Rayonier Reports First Quarter 2021 Results

• First quarter net income attributable to Rayonier of $10.8 million ($0.08 per share) on revenues of $191.4 million and pro forma revenues of $179.5 million
• First quarter operating income of $28.5 million, pro forma operating income of $27.4 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $69.5 million
• First quarter cash provided by operations of $53.9 million and cash available for distribution (CAD) of $47.3 million

Rayonier Inc. (NYSE:RYN) today reported first quarter net income attributable to Rayonier of $10.8 million, or $0.08 per share, on revenues of $191.4 million. This compares to net income attributable to Rayonier of $25.9 million, or $0.20 per share, on revenues of $259.1 million in the prior year quarter. The prior year first quarter results included $28.7 million of income from a Large Disposition,¹ partially offset by costs related to the merger with Pope Resources² of $2.5 million. Excluding these items, pro forma net loss³ was $0.3 million, or $0.00 per share, in the prior year quarter.

The following table summarizes the current quarter and comparable prior year period results:

First quarter operating income was $28.5 million versus $38.6 million in the prior year period. Adjusting for $1.1 million of operating income attributable to noncontrolling interest in the Timber Funds segment, current quarter pro forma operating income³ was $27.4 million. Prior year first quarter operating income included $28.7 million of income from a Large Disposition¹ and $2.5 million of costs related to the merger with Pope Resources.² Excluding these items, pro forma operating income³ was $12.4 million in the prior year period. First quarter Adjusted EBITDA³ was $69.5 million versus $47.1 million in the prior year period.

The following table summarizes operating income (loss), pro forma operating income (loss)³ and Adjusted EBITDA³ for the current quarter and comparable prior year period:

Cash provided by operating activities was $53.9 million versus $29.2 million in the prior year period. Cash available for distribution (CAD)³ of $47.3 million increased $20.1 million versus the prior year period primarily due to higher Adjusted EBITDA³ ($22.3 million) and lower capital expenditures ($2.6 million), partially offset by higher cash taxes paid ($4.7 million) and higher cash interest paid ($0.2 million).

“We are very encouraged by the momentum across all of our businesses to start 2021,” said David Nunes, President and CEO. “Adjusted EBITDA of $69.5 million was 47% higher than the prior year quarter, as favorable results in the New Zealand Timber, Pacific Northwest Timber and Real Estate segments more than offset slightly lower Adjusted EBITDA in the Southern Timber segment.”

“New Zealand Timber Adjusted EBITDA more than doubled versus the prior year quarter due to significantly higher harvest volumes and sawtimber prices, as the prior year quarter was severely impacted by COVID-19 related headwinds. In Pacific Northwest Timber, Adjusted EBITDA improved 81% versus the prior year quarter due to a significant increase in sawtimber prices, as well as higher volumes from the acquisition of Pope Resources.”

“Southern Timber Adjusted EBITDA declined 5% versus the prior year quarter, as a 7% increase in net stumpage prices and stronger non-timber income were more than offset by 18% lower harvest volumes due to the front-loaded timing of 2020 harvest activity as well as weather-related disruptions during the first quarter. Lastly, Real Estate segment Adjusted EBITDA improved versus the prior year quarter but was still relatively light compared to our full-year expectations due to the timing of closings, which we had anticipated coming into the year.”

Southern Timber

First quarter sales of $51.7 million decreased $1.3 million, or 2%, versus the prior year period primarily due to lower harvest volumes, partially offset by higher average net stumpage prices and higher pipeline easement revenue. Harvest volumes decreased 18% to 1.51 million tons versus 1.84 million tons in the prior year period. The decline in volume was largely due to the timing of harvest operations as compared to the prior year, as well as operational disruptions attributable to wet ground conditions in Georgia and winter snowstorms in the Gulf region. Average pine sawtimber stumpage prices increased 3% to $27.51 per ton versus $26.67 per ton in the prior year period. Robust demand from sawmills and growing demand from the export market coupled with constricted supply due to weather conditions translated into favorable sawtimber pricing across our markets. Average pine pulpwood stumpage prices increased 7% to $17.10 per ton versus $16.05 per ton in the prior year period due to favorable geographic mix as well as tighter supply due to adverse weather conditions. Overall, weighted-average stumpage prices (including hardwood) increased 7% to $21.35 per ton versus $19.91 per ton in the prior year period. Operating income of $17.3 million increased $2.3 million versus the prior year period due to higher net stumpage prices ($2.2 million), higher non-timber income ($2.2 million), lower costs ($0.6 million) and lower depletion rates ($0.6 million), partially offset by lower volumes ($3.4 million).

