UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported):  July 29, 2014

Arch Coal, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

CityPlace One
One CityPlace Drive, Suite 300
St. Louis, Missouri 63141
(Address, including zip code, of principal executive offices)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  (314) 994-2700

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

o    Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o            Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o            Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o            Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 2.02              Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On July 29, 2014, Arch Coal, Inc. issued a press release containing its second quarter 2014 financial results.  A copy of the press release is attached hereto as exhibit 99.1.

The information contained in Item 2.02 and the exhibit attached hereto shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall they be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

Item 9.01              Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)                                 Exhibits

The following exhibit is attached hereto and filed herewith.

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Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

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Exhibit Index

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Exhibit 99.1

News from

Arch Coal, Inc.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

Jennifer Beatty

Vice President, Investor Relations

314/994-2781

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Arch Coal, Inc. Reports Second Quarter 2014 Results

Arch’s second quarter cash margin per ton expands 71% versus first quarter

Strong second quarter cost control drives full year 2014 cost guidance reduction

Arch enhances metallurgical platform to lower costs and improve quality

Earnings Highlights

ST. LOUIS, July 29, 2014 — Arch Coal, Inc. (NYSE: ACI) today reported a net loss of $97 million, or $0.46 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2014 compared with a $72 million net loss, or $0.34 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2013. Revenues totaled $714 million for the three months ended June 30, 2014, and adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, depletion and amortization (“EBITDA”) from continuing operations was $65 million.

“During the second quarter of 2014, increased shipments, higher pricing and strong cost control drove margin expansion in each of our operating regions compared with the first quarter,” said John W. Eaves, Arch’s president and chief executive officer. “Our successful cost control efforts to date — underscored by strong operating performances at Leer in Appalachia and West Elk in Colorado — have allowed us to reduce our cost-per-ton expectations for those segments in 2014.”

For the first half of 2014, Arch generated adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations of $93 million compared with $149 million recorded in the first half of 2013. Total revenues declined slightly to $1.4 billion during the first six months of 2014, largely due to lower metallurgical coal revenues versus the prior-year period.

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“Recently, we’ve announced the idling of our Cumberland River complex in response to weak global metallurgical coal prices,” said Eaves. “Although idling higher-cost coking coal capacity lowers our metallurgical coal volume expectations for 2014, it also shifts our mine portfolio toward higher-margin metallurgical coal operations and enhances our competitive cost position in that region.”

Financial Position

As of June 30, 2014, Arch had a total liquidity position of roughly $1.25 billion, with nearly $1.0 billion of that liquidity in the form of cash and short-term investments. The company had no borrowings under its revolving credit facility at June 30, 2014, and has no long-term debt maturities due until mid-2018.

“Through this cyclical downturn, we have been focused on controlling our costs and capital spending, and we have further reduced our capital outlay and administrative spending expectations for full year 2014,” said John T. Drexler, Arch’s senior vice president and chief financial officer. “We remain confident that these ongoing initiatives — along with an expected strong operational performance in the second half — will help us maintain our solid financial footing going forward, and strategically position Arch to capitalize on a coal market recovery.”

Core Values

During the second quarter of 2014, Arch’s lost-time safety incident rate improved nearly 30 percent compared with the first quarter. In addition, both the Leer and the Mountain Laurel mines in Appalachia each reached new milestones of operating an entire year without a single lost-time safety incident. Furthermore, Arch recently earned three safety and environmental awards, including the state of Wyoming’s top honor for reclamation excellence and wildlife habitat creation at the Black Thunder and Coal Creek mines.

“We’re extremely proud of our employees for these achievements and recognize their continued dedication to advancing Arch’s core values,” said Paul A. Lang, Arch’s executive vice president and chief operating officer. “We also congratulate the six operations that attained A Perfect Zero — the dual accomplishment of operating without an environmental violation or reportable safety incident — during the second quarter of 2014.”

Operational Results

“Our mines turned in solid performances in the second quarter, supported by cost reductions that improved margins across our operating platform versus the first quarter,” said Lang. “Looking ahead, we expect strong cost performances in our Appalachian and Bituminous Thermal segments to continue, and we plan to remain nimble in response to market conditions.”

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Second quarter 2014 consolidated cash margin per ton expanded 71 percent versus the first quarter, reflecting both higher prices and lower costs per ton in each operating segment. The improvement in consolidated sales price per ton was largely driven by higher-priced domestic thermal coal sales, slightly offset by lower pricing obtained on metallurgical coal shipments. Consolidated cash cost per ton declined 5 percent in the second quarter of 2014 versus the prior- quarter period, due to successful cost-containment efforts and the effect of higher shipment levels in the Powder River Basin.

Second quarter 2014 cash margin per ton increased 33 percent in the Powder River Basin, when compared to the first quarter. Average sales price per ton increased modestly over the same time period, while cash cost per ton declined 3 percent, benefitting from the effect of increased shipments and strong cost control.

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In Appalachia, Arch earned a cash margin of $7.00 per ton in the second quarter of 2014 versus $2.22 per ton in the first quarter. Average sales price per ton increased 2 percent over the same time period, reflecting higher prices on thermal and industrial coal sales as well as a larger percentage of metallurgical coal in the company’s regional volume mix. Cash cost per ton decreased 5 percent versus the first quarter, driven by a shift in production toward the company’s lower-cost mines in the region and the Leer mine’s successful ongoing ramp up to full production.

Operating results exclude former Canyon Fuel subsidiary.

Cash cost per ton is defined and reconciled under “Reconciliation of non-GAAP measures”.

