Deltic Timber reports net income of US$0.8M in Q3, down from US$3.3M in Q3 2010, which included a 19-acre commercial acreage sale; CEO says core woodlands and mills segments performed well

Wendy Lisney

Wendy Lisney

EL DORADO, Arkansas , October 26, 2011 (press release) – Deltic Timber Corporation (NYSE:DEL - News) announced today that net income for the third quarter of 2011 was $.8 million, $.06 a share, compared to $3.3 million, $.26 a share, in the third quarter of 2010. The decrease, when compared to the prior-year period, was primarily due to the sale of a 19-acre commercial real estate tract in the third quarter of 2010, while there were no commercial acreage sales in the 2011 period. Net cash provided by operating activities was $6.1 million for 2011’s third quarter, which compares to $12.5 million a year ago. For the first nine months of 2011, net income totaled $2.9 million, $.23 a share, compared to $11.1 million, $.89 a share, for the same period of 2010. Operating activities provided net cash of $14.4 million for the first nine months of 2011 compared to $26.5 million the same period a year ago.

Commenting on the results, President and Chief Executive Officer, Ray C. Dillon stated, “While third quarter earnings were lower when compared to a year ago, I am pleased to report profitable financial results for the tenth consecutive quarter. This was achieved despite the continued recession-like economic conditions that exist for forest and building products businesses and residential and commercial real estate development businesses. The Company’s core Woodlands and Mills segments’ assets continue to perform well, even with near-record low prices for pine sawtimber and finished lumber. In the Real Estate segment, we continue to focus on commercial real estate in our Chenal Valley development with the continuation of a depressed residential real estate market.”

The Woodlands segment earned $6.1 million in the third quarter of 2011, an increase of $1.1 million when compared to earnings of $5 million in the same period for 2010. The pine sawtimber harvest level during the current period was 207,777 tons, a 30 percent increase from 2010’s third quarter harvest level of 159,487 tons. The increased harvest in 2011’s third quarter is due to the unusually dry logging conditions in the Company’s operating area, which enabled it to accelerate its annual harvest schedule; however, Deltic plans for the 2011 harvest volume to be approximately the same as it was in 2010. The average per-ton sales price for pine sawtimber decreased 21 percent to $22 per ton for the current quarter versus $28 per ton for the same period of 2010. The decrease in the sales price was due to lower demand from sawmills in Deltic’s operating region caused by reduced production of finished lumber. The Company’s pine pulpwood harvest level in 2011’s third quarter was 129,174 tons, which compares to 74,573 tons in the third quarter of 2010, while the average sales price received in both periods was $8 per ton. Oil and gas lease rentals and net royalty income was $1.6 million for 2011’s third quarter versus $1.5 million for the same period of 2010. The Company sold 500 acres of non-strategic recreational-use hardwood bottomland for an average price of $1,800 per acre in the third quarter of 2011, which compares to 370 acres sold at an average price of $1,500 per acre for the same period of 2010.

The Mills segment reported $.5 million in operating income during 2011’s third quarter compared to an operating loss of $.3 million during the same period of 2010. The improvement was mainly due to a decrease in the cost of logs used to manufacture lumber as a result of the reduced price for pine sawtimber. The average lumber sales price was $251 per thousand board feet for the third quarter of 2011, which was an $8 decrease when compared to the third quarter of 2010’s average sales price of $259 per thousand board feet. The lumber sales volume decreased two percent to 67.9 million board feet in 2011’s third quarter when compared to 69.2 million board feet during the same period of 2010.

The Company’s Real Estate segment reported an operating loss of $1 million in 2011’s third quarter compared to operating income of $4 million in the third quarter of 2010. There were no commercial real estate transactions during the third quarter of 2011, while the Company sold 19 acres of commercial real estate at an average sales price of $334,000 per acre during the same period of 2010. There were eight residential lot sales during the current quarter of 2011, which compares to three lot sales in the same period of 2010. The average residential lot sales price was $57,800 in the third quarter of 2011, a decrease of $34,500 when compared to 2010’s third quarter average lot sales price of $92,300. The lower per-lot average sales price was a result of the mix of lots sold.

Corporate operating expense was $3.5 million for 2011’s third quarter compared to $3.7 million for the third quarter of 2010. The Company’s equity in earnings of Del-Tin Fiber was at break-even for the third quarter of 2011, while the equity in earnings was $1 million a year ago. Del-Tin Fiber’s results have been negatively impacted by higher raw material costs, as well as a softer market for medium density fiberboard than existed a year-ago which resulted in a lower average per-unit sales price and sales volume. Deltic recorded income tax expense of $.3 million in the current-year quarter compared to $2 million in 2010’s third quarter due to lower pretax income.

Pine sawtimber harvest levels for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 were 523,065 tons compared to 475,265 tons during the same period of 2010. The average pine sawtimber sales price of $24 per ton decreased $3 per ton from the prior-year period. The finished lumber average sales price decreased $51 per thousand board feet, or 17 percent, from $305 per thousand board feet in 2010 to $254 per thousand board feet in 2011. Lumber sales volume decreased 7.5 million board feet from 202.7 million board feet in 2010 to 195.2 million board feet in 2011. Residential lot sales for the first nine months of 2011 totaled 22 lots at an average per-lot sales price of $65,400 compared to 13 lots sold at an average price of $95,900 per lot for the same period of 2010. The Company sold 26 acres of commercial real estate at an average sales price of $101,000 per acre in 2011 versus 19 acres of commercial real estate at an average price of $334,000 per acre in 2010.

Capital expenditures were $4.3 million for the third quarter of 2011 and $10.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011. For the corresponding periods of 2010, capital expenditures totaled $2.7 million and $8.8 million, respectively.

Concerning the outlook for the fourth quarter and year of 2011, Mr. Dillon stated, “We currently project the pine sawtimber harvest to be 50,000 to 75,000 tons and 575,000 to 600,000 tons, for the fourth quarter and year, respectively, depending upon weather conditions in the fourth quarter. Finished lumber sales are estimated to be 65 to 75 million board feet for the fourth quarter and 260 to 270 million board feet for the year, depending upon lumber market conditions and log availability, as well as weather-related effects on both of these factors. Residential lot sales are forecast at 25 to 30 lots for the year of 2011. Commercial acreage within Chenal Valley continues to receive interest, but the Company is not able to predict the timing of commercial real estate sales due to the highly uncertain nature of this type of transaction and the significant number of factors involved.”

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, construction activity, adverse weather, cost and availability of materials used to manufacture the Company’s products, 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.

Deltic will hold a conference call on Thursday, October 27, 2011, at 10:00 a.m. Central Time to discuss third quarter 2011 earnings. Interested parties may participate in the call by dialing 1-800-599-9829 and referencing participant passcode identification number 51129556. The call will also be broadcast live over the Internet and can be accessed through the Investor Relations section of the Deltic website, at www.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, November 3, 2011, by dialing 1-888-286-8010 and referencing replay passcode identification number 29206711.

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