Alliance Resource Partners (NASDAQ: ARLP) reported Q1 EPS of $0.19, $0.04 worse than the analyst estimate of $0.23. Revenue for the quarter came in at $318.62 million versus the consensus estimate of $353.4 million.

"ARLP’s financial performance during the 2021 Quarter was generally in line with our expectations, despite 950,000 tons of delayed shipments impacting EBITDA and cash flow by approximately $13.0 million," said Joseph W. Craft III, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Our coal operations’ efficiency initiatives continued to provide cost reduction benefits. Improved coal market fundamentals and favorable weather-patterns during the 2021 Quarter supported buying activity by domestic and international customers, allowing our marketing team to secure new commitments for the delivery of approximately 5.4 million tons through 2023. Our Oil & Gas Royalties segment benefited from significantly higher commodity prices and greater than anticipated sales volumes. With positive free cash flow generated during the 2021 Quarter, ARLP reduced its total debt and finance lease obligations by $52.9 million." (For a definition of free cash flow and related reconciliation to the comparable GAAP financial measure, please see the end of this release.)

Mr. Craft continued, "Over the last year, we have been clearly focused on protecting our balance sheet and managing through the uncertainties and disruptions created by the pandemic to ensure that ARLP emerged with strength. We have also been very clear that returning cash to our unitholders was among our highest priorities once the situation began to stabilize. On the strength of our recent performance and with our outlook continuing to improve, management believes we have reached that point and I am very pleased that the Board supported our view by electing to once again declare a cash distribution to unitholders. In setting an annualized distribution level at approximately 30% of this year’s anticipated free cash flow before investments in growth opportunities, the Partnership has flexibility to pursue projects capable of providing long-term value to our unitholders while maintaining a conservative balance sheet."

Mr. Craft added, "During our earnings call last quarter, we mentioned an effort to explore different value creating opportunities. Our first step in doing so is to add a new Coal Royalties segment to be combined with our Oil & Gas Royalties segment forming a larger, enhanced total royalties group. The coal royalties are generated from coal reserves acquired in the past that have been held in a separate ARLP land company and leased to certain of our mining subsidiaries. With visibility to the mine plans for these subsidiaries, we expect rather predictable and stable cash flows from the Coal Royalties segment for more than a decade.

"Since acquiring and managing a variety of royalty producing assets have similar management attributes, we expect to realize cost efficiencies by combining our royalties activities. We also believe, by aggregating the cash flow from these two sources, it will improve our ability to secure lower cost financing, if necessary, to grow this segment.

"Our goal is to not only emphasize our coal royalties, which have remained in the shadows for years, but to put on full display the magnitude of EBITDA from all of our royalty assets by aggregating our financial reporting in an effort to inform our unitholders and analysts of the cash flow potential of these assets to generate long term royalty income free of capex requirements with minimal working capital and limited operating costs. By adding coal royalties to oil & gas royalties, our total Royalties currently represent approximately 18% of ARLP’s consolidated Segment Adjusted EBITDA and, as we continue to expand this area, we are hopeful that the market will begin to fully recognize the true value of this part of our business.

"We remain committed to our goal of creating long-term value for our unitholders and we continue to actively evaluate various other strategies and opportunities that will generate the attractive returns and sustainable cash flow growth needed to achieve that goal.

For earnings history and earnings-related data on Alliance Resource Partners (ARLP) click here.