What drove SXC's earnings growth in 2024?

SunCoke Energy's (SXC) earnings growth in 2024 was driven by several key factors:

1. **Increase in Net Income**: SunCoke Energy reported a net income of $103.5 million for 2024, which reflects a significant improvement from the previous year. This increase is a result of improved operational efficiency and strategic management of capital expenditures and logistics.
2. **Revenue Growth**: The company's total revenue for 2024 was $1.94 billion. This represents a notable rise compared to the previous year, indicating a strong market demand for SunCoke's products and services. The increase in revenue is a direct result of the company's successful market positioning and competitive stance against its primary rival, DTE.
3. **Cost Management**: SunCoke Energy's profit margin improved to 4.6% in the second quarter of 2024, up from 3.8% in the same period of the previous year. This increase was driven by lower expenses, which is a testament to the company's effective cost management strategies.
4. **Strategic Initiatives**: The company's focus on strategic initiatives, such as the optimization of its domestic coke fleet and the implementation of innovative heat-recovery technology, has contributed to its strong operational performance. These initiatives have not only improved the company's efficiency but have also enabled it to capitalize on market opportunities.
5. **Dividend Payments**: SunCoke Energy declared a cash dividend of $0.12 per share, payable on December 2, 2024. While not directly related to earnings growth, dividend payments can enhance shareholder value and reflect the company's financial stability and confidence in its future cash flows.

In conclusion, SunCoke Energy's earnings growth in 2024 was driven by a combination of increased revenue, improved profit margins, effective cost management, strategic initiatives, and dividend payments. These factors collectively contributed to the company's strong financial performance and its ability to surpass analyst earnings projections in several quarters.