Rayonier Reports Second Quarter 2021 Results

• Second quarter net income attributable to Rayonier of $57.2 million ($0.41 per share) on revenues of $291.4 million
• Second quarter pro forma net income of $31.0 million ($0.22 per share) on pro forma revenues of $240.7 million
• Second quarter operating income of $84.4 million, pro forma operating income of $52.5 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $95.3 million
• Year-to-date cash provided by operations of $164.6 million and cash available for distribution (CAD) of $110.8 million

Rayonier Inc. (NYSE:RYN) today reported second quarter net income attributable to Rayonier of $57.2 million, or $0.41 per share, on revenues of $291.4 million. This compares to net income attributable to Rayonier of $1.7 million, or $0.01 per share, on revenues of $195.6 million in the prior year quarter.

The second quarter results included $30.3 million of income from a Large Disposition,¹ partially offset by a $2.2 million loss from the termination of a cash flow hedge² and $1.1 million of costs related to debt extinguishments and modifications.³ The prior year second quarter results included costs related to the merger with Pope Resources⁴ of $13.5 million.

Excluding these items and adjusting for pro forma net income adjustments attributable to noncontrolling interests in the operating partnership,⁶ pro forma net income⁵ was $31.0 million, or $0.22 per share, on pro forma revenues of $240.7 million versus pro forma net income⁵ of $15.2 million, or $0.11 per share, on pro forma revenues of $189.8 million in the prior year period.

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

Second quarter operating income was $84.4 million versus $11.7 million in the prior year period. Adjusting for $30.3 million of income from a Large Disposition¹ and $1.6 million of operating income attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Timber Funds segment, current quarter pro forma operating income⁵ was $52.5 million. Prior year second quarter operating income included costs related to the merger with Pope Resources⁴ of $13.5 million and an operating loss attributable to noncontrolling interests in the Timber Funds segment of $2.0 million. Excluding these items, pro forma operating income⁵ was $27.2 million in the prior year period. Second quarter Adjusted EBITDA⁵ was $95.3 million versus $78.6 million in the prior year period. The following table summarizes operating income (loss), pro forma operating income (loss)⁵ and Adjusted EBITDA⁵ for the current quarter and comparable prior year period:

Year-to-date cash provided by operating activities was $164.6 million versus $82.6 million in the prior year period. Year-to-date cash available for distribution (CAD)⁵ of $110.8 million increased $31.1 million versus the prior year period primarily due to higher Adjusted EBITDA⁵ ($39.1 million), partially offset by higher cash taxes paid ($6.0 million), higher cash interest paid ($0.9 million) and higher capital expenditures ($1.0 million).

“Our second quarter results reflect continued momentum across our businesses and a markedly improved operating environment compared to the prior year,” said David Nunes, President and CEO. “Adjusted EBITDA of $95.3 million was 21% higher than the prior year quarter, as favorable results in each of our timber segments more than offset lower Adjusted EBITDA in the Real Estate segment.”

“In Southern Timber, Adjusted EBITDA improved 16% versus the prior year quarter, as an increase in net stumpage prices more than offset lower harvest volumes. In Pacific Northwest Timber, Adjusted EBITDA more than tripled versus the prior year quarter due to a 30% increase in sawtimber prices, as well as higher volumes and more favorable variable costs following the acquisition of Pope Resources. New Zealand Timber Adjusted EBITDA more than doubled versus a prior year quarter that was severely impacted by COVID-19 related disruptions, with volumes increasing by 31% and export sawtimber prices increasing by 50% versus the prior year quarter. Notably, A-grade log export prices to China surpassed previous record highs; however, these price gains were partially offset by elevated shipping costs.”

“Real Estate results, excluding the gain on Large Dispositions, were below an exceptionally strong prior year quarter, as significantly higher per-acre prices in the current quarter were more than offset by a 61% reduction in acres sold. We were pleased to close significant transactions within both our Wildlight and Belfast Commerce Park development projects during the quarter. In our Rural category, a 6,154 acre sale in Georgia comprised the bulk of second quarter activity, as we continue to see strong rural demand trends. Large Dispositions consisted of a timberland sale in western Washington.”

Southern Timber

Second quarter sales of $49.3 million increased $2.5 million, or 5%, versus the prior year period. Harvest volumes decreased 4% to 1.47 million tons versus 1.54 million tons in the prior year period, as wet weather conditions impacted production. Average pine sawtimber stumpage prices increased 10% to $27.96 per ton versus $25.48 per ton in the prior year period, as strong domestic lumber markets and increased log export demand translated into favorable sawtimber pricing. Average pine pulpwood stumpage prices increased 14% to $18.22 per ton versus $15.94 per ton in the prior year period, driven by strong demand coupled with tighter supply due to wet weather conditions. Overall, weighted-average stumpage prices (including hardwood) increased 14% to $21.61 per ton versus $18.91 per ton in the prior year period. Operating income of $17.0 million increased $5.8 million versus the prior year period due to higher net stumpage prices ($4.0 million), lower leased land and other expenses ($1.0 million), lower depletion rates ($1.0 million) and higher non-timber income ($0.4 million), partially offset by lower volumes ($0.6 million).

