Rayonier : Reports Third Quarter 2017 Results

Rayonier Inc. (NYSE:RYN) today reported third quarter net income attributable to Rayonier of $24.7 million, or $0.19 per share, on revenues of $177.9 million. This compares to net income attributable to Rayonier of $39.4 million, or $0.32 per share, on revenues of $171.4 million in the prior year quarter. The prior year third quarter results included $1.2 million of costs related to shareholder litigation.¹ Excluding this item, pro forma net income² was $40.6 million, or $0.33 per share, in the prior year period.

The following table summarizes the current quarter and comparable prior year period results on an actual and pro forma basis:

Third quarter operating income was $39.3 million versus $49.7 million in the prior year period. Prior year third quarter operating income included $1.2 million of costs related to shareholder litigation.¹ Excluding this item, pro forma operating income² was $50.9 million in the prior year period. Third quarter Adjusted EBITDA² was $69.9 million versus $87.2 million in the prior year period. The decline in Adjusted EBITDA² relative to the prior year period was primarily due to lower real estate results, as the prior year period included a $48.3 million sale comprised of 17,772 acres in Georgia.

The following table summarizes operating income (loss), pro forma operating income (loss)² and Adjusted EBITDA² for the current quarter and comparable prior year period:

Year-to-date cash provided by operating activities was $186.9 million versus $163.9 million in the prior year period. Year-to-date cash available for distribution (CAD)² of $143.7 million increased $20.2 million versus the prior year period primarily due to higher Adjusted EBITDA² ($25.6 million) and lower cash interest paid ($0.1 million), partially offset by higher capital expenditures ($5.5 million).

“We are pleased with our third quarter results, as all three of our timber segments realized meaningful increases in Adjusted EBITDA relative to the prior year quarter,” said David Nunes, President and CEO. “Southern Timber results reflect 24% higher harvest volumes offset by a modest 1% decrease in average stumpage prices relative to the prior year quarter. Pacific Northwest Timber results improved based on 5% higher harvest volumes and a 17% increase in delivered sawtimber prices relative to the prior year quarter, largely due to strengthening domestic and export markets. New Zealand Timber Adjusted EBITDA more than doubled versus the prior year quarter, driven by 40% higher harvest volumes and increases in export and domestic sawtimber prices of 16% and 11%, respectively. In Real Estate, lower results this quarter compared to the prior year quarter were driven by a large decrease in the number of acres sold, partially offset by significantly higher average pricing, which reflects a 1,300-acre unimproved development sale for $10,000 per acre.”

Southern Timber

Third quarter sales of $31.9 million increased $4.1 million, or 15%, versus the prior year period. Harvest volumes increased 24% to 1.36 million tons versus 1.09 million tons in the prior year period, primarily due to incremental volume from recent acquisitions and the prior year curtailment of harvest activity in certain eastern markets. Average pine sawtimber stumpage prices decreased 1% to $25.93 per ton versus $26.17 per ton in the prior year period, while average pine pulpwood stumpage prices decreased 6% to $16.32 per ton versus $17.36 per ton in the prior year period. The modest decrease in average sawtimber prices was primarily driven by geographic mix, as impacts from recent hurricanes limited operability in one of the Company’s higher-priced sawtimber regions. The decrease in average pulpwood prices was largely due to salvage volume from the West Mims fire as well as increased supply along the east coast. Overall, weighted-average stumpage prices (including hardwood) decreased 1% to $19.63 per ton versus $19.76 per ton in the prior year period. Operating income of $11.5 million increased $3.3 million versus the prior year period due to higher volumes ($2.7 million), higher non-timber income ($1.3 million) and lower overhead expense ($0.3 million), which were partially offset by lower weighted-average stumpage prices ($0.2 million), higher leased land expenses ($0.2 million), higher depletion rates ($0.2 million) and higher severance and franchise taxes ($0.4 million).

Third quarter Adjusted EBITDA² of $24.2 million was $6.0 million above the prior year period.

Pacific Northwest Timber

Third quarter sales of $18.6 million increased $2.5 million, or 16%, versus the prior year period. Harvest volumes increased 5% to 252,000 tons versus 241,000 tons in the prior year period, primarily due to improved export market conditions, partially offset by fire restrictions in Oregon. Average delivered sawtimber prices increased 17% to $89.62 per ton versus $76.69 per ton in the prior year period, while average delivered pulpwood prices increased 3% to $41.43 per ton versus $40.07 per ton in the prior year period. The increase in average sawtimber and pulpwood prices was due to stronger domestic and export markets. Operating income of $1.1 million increased $4.4 million relative to an operating loss of $3.3 million in the prior year period due to higher prices ($3.3 million), lower depletion rates ($0.5 million), lower overhead expense ($0.4 million) and lower road maintenance expense ($0.3 million), which were partially offset by lower non-timber income ($0.1 million).

Third quarter Adjusted EBITDA² of $7.6 million was $4.2 million above the prior year period.

