News Details

Outstanding Operational Performance in the Quarter and the Year

Highest Quarterly Sales Volume in Company's History

Long-term Debt Reduced by $1.1 Billion

DEERFIELD, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CF), the global leader in nitrogen products manufacturing and distribution, today announced results for its fourth quarter ended December 31, 2017.

Fourth Quarter Highlights

• Net earnings of $465 million, or $1.98 per diluted share, which includes a net income tax benefit of $491 million, or $2.09 per diluted share, as a result of the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
• Adjusted net loss⁽¹⁾ of $3 million or $0.02 per diluted share⁽¹⁾
• EBITDA⁽²⁾ of $224 million; adjusted EBITDA⁽²⁾ of $260 million
• Sales volume of approximately 5.3 million tons, five percent higher than previous quarterly record
• Reduced long-term debt by $1.1 billion, lowering annualized interest payments by $76 million

Full Year Highlights

• Net earnings of $358 million, or $1.53 per diluted share, which includes a net income tax benefit of $491 million, or $2.10 per diluted share, as a result of the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
• Adjusted net loss⁽¹⁾ of $59 million or $0.25 per diluted share⁽¹⁾
• EBITDA⁽²⁾ of $856 million; adjusted EBITDA⁽²⁾ of $969 million
• Year-end 12-month rolling average recordable incident rate at lowest level in company’s history
• Record production volume of 10.3 million tons of gross ammonia
• Record sales volumes of approximately 20 million product tons

Impact of U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

As a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, the company's fourth quarter 2017 net earnings of $1.98 per diluted share included a $2.09 per share net income tax benefit and for the full year 2017 net earnings of $1.53 per diluted share included a $2.10 per share net income tax benefit. The net income tax benefit is primarily comprised of a $552 million income tax benefit from a revaluation of the company's deferred taxes as a result of the new lower corporate tax rate and a $57 million income tax provision related to the transition tax on deferred foreign earnings. This is a one-time item that affects the comparability of results between periods, and accordingly has been excluded from adjusted net earnings per diluted share and adjusted EBITDA.

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Overview of Results

CF Industries Holdings, Inc., today announced fourth quarter 2017 net earnings attributable to common stockholders of $465 million, or $1.98 per diluted share, and adjusted net loss of $3 million, or $0.02 per diluted share. Fourth quarter 2017 EBITDA was $224 million, and adjusted EBITDA was $260 million. These results compare to fourth quarter 2016 net loss attributable to common stockholders of $320 million, or $1.38 per diluted share; adjusted net loss for the fourth quarter 2016 of $90 million, or $0.39 per diluted share; EBITDA loss of $135 million; and adjusted EBITDA of $133 million. Fourth quarter 2017 results include a realized loss on natural gas hedges of $13 million, compared to a realized loss on natural gas hedges of $5 million for the fourth quarter of 2016.

For the full year 2017, net earnings attributable to common stockholders was $358 million, or $1.53 per diluted share, and adjusted net loss was $59 million, or $0.25 per diluted share. Full year 2017 EBITDA was $856 million, and adjusted EBITDA was $969 million. These results compare to full year 2016 net loss attributable to common stockholders of $277 million, or $1.19 per diluted share; adjusted net earnings for full year 2016 of $109 million, or $0.47 per diluted share; EBITDA of $395 million; and adjusted EBITDA of $858 million. Full year 2017 results include a realized loss on natural gas hedges of $26 million, compared to a realized loss on natural gas hedges of $133 million for full year 2016.

“Outstanding execution by the team in 2017 produced records for safe operations, production and sales volumes," said Tony Will, president and chief executive officer, CF Industries Holdings, Inc. "In addition, we paid down $1.1 billion in debt during the quarter and recently exercised our right to purchase all of the publicly traded common units of Terra Nitrogen Company, L.P. We estimate that full ownership of TNCLP would have added approximately $45 million to EBITDA, including anticipated cost reductions and network optimization benefits. Additionally, we estimate that full ownership of TNCLP and the debt reduction would have resulted in $110 million of additional free cash flow.”

Manufacturing Operations

CF Industries' manufacturing network continued its focus on safety and operated efficiently during the fourth quarter of 2017. As of December 31, 2017, CF Industries' 12-month rolling average recordable incident rate was 0.67 incidents per 200,000 work hours, well below industry averages.

