Rayonier Reports First Quarter 2022 Results

Rayonier, Inc. (“Rayonier”) reported first quarter net income attributable to Rayonier of $29.3 million, or $0.20 per share, on revenues of $222.0 million. This compares to net income attributable to Rayonier of $10.8 million, or $0.08 per share, on revenues of $191.4 million in the prior year quarter.

First quarter operating income was $45.3 million versus $28.5 million in the prior year period. Prior year first quarter operating income included $1.1 million of operating income attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Timber Funds segment. Excluding this item, pro forma operating income1 was $27.4 million in the prior year period. First quarter Adjusted EBITDA1 was $98.1 million versus $69.5 million in the prior year period.

Cash provided by operating activities was $49.7 million versus $53.9 million in the prior year period. Cash available for distribution (CAD) of $64.5 million increased $17.2 million versus the prior year period primarily due to higher Adjusted EBITDA1 ($28.6 million), partially offset by higher cash taxes paid ($9.2 million), higher cash interest paid ($1.1 million) and higher capital expenditures ($1.1 million).

“We are pleased with our strong start to 2022,” said David Nunes, President and CEO. “Adjusted EBITDA of $98.1 million was 41% higher than the prior year quarter, as favorable results in our Southern Timber, Pacific Northwest Timber and Real Estate segments more than offset lower Adjusted EBITDA in our New Zealand Timber segment.”

“We achieved record quarterly Adjusted EBITDA in both of our U.S. timber segments, driven primarily by continued pricing momentum. Southern Timber Adjusted EBITDA improved 53% over the prior year quarter, as strong demand drove 31% higher net stumpage prices and favorable logging conditions led to a 25% increase in harvest volumes. In Pacific Northwest Timber, Adjusted EBITDA improved 22% over the prior year quarter, as a 17% increase in weighted-average log prices more than offset higher costs and a 6% reduction in harvest volumes.”

“New Zealand Timber Adjusted EBITDA declined 51% versus the prior year quarter, as modestly higher weighted-average log prices were more than offset by 14% lower harvest volumes, compressed margins due to significantly higher shipping costs, and an unfavorable exchange rate variance.”

“Real Estate segment Adjusted EBITDA was $19.6 million above the prior year quarter, driven by a significant increase in acres sold, partially offset by a modest decrease in weighted-average prices due to the mix of acreage sold.”

Southern Timber

First quarter sales of $76.8 million increased $25.1 million, or 49%, versus the prior year period. Harvest volumes increased 25% to 1.90 million tons versus 1.51 million tons in the prior year period, as drier ground conditions enabled stumpage customers to ramp up production to meet strong demand. Average pine sawtimber stumpage prices increased 29% to $35.46 per ton versus $27.51 per ton in the prior year period, driven by strong domestic lumber demand coupled with elevated chip-n-saw pricing due to increased competition from pulp mills. Average pine pulpwood stumpage prices increased 41% to $24.11 per ton versus $17.10 per ton in the prior year period, reflecting strong competition across our wood baskets as customers looked to secure supply and replenish low mill inventories. Overall, weighted-average stumpage prices (including hardwood) increased 31% to $27.94 per ton versus $21.35 per ton in the prior year period. Operating income of $30.3 million increased $13.0 million versus the prior year period due to higher net stumpage realizations ($12.5 million) and higher volumes ($4.5 million), partially offset by higher costs ($2.1 million), lower non-timber income ($1.8 million) and higher depletion rates ($0.1 million).

First quarter Adjusted EBITDA of $48.4 million was 53%, or $16.7 million, above the prior year period.

Pacific Northwest Timber

First quarter sales of $46.3 million increased $4.8 million, or 11%, versus the prior year period, notwithstanding a decline in harvest volumes of 6% to 505,000 tons versus 536,000 tons in the prior year period. Average delivered sawtimber prices increased 16% to $105.69 per ton versus $90.98 per ton in the prior year period, driven by strong domestic lumber demand. Average delivered pulpwood prices increased 28% to $37.69 per ton versus $29.36 per ton in the prior year period, primarily driven by improved demand due to the restart of idled pulp mill capacity in the region. Operating income of $6.6 million improved $5.3 million versus the prior year period due to higher net stumpage realizations ($5.8 million) and lower depletion rates ($0.4 million), partially offset by higher costs ($0.5 million), lower volumes ($0.3 million) and lower non-timber income ($0.1 million).

First quarter Adjusted EBITDA of $21.5 million was 22%, or $3.9 million, above the prior year period.

New Zealand Timber

First quarter sales of $51.4 million decreased $6.2 million, or 11%, versus the prior year period. Harvest volumes decreased 14% to 515,000 tons versus 599,000 tons in the prior year period, as production at the beginning of the year was deferred in response to port congestion and elevated log inventories in China. Average delivered prices for export sawtimber increased 5% to $127.59 per ton versus $121.65 per ton in the prior year period. The increase in export sawtimber prices versus the prior year period reflected the ability of log exporters to partially pass on higher costs to customers, as well as the newly implemented restriction on competing log imports into China from Russia. However, favorable export pricing was more than offset by higher shipping and demurrage costs due to ongoing supply chain and port congestion issues. Average delivered prices for domestic sawtimber decreased 6% to $75.99 per ton versus $80.95 per ton in the prior year period. The decrease in domestic sawtimber prices (in U.S. dollar terms) was driven by the decline in the NZ$/US$ exchange rate (US$0.67 per NZ$1.00 versus US$0.72 per NZ$1.00). Excluding the impact of foreign exchange rates, domestic sawtimber prices improved 1% versus the prior year period. Operating income of $5.4 million decreased $8.6 million versus the prior year period due to lower net stumpage realizations ($6.2 million), lower volumes ($2.6 million), higher costs ($0.6 million) and unfavorable foreign exchange impacts ($1.5 million), partially offset by higher carbon credit sales ($1.5 million) and lower depletion rates ($0.8 million).