Second quarter Adjusted EBITDA⁵ of $30.6 million was 16%, or $4.1 million, above the prior year period.

Pacific Northwest Timber

Second quarter sales of $35.3 million increased $9.2 million, or 35%, versus the prior year period. Harvest volumes increased 4% to 400,000 tons versus 385,000 tons in the prior year period, primarily due to incremental volume from the Pope Resources acquisition, which closed midway through the prior year period. Average delivered sawtimber prices increased 30% to $97.80 per ton versus $75.39 per ton in the prior year period, as favorable domestic lumber markets coupled with increased export demand drove higher log prices. Average delivered pulpwood prices decreased 21% to $29.02 per ton versus $36.92 per ton in the prior year period, as increased lumber production resulted in an increased supply of competing sawmill residuals. Operating income of $1.9 million improved $8.6 million versus the prior year period due to higher net stumpage prices ($7.9 million), lower costs ($0.9 million) and higher non-timber income ($0.8 million), partially offset by higher depletion rates ($1.0 million).

Second quarter Adjusted EBITDA⁵ of $13.9 million was 254%, or $10.0 million, above the prior year period.

New Zealand Timber

Second quarter sales of $80.6 million increased $38.8 million, or 93%, versus the prior year period, due to higher harvest volumes and log prices. Harvest volumes increased 31% to 692,000 tons versus 529,000 tons in the prior year period, driven by strong export and domestic demand versus a prior year period that was negatively impacted by COVID-19 related headwinds. Average delivered prices for export sawtimber increased 50% to $148.28 per ton versus $98.75 per ton in the prior year period, while average delivered prices for domestic sawtimber increased 27% to $85.09 per ton versus $66.95 per ton in the prior year period. The increase in export sawtimber prices was driven primarily by stronger demand from China, as the prior year period was negatively impacted by COVID-19. Improved export pricing in the current year quarter was also due in part to the restriction on competing log imports into China from Australia. The increase in domestic sawtimber prices (in U.S. dollar terms) was driven primarily by the rise in the NZ$/US$ exchange rate (US$0.72 per NZ$1.00 versus US$0.62 per NZ$1.00). Excluding the impact of foreign exchange rates, domestic sawtimber prices improved 9% versus the prior year period, following the upward trend in the export market. Operating income of $20.7 million increased $15.7 million versus the prior year period as a result of higher net stumpage prices ($11.7 million), higher volumes ($3.1 million), favorable foreign exchange impacts ($2.1 million) and lower depletion rates ($0.4 million), partially offset by lower carbon credit sales ($0.9 million) and higher costs ($0.7 million).

Second quarter Adjusted EBITDA⁵ of $27.7 million was 179%, or $17.7 million, above the prior year period.

Timber Funds

Second quarter sales of $18.6 million increased $11.2 million, or 148%, versus the prior year period, due to higher log prices and harvest volumes. Harvest volumes increased 94% to 175,000 tons versus 90,000 tons in the prior year period, as the prior year period reflected results for only a portion of the quarter following the closing of the Pope Resources acquisition on May 8, 2020. Operating income of $2.0 million versus operating loss of $1.9 million in the prior year period was primarily driven by higher prices. Adjusting for the portion of the Timber Funds segment attributable to noncontrolling interests, pro forma sales⁵ of $3.9 million increased $2.2 million versus the prior year period, while pro forma operating income⁵ of $0.4 million increased $0.3 million versus the prior year period.

Second quarter Adjusted EBITDA⁵ of $1.4 million was $0.7 million above the prior year period.

Real Estate

Second quarter sales of $74.5 million increased $24.5 million versus the prior year period, while operating income of $50.5 million increased $25.7 million versus the prior year period. Second quarter sales and operating income included $36.0 million and $30.3 million, respectively, from Large Dispositions.¹ Excluding this item, pro forma sales⁵ were $38.5 million, while pro forma operating income⁵ was $20.2 million. Pro forma sales⁵ and pro forma operating income⁵ declined versus the prior year period due to a lower number of acres sold (8,014 acres sold versus 20,310 acres sold in the prior year period), partially offset by a 94% increase in weighted-average prices ($4,946 per acre versus $2,545 per acre in the prior year period).

