- Annual sales of
$3,319 million , up 8%, driven by 13% organic sales growth in infrastructure product categories - Record increase in 2023 EBITDA(1), up 36% to
$608 million , or a margin(1) of 18.3% - Annual net income of
$326 million , or$5.62 per share, up 43% from 2022 EPS - Quarterly cash dividend increased by 22% to
$0.28 per share - Leadership position strengthened by strategic capacity-enhancing investments
"We concluded 2023 with a marked improvement in profitability and the successful execution of investments to support the continued growth momentum in our infrastructure product categories," said
"Driven by the increased level of profitability, we announced a 22% growth in the Company's quarterly dividend. This is the 20th year of continuous dividend increases, which truly speaks to our confidence in the long-term financial strength of our business. We are optimistic that the thoughtful planning and execution of our business strategy, combined with recently set sustainability targets and our disciplined capital management, will enable us to sustain profitable growth and deliver meaningful value for all our stakeholders. On the heels of such a banner year for our business, Stella-Jones' growth prospects are promising, and we are ready for the future," concluded
Financial Highlights (in millions of Canadian dollars, except per share data and margins) | Q4-23 | Q4-22 | 2023 | 2022 |
Sales | 688 | 665 | 3,319 | 3,065 |
Gross profit(1) | 137 | 112 | 688 | 524 |
Gross profit margin(1) | 19.9 % | 16.8 % | 20.7 % | 17.1 % |
EBITDA(1) | 120 | 87 | 608 | 448 |
EBITDA margin(1) | 17.4% | 13.1% | 18.3% | 14.6% |
Operating income | 89 | 61 | 499 | 359 |
Operating income margin(1) | 12.9 % | 9.2 % | 15.0 % | 11.7 % |
Net income for the period | 56 | 36 | 326 | 241 |
Earnings per share ("EPS") - basic and diluted | 0.98 | 0.61 | 5.62 | 3.93 |
Weighted average shares outstanding (basic, in ‘000s) | 57,076 | 59,449 | 57,963 | 61,421 |
(1) Refer to the section "Non-GAAP and other financial measures" in this press release. |
FOURTH QUARTER RESULTS
Sales for the fourth quarter of 2023 amounted to
Pressure-treated wood products:
- Utility poles (56% of Q4-23 sales): Utility poles sales amounted to
$383 million , up from$326 million for the same period last year. Excluding the contribution from acquisitions, sales increased 13%, driven by pricing gains. The lower sales volume in the quarter was largely explained by the softer pace of utility pole purchases, mostly attributable to capital budget constraints of certain customers.
- Railway ties (24% of Q4-23 sales): Sales of railway ties amounted to
$165 million , compared to$161 million last year. Railway ties sales rose 2%, as improved pricing for both Class 1 and non-Class 1 business was largely offset by lower non-Class 1 volumes.
- Residential lumber (12% of Q4-23 sales): Residential lumber sales totaled
$82 million , down from$100 million of sales generated in the same period in 2022. The decrease in residential lumber sales stemmed from lower pricing attributable to the decrease in the market price of lumber, as well as lower sales volumes.
- Industrial products (4% of Q4-23 sales): Industrial product sales amounted to
$27 million , down from$32 million last year, mainly due to the timing of projects related to railway bridges and crossings.
Logs and lumber:
- Logs and lumber (4% of Q4-23 sales): Logs and lumber sales totaled
$31 million , down 33% compared to the same period last year, driven by a decrease in the market price of logs and lumber, partially offset by higher log sales activity, compared to the fourth quarter last year.
Gross profit(1) was
Similarly, operating income totaled
Net income for the fourth quarter of 2023 was
(1) Refer to the section "Non-GAAP and other financial measures" in this press release.
2023 RESULTS
Sales in 2023 were up 8% to
Pressure-treated wood products:
- Utility poles (47% of 2023 sales): Utility poles sales increased to
$1,571 million in 2023, compared to sales of$1,227 million in 2022. Excluding the contribution from the acquisition of assets of TEC and Baldwin, and the currency conversion effect, utility poles sales increased by$222 million , or 18%, driven by pricing gains. While production volumes benefited in 2023 from growth projects, sales volumes were lower compared to the prior year. Sales volumes in 2023 were impacted by the deferred maintenance ofCalifornia utilities due to extreme weather events in the first half of the year and the softer pace of utility pole purchases of certain customers in the latter part of the year.
