Deltic Timber : Announces Preliminary Second Quarter 2017 Results

Deltic Timber Corporation (NYSE:DEL):

Deltic Timber Corporation (NYSE:DEL), a natural resources company, today announced financial results for the second quarter of 2017.

Second Quarter 2017 Highlights

• Net sales totaled $55.4 million, versus $56.8 million for second quarter 2016.
• Net income was $2.7 million, or $.22 per diluted share, versus net income of $4.2 million, or $.35 per diluted share, for the same period of 2016.

Financial results for the second quarter of 2017 benefited from increased operating income in Woodlands and lower corporate general and administrative expenses. However, overall the quarter was lower than the previous year due to reduced operating rates in Manufacturing resulting from ongoing capital improvement and maintenance projects. In addition, we repaid $6 million of debt on our revolving credit facility during the second quarter of 2017.

“Deltic continues to make progress to sharpen our focus on relentless execution and increase shareholder value,” commented John D. Enlow, Deltic’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “The Woodlands segment continued to see favorable sawlog demand and benefited from increased pulpwood and chip-n-saw harvests, despite the impact of wet weather conditions in our operating areas during the quarter. Pricing across pulpwood and chip-n-saw grades remained relatively stable, with modest increases in sawlog pricing compared to the same quarter last year. In Manufacturing, our average sales price for lumber sold increased five percent with continued favorable demand. As expected, the medium density fiberboard (“MDF”) plant continued to be adversely impacted during the second quarter 2017 due to worn press chains, which are scheduled to be replaced in August of this year. MDF demand remained strong, with sales mix affected by less thin board production because of current press operational constraints. In our Real Estate segment, we had strong demand for the residential lot offering in our Wildwood development with 69 lots placed under contract, and all are scheduled to close by end of third quarter.

"We expect to have an additional 104 lots available at various price points in the Chenal Valley and Wildwood developments during the second half of 2017. We also sold a 7.9-acre commercial site during the quarter and remain encouraged by increased interest in our commercial properties.

“We made significant progress during the quarter evaluating Deltic’s assets, competitive position, and market risks and opportunities and are now assessing a comprehensive range of strategic alternatives. We remain committed to developing and communicating in a timely fashion a strategic direction that is laser focused on achieving strong operational performance, driving shareholder value and delivering best-in-class returns.”

Woodlands Segment

Second Quarter 2017 Highlights

• Harvested 201,168 tons of pine sawtimber, 1% below Q2 2016
• Pine sawtimber prices averaged $28/ton, $1/ton above previous year quarter
• Harvested 122,720 tons of pine pulpwood, 31% above Q2 2016
• Pine pulpwood prices averaged $8 ton, no change from previous year quarter
• Sold 20 acres timberland for $15,000/acre versus 9 acres at $4,400/acre Q2 2016

Woodlands Segment Financial Results

Woodlands segment operating income increased in second quarter of 2017 compared to second quarter 2016 principally due to $1/ton higher average sawtimber prices, sale of 20 acres of higher and better use timberland, and higher pulpwood harvests, partially offset by modestly lower sawtimber volumes. Wet weather constrained sawtimber harvests in key operating areas during the quarter while market demand remained stable. The increase in volume of pine pulpwood sold was mainly due to the mix of timber on the tracts harvested, and timing of prior-year timber deed sales.

Manufacturing Segment

Second Quarter 2017 Highlights

• Sold 66.9 million board feet of lumber, 4% below Q2 2016
• Lumber prices averaged $17/MBF higher than Q2 2016
• Sold 26.1 million square feet of MDF, 6% below Q2 2016
• MDF prices averaged $5/MSF lower than Q2 2016 due to product mix

Manufacturing Segment Financial Results

Manufacturing segment operating income decreased in second quarter 2017 compared to second quarter 2016, principally as a result of higher operating expenses in lumber and MDF due to increased downtime, lower lumber and MDF sales volumes, and lower MDF prices due to less thin board mix, partially offset by higher average prices for lumber. The Ola sawmill large log line modernization was completed in May resulting in five weeks at reduced run rates, with optimization efforts affecting production for the remainder of the quarter. The Waldo sawmill also incurred one week of scheduled downtime for upgrades to its primary breakdown system. The MDF plant’s performance was unfavorably impacted in the second quarter 2017 compared to previous year quarter due to higher maintenance costs and operating expenses caused by unscheduled maintenance downtime to perform press belt and chain repairs necessary to maintain production until its planned shutdown in August for press chain and a belt replacement.