First quarter Adjusted EBITDA of $10.4 million was 51%, or $10.8 million, below the prior year period.

Real Estate

First quarter sales of $34.2 million increased $23.7 million versus the prior year period, while operating income of $10.2 million increased $8.5 million versus the prior year period. Higher segment results in the current year period were driven by a significant increase in the number of acres sold (8,734 acres sold versus 2,395 acres sold in the prior year period), partially offset by a decrease in weighted-average prices ($3,815 per acre versus $4,183 per acre in the prior year period).

Improved Development sales of $5.0 million included $3.6 million from the Wildlight development project north of Jacksonville, Florida and $1.4 million from the Richmond Hill development project (which has now been branded as Heartwood) south of Savannah, Georgia. Sales in Wildlight consisted of 52 residential lots, reflecting an average price of $70,000 per lot or $339,000 per acre. Sales in Richmond Hill (Heartwood) included ten residential lots for $0.4 million (an average price of $44,000 per lot or $251,000 per acre) and a 4-acre commercial property for $0.9 million ($246,000 per acre). This compares to prior year period Improved Development sales of $0.3 million.

There were no Unimproved Development sales in the first quarter or the prior year period.

Rural sales of $16.9 million consisted of 4,751 acres at an average price of $3,567 per acre. This compares to prior year period sales of $9.8 million, which consisted of 2,394 acres at an average price of $4,079 per acre.

Timberland & Non-Strategic sales of $11.4 million consisted of 3,966 acres at an average price of $2,874 per acre. There were no Timberland & Non-Strategic sales in the prior year period.

First quarter Adjusted EBITDA of $24.7 million was $19.6 million above the prior year period.

Trading

First quarter sales of $13.4 million decreased $3.2 million versus the prior year period primarily due to lower volumes, partially offset by higher prices. Sales volumes decreased 21% to 112,000 tons versus 141,000 tons in the prior year period, reflecting elevated log inventories in China and constrained export market demand. The Trading segment generated operating income of $0.4 million versus $0.2 million in the prior year period.

Other Items

First quarter corporate and other operating expenses of $7.6 million were flat versus the prior year period.

First quarter interest expense of $8.3 million decreased $1.7 million versus the prior year period due to lower average outstanding debt and lower borrowing costs.

First quarter income tax expense of $5.5 million increased $2.1 million versus the prior year period. The New Zealand subsidiary is generally the primary driver of income tax expense, although the increase in the first quarter was attributable to the retirement of an installment note in the taxable REIT subsidiary.

In September 2020, we established an at-the-market (“ATM”) equity offering program under which we may sell common shares, from time to time, having an aggregate sales price of up to $300 million. There were approximately 726,000 shares issued under the ATM program during the three months ended March 31, 2022 at an average price of $41.46 per share.

Outlook

“Following a solid start to the year, we are well on track to achieve our prior full-year Adjusted EBITDA guidance,” added Nunes.

“In our Southern Timber segment, we expect to achieve our full-year volume guidance and are encouraged by the year-over-year pricing gains that have been realized across our operating areas. Overall, we continue to expect a significant increase in full-year Adjusted EBITDA from this segment as compared to the prior year. However, we anticipate lower quarterly harvest volumes for the remainder of the year as compared to the first quarter, as we experienced above-average stumpage removals to start the year. Also, while we expect net stumpage realizations to remain well above prior year levels, we anticipate modestly lower weighted-average prices for the remainder of the year as compared to the first quarter due to higher mill inventories, a higher proportion of thinning volume, and a less favorable geographic mix.”

“In our Pacific Northwest Timber segment, we expect to achieve our full-year volume guidance, although we expect lower quarterly harvest volumes for the balance of the year following strong removals in the first quarter. We further expect that weighted-average log prices will remain near first quarter levels for the balance of the year, driven by continued strong sawtimber demand and improving pulpwood markets.”

“In our New Zealand Timber segment, we expect to achieve our full-year volume guidance with increased quarterly harvest volumes for the balance of the year. While a significant level of uncertainty remains around the ongoing COVID-19 related disruptions in China, we expect that once demand stabilizes, constrained log supplies will drive export sawtimber prices higher. We further expect that domestic sawtimber and pulpwood pricing will remain relatively flat for the remainder of the year. Consistent with our previous guidance, we anticipate a higher Adjusted EBITDA contribution from this segment in the second half versus the first half of the year.”

“In our Real Estate segment, we expect to achieve our full-year Adjusted EBITDA guidance. Following strong Real Estate results in the first quarter, we anticipate lower quarterly results for the balance of the year.”

For the full first quarter results, click here.

About Rayonier

Rayonier is a leading timberland real estate investment trust with assets located in some of the most productive softwood timber growing regions in the United States and New Zealand. As of March 31, 2022, Rayonier owned or leased under long-term agreements approximately 2.7 million acres of timberlands located in the U.S. South (1.80 million acres), U.S. Pacific Northwest (486,000 acres) and New Zealand (419,000 acres). More information is available at www.rayonier.com.

Contact:

Collin Mings – Investor Relations – investorrelations@rayonier.com – (904) 357-9100

Source: Rayonier, Inc.