The Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG) share price has fallen 3% after the mining giant released its FY22 result.
Fortescue FY22 result
Here are some of the highlights from the Fortescue report:
- Ore sold and ore shipped increased 4% to around 189 mt
- Revenue dropped 22% to US$17.39 billion
- Average revenue per dry metric tonne (dmt) fell 26% to US$99.8
- Underlying EBITDA (EBITDA explained) dropped 36% to US$10.56 billion
- Net profit after tax (NPAT) sank 40% to US$6.2 billion
- Final dividend per share down 43% to US$1.21 per share
- Total dividend per share down 42% to US$2.07 per share
The dividend reflected a dividend payout ratio of 75%, compared to a ratio of 80% in FY21. It aims to pay at the high end of its targeted dividend payout ratio of between 50% to 80%. Obviously, Fortescue’s dividend and net profit can have a big impact on the Fortescue share price.
It finished the period with $879 million of net debt, after free cash flow declined by 60% compared to FY21.
The last year was extremely strong because of very high iron ore prices. While iron ore prices were lower than FY21, FY22 prices were strong enough to help the business to achieve strong numbers. However, the C1 costs (operational costs) increased 14% to US$15.91 because of diesel prices, labour rates and other consumables.
Fortescue Future Industries (FFI)
FFI continues to make progress within Fortescue. This division is aiming to take a global leadership position in green energy and technology and wants to produce zero-carbon green hydrogen.
One of the highlights during the year was that it has successfully completed the first phase of studies with Incitec Pivot Ltd (ASX: IPL) to convert the Gibson Island ammonia production facility in Queensland to be powered by green hydrogen – negotiations are continuing to finalise the front end engineering design.
Construction of Fortescue Future Industries’ green energy manufacturing centre in Gladstone started in February 2022. The first stage development is the electrolyser manufacturing facility with an initial capacity of 2GW per annum, with first production in FY23.
FFI pointed to growing global demand for green energy. It has established a portfolio of agreements during FY22. That includes a memorandum of understanding with E.ON, one of Europe’s largest operators of energy networks and energy infrastructure, to supply up to 5 mt per annum of green hydrogen to Europe by 2030. This could represent a third of FFI’s production by then.
Fortescue Future Industries spent a total of US$534 million during FY22. The capital commitment unutilised by FFI is US$1.1 billion, including US$728 million at the end of FY22 and then another US$342 million contributed – that’s 10% of Fortescue’s FY22 second half net profit. Fortescue looks to allocate 10% of its net profit to FFI.
Thoughts on the outlook and Fortescue share price
Fortescue is expecting to ship between 187mt to 192mt of iron ore in FY23, including 1mt from Iron Bridge. FFI is expecting to spend between US$600 million to US$700 million, with US$100 million of that being for capital expenditure.
I like what Fortescue is doing with its green energy plans, but it’s spending a lot on FFI and the iron ore price will need to stay elevated for it to organically fund the plans and keep paying big dividends. Hopefully FFI can start paying for itself before it runs out of allocated funds. I’m not looking to buy Fortescue shares at the current price – for my own portfolio I’d consider more at under $16.