Gross ammonia production during the fourth quarter of 2017 was more than 2.6 million tons, the second highest volume for a quarter in the company's history.

Sales Overview

Net sales in the fourth quarter of 2017 increased to $1,099 million from $867 million in the same period last year due to higher sales volumes across most segments and higher average selling prices across all segments.

Total sales volumes for the quarter were significantly higher compared to the fourth quarter of 2016 as the company's production increased at the Donaldsonville and Port Neal Nitrogen Complexes.

Average selling prices for the quarter were higher year-over-year across all segments due largely to a tighter global nitrogen supply and demand balance. Additionally, average ammonia selling prices benefited from the commencement of delivery under a long-term supply agreement.

The company's average selling price for ammonia was $285 per ton in the fourth quarter of 2017 compared to $277 per ton in the fourth quarter of 2016. The average selling price for urea was $244 per ton in the fourth quarter of 2017 compared to $214 per ton in the fourth quarter of 2016, and the average selling price for UAN was $150 per ton in the fourth quarter of 2017 compared to $149 per ton in the fourth quarter of 2016.

Cost of sales per ton increased 10 percent in the fourth quarter of 2017 compared to the fourth quarter of 2016 primarily driven by increased gas consumption to support the higher production and sales volumes and increased 11 percent for the full year 2017 compared to the full year 2016 for the same volume reasons.

Controllable cost of sales, defined as non-gas cash costs (maintenance, labor, electricity, other raw materials, transportation and distribution, and other plant costs), which excludes the impact of natural gas, derivatives and depreciation and amortization, decreased 8 percent per ton,⁽³⁾ in the fourth quarter of 2017 compared to 2016, and 14 percent per ton,⁽³⁾ in the full year 2017, as a result of cost reduction initiatives and production efficiencies.

In the fourth quarter of 2017, the average cost of natural gas reflected in the company's cost of sales was $3.24 per MMBtu, which includes a realized loss of $0.13 per MMBtu on natural gas hedges totaling $13 million. This compares to the average cost of natural gas in cost of sales of $3.24 per MMBtu for the fourth quarter of 2016, which included a realized loss of $0.06 per MMBtu on natural gas hedges totaling $5 million. During the fourth quarter of 2017, the average price of natural gas at Henry Hub in North America was $2.87 per MMBtu, and the average price of natural gas at the National Balancing Point in the United Kingdom was $6.92 per MMBtu.

Additionally, the company recorded an unrealized net mark-to-market gain on natural gas derivatives of $3 million in the fourth quarter of 2017 compared to an unrealized net mark-to-market gain on natural gas derivatives of $91 million in the fourth quarter of 2016. The company did not enter into any additional natural gas derivatives in the fourth quarter of 2017.

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Market Overview

CF management expects the combination of: a somewhat weaker U.S. dollar; higher energy costs in key producing regions; reduced production in China; higher oil and freight costs; and steady global demand to support nitrogen prices during the first half of 2018 at levels higher than the same period in 2017.

The U.S. dollar is expected to remain lower against currencies in key nitrogen producing regions through at least the first half of the year, pushing up the cost of nitrogen fertilizer exports in U.S. dollar terms. From the beginning of July 2017 to the beginning of February 2018, the RMB strengthened against the dollar from approximately 6.8 to 6.3 and the Russian Ruble strengthened against the dollar from approximately 60 to 57.

Additionally, energy prices since the middle of 2017 have increased significantly for marginal producers in Eastern Europe and China. From the beginning of July 2017 to the beginning of February 2018, the price of natural gas per MMBtu at TTF in Europe has increased approximately 25 percent and the cost of anthracite coal per metric ton in China has increased 29 percent. Over the same period, the price per MMBtu of natural gas at Henry Hub has increased less than three percent.

Ocean freight costs have risen as well, adding cost to globally traded nitrogen. At the beginning of February, ocean freight to ship urea from the Arab Gulf to the Gulf of Mexico was 15 percent per ton higher than the year before and nearly 30 percent per ton higher than at the beginning of July 2017.