- Railway ties (25% of 2023 sales): Railway ties sales were
$828 million in 2023, compared to sales of$750 million in 2022. Excluding the currency conversion effect, railway ties sales increased$52 million , or 7%, largely attributable to sales price increases, in response to higher costs, and higher Class 1 volumes. Overall, sales volumes were lower year-over-year due to the non-Class 1 business, which was impacted by the Company's reduced level of treated ties inventory following the limited fibre supply availability in 2022.
- Residential lumber (19% of 2023 sales): Sales in the residential lumber category decreased to
$645 million in 2023, compared to sales of$744 million in 2022. Excluding the currency conversion effect, residential lumber sales decreased$105 million , or 14%, driven by a decrease in pricing attributable to the lower market price of lumber when compared to 2022. Better consumer demand and the resulting higher sales volumes in 2023 was not sufficient to offset the lower pricing.
- Industrial products (5% of 2023 sales): Industrial product sales increased to
$148 million in 2023 compared to sales of$143 million in 2022. Excluding the currency conversion effect, industrial product sales remained stable compared to last year.
Logs and lumber:
- Logs and lumber (4% of 2023 sales): Sales in the logs and lumber product category were
$127 million in 2023, down from$201 million in 2022. The decrease in sales was largely due to a decline in the market price of lumber and less lumber trading activity compared to last year. Logs sales remained stable as higher log sales activity was offset by the lower market price of logs.
Gross profit(1) was
Operating income totaled
Net income in 2023 was
(1) Refer to the section "Non-GAAP and other financial measures" in this press release.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
During the year ended
As at
Subsequent to year-end, the Company amended and restated the syndicated credit agreement in order to increase the amount available under the unsecured revolving credit facility to
(1) Refer to the section "Non-GAAP and other financial measures" in this press release.
NORMAL COURSE ISSUER BID
On
In 2023, the Company repurchased 2,286,484 common shares for cancellation in consideration of
QUARTERLY DIVIDEND INCREASED 22% TO $0.28 PER SHARE
On
2023-2025 FINANCIAL OBJECTIVES: PROGRESS IN 2023
In the first year of its 2023-2025 financial plan, the Company delivered a strong performance and made significant progress towards the achievement of its financial objectives, as summarized in the table below. Based on 2023 financial metrics, the Company is on track to meet its 2025 objectives.
(in millions of dollars, except percentages and ratios) | 2023-2025 Objectives (1) | 2023 | Results |
Sales | > | On Track | |
EBITDA margin (3) | 16% | 18.3% | On Track |
Return to Shareholders: cumulative | > | On Track | |
Net Debt-to-EBITDA (2) (3) | 2.0x-2.5x | 2.6x | On Track |
(1) Excludes acquisitions and assumes Canadian dollar will trade, on average, at approximately | |||
(2) The Company may deviate from its leverage target to pursue acquisitions and other strategic opportunities, and/or fund its seasonal working capital requirements. In 2023, the Company financed $152 million of strategic growth opportunities. | |||
(3) Refer to the section entitled “Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures” of this press release. |
Key Highlights:
- Projected compound annual growth rate ("CAGR") for sales of 6% for the 2023-2025 period, driven by a 9% CAGR for the Company's infrastructure businesses, expected to account for 75%-80% of total sales:
- Utility poles: 15% sales CAGR, supported by a growth capital expenditure program of
$115 million ; - Railway ties: low single-digit annual sales growth;
- Utility poles: 15% sales CAGR, supported by a growth capital expenditure program of
- Residential lumber: annual sales target of
$600-$650 million , representing less than 20% of total sales; - EBITDA margin of 16% through 2025 driven by improvement in product mix.