First quarter Adjusted EBITDA³ of $31.7 million was 5%, or $1.6 million, below the prior year period.

Pacific Northwest Timber

First quarter sales of $41.5 million increased $10.4 million, or 34%, versus the prior year period. Harvest volumes increased 13% to 536,000 tons versus 476,000 tons in the prior year period, primarily due to incremental volume from the Pope Resources acquisition. Average delivered sawtimber prices increased 21% to $90.98 per ton versus $75.40 per ton in the prior year period, as exceptionally strong domestic lumber markets drove improved demand and pricing. Average delivered pulpwood prices decreased 23% to $29.36 per ton versus $38.11 per ton in the prior year period, as higher lumber mill residuals resulted in an increased supply of competing wood chip residuals. Operating income of $1.3 million improved $2.3 million versus the prior year period due to higher net stumpage prices ($5.8 million), higher non-timber income ($0.8 million) and volume/mix changes ($0.3 million), partially offset by higher depletion rates ($4.3 million) and higher overhead and other costs ($0.4 million).

First quarter Adjusted EBITDA³ of $17.6 million was 81%, or $7.9 million, above the prior year period.

New Zealand Timber

First quarter sales of $57.6 million increased $20.1 million, or 53%, versus the prior year period, as higher harvest volumes and log prices were partially offset by deferred carbon credit sales. Harvest volumes increased 25% to 599,000 tons versus 481,000 tons in the prior year period. The increase in harvest volumes was driven primarily by a normalized level of activity in the first quarter versus a prior year period constrained by COVID-19 disruptions. Average delivered prices for export sawtimber increased 28% to $121.65 per ton versus $94.86 per ton in the prior year period, while average delivered prices for domestic sawtimber increased 16% to $80.95 per ton versus $69.97 per ton in the prior year period. The increase in export sawtimber prices was driven primarily by stronger demand from China, as the prior year period was significantly impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. Improved export pricing in the current year quarter was also due in part to the restriction on competing log imports to China from Australia. The increase in domestic sawtimber prices (in U.S. dollar terms) was driven primarily by the rise in the NZ$/US$ exchange rate (US$0.72 per NZ$1.00 versus US$0.65 per NZ$1.00). Excluding the impact of foreign exchange rates, domestic sawtimber prices improved by a more modest 4% versus the prior year period due to improved demand. Operating income of $14.0 million increased $8.5 million versus the prior year period as a result of higher net stumpage prices ($9.5 million), higher volumes ($1.8 million) and lower costs ($0.2 million), partially offset by deferred carbon credit sales ($1.8 million), higher depletion rates ($0.7 million) and unfavorable foreign exchange impacts ($0.4 million).

First quarter Adjusted EBITDA³ of $21.2 million was 107%, or $11.0 million, above the prior year period.

Timber Funds

The Timber Funds segment generated first quarter sales of $14.9 million on harvest volumes of 145,000 tons, resulting in operating income of $1.5 million. Adjusting for the portion of the Timber Funds segment attributable to noncontrolling interests, pro forma sales³ and pro forma operating income³ were $3.0 million and $0.4 million, respectively.

First quarter Adjusted EBITDA³ was $1.0 million.

Real Estate

First quarter sales of $10.5 million decreased $108.0 million versus the prior year period, while operating income of $1.7 million decreased $25.1 million versus the prior year period. The prior year first quarter sales and operating income included $116.0 million and $28.7 million, respectively, from a Large Disposition.¹ Excluding this item, pro forma sales³ were $2.5 million, while pro forma operating loss³ was $1.9 million in the prior year period. Pro forma sales³ and pro forma operating income³ improved versus the prior year period due to a higher number of acres sold (2,395 acres sold versus 624 acres sold in the prior year period) and a 9% increase in weighted-average prices ($4,183 per acre versus $3,842 per acre in the prior year period).

Improved Development sales of $0.3 million included three residential lots in the Wildlight development project north of Jacksonville, Florida (an average of $84,000 per lot or $406,000 per acre). There were no Improved Development sales in the prior year period.

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

Rural sales of $9.8 million consisted of 2,394 acres at an average price of $4,079 per acre. This compares to prior year period sales of $2.4 million, which consisted of 624 acres at an average price of $3,842 per acre.

There were no Timberland & Non-Strategic sales in the first quarter or the prior year period.

First quarter Adjusted EBITDA³ of $5.1 million was $6.2 million above the prior year period.

