Rayonier Reports First Quarter 2023 Results

Rayonier Inc. (NYSE:RYN) today reported first quarter net income attributable to Rayonier of $8.3 million, or $0.06 per share, on revenues of $179.1 million. This compares to net income attributable to Rayonier of $29.3 million, or $0.20 per share, on revenues of $222.0 million in the prior year quarter.

The first quarter results included a $9.1 million net recovery associated with a legal settlement and a $2.3 million loss from a timber write-off resulting from a tropical cyclone casualty event in New Zealand.¹ Excluding these items and adjusting for pro forma net income adjustments attributable to noncontrolling interests,² first quarter pro forma net income³ was $1.1 million, or $0.01 per share.

First quarter operating income was $10.6 million versus $45.3 million in the prior year period. First quarter operating income included a $2.3 million loss from a timber write-off resulting from a tropical cyclone casualty event in New Zealand.¹ Excluding this item, pro forma operating income³ was $12.9 million versus $45.3 million in the prior year period. First quarter Adjusted EBITDA³ was $54.7 million versus $98.1 million in the prior year period.

Cash provided by operating activities was $64.0 million versus $49.7 million in the prior year period. Cash available for distribution (CAD)³ was $30.0 million, which decreased $34.5 million versus the prior year period due to lower Adjusted EBITDA³ ($43.4 million) and higher capital expenditures ($3.1 million), partially offset by lower cash taxes paid ($11.8 million) and lower cash interest paid ($0.1 million).

“Our team navigated numerous market challenges throughout the first quarter,” said David Nunes, CEO. “Amid weaker end-market demand and continued macroeconomic headwinds, the total Adjusted EBITDA generated by our Timber segments collectively declined 30% relative to an extraordinarily strong first quarter in 2022. Southern Timber Adjusted EBITDA declined $5.6 million relative to the prior year quarter, as weaker demand for pulp products and lumber coupled with drier weather conditions drove a 14% reduction in net stumpage prices. Pacific Northwest Timber Adjusted EBITDA fell $14.4 million versus the prior year quarter, driven by 24% lower harvest volumes and a 12% decline in domestic sawtimber prices, as both domestic and export markets weakened.”

“In our New Zealand Timber segment, Adjusted EBITDA declined $4.3 million versus the prior year quarter due to lower carbon credit sales, unfavorable foreign exchange impacts, and 7% lower harvest volumes resulting from the impacts of Cyclone Gabrielle, which struck the North Island of New Zealand in February. While delivered export sawtimber prices also declined by roughly 11%, stumpage realizations were relatively flat as shipping costs returned to more normalized levels.”

“Real Estate segment Adjusted EBITDA was $18.1 million below the prior year quarter, as higher weighted average per-acre prices in the current quarter were more than offset by 76% fewer acres sold.”

“Overall, Adjusted EBITDA of $54.7 million declined 44% relative to an extraordinarily strong first quarter 2022.”

Southern Timber

First quarter sales of $71.8 million decreased $4.9 million, or 6%, versus the prior year period. Harvest volumes of 1.89 million tons were flat versus the prior year period. Average pine sawtimber stumpage realizations decreased 11% to $31.57 per ton versus $35.46 per ton in the prior year period, primarily due to drier weather conditions, softer demand from sawmills, and decreased competition from pulp mills for chip-n-saw volume. Average pine pulpwood stumpage realizations decreased 28% to $17.32 per ton versus $24.11 per ton in the prior year period as weaker end-market demand, drier weather conditions, and extended maintenance outages at pulp mills all contributed to softer market conditions. Overall, weighted-average stumpage realizations (including hardwood) decreased 14% to $24.03 per ton versus $27.94 per ton in the prior year period. Operating income of $22.2 million decreased $8.1 million versus the prior year period due to lower net stumpage realizations ($7.4 million), higher depletion rates ($2.6 million), and higher lease expense and other costs ($1.8 million), partially offset by higher non-timber income ($3.7 million).

First quarter Adjusted EBITDA³ of $42.8 million was 12%, or $5.6 million, below the prior year period.

Pacific Northwest Timber

First quarter sales of $34.4 million decreased $11.9 million, or 26%, versus the prior year period. Harvest volumes decreased 24% to 384,000 tons versus 505,000 tons in the prior year period as some planned harvests were deferred in response to market conditions. Average delivered prices for domestic sawtimber decreased 12% to $93.12 per ton versus $105.82 per ton in the prior year period due to softer domestic demand and less competition from export markets. Average delivered pulpwood prices increased 28% to $48.23 per ton versus $37.69 per ton in the prior year period due to lower sawmill operating rates and increased competition for a limited supply of smaller-sized logs; however, pulpwood prices in the first quarter were well below the extraordinarily high levels realized in the second half of 2022. An operating loss of $3.5 million versus operating income of $6.6 million in the prior year period was primarily due to lower net stumpage realizations ($7.0 million), lower volumes ($2.5 million), higher costs ($1.1 million), and lower non-timber income ($0.2 million), partially offset by lower depletion rates ($0.7 million).

First quarter Adjusted EBITDA³ of $7.1 million was 67%, or $14.4 million, below the prior year period.