CONFERENCE CALL
Stella-Jones will hold a conference call to discuss these results on
ABOUT STELLA-JONES
CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
Except for historical information provided herein, this press release may contain information and statements of a forward-looking nature concerning the future performance of the Company. These statements are based on suppositions and uncertainties as well as on management's best possible evaluation of future events. Such items include, among others: general political, economic and business conditions, evolution in customer demand for the Company's products and services, product selling prices, availability and cost of raw materials, operational disruption, climate change, failure to recruit and retain qualified workforce, information security breaches or other cyber-security threats, changes in foreign currency rates, the ability of the Company to raise capital and factors and assumptions referenced herein and in the Company’s continuous disclosure filings. As a result, readers are advised that actual results may differ from expected results. Unless required to do so under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect new information, future events or other changes after the date hereof.
Note to readers: The audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended
Head Office 3100 de la Côte- H4R 2J8 Tel.: 514-934-8666 Fax: 514-934-5327 | Exchange Listings Stock Symbol: SJ Transfer Agent and Registrar | Investor Relations Senior Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer Tel.: 514-934-8660 Fax: 514-934-5327 stravaglini@stella-jones.com |
Consolidated Statements of Income |
(expressed in millions of Canadian dollars, except earnings per common share)
For the three-month periods ended | For the years ended | |||||
2023 | 2022 | 2023 | 2022 | |||
Sales | 688 | 665 | 3,319 | 3,065 | ||
Expenses | ||||||
Cost of sales (including depreciation and amortization (3 months - | 551 | 553 | 2,631 | 2,541 | ||
Selling and administrative (including depreciation and amortization (3 months - | 44 | 44 | 181 | 157 | ||
Other losses, net | 4 | 7 | 8 | 8 | ||
599 | 604 | 2,820 | 2,706 | |||
Operating income | 89 | 61 | 499 | 359 | ||
Financial expenses | 21 | 11 | 68 | 33 | ||
Income before income taxes | 68 | 50 | 431 | 326 | ||
Income tax expense | ||||||
Current | (12 | ) | 15 | 83 | 79 | |
Deferred | 24 | (1 | ) | 22 | 6 | |
12 | 14 | 105 | 85 | |||
Net income | 56 | 36 | 326 | 241 | ||
Basic and diluted earnings per common share | 0.98 | 0.61 | 5.62 | 3.93 |
Consolidated Statements of Financial Position |
(expressed in millions of Canadian dollars)
2023 | 2022 | |
Assets | ||
Current assets | ||
Accounts receivable | 308 | 287 |
Inventories | 1,580 | 1,238 |
Income taxes receivable | 11 | — |
Other current assets | 48 | 58 |
1,947 | 1,583 | |
Non-current assets | ||
Property, plant and equipment | 906 | 755 |
Right-of-use assets | 285 | 160 |
Intangible assets | 169 | 171 |
375 | 369 | |
Derivative financial instruments | 21 | 29 |
Other non-current assets | 5 | 6 |
3,708 | 3,073 | |
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity | ||
Current liabilities | ||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | 204 | 201 |
Income taxes payable | — | 7 |
Current portion of long-term debt | 100 | 1 |
Current portion of lease liabilities | 54 | 41 |
Current portion of provisions and other long-term liabilities | 26 | 9 |
384 | 259 | |
Non-current liabilities | ||
Long-term debt | 1,216 | 940 |
Lease liabilities | 240 | 126 |
Deferred income taxes | 175 | 158 |
Provisions and other long-term liabilities | 31 | 26 |
Employee future benefits | 10 | 7 |
2,056 | 1,516 | |
Shareholders’ equity | ||
Capital stock | 189 | 194 |
Retained earnings | 1,329 | 1,192 |
Accumulated other comprehensive income | 134 | 171 |
1,652 | 1,557 | |
3,708 | 3,073 |
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows |
(expressed in millions of Canadian dollars)
2023 | 2022 | |||
Cash flows from (used in) | ||||
Operating activities | ||||
Net income | 326 | 241 | ||
Adjustments for | ||||
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment | 40 | 31 | ||
Depreciation of right-of-use assets | 53 | 42 | ||
Amortization of intangible assets | 16 | 16 | ||
Financial expenses | 68 | 33 | ||
Income tax expense | 105 | 85 | ||
Other | 11 | 9 | ||
619 | 457 | |||
Changes in non-cash working capital components | ||||
Accounts receivable | (7 | ) | (43 | ) |
Inventories | (353 | ) | (75 | ) |
Income taxes receivable | (2 | ) | — | |
Other current assets | 8 | (9 | ) | |
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | 9 | 22 | ||
(345 | ) | (105 | ) | |