These factors have accelerated the transformation of China's role in the global urea market. According to official government data, Chinese urea exports have declined approximately 65 percent in two years, from over 13 million metric tons in 2015 to approximately 4.7 million metric tons in 2017. Industry observers expect marginal producers in China to face continued pressures during 2018, not only from higher coal costs and currency impacts, but also from the effect of environmental regulation enforcement. These challenges are likely to further reduce Chinese net urea exports in 2018.

India and Brazil will remain key countries for urea demand this year. Published reports and CF analysis suggest that India may require 500,000-1,000,000 metric tons of urea to be imported before the end of March to meet that country’s fertilizer needs for 2018. Additionally, Brazil has emerged in recent years as the second largest importer of urea in the world, with imports of approximately 5.4 million metric tons in 2017, 15 percent higher than 2016 and 64 percent higher than 2012. Countries such as Australia, Mexico and Turkey have also significantly increased imports of urea in recent years.

Imports of nitrogen will continue to be necessary to meet expected demand in North America in 2018 with the company projecting that approximately 91 million acres of corn will be planted in the United States. For much of 2017, nitrogen prices in the region discouraged imports. Urea barge prices at New Orleans averaged approximately $25 below international parity during the fourth quarter and only rose above international parity for one week in all of 2017. As a result, imports of urea and UAN from July through December declined 37 percent and 24 percent, respectively, compared to the same period in 2016. Given steady demand and higher netbacks available in other regions, nitrogen prices in North America will likely have to rise to attract the imports necessary to meet expected demand.

Capital Expenditures

Capital expenditures in 2017 totaled $473 million. Of this amount, approximately $350 million was for new activities in 2017 and the remainder was for activities performed in 2016 but paid for in 2017. As of September 30, 2017, the company had $158 million in costs accrued but unpaid for work completed in 2016 related to capacity expansion projects. At December 31, 2017, these costs are no longer the subject of disputes and the company's capital expenditures for 2017 reflect all payments associated with these formerly disputed costs.

Capital expenditures in 2018 for new activity are estimated to be in the range of approximately $400 to $450 million, which takes into account a higher number of plant turnarounds than in 2017.

Liquidity

As of December 31, 2017, the company had cash and cash equivalents of $835 million on the balance sheet, had no borrowings outstanding under its $750 million revolving credit facility and was in compliance with all applicable covenant requirements under its debt instruments.

On December 1, 2017, the company completed the redemption of all of the $800 million outstanding principal amount of its 6.875% Senior Notes due May 2018. Additionally, on December 26, 2017, the company purchased $300 million aggregate principal amount of its 7.125% Senior Notes due 2020 pursuant to a tender offer. As a result, the aggregate principal amount of CF Industries Holdings, Inc.'s outstanding long-term indebtedness was approximately $4.75 billion at the end of 2017, compared to $5.85 billion at the end of 2016. At this level of gross debt, interest expense for 2018 would be approximately $230 million, or $76 million lower than 2017 on an annualized basis.

Exercise of Right to Purchase All Publicly Traded Units of Terra Nitrogen Company, L.P.

The company announced on February 7, 2018, that its wholly owned subsidiary Terra Nitrogen GP Inc. has elected to exercise its right to purchase all of the publicly traded common units of Terra Nitrogen Company, L.P. on April 2, 2018, for a cash purchase price of $84.033 per unit in accordance with the terms of TNCLP’s partnership agreement. The purchase price of all of the publicly traded common units of TNCLP is approximately $390 million. The company intends to fund the purchase with cash on hand. As of the April 2, 2018, purchase date, all rights of the holders of the units will terminate, with the exception of the right to receive payment of the purchase price.

CHS Inc. Distribution

On January 31, 2018, the Board of Managers of CF Industries Nitrogen, LLC (CFN) approved a semi-annual distribution payment to CHS Inc. (CHS) of $49 million for the distribution period ended December 31, 2017. The distribution was paid on January 31, 2018. The total distribution to CHS pertaining to 2017 was approximately $108 million.

Consolidated Results

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During the three months and year ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, certain significant items impacted our financial results. The following table outlines these significant items and how they impacted the comparability of our financial results during these periods. During the three months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, we reported net earnings (loss) attributable to common stockholders of $465 million and $(320) million, respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, we reported net earnings (loss) attributable to common stockholders of $358 million and $(277) million, respectively.