New Zealand Timber

First quarter sales of $44.1 million decreased $7.3 million, or 14%, versus the prior year period. Harvest volumes decreased 7% to 481,000 tons versus 515,000 tons in the prior year period, primarily due to lost production days resulting from Cyclone Gabrielle. Average delivered prices for export sawtimber decreased 11% to $112.97 per ton versus $127.59 per ton in the prior year period, driven by weaker demand in China. Average delivered prices for domestic sawtimber declined 6% to $71.58 per ton versus $75.99 per ton in the prior year period. The decrease in domestic sawtimber prices (in U.S. dollar terms) was primarily driven by the decline in the NZ$/US$ exchange rate (US$0.63 per NZ$1.00 versus US$0.67 per NZ$1.00). Excluding the impact of foreign exchange rates, domestic sawtimber prices remained flat versus the prior year period. An operating loss of $0.7 million versus operating income of $5.4 million in the prior year period was primarily due to a timber write-off resulting from a tropical cyclone casualty event ($2.3 million),¹ lower carbon credit sales ($1.3 million), unfavorable foreign exchange impacts ($0.9 million), higher costs ($0.8 million), and lower volumes ($0.8 million).

First quarter Adjusted EBITDA³ of $6.1 million was 41%, or $4.3 million, below the prior year period.

Real Estate

First quarter sales of $16.3 million decreased $17.9 million versus the prior year period, while operating income of $0.9 million decreased $9.3 million versus the prior year period. Sales and operating income decreased versus the prior year period due to a significantly lower number of acres sold (2,087 acres sold versus 8,734 acres sold in the prior year period), partially offset by a substantial increase in weighted-average prices ($6,200 per acre versus $3,815 per acre in the prior year period).

Improved Development sales of $4.8 million consisted of a 27-acre multifamily apartment site for $4.5 million ($169,000 per acre) and 6 residential lots for $0.3 million ($50,000 per lot or $297,000 per acre) in our Heartwood development project south of Savannah, Georgia. This compares to Improved Development sales of $5.0 million in the prior year period.

Rural sales of $6.5 million consisted of 1,531 acres at an average price of $4,245 per acre. This compares to prior year period sales of $16.9 million, which consisted of 4,751 acres at an average price of $3,567 per acre.

Timberland & Non-Strategic sales of $1.6 million consisted of a 528-acre transaction for $3,100 per acre. This compares to prior year period sales of $11.4 million, which consisted of 3,966 acres at an average price of $2,874 per acre.

First quarter Adjusted EBITDA³ of $6.6 million was $18.1 million below the prior year period.

Trading

First quarter sales of $12.6 million decreased $0.9 million versus the prior year period, due to lower volumes and prices. Sales volumes decreased 6% to 105,000 tons versus 112,000 tons in the prior year period. The Trading segment generated operating income and Adjusted EBITDA³ of $0.3 million versus $0.4 million in the prior year period.

Other Items

First quarter corporate and other operating expenses of $8.6 million increased $1.0 million versus the prior year period, primarily due to higher compensation and benefits expense ($0.4 million) and higher IT and other expenses ($0.6 million).

First quarter interest expense of $11.7 million increased $3.4 million versus the prior year period, primarily due to higher average outstanding debt and a higher weighted-average interest rate.

First quarter other interest and miscellaneous income included $9.1 million of a net recovery associated with a legal settlement.

First quarter income tax expense of $1.1 million decreased $4.5 million versus the prior year period. The New Zealand subsidiary is the primary driver of income tax expense.

Outlook

“Based on our first quarter results and our expectations for the balance of the year, we now anticipate full-year Adjusted EBITDA and pro forma EPS toward the lower end of our prior guidance range,” added Nunes.

“In our Southern Timber segment, we are on track to achieve our full-year volume guidance but anticipate lower quarterly harvest volumes for the remainder of the year. Over the near-term, we expect that weighted-average net stumpage realizations will remain below first quarter levels as demand, particularly for pulpwood, has been negatively impacted by the macroeconomic environment. We continue to anticipate higher non-timber income for full-year 2023 as compared to full-year 2022.”

“In our Pacific Northwest Timber segment, we expect harvest volumes toward the lower end of our prior guidance, as we have deferred some planned harvests in response to unfavorable market conditions. Following the pullback in pricing to start the year, we anticipate that weighted-average delivered log prices will modestly improve from first quarter levels over the balance of 2023 as end-market demand and mill inventories normalize.”

“In our New Zealand Timber segment, we expect harvest volumes toward the lower end of our prior guidance given the lost production days resulting from Cyclone Gabrielle. We anticipate that weighted-average delivered log prices will remain relatively flat as compared to the first quarter over the balance of the year. We further anticipate a higher contribution from carbon credit sales over the balance of the year following no activity in the first quarter.”

“In our Real Estate segment, we remain encouraged by the interest in our development projects and rural properties. Overall, there continues to be strong demand for HBU properties and timberland assets despite the higher interest rate environment. Consistent with our prior guidance, we expect significantly higher transaction volume and operating results in the second half of the year from this segment.”

“In summary, while the current macroeconomic backdrop and near-term outlook are challenging, we remain optimistic about the long-term prospects for our business. Specifically, we believe that long-term housing fundamentals coupled with burgeoning business opportunities around nature-based solutions should support long-term growth in timberland cash flows and corresponding valuations over time.”

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About Rayonier

Rayonier (NYSE:RYN) 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 September 30, 2022, Rayonier owned or leased under long-term agreements approximately 2.7 million acres of timberlands located in the U.S. South (1.79 million acres), U.S. Pacific Northwest (486,000 acres) and New Zealand (417,000 acres). More information is available at www.rayonier.com.

Source: Rayonier, Inc.