Operating cost per ton is the sum of cash costs and depreciation, depletion and amortization expense divided by tons sold.

In the Bituminous Thermal segment, Arch’s cash margin nearly doubled versus the first quarter to $11.51 per ton in the second quarter of 2014. Average sales price per ton increased 9 percent over the same time period, reflecting increased domestic demand and lower export volumes. Arch recorded a cash cost of $19.83 per ton in the second quarter of 2014, a 12 percent decline versus the first quarter, driven by strong operating performances at the mines in the segment.

Market Trends

Arch believes the current coal market downturn is unsustainable over the long term. While global metallurgical coal prices are expected to remain soft throughout 2014, global steel production, a driver of metallurgical coal demand, has increased by 2.5 percent year-to-date and appears poised for continued expansion. Announced closures of higher-cost metallurgical coal supply have accelerated as 2014 has progressed, and many capital growth projects have been delayed or cancelled as current prevailing prices do not justify incremental investment. Arch expects all of these factors to bring better balance to global metallurgical markets over time.

Adding to near-term pressures, prevailing soft seaborne thermal and metallurgical prices are likely to limit U.S. coal exports this year. Arch expects industry-wide coal exports from the United States to decline below 100 million tons for 2014 compared with 2013 export levels of 117 million tons.

In the domestic coal market, U.S. electric generation grew 2 percent through the first half of 2014, according to the Edison Electric Institute. Coal stockpiles at U.S. power generators have declined markedly this year, due to higher competing fuel prices and increased power load.

With prevailing mild summer temperatures to date, Arch now expects domestic coal consumption to increase by approximately 20 million tons in 2014 compared to last year. Even

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with the mild summer weather, however, coal stockpiles at power generators are likely to shrink — and could end the year at around 50 days of supply. Customer coal inventories in some regions, such as the Powder River Basin, could decline to below-normal levels.

Company Outlook

Based on current expectations, Arch is reducing its sales volume targets for 2014, reflecting the result of ongoing transportation bottlenecks affecting thermal coal deliveries and the impact of metallurgical production curtailments. Arch now expects thermal sales volumes for 2014 to be in the range of 124 million to 130 million tons. The company has lowered its metallurgical coal sales guidance, and now expects to ship between 6.3 million and 6.9 million tons for 2014.

Offsetting the volume reductions, Arch has reduced its annual cash-cost-per-ton guidance range for both its Appalachian and Bituminous Thermal segments. However, the company anticipates the timing of two longwall moves in West Virginia and the cost of idling Cumberland River to temporarily impact the Appalachian reported costs during the third quarter. Additionally, Arch is further reducing its capital expenditures for 2014, and now expects to spend $170 million to $180 million for capital programs, inclusive of land and reserve additions.

“Looking ahead, we remain focused on those factors within our control to position Arch for a future market rebound,” said Eaves. “As coal markets turn, Arch can leverage its superior low-cost thermal and metallurgical asset base to create substantial value for our stakeholders.”

A conference call regarding Arch Coal’s second quarter 2014 financial results will be webcast live today at 11 a.m. Eastern time. The conference call can be accessed via the “investor” section of the Arch Coal website (http://investor.archcoal.com).

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U.S.-based Arch Coal, Inc. is one of the world’s top coal producers for the global steel and power generation industries, serving customers on five continents. Its network of mining complexes is the most diversified in the United States, spanning every major coal basin in the nation. The company controls more than 5 billion tons of high-quality metallurgical and thermal coal reserves, with access to all major railroads, inland waterways and a growing number of seaborne trade channels. For more information, visit www.archcoal.com.

Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains “forward-looking statements” — that is, statements related to future, not past, events. In this context, forward-looking statements often address our expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” or “will.” Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain. For us, particular uncertainties arise from changes in the demand for our coal by the domestic electric generation industry; from legislation and regulations relating to the Clean Air Act and other environmental initiatives; from operational, geological, permit, labor and weather-related factors; from fluctuations in the amount of cash we generate from operations; from future integration of acquired businesses; and from numerous other matters of national, regional and global scale, including those of a political, economic, business, competitive or regulatory nature. These uncertainties may cause our actual future results to be materially different than those expressed in our forward-looking statements. We do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. For a description of some of the risks and uncertainties that may affect our future results, you should see the risk factors described from time to time in the reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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Arch Coal, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(In thousands, except per share data)

(A) Amounts are defined and reconciled under “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures” later in this release.

Arch Coal, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands)

Arch Coal, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Schedule of Consolidated Debt

(In thousands)

Arch Coal, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(In thousands)

Arch Coal, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures

(In thousands, except per share data)

Included in the accompanying release are certain non-GAAP measures as defined by Regulation G.

The following reconciles these items to cost of sales, net income and cash flows as reported under GAAP.

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income attributable to the Company before the effect of net interest expense, income taxes, depreciation, depletion and amortization, and the amortization of acquired sales contracts.   Adjusted EBITDA may also be adjusted for items that may not reflect the trend of future results.

Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and items excluded from Adjusted EBITDA are significant in understanding and assessing our financial from operations, cash flows from operations or as a measure of our profitability, liquidity or performance under generally accepted accounting principles. We believe that Adjusted EBITDA presents a useful measure of our ability to incur and service debt based on ongoing operations. Furthermore, analogous measures are used by industry analysts to evaluate our operating performance. In addition, acquisition related expenses are excluded to make results more comparable between periods.  Investors should be aware that our presentation of Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. The table below shows how we calculate Adjusted EBITDA.