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Segment Results

Ammonia Segment

CF Industries’ ammonia segment produces anhydrous ammonia (ammonia), which is the company’s most concentrated form of nitrogen, containing 82 percent nitrogen. The results of the ammonia segment consist of sales of ammonia to external customers. In addition, ammonia is the “basic” nitrogen form that the company upgrades into other nitrogen products such as urea, UAN and AN.

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Comparison of 2017 to 2016 fourth quarter periods:

• Ammonia sales volume increased for the fourth quarter of 2017 compared to the fourth quarter of 2016 due to additional production volume from the company's Donaldsonville and Port Neal Nitrogen Complexes and increased demand for fall agricultural applications.
• Ammonia average selling prices increased primarily due to the impact of a tighter global nitrogen supply and demand balance. Additionally, ammonia selling prices benefited from the commencement of delivery under a long-term supply agreement.
• Ammonia gross margin per ton increased in the fourth quarter of 2017 compared to the fourth quarter of 2016 due to the absence of start-up expenses incurred in the fourth quarter of 2016 associated with the new Port Neal ammonia plant, production efficiencies due to increased volumes and higher average selling prices. These were partially offset by a $30 million lower unrealized mark-to-market gain on natural gas derivatives compared to the prior year period and an increase in realized natural gas costs.

Granular Urea Segment

CF Industries’ granular urea segment produces granular urea, which contains 46 percent nitrogen. Produced from ammonia and carbon dioxide, it has the highest nitrogen content of any of the company’s solid nitrogen products.

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Comparison of 2017 to 2016 fourth quarter periods:

• Granular urea sales volume increased for the quarter primarily due to additional production volume from the company's Port Neal Nitrogen Complex.
• Granular urea average selling price per ton increased primarily due to the impact of a tighter global nitrogen supply and demand balance.
• Granular urea gross margin per ton was relatively unchanged as higher average selling prices and production efficiencies due to increased volumes were partially offset by a $1 million unrealized net mark-to-market gain on natural gas derivatives compared to a $23 million gain in the prior year period; an increase in depreciation primarily associated with the new Port Neal urea plant; and, to a lesser extent, higher realized natural gas costs.

UAN Segment

CF Industries’ UAN segment produces urea ammonium nitrate solution (UAN). UAN is a liquid product with nitrogen content that typically ranges from 28 percent to 32 percent and is produced by combining urea and ammonium nitrate in solution.

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Comparison of 2017 to 2016 fourth quarter periods:

• UAN sales volume decreased in the fourth quarter of 2017 due to lower export sales than in the prior year period.
• UAN average selling price per ton was relatively unchanged.
• UAN gross margin per ton decreased in the fourth quarter of 2017 compared to the fourth quarter of 2016 due to a $29 million lower unrealized net mark-to-market gain compared to the prior year period and, to a lesser extent, an increase in realized natural gas costs partially offset by cost reduction initiatives.

AN Segment

CF Industries' AN segment produces ammonium nitrate (AN). AN is used as a nitrogen fertilizer with nitrogen content between 29 percent to 35 percent, and also is used by industrial customers for commercial explosives and blasting systems. AN is produced at the company's Yazoo City, Mississippi; Billingham, United Kingdom; and Ince, United Kingdom, complexes.

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Comparison of 2017 to 2016 fourth quarter periods:

• AN sales volume increased in the fourth quarter of 2017 compared to the fourth quarter of 2016 due to increased demand for both agricultural and industrial applications.
• AN average selling price per ton increased in the fourth quarter of 2017 compared to the fourth quarter of 2016 due to the impact of a tighter global nitrogen supply and demand balance and the effect of a long-term AN supply agreement that commenced in 2017.
• AN gross margin per ton increased due to higher average selling prices partially offset by a $1 million unrealized mark-to-market gain on natural gas derivatives compared to a $3 million mark-to-market gain on natural gas derivatives in the prior year period and an increase in realized natural gas costs.

Other Segment

CF Industries’ Other segment includes diesel exhaust fluid (DEF), urea liquor, nitric acid and compound fertilizer products (NPKs).