New Zealand Timber

Third quarter sales of $69.9 million increased $27.7 million, or 66%, versus the prior year period. Harvest volumes increased 40% to 774,000 tons versus 552,000 tons in the prior year period, driven primarily by lower volumes in the prior year quarter due to the timing of export shipments coupled with incremental volume from recent acquisitions. Average delivered prices for export sawtimber increased 16% to $113.35 per ton versus $97.44 per ton in the prior year period, while average delivered prices for domestic sawtimber increased 11% to $83.61 per ton versus $75.06 per ton in the prior year period. The increase in export sawtimber prices was primarily due to stronger demand from China. The increase in domestic sawtimber prices (in U.S. dollar terms) was driven by strong local demand for construction materials and a modest rise in the NZ$/US$ exchange rate (US$0.73 per NZ$1.00 versus US$0.72 per NZ$1.00). Excluding the impact of foreign exchange rates, domestic sawtimber prices increased 9% from the prior year period. Operating income of $19.3 million increased $12.7 million versus the prior year period due to higher prices ($8.1 million), higher volumes ($3.2 million), favorable foreign exchange impacts ($1.0 million) and lower forest management and overhead costs ($0.9 million), which were partially offset by lower carbon sales ($0.4 million) and higher depletion rates ($0.1 million).

Third quarter Adjusted EBITDA² of $28.4 million was $15.8 million above the prior year period.

Real Estate

Third quarter sales of $17.3 million decreased $43.3 million versus the prior year period, while operating income of $11.4 million decreased $31.7 million versus the prior year period. Sales and operating income decreased in the third quarter due to a lower number of acres sold (2,549 acres sold versus 23,601 acres sold in the prior year period), partially offset by an increase in weighted-average prices ($6,764 per acre versus $2,569 per acre in the prior year period) due to the mix of properties sold.

Improved Development sales included the first residential lot closing for a model home within the Company’s Wildlight development.

Unimproved Development sales of $13.9 million primarily consisted of a 1,300-acre tract in Nassau County, Florida for $10,000 per acre. This compares to the prior year quarter sales of $1.4 million for a 73-acre tract in St. John’s County, Florida for approximately $18,500 per acre.

Rural sales of $3.1 million were comprised of 1,128 acres at an average price of $2,771 per acre, including 90 acres in Texas for $6,850 per acre. This compares to the prior year quarter sales of $6.4 million, comprised of 2,069 acres at an average price of $3,082 per acre.

Non-strategic / Timberland sales of $0.2 million were comprised of 102 acres at an average price of $1,616 per acre, including 85 acres of non-strategic property with limited productivity (i.e., 100% non-plantable). This compares to the prior year quarter sales of $52.8 million, comprised of 21,459 acres at an average price of $2,465 per acre, including 17,772 acres in Georgia for $2,720 per acre.

Third quarter Adjusted EBITDA² of $13.4 million was $43.2 million below the prior year period.

Trading

Third quarter sales of $40.2 million increased $15.5 million versus the prior year period due to higher volumes and prices. Sales volumes increased 38% to 371,000 tons versus 269,000 tons in the prior year period due to increased volume from existing suppliers and stumpage blocks purchased from third-parties, coupled with improving export market demand. Average prices increased 18% to $108.58 per ton versus $91.80 per ton in the prior year period primarily due to stronger demand from China. Operating income and Adjusted EBITDA² of $1.1 million increased $0.6 million versus the prior year period.

Other Items

Third quarter corporate and other operating expenses of $5.1 million decreased $0.3 million versus the prior year period due to lower costs related to shareholder litigation¹ ($1.2 million) and lower pension expense ($0.7 million), which were partially offset by higher depreciation expense ($0.2 million) and a reduction in overhead costs allocated to the segments ($1.4 million) as a result of pension and organizational changes made in the fourth quarter of 2016.

Third quarter interest expense of $8.6 million increased $0.1 million versus the prior year period due to a higher periodic interest rate on the Company’s revolver, partially offset by lower average debt due to the repayment of $31.5 million of mortgage notes during the quarter.

Third quarter income tax expense of $3.0 million increased $2.2 million versus the prior year period due to improved results from the New Zealand JV, which is the primary driver of income tax expense.

Outlook

“Based on our solid results for the first nine months, expectations of continued strength in New Zealand export and domestic markets and a strong pipeline of Real Estate closings in the fourth quarter, we expect to achieve full-year Adjusted EBITDA near the higher end of our prior guidance,” added Nunes. “In our Southern Timber segment, we expect fourth quarter volumes to decrease slightly versus the third quarter due to wet ground conditions in certain areas resulting from the recent storms, and we expect product pricing to decrease modestly due to geographic mix and an increase in thinning activity. In our Pacific Northwest Timber segment, we expect fourth quarter volumes to increase versus the third quarter due to the lifting of fire restrictions, and we expect continued strength in sawtimber prices based on favorable domestic and export market conditions. In our New Zealand Timber segment, we expect fourth quarter volumes to decline modestly versus the third quarter, while we expect product pricing will continue to reflect strong demand from China as well as domestic construction markets. In our Real Estate segment, we anticipate additional closings in the Wildlight development in the fourth quarter as the project picks up momentum following significant progress on initial infrastructure development during the year.”

