Shares of Warrior Met Coal LLC (HCC) soared 5.96% in after-hours trading on Wednesday following the release of its third-quarter earnings report, which significantly exceeded analyst expectations. The metallurgical coal producer reported strong financial results and operational improvements, driving investor optimism.

Warrior Met Coal announced a Q3 net income of $36.6 million, or $0.70 per diluted share, surpassing the estimated loss of $0.33 per share. The company's sales reached $328.589 million, beating the forecast of $304.334 million. These impressive figures were attributed to a 27% increase in total sales volumes and a 17% rise in total production volumes compared to the same period last year.

The company's performance was bolstered by the early commencement of longwall operations at its Blue Creek mine, which began eight months ahead of schedule. This operational success prompted Warrior Met Coal to raise its full-year production volume guidance by 10%. Additionally, the firm secured a federal coal lease covering approximately 14,050 acres in Tuscaloosa, further strengthening its long-term prospects. These positive developments, coupled with the strong financial results, likely contributed to the significant after-hours stock price increase as investors responded favorably to the company's growth trajectory and operational efficiency.