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Comparison of 2017 to 2016 fourth quarter periods:

• Other segment volume increased in the fourth quarter of 2017 due primarily to higher year-over-year sales of DEF as the company continues to grow its North American DEF business.
• Other segment average selling price per ton increased primarily due to the impact of a tighter global nitrogen supply and demand balance.
• Other segment gross margin per ton was relatively unchanged as higher average selling prices were partially offset by a $1 million unrealized mark-to-market gain on natural gas derivatives compared to a $6 million mark-to-market gain on natural gas derivatives in the prior year period, higher depreciation related to the new DEF unit at Donaldsonville and an increase in realized natural gas costs.

Dividend Payment

On February 7, 2018, CF Industries’ Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.30 per common share. The dividend will be paid on February 28, 2018 to stockholders of record as of February 16, 2018.

Conference Call

CF Industries will hold a conference call to discuss its fourth quarter 2017 results at 9:00 a.m. ET on Thursday, February 15, 2018. This conference call will include discussion of CF Industries' business environment and outlook. Investors can access the call and find dial-in information on the Investor Relations section of the company’s website at www.cfindustries.com.

About CF Industries Holdings, Inc.

CF Industries Holdings, Inc., headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, through its subsidiaries is a global leader in the manufacturing and distribution of nitrogen products, serving both agricultural and industrial customers. CF Industries operates world-class nitrogen manufacturing complexes in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States, and distributes plant nutrients through a system of terminals, warehouses, and associated transportation equipment located primarily in the Midwestern United States. The company also owns a 50 percent interest in an ammonia facility in The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. CF Industries routinely posts investor announcements and additional information on the company’s website at www.cfindustries.com and encourages those interested in the company to check there frequently.

Note Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The company reports its financial results in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Management believes that EBITDA, EBITDA per ton, EBITDA as a percent of net sales, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA per ton, adjusted EBITDA as a percent of net sales, adjusted net (loss) earnings, adjusted net (loss) earnings per diluted share, controllable cost of sales, and controllable cost of sales per ton, and, on a segment basis, adjusted gross margin and adjusted gross margin as a percent of net sales, which are non-GAAP financial measures, provide additional meaningful information regarding the company's performance and financial strength. Non-GAAP financial measures should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternative for, the company's reported results prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, because not all companies use identical calculations, EBITDA, EBITDA per ton, EBITDA as a percent of net sales, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA per ton, adjusted EBITDA as a percent of net sales, adjusted net (loss) earnings, adjusted net (loss) earnings per diluted share, adjusted gross margin, adjusted gross margin as a percent of net sales, controllable cost of sales and controllable cost of sales per ton, included in this release may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. Reconciliations of EBITDA, EBITDA per ton, EBITDA as a percent of net sales, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA per ton, adjusted EBITDA as a percent of net sales, adjusted net (loss) earnings, adjusted net (loss) earnings per diluted share, controllable cost of sales, and controllable cost of sales per ton to the most directly comparable GAAP measures are provided in the tables accompanying this release under “CF Industries Holdings, Inc.-Selected Financial Information-Non-GAAP Disclosure Items.” Reconciliations of adjusted gross margin and adjusted gross margin as a percent of net sales to the most directly comparable GAAP measures are provided in the segment tables included in this release.

Safe Harbor Statement

All statements in this communication by CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, the “Company”), other than those relating to historical facts, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by their use of terms such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “will” or “would” and similar terms and phrases, including references to assumptions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company’s control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements. These statements may include, but are not limited to, statements about strategic plans and statements about future financial and operating results.

Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, among others, the cyclical nature of the Company’s business and the agricultural sector; the global commodity nature of the Company’s fertilizer products, the impact of global supply and demand on the Company’s selling prices, and the intense global competition from other fertilizer producers; conditions in the U.S. and European agricultural industry; the volatility of natural gas prices in North America and Europe; difficulties in securing the supply and delivery of raw materials, increases in their costs or delays or interruptions in their delivery; reliance on third party providers of transportation services and equipment; the significant risks and hazards involved in producing and handling the Company’s products against which the Company may not be fully insured; the Company’s ability to manage its indebtedness; operating and financial restrictions imposed on the Company by the agreements governing the Company's senior secured indebtedness; risks associated with the Company’s incurrence of additional indebtedness; the Company's ability to maintain compliance with covenants under the agreements governing its indebtedness; downgrades of the Company’s credit ratings; risks associated with cyber security; weather conditions; risks associated with changes in tax laws and disagreements with taxing authorities; risks associated with expansions of the Company’s business, including unanticipated adverse consequences and the significant resources that could be required; potential liabilities and expenditures related to environmental, health and safety laws and regulations and permitting requirements; future regulatory restrictions and requirements related to greenhouse gas emissions; the seasonality of the fertilizer business; the impact of changing market conditions on the Company’s forward sales programs; risks involving derivatives and the effectiveness of the Company’s risk measurement and hedging activities; the Company’s reliance on a limited number of key facilities; risks associated with the operation or management of the strategic venture with CHS Inc. (the "CHS Strategic Venture"), risks and uncertainties relating to the market prices of the fertilizer products that are the subject of the supply agreement with CHS Inc. over the life of the supply agreement, and the risk that any challenges related to the CHS Strategic Venture will harm the Company's other business relationships; risks associated with the Company’s Point Lisas Nitrogen Limited joint venture; acts of terrorism and regulations to combat terrorism; risks associated with international operations; and deterioration of global market and economic conditions.

More detailed information about factors that may affect the Company’s performance and could cause actual results to differ materially from those in any forward-looking statements may be found in CF Industries Holdings, Inc.’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including CF Industries Holdings, Inc.’s most recent annual and quarterly reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q, which are available in the Investor Relations section of the Company’s web site. Forward-looking statements are given only as of the date of this communication and the Company disclaims any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

CF INDUSTRIES HOLDINGS, INC.
SELECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
NON-GAAP DISCLOSURE ITEMS

Reconciliation of net earnings (loss), net earnings (loss) per ton and net earnings (loss) as a percent of net sales (GAAP measures) to EBITDA, EBITDA per ton, EBITDA as a percent of net sales, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA per ton and adjusted EBITDA as a percent of net sales (non-GAAP measures), as applicable:

EBITDA is defined as net earnings (loss) attributable to common stockholders plus interest expense—net, income taxes and depreciation and amortization. Other adjustments include the elimination of loan fee amortization that is included in both interest and amortization, and the portion of depreciation that is included in noncontrolling interests.

The company has presented EBITDA, EBITDA per ton and EBITDA as a percent of net sales because management uses these measures to track performance and believes that they are frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties in the evaluation of companies in the industry.

Adjusted EBITDA is defined as EBITDA adjusted with the selected items included in EBITDA as summarized in the table below. The company has presented adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA per ton and adjusted EBITDA as a percent of net sales because management uses these measures, and believes they are useful to investors, as supplemental financial measures in the comparison of year-over-year performance.

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Reconciliation of net earnings (loss) attributable to common stockholders and net earnings (loss) per diluted share attributable to common stockholders (GAAP measures) to adjusted net (loss) earnings and adjusted net (loss) earnings per diluted share (non-GAAP measures), as applicable:

Adjusted net (loss) earnings is defined as net earnings (loss) attributable to common stockholders adjusted with the impacts of the selected items included in net earnings (loss) as summarized in the table below. The company has presented adjusted net (loss) earnings and adjusted net (loss) earnings per diluted share because management uses these measures, and believes they are useful to investors, as supplemental financial measures in the comparison of year-over-year performance.

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CF INDUSTRIES HOLDINGS, INC.
SELECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
NON-GAAP DISCLOSURE ITEMS

Reconciliation of cost of sales and cost of sales per ton (GAAP measures) to controllable cost of sales and controllable cost of sales per ton (non-GAAP measures), as applicable:

Controllable cost of sales is defined as cost of sales adjusted for natural gas costs, realized and unrealized losses (gains) on natural gas derivatives, depreciation and amortization, and start-up costs related to the company's Donaldsonville ammonia and Port Neal ammonia and urea plants. The company has presented controllable cost of sales and controllable cost of sales per ton because management uses these measures, and believes they are useful to investors, as supplemental financial measures in the comparison of year-over-year performance.

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CF Industries Holdings, Inc.
Media
Chris Close
Director, Corporate Communications
847-405-2542 - cclose@cfindustries.com
or
Investors
Martin Jarosick
Vice President, Investor Relations
847-405-2045 - mjarosick@cfindustries.com

Source: CF Industries Holdings, Inc.