Conference Call

A conference call and live audio webcast will be held on Thursday, November 2, 2017 at 10:00 AM EDT to discuss these results.

Access to the live audio webcast will be available at www.rayonier.com. A replay of the webcast will be archived on the Company’s website and available shortly after the call.

Investors may listen to the conference call by dialing 800-369-1184 (domestic) or 415-228-3898 (international), passcode: Rayonier. A replay of the conference call will be available one hour following the call until Thursday, November 9, 2017 by dialing 866-485-6429 (domestic) or 203-369-1628 (international), passcode: 11022017.

Complimentary copies of Rayonier press releases and other financial documents are also available by calling 1-800-RYN-7611.

¹“Costs related to shareholder litigation” include expenses incurred as a result of the securities litigation and the shareholder derivative demands. See Note 10—Contingencies of Item 8 — Financial Statements and Supplementary Data in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K. In addition, these costs include the costs associated with the Company’s response to a subpoena it received from the SEC in November 2014. In July 2016, the Division of Enforcement of the SEC notified the Company that it had concluded its investigation into the Company.

²Pro forma net income, pro forma revenues (sales), pro forma operating income (loss), Adjusted EBITDA and CAD are non-GAAP measures defined and reconciled to GAAP in the attached exhibits.

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 September 30, 2017, Rayonier owned, leased or managed approximately 2.7 million acres of timberlands located in the U.S. South (1.90 million acres), U.S. Pacific Northwest (378,000 acres) and New Zealand (429,000 acres). More information is available at www.rayonier.com.

Forward-Looking Statements - Certain statements in this presentation regarding anticipated financial outcomes including Rayonier’s earnings guidance, if any, business and market conditions, outlook, expected dividend rate, Rayonier’s business strategies, including expected harvest schedules, timberland acquisitions, sales of non-strategic timberlands, the anticipated benefits of Rayonier’s business strategies, and other similar statements relating to Rayonier’s future events, developments or financial or operational performance or results, are “forward-looking statements” made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements are identified by the use of words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “estimate,” “believe,” “intend,” “project,” “anticipate” and other similar language. However, the absence of these or similar words or expressions does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. While management believes that these forward-looking statements are reasonable when made, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and undue reliance should not be placed on these statements.

The following important factors, among others, could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements that may have been made in this document: the cyclical and competitive nature of the industries in which we operate; fluctuations in demand for, or supply of, our forest products and real estate offerings; entry of new competitors into our markets; changes in global economic conditions and world events; fluctuations in demand for our products in Asia, and especially China; various lawsuits relating to matters arising out of our previously announced internal review and restatement of our consolidated financial statements; the uncertainties of potential impacts of climate-related initiatives; the cost and availability of third party logging and trucking services; the geographic concentration of a significant portion of our timberland; our ability to identify, finance and complete timberland acquisitions; changes in environmental laws and regulations regarding timber harvesting, delineation of wetlands, and endangered species, that may restrict or adversely impact our ability to conduct our business, or increase the cost of doing so; adverse weather conditions, natural disasters and other catastrophic events such as hurricanes, wind storms and wildfires, which can adversely affect our timberlands and the production, distribution and availability of our products; interest rate and currency movements; our capacity to incur additional debt; changes in tariffs, taxes or treaties relating to the import and export of our products or those of our competitors; changes in key management and personnel; our ability to meet all necessary legal requirements to continue to qualify as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) and changes in tax laws that could adversely affect beneficial tax treatment; the cyclical nature of the real estate business generally; a delayed or weak recovery in the housing market; the lengthy, uncertain and costly process associated with the ownership, entitlement and development of real estate, especially in Florida, which also may be affected by changes in law, policy and political factors beyond our control; unexpected delays in the entry into or closing of real estate transactions; changes in environmental laws and regulations that may restrict or adversely impact our ability to sell or develop properties; the timing of construction and availability of public infrastructure; and the availability of financing for real estate development and mortgage loans.

For additional factors that could impact future results, please see Item 1A - Risk Factors in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and similar discussion included in other reports that we subsequently file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Forward-looking statements are only as of the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no duty to update its forward-looking statements except as required by law. You are advised, however, to review any further disclosures we make on related subjects in our subsequent reports filed with the SEC.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures - To supplement Rayonier’s financial statements presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”), Rayonier uses certain non-GAAP measures, including “cash available for distribution,” “pro forma sales,” “pro forma operating income,” “pro forma net income,” and “Adjusted EBITDA,” which are defined and further explained in this communication. Reconciliation of such measures to the nearest GAAP measures can also be found in this communication. Rayonier’s definitions of these non-GAAP measures may differ from similarly titled measures used by others. These non-GAAP measures should be considered supplemental to, and not a substitute for, financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP.

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