Interest paid | (68 | ) | (32 | ) |
Income taxes paid | (99 | ) | (65 | ) |
107 | 255 | |||
Financing activities | ||||
Net change in revolving credit facilities | 362 | 139 | ||
Proceeds from long-term debt | 33 | 63 | ||
Repayment of long-term debt | (1 | ) | (33 | ) |
Repayment of lease liabilities | (50 | ) | (41 | ) |
Dividends on common shares | (53 | ) | (49 | ) |
Repurchase of common shares | (142 | ) | (180 | ) |
Other | 2 | — | ||
151 | (101 | ) | ||
Investing activities | ||||
Business combinations | (93 | ) | (46 | ) |
Purchase of property, plant and equipment | (155 | ) | (97 | ) |
Additions of intangible assets | (10 | ) | (11 | ) |
(258 | ) | (154 | ) | |
Net change in cash and cash equivalents during the year | — | — | ||
Cash and cash equivalents – Beginning of year | — | — | ||
Cash and cash equivalents – End of year | — | — |
NON-GAAP AND OTHER FINANCIAL MEASURES
This section includes information required by National Instrument 52-112 – Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures Disclosure in respect of “specified financial measures” (as defined therein).
The below-described non-GAAP measures have no standardized meaning under GAAP and are not likely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. The Company’s method of calculating these measures may differ from the methods used by others, and, accordingly, the definition of these non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. In addition, non-GAAP financial measures should not be viewed as a substitute for the related financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP.
Non-GAAP financial measures include:
- Gross profit: Sales less cost of sales
- EBITDA: Operating income before depreciation of property, plant and equipment, depreciation of right-of-use assets and amortization of intangible assets (also referred to as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization)
- Net debt: Sum of long-term debt and lease liabilities (including the current portion)
Non-GAAP ratios include:
- Gross profit margin: Gross profit divided by sales for the corresponding period
- EBITDA margin: EBITDA divided by sales for the corresponding period
- Net debt-to-EBITDA: Net debt divided by trailing 12-month (TTM) EBITDA
Other specified financial measures include:
- Operating income margin: Operating income divided by sales for the corresponding period
Management considers these non-GAAP and other financial measures to be useful information to assist knowledgeable investors to understand the Company’s operating results, financial position and cash flows as they provide a supplemental measure of its performance. Management uses non-GAAP and other financial measures in order to facilitate operating and financial performance comparisons from period to period, to prepare annual budgets, to assess the Company’s ability to meet future debt service, capital expenditure and working capital requirements, and to evaluate senior management’s performance. More specifically:
- Gross profit and gross profit margin: The Company uses these financial measures to evaluate its ongoing operational performance.
- EBITDA and EBITDA margin: The Company believes these measures provide investors with useful information because they are common industry measures, used by investors and analysts to measure a company’s ability to service debt and to meet other payment obligations, or as a common valuation measurement. These measures are also key metrics of the Company's operational and financial performance.
- Net debt and net debt-to EBITDA: The Company believes these measures are indicators of the financial leverage of the Company.
The following tables present the reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures to their most comparable GAAP measures.
Reconciliation of operating income to EBITDA (in millions of dollars) | Three-month periods ended | Years ended | ||
2023 | 2022 | 2023 | 2022 | |
Operating income | 89 | 61 | 499 | 359 |
Depreciation and amortization | 31 | 26 | 109 | 89 |
EBITDA | 120 | 87 | 608 | 448 |
Reconciliation of Long-Term Debt to Net Debt (in millions of dollars) | Years ended | |
2023 | 2022 | |
Long-term debt, including current portion | 1,316 | 941 |
Add: | ||
Lease liabilities, including current portion | 294 | 167 |
Net Debt | 1,610 | 1,108 |
EBITDA (TTM) | 608 | 448 |
Net Debt-to-EBITDA | 2.6x | 2.5x |
Source: | ||
Contacts: | ||
Senior Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer Stella-Jones | Director, Corporate Communications Stella-Jones | |
Tel.: 514-934-8660 | ||
stravaglini@stella-jones.com | communications@stella-jones.com |
Source:
2024 GlobeNewswire, Inc., source