Improved Development sales of $19.3 million included $11.5 million from the Wildlight development project north of Jacksonville, Florida and $7.9 million from the Belfast Commerce Park development project south of Savannah, Georgia. Sales in Wildlight consisted of a 130-acre sale for $9.1 million ($70,000 per acre) to a national homebuilder for the first phase of an active-adult community, as well as 36 residential lots for $2.3 million (an average of $65,000 per lot or $350,000 per acre). Due to post-closing obligations associated with the 130-acre active-adult sale, $5.3 million of revenue was deferred and will be recognized in future periods. Sales in the Belfast Commerce Park consisted of a 153-acre parcel for $7.9 million ($51,000 per acre). This compares to prior year period Improved Development sales of $6.4 million.

There were no Unimproved Development sales in the second quarter. This compares to prior year period sales of $8.4 million, which consisted of a 570-acre sale in St. Johns County, Florida for $14,780 per acre.

Rural sales of $20.3 million consisted of 7,725 acres at an average price of $2,627 per acre. This compares to prior year period sales of $27.2 million, which consisted of 7,710 acres at an average price of $3,532 per acre.

There were no Timberland & Non-Strategic sales in the second quarter. This compares to prior year period sales of $9.6 million, which consisted of 11,907 acres at an average price of $807 per acre.

Conservation Easement sales during the quarter were $3.9 million, which reflected a single transaction covering a property in Washington that was acquired in the merger with Pope Resources. There were no Conservation Easement sales in the prior year period. Since these transactions involve the conveyance of certain land use rights rather than an outright sale of the land, they are not reflected in our average per-acre metrics for the segment.

Second quarter Adjusted EBITDA⁵ of $29.1 million was $15.5 million below the prior year period.

Trading

Second quarter sales of $34.5 million increased $10.2 million versus the prior year period primarily due to higher prices, partially offset by lower volumes. Sales volumes decreased 9% to 243,000 tons versus 267,000 tons in the prior year period. Operating income of $0.4 million increased $0.3 million versus the prior year period.

Other Items

Second quarter corporate and other operating expenses of $8.0 million decreased $12.8 million versus the prior year period, which included $13.5 million of costs related to the Pope Resources merger.⁴ This positive variance was partially offset by higher overhead expenses.

Second quarter interest expense of $13.0 million increased $3.2 million versus the prior year period due to higher outstanding debt and a $2.2 million loss from the termination of a cash flow hedge² related to the voluntary repayment of $100 million of term loans.

Second quarter income tax expense of $6.9 million increased $3.9 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 2.2 million shares issued under the ATM program during the three months ended June 30, 2021 at an average price of $36.79 per share.

Outlook

“Based on our solid first half results and our expectations for the balance of the year, we now anticipate full-year net income attributable to Rayonier of $98 to $106 million, EPS of $0.69 to $0.75, pro forma EPS of $0.51 to $0.57, and Adjusted EBITDA of $300 to $320 million,” said Nunes.

“In our Southern Timber segment, we now expect full-year harvest volumes of 5.9 to 6.1 million tons, as production has been constrained by regional weather conditions and trucking availability. We further expect that weighted average pricing will remain above prior year levels, driven by continued strong demand from domestic pulp and lumber mills, as well as improving export demand in select U.S. South markets. Overall, we expect full-year Adjusted EBITDA of $118 to $122 million, a modest increase from prior guidance.”

“In our Pacific Northwest Timber segment, we are maintaining our full-year volume guidance of 1.7 to 1.8 million tons along with our full-year Adjusted EBITDA guidance of $50 to $55 million. We expect pricing in the region will remain relatively stable as log demand across both the domestic and export markets remains favorable.”

“In our New Zealand Timber segment, we are maintaining our full-year volume guidance of 2.6 to 2.8 million tons. Given the robust start to 2021, we now expect full-year Adjusted EBITDA of $78 to $82 million. That said, we expect relatively lower export pricing over second half of the year, as log inventories in China have increased significantly in recent weeks. Further, we anticipate that shipping and demurrage costs will remain elevated.”

“In our Real Estate segment, we now expect full-year Adjusted EBITDA of $78 to $86 million. We expect a strong second half of the year in this segment given the healthy demand for residential and commercial properties within our real estate development projects, as well as continued strength in rural land sales activity.”

Conference Call

A conference call and live audio webcast will be held on Thursday, August 5, 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, September 4, 2021 by dialing 866-485-0041 (domestic) or 203-369-1613 (international), passcode: 3999.

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

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 June 30, 2021, Rayonier owned or leased under long-term agreements approximately 2.7 million acres of timberlands located in the U.S. South (1.74 million acres), U.S. Pacific Northwest (499,000 acres) and New Zealand (419,000 acres). The Company also acts as the managing member in a private equity timber fund business with one fund comprising approximately 31,000 acres. On a “look-through basis”, the Company’s ownership in the fund equates to approximately 6,000 acres. More information is available at www.rayonier.com.

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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,” 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.