Alpha Metallurgical Resources Inc. (NYSE: AMR) saw its shares surge 5.05% in pre-market trading on Friday, despite reporting a quarterly loss that missed analyst estimates. The company's Q4 2024 results were impacted by weak metallurgical coal demand and pricing, leading to a net loss of $2.1 million or $0.16 per diluted share. However, investors seemed to overlook the earnings miss, focusing instead on the company's cost guidance increase and ongoing share repurchase program.

Revenue for the quarter came in at $617.3 million, exceeding analysts' expectations, driven by higher sales volumes of metallurgical coal. Alpha Metallurgical Resources reported tons of coal sold in Q4 of 4.1 million, with the Met segment accounting for 4.1 million tons.

In its earnings release, the company announced adjustments to its full-year 2025 guidance, reducing its metallurgical coal shipment volume range to 14.5 million to 15.5 million tons, down from the previous range of 15.0 million to 16.0 million tons. This downward revision reflects lower amounts of purchased coal than previously expected, as well as the impact of severe weather earlier in the year.

Offsetting this guidance cut was an increase in Alpha Metallurgical Resources' cost of coal sales guidance range for 2025, which was raised to $103.00 to $110.00 per ton, up from the prior range of $103.00 to $108.00 per ton.

Additionally, the company provided an update on its share repurchase program, revealing that it has acquired approximately 6.6 million shares of common stock at a cost of approximately $1.1 billion, or approximately $165.74 per share. The ongoing buyback activity has bolstered investor confidence in the company's commitment to returning value to shareholders.