Real Estate Segment

Second Quarter 2017 Highlights

• Sold 4 residential lots compared to 22 lots in Q2 2016
• Residential lots averaged $65,000/lot, down 28% from Q2 2016 due to mix
• Sold 7.9 acre commercial site for $3.1 million
• Placed 69 residential lots under contract averaging $62,000/lot, expected to close by end of Q3

Real Estate Segment Financial Results

Real Estate segment operating income was unchanged in the second quarter of 2017 compared to second quarter 2016 due to higher commercial acreage revenues, partially offset by fewer residential lot sales with lower average pricing. The decrease in the average sales price per lot was due to the mix of lots sold during the respective periods.

Corporate Segment General and Administrative Expense, Interest Expense, and Income Tax Expense

Corporate segment general and administrative expense was $4.3 million, compared to $4.7 million for the same period of 2016. Interest expense in 2017’s second quarter was $2 million compared to $2.2 million for the same period of 2016. The decrease in interest expense was primarily due to lower average interest rates. In addition, during the second quarter of 2017 Deltic repaid $6 million of debt. Income tax expense in the second quarter of 2017 was $1.7 million, compared to a $1.9 million in the prior-year’s second quarter.

Capital Expenditures

Capital expenditures were $6.3 million in the second quarter 2017 compared to $10.3 million for the second quarter of 2016. There were no timberland acquisition expenditures in the second quarter of 2017 compared to timberland acquisition expenditures of $.6 million during the same period of 2016.

Outlook

Regarding the outlook for the third quarter and full year of 2017, Deltic currently anticipates the pine sawtimber harvest to be 260,000 to 280,000 tons and 765,000 to 790,000 tons, respectively, depending on weather conditions. Finished lumber sales volume is estimated to be 75 to 85 million board feet for the third quarter of 2017 and 290 to 315 million board feet for full-year 2017. MDF sales volume for the third quarter and year of 2017 is forecast to be 15 to 25 million square feet and 90 to 115 million square feet, respectively. Actual sales volumes for both finished lumber and MDF are dependent upon market conditions. MDF operating costs in third quarter of 2017 are expected to be impacted by scheduled maintenance downtime for replacement of press chains and a belt. Residential lot sales are projected at 60 to 70 lots and 130 to 150 lots for the third quarter and full year of 2017, respectively. Commercial acreage within Chenal Valley continues to receive increased interest, with negotiations currently surrounding several tracts. However, due to the volatile nature of commercial real estate transactions and significant number of factors involved, it is difficult to anticipate future closings.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements included herein that are not historical in nature are intended to be, and are hereby identified as, “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Such statements reflect the Company’s current expectations and involve certain risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those included in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause such differences include, but are not limited to, the cyclical nature of the industry, changes in interest rates, credit availability, general economic conditions, adverse weather, cost and availability of materials used to manufacture the Company’s products, natural gas pricing and volumes produced, and the other risk factors described from time to time in the reports and disclosure documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Conference Call Details

Deltic will hold a conference call on Thursday, August 3, 2017, at 10:00 a.m. Central Time to discuss second quarter 2017 earnings. Interested parties may participate in the call by dialing 1-800-446-1671 and referencing participant passcode identification number 45260771. The call will also be broadcast live over the Internet and can be accessed through the Investor Relations section of the Deltic website, atwww.deltic.com. Online replays of the call will be available through the Deltic website, and a recording of the call will be available until Thursday, August 17, 2017, by dialing 1-888-843-7419 and referencing replay passcode identification number 45260771.

About Deltic

Deltic Timber Corporation is a natural resources company focused on the efficient and environmentally responsible management of its land holdings. The Company owns approximately 530,000 acres of timberland, operates two sawmills and a medium density fiberboard plant, and is engaged in real estate development. Headquartered in El Dorado, Arkansas, the Company’s operations are located primarily in Arkansas and north Louisiana.

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