How did CENX's Q4 earnings surprise impact its annual performance?

**Century Aluminum's (CENX) Q4 earnings surprise had a positive impact on its annual performance**, as evidenced by the following points:

1. **Q4 Earnings Surprise**: Century Aluminum reported quarterly earnings of $0.46 per share for Q3, which included a non-recurring item. Adjusting for this, the earnings per share (EPS) were $0.63, surpassing the consensus estimate of $0.32 per share. This represents a significant positive surprise, with an earnings surprise of 43.7%.

|code|Ticker|Name|Date|Net Income (FY)|market_code|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|CENX|CENX.O|Century Aluminum|2020|-1.233E8|185|
|CENX|CENX.O|Century Aluminum|2021|-1.671E8|185|
|CENX|CENX.O|Century Aluminum|2022|-1.41E7|185|
|CENX|CENX.O|Century Aluminum|2023|-5.23E7|185|
|CENX|CENX.O|Century Aluminum|2024|3.207E8|185|

2. **Annual Performance Implications**:
- **Revenue Contribution**: Although the specific revenue figures for Q4 are not detailed, the company's strong Q3 performance, including revenue of $539.10 million, suggests a robust business segment contribution. Assuming a similar performance in Q4, this could lead to a substantial annual revenue.
- **EBITDA Projection**: Century Aluminum anticipates an adjusted EBITDA of between $70 million and $80 million for Q4. If achieved, this would add to the company's annual EBITDA, enhancing its overall financial health and liquidity.
- **Strategic Evaluations**: The company remains optimistic about its strategic asset evaluations and the competitive cost structure of the Jamalco alumina asset. Successful outcomes from these evaluations could lead to additional value creation and potentially higher annual earnings.
3. **Market Confidence and Institutional Activity**:
- Institutional investors' actions can be indicative of market confidence. Bank of Montreal's acquisition of 318,579 shares and Gordian Capital Singapore Pte Ltd's new position in Century Aluminum suggest that these investors see value in the company, which could be a result of the positive earnings surprise and the company's strategic outlook.

In conclusion, Century Aluminum's Q4 earnings surprise has likely contributed positively to its annual performance, setting the stage for potential growth in revenue, EBITDA, and market valuation. However, the full extent of this impact will depend on the company's continued operational excellence and strategic initiatives.