U.S. Silica Holdings Inc. announced third quarter 2020 results, including revenue of $176.5 million compared with $172.5 million in the second quarter of 2020, up 2% sequentially and down 51% from the third quarter of 2019.
The third quarter results were negatively impacted by $3.8 million, or $0.04 per share, of charges related to asset impairments, merger and acquisition related expense, plant startup and expansion costs, facility closure costs, and other adjustments, resulting in adjusted EPS for the third quarter of $0.15 per basic and diluted share.
In the Oil & Gas segment, the company sold 1.282 million tons in the third quarter, up 15% from the prior quarter, led by a sequential improvement in frac activity and well completions. Contribution margin for the segment improved 20% sequentially to $31.5 million, driven primarily by cost reduction measures including an $18.2 million benefit from the remeasurement of rail leases and higher volumes, partially offset by lower shortfall penalties recorded during the quarter.
SandBox loads increased 74% during the quarter, as key customers in several basins ramped up their pace of well completions and added more frac crews. During the quarter, the Oil & Gas segment was awarded two new contracts, one with a leading oilfield services provider and one with an E&P in the Northeast.
“I’d like to commend our team on delivering outstanding third quarter results despite a challenging, though improving, macro backdrop,” said Bryan Shinn, chief executive officer. “Our Industrial segment volumes and profits both rebounded sharply as demand in several key end markets improved materially.”
“In our Oil & Gas segment, sand volumes rose 15% and our Sandbox delivered loads surged 74% as industry frac activity and well completions climbed during the quarter. Increased volumes and cost reduction measures including the remeasurement of railcar leases helped drive a 20% sequential jump in segment profitability. Our teams have worked diligently to right-size our cost structure, particularly in the Oil & Gas segment, and the results of those efforts are now apparent,” he added.
“We have transformed this more volatile business and equipped it to perform well under a variety of market conditions, while simultaneously continuing to invest in and grow our more stable, higher-margin Industrials business,” Shinn concluded.