Oct 30 (Reuters) - Peabody Energy Corp BTU.N :
* PEABODY REPORTS EARNINGS FOR QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2018
* Q3 REVENUE $1.41 BILLION VERSUS I/B/E/S VIEW $1.49 BILLION
* Q3 EARNINGS PER SHARE $0.63 FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS
* Q3 EARNINGS PER SHARE VIEW $1.30 -- THOMSON REUTERS I/B/E/S
* SOLD 49.1 MILLION TONS IN QUARTER VERSUS 52.0 MILLION TONS REPORTED LAST YEAR
* PEABODY ENERGY - PLANS TO ACQUIRE SHOAL CREEK METALLURGICAL COAL MINE, PREPARATION PLANT AND SUPPORTING ASSETS FROM DRUMMOND COMPANY FOR $400 MILLION
* TRANSACTION EXCLUDES LEGACY LIABILITIES OTHER THAN RECLAMATION
* PEABODY INTENDS TO FINANCE TRANSACTION WITH CASH ON BALANCE SHEET
* QTRLY DILUTED EPS ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS $0.59
* BUYBACKS REAFFIRMED AND AUTHORIZATION EXPANDED TO $1.5 BILLION
* SHOAL CREEK ACQUISITION TO ADD 2 MILLION TONS OR MORE OF SEABORNE HARD COKING COAL CAPACITY PER YEAR
* PEABODY ENERGY - CONSISTENT WITH ACTIONS TAKEN & CONDITIONS KNOWN TO DATE, PEABODY HAS RECORDED A $49.3 MILLION CHARGE FOR ESTIMATED EQUIPMENT LOSS IN QUARTER
* PEABODY ENERGY - FOR Q4, CO REVISING 2018 U.S. MIDWESTERN AND WESTERN SALES VOLUMES TO REFLECT STRONGER YEAR-TO-DATE SHIPMENTS
* PEABODY - DRUMMOND NEGOTIATING COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT WITH UNION-REPRESENTED WORKFORCE, WHICH IS A CONDITION PRECEDENT FOR DEAL CLOSING
* PEABODY - UNION-REPRESENTED WORKERS MUST AGREE TO ELIMINATION OF PARTICIPATION IN MULTI-EMPLOYER PENSION PLAN AND REPLACEMENT WITH A 401(K) PROGRAM
* FOCUSED ON CONTRACTING 2019 U.S. VOLUMES IF MARGINS ARE ACCEPTABLE
* ACQUISITION IS NOT EXPECTED TO INCREASE PEABODY'S U.S. FEDERAL CASH TAX PAYMENTS FOR FORESEEABLE FUTURE
* SEES DRIVING STRONG SHIPMENTS FROM AUSTRALIAN THERMAL PLATFORM IN Q4
* PREPARING FOR COMPLETION AND INTEGRATION OF SHOAL CREEK MINE ACQUISITION IN Q4
* SEES ADVANCING ASSESSMENT AND PLANNING PHASE AT NORTH GOONYELLA MINE IN Q4
* PEABODY ENERGY - IN U.S., COAL DEMAND HAS BEEN IMPACTED BY WEAK NATURAL GAS PRICING, COAL PLANT RETIREMENTS, INCREASED RENEWABLE GENERATION IN QUARTER
* STRONG SEABORNE THERMAL COAL SUPPLY-DEMAND DYNAMICS REMAINED IN PLACE DURING Q3
* PEABODY ENERGY- IN Q4, CO ESTIMATES $20 TO $25 MILLION IN CONTAINMENT, MONITORING AND PLANNING COSTS FOR NORTH GOONYELLA MINE
* PEABODY ENERGY - IN Q4 CO ESTIMATES $15 TO $20 MILLION IN COSTS TO KEEP NORTH GOONYELLA MINE IN IDLE STATUS PENDING ANY FUTURE RE-ENTRY