Trading

First quarter sales of $16.7 million decreased $2.3 million versus the prior year period primarily due to lower volumes, partially offset by higher prices. Sales volumes decreased 32% to 141,000 tons versus 207,000 tons in the prior year period. The Trading segment generated operating income of $0.2 million versus breakeven results in the prior year period due to improved trading margins resulting from higher prices.

Other Items

First quarter corporate and other operating expenses of $7.6 million decreased $0.2 million versus the prior year period, which included $2.5 million of costs related to the Pope Resources merger.² This positive variance was largely offset by higher overhead expenses.

First quarter interest expense of $10.0 million increased $1.8 million versus the prior year period due to higher outstanding debt following the closing of the Pope Resources acquisition.

First quarter income tax expense of $3.5 million decreased $0.3 million versus the prior year period. The New Zealand subsidiary is the primary driver of income tax expense.

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 1.1 million shares issued under the ATM program during the three months ended March 31, 2021 at an average price of $33.31 per share.

Outlook

“Based on our solid start to 2021 and our expectation of a significant pickup in real estate activity as the year progresses, we believe we are on track to achieve full-year Adjusted EBITDA towards the upper end of our prior guidance,” added Nunes. “In our Southern Timber segment, we expect to achieve our full-year volume guidance, as we anticipate that demand from lumber mills will remain strong and that select U.S. South markets will continue to benefit from improving export demand. Further, we continue to expect a modest improvement in weighted average pricing relative to the prior year, with quarterly fluctuations largely driven by geographic mix.”

“In our Pacific Northwest Timber segment, we expect to achieve our full-year volume guidance, although we anticipate lower quarterly harvest volumes for the remainder of the year, as we pulled forward some volume in the first quarter to capture favorable demand and pricing. We further expect that strong lumber demand will continue to hold pricing at or above first quarter average prices for the balance of the year.”

“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. We expect continued strong export and domestic demand, and we further expect that the restriction on Australian log imports into China will constrain log supplies. We anticipate that this positive operating momentum will translate into log prices remaining near or above levels realized in the first quarter, which will be partially offset by elevated shipping costs.”

“In our Real Estate segment, we expect a significant pickup in transaction activity for the balance of the year based on our current pipeline of opportunities. In particular, we are increasingly optimistic about our sales outlook for residential and commercial properties within our real estate development projects. While first quarter closings were relatively light, as expected, we remain confident that we will achieve or exceed our prior full-year Adjusted EBITDA guidance.”

Conference Call

A conference call and live audio webcast will be held on Thursday, May 6, 2021 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 888-604-9366 (domestic) or 517-308-9338 (international), passcode: RAYONIER. A replay of the conference call will be available one hour following the call until Saturday, June 5, 2021 by dialing 866-465-2114 (domestic) or 203-369-1431 (international), passcode: 3358.

Complimentary copies of Rayonier press releases and other financial documents are also available by calling (904) 357-9100.

¹“Large Dispositions” are defined as transactions involving the sale of timberland that exceed $20 million in size and do not have a demonstrable premium relative to timberland value.

²“Costs related to the merger with Pope Resources” include legal, accounting, due diligence, consulting and other costs related to the merger with Pope Resources.

³Pro forma net income (loss), 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 March 31, 2021, Rayonier owned or leased under long-term agreements approximately 2.7 million acres of timberlands located in the U.S. South (1.75 million acres), U.S. Pacific Northwest (507,000 acres) and New Zealand (417,000 acres). The Company also acts as the managing member in a private equity timber fund business with three funds comprising approximately 141,000 acres. On a “look-through basis”, the Company’s ownership in the timber fund business equates to approximately 17,000 acres. More information is available at www.rayonier.com.

_______________________________________________________________________

Forward-Looking Statements - Certain statements in this press release regarding anticipated financial outcomes including Rayonier’s earnings guidance, if any, business and market conditions, outlook, expected dividend rate, Rayonier’s business strategies, including the recent acquisition of Pope Resources, expected harvest schedules, timberland acquisitions and dispositions, 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, including any downturn in the housing market; entry of new competitors into our markets; changes in global economic conditions and world events; business disruptions arising from public health crises and outbreaks of communicable diseases, including the current outbreak of the virus known as the novel coronavirus; fluctuations in demand for our products in Asia, and especially China; 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, endangered species and development of real estate generally, 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; the lengthy, uncertain and costly process associated with the ownership, entitlement and development of real estate, especially in Florida and Washington, including changes in law, policy and political factors beyond our control; the availability of financing for real estate development and mortgage loans; 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; and 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.

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 (loss),” “pro forma net income (loss),” 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.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210505006070/en/