Coal is still a reliable source of energy and ensures 24x7 electricity production from the generation units. However, increasing emission concerns are resulting in reduced usage of coal in electricity generation. The United States’ Sustainability Plan includes an aim toward transitioning to 100% carbon pollution-free electricity by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Utility operators are now focused on generating more electricity from clean energy sources, lowering coal usage and gradually shutting down the existing coal-based electricity generation units. Per EIA, the share of coal in U.S. electricity generation is likely to drop from 17% in 2023 to 16% in 2024 and 2025. Unless utility operators invest heavily in pollution-control measures to reduce emissions from power plants, domestic coal usage will continue to drop. Coal industry operators should brace themselves for challenges as several electric utilities have decided to become carbon neutral and are aggressively cutting down on coal usage. Coal-fired units are gradually becoming backup units for utility operators in case of emergency power requirements, and 12 GW of coal-fired electricity generating capacity is going into retirement.

Interest Rate Decline is a Tailwind: In order to maintain, upgrade and expand coal operations, coal company operators approach capital markets for loans. The U.S. Federal Reserve has finally lowered the benchmark rate by 50 basis points, bringing down rates to a range of 4.75%-5%. The rates were lowered for the first time in four years. Capital-intensive coal companies will benefit from the Fed’s decision to reduce interest rates. The drop in interest rates is a big positive for coal operators that are planning investments in infrastructure upgrades.

Zacks Industry Rank Indicates Dull Prospects

The Zacks Coal industry is a nine-stock group within the broader Zacks Oil and Energy sector. The industry currently carries a Zacks Industry Rank #151, which places it in the bottom 40% out of 251 Zacks industries.

The group’s Zacks Industry Rank, which is basically the average of the Zacks Rank of all the member stocks, indicates lackluster performance in the near term. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than two to one.

The industry’s position in the bottom 40% of the Zacks-ranked industries is a result of the negative earnings outlook for the constituent companies in aggregate. Looking at the aggregate earnings estimate revisions, it appears that analysts have lost confidence in this group’s earnings growth potential. Since November 2024, the coal industry’s earnings estimates for 2024 have declined 6.2% to $3.52 per share.

Before we present a few coal stocks that you may want to keep track of, let’s take a look at the industry’s recent stock market performance and valuation picture.

Industry Outperforms Sector & S&P 500

The Zacks Coal industry has outperformed the Zacks Oil and Gas sector and Zacks S&P 500 composite over the past year.

The stocks in the coal industry have gained 37.9% compared with the Zacks Oil-Energy sector’s rally of 13.5%. The Zacks S&P 500 composite has gained 37.5% in the same time frame.

One Year Price Performance

Coal Industry's Current Valuation

Since coal companies have a lot of debt on their balance sheet, it makes sense to value them based on the EV/EBITDA (Enterprise Value/ Earnings before Interest Tax Depreciation and Amortization) ratio.

The industry is currently trading at a trailing 12-month EV/EBITDA of 5.55X compared with the Zacks S&P 500 composite’s 17.77X and the sector’s 3.41X.

In the past five years, the industry has traded as high as 7.79X and as low as 2.04X, with the median being 4.41X.

Enterprise Value-to EBITDA (EV/EBITDA) Ratio vs S&P 500

Enterprise Value-to EBITDA (EV/EBITDA) Ratio vs Sector

4 Coal Industry Stocks to Keep an Eye On

CONSOL Energy: Canonsburg, PA-based CONSOL Energy produces and exports bituminous thermal coal and metallurgical coal. The company owns and operates the Pennsylvania Mining Complex and the Baltimore Marine Terminal and controls more than 1.3 billion tons of thermal and metallurgical coal reserves and resources located in the major coal-producing basins of the eastern United States. The company is consistently operating multiple longwalls to meet increasing demand.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 earnings and revenues suggests a year-over-year rise of 31.8% and 112.1%, respectively. The stock has gained 37.2% over the past 12 months, outperforming its industry’s rally of 27%. CEIX currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Price and Consensus: CEIX

Arch Resources, Inc. ARCH reported third-quarter 2024 earnings per share (EPS) of 41 cents, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.38 by 70.3%. The bottom line declined from the year-ago level of $3.91.

Stay up-to-date with all quarterly releases: See Zacks Earnings Calendar.

Revenues of ARCH

Total revenues were $617.9 million, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $536 million by 15.3%. However, the top line decreased 17% from $744.6 million in the year-ago quarter.

Arch Resources Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Arch Resources Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Arch Resources Inc. Quote

ARCH’s Segmental Details

In the Metallurgical segment, ARCH sold 2.4 million tons of coal, up 4.3% from the prior-year figure. Cash margins were $21.74 per ton compared with $54.7 in the year-ago quarter.

In the Thermal segment, the company sold 13.8 million tons of coal, down 17.9% from the prior-year figure. Cash margins were 86 cents per ton compared with $1.34 in the prior-year period.

Highlights of ARCH’s Earnings Release

During the third quarter, Arch Resources managed through a three-week outage of the ship loader at Curtis Bay Terminal that reduced coking coal shipments by an estimated 200,000 tons.

The company paid down $5.1 million in debt and ended the third quarter with a net cash position of $127.7 million.

ARCH announced plans to merge with CONSOL Energy Inc. to form a leading global player in seaborne metallurgical and high-rank thermal coal markets. The merger is expected to unlock additional value creation from $110 million to $140 million of annual cost savings and synergies. The merger is expected to be closed by the end of the first quarter of 2025. Completion of the merger is subject to the satisfaction of the remaining customary closing conditions, including approval by the companies' stockholders.

ARCH’s Financial Highlights

Cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments totaled $219.6 million as of Sept. 30, 2024, compared with $287.8 million as of Dec 31, 2023.

Cash provided by operating activities in the first nine months of 2024 was $212.4 million compared with $453.8 million in the year-ago period.

ARCH’s Zacks Rank

Arch Resources currently carries a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).

You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Recent Releases

SunCoke Energy, Inc. SXC reported third-quarter 2024 operating EPS of 36 cents, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 23 cents by 56.5%.

The consensus estimate for 2024 earnings is pegged at 94 cents per share, implying a 38.2% increase from the year-earlier reported level.

Warrior Met Coal, Inc. HCC reported third-quarter 2024 operating EPS of 80 cents, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 40 cents by 100%.

The consensus estimate for HCC’s 2024 earnings is pegged at $5.62 per share, implying a decline of 41.1% from the bottom line reported a year ago.

Peabody Energy Corporation BTU reported third-quarter 2024 operating EPS of 75 cents, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 60 cents by 25%.

The consensus estimate for BTU’s 2024 earnings is pegged at $2.98 per share, implying a decline of 40.4% from the year-earlier reported level.

Zacks Investment Research