Potlatch narrows Q3 net income to US$18.6M from US$25.6M a year ago, on revenues down 0.65% to US$151.9M; wood products revenues climb 25.29% to US$86.7M on improved pricing, increased shipment volumes

Wendy Lisney

SPOKANE, Washington , October 22, 2012 (press release) – Potlatch Corporation (Nasdaq:PCH) today reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2012.

"We are very pleased with our strong third quarter operating results, which exceeded our expectations. The stronger than anticipated demand for manufactured wood products that began in the first quarter has continued through the third quarter. Our Wood Products segment has now had two consecutive quarters of their highest quarterly operating income in over five years," said Michael Covey, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Potlatch Corporation. "The improved lumber markets are also having a positive effect on prices for our Resource segment, primarily in Idaho. The results from our Resource segment increased in the third quarter due to increased harvest levels related to seasonal factors, along with the improved prices. Our Real Estate segment continues to perform well, having closed 28 sales transactions during the third quarter and 124 on a year-to-date basis," concluded Mr. Covey.

Q3 2012 Financial Summary

Total consolidated revenues for the quarter were $151.9 million, compared to $152.9 million in Q3 2011 and $117.5 million in Q2 2012.
Net income for the quarter was $18.6 million, or $0.46 per diluted share, compared to $25.6 million, or $0.63 per diluted share in Q3 2011 and $5.1 million, or $0.13 per diluted share in Q2 2012.
EBITDDA was $37.0 million for Q3 2012, compared to $44.8 million in Q3 2011 and $22.6 million in Q2 2012.

Q3 2012 Business Performance

Resource

Operating income for the Resource segment in Q3 2012 was $23.6 million, compared to $25.6 million in Q3 2011 and $6.7 million in Q2 2012. The year-over-year variance was primarily due to the previously announced harvest deferral, mainly in the Southern region, while the sequential variance was due to seasonality. The third quarter is typically the seasonally strongest production quarter, while the second quarter is typically the weakest quarter.

Northern Region

Total fee harvest volume for Q3 2012 decreased 4 percent from Q3 2011, primarily due to the planned harvest deferral in 2012. In addition, the late spring break-up in Idaho in Q2 2011 pushed some additional harvest volume into Q3 2011. Total fee harvest volume for Q3 2012 nearly tripled over Q2 2012 due to normal seasonality.
Sawlog volume decreased 5 percent in Q3 2012 from Q3 2011 due to the factors mentioned above. Sawlog prices increased 3 percent over the previous year primarily due to improved lumber markets.
Sawlog volume was nearly three times greater in Q3 2012 compared to Q2 2012 due to normal seasonality, while prices increased 10 percent as a result of improved lumber markets.
Pulpwood volume remained flat in the year-over-year comparison while prices increased 4 percent.
Pulpwood volume nearly tripled in Q3 2012 over Q2 2012 due to normal seasonality. Prices decreased 6 percent due to oversupply of residual and whole log chips in Idaho and the increased production in Q2 in Minnesota.

Southern Region

Total fee harvest volume in Q3 2012 decreased 25 percent from Q3 2011 due to the harvest deferral, and increased 24 percent over Q2 2012 due to seasonality, particularly with the harvest level of hardwoods.
Sawlog volume decreased 35 percent in Q3 2012 from Q3 2011 due to the harvest deferral. Sawlog prices increased 4 percent year-over-year as a result of a shift in product mix to higher priced hardwoods.
Sawlog volume and prices increased 17 percent and 9 percent, respectively, in Q3 2012 over Q2 2012 due to a seasonal shift to increased hardwood production.
Pulpwood volume in Q3 2012 decreased 14 percent compared to Q3 2011 due to the harvest deferral, as well as increased volumes in Q3 2011 that resulted from thinning operations on the company's pine plantations. Pulpwood prices increased 12 percent year over year primarily due to a mix shift to more hardwood production, along with increased prices for both pine and hardwood. Lower pulpwood prices in Q3 2011 due to excess fiber availability also contributed to the positive variance.
Pulpwood volume in Q3 2012 increased 29 percent over Q2 2012 due to seasonality, while prices increased 3 percent due to the shift in product mix.

Wood Products

Wood Products revenues were $86.7 million in Q3 2012 compared to $69.2 million in Q3 2011 and $83.6 million in Q2 2012. Operating income for the segment totaled $15.2 million in Q3 2012 compared to $2.9 million in Q3 2011 and $11.7 million in Q2 2012. The improvement over Q3 2011 resulted from much improved product pricing as well as increased shipment volumes. The improvement over Q2 2012 resulted from improved product pricing and a small decrease in costs.

Lumber prices in Q3 2012 increased 21 percent and 1 percent over Q3 2011 and Q2 2012, respectively.
Lumber shipments in Q3 2012 increased 4 percent over Q3 2011 and remained level compared to Q2 2012.
No lumber hedges were in place during Q3 2012, but the segment recorded a $2.0 million benefit in Q3 2011 and a $0.9 million charge in Q2 2012 related to mark to market adjustments.

Real Estate

Real Estate revenues totaled $2.4 million in Q3 2012 compared to $14.8 million in Q3 2011 and $8.7 million in Q2 2012. Operating income for the segment was $1.3 million in Q3 2012 compared to $9.9 million in Q3 2011 and $6.7 million in Q2 2012. The third and final phase of a non-strategic/rural real estate sale in Idaho occurred during Q3 2011, resulting in revenues of $9.1 million.

Corporate

Corporate expenses, excluding interest expense, were $10.6 million in Q3 2012 compared to $5.0 million in Q3 2011 and $9.2 million in Q2 2012. The year-over-year variance was primarily due to higher pension expense related to the company's legacy plans as well as a charge for the mark to market adjustment related to the deferred compensation plans. The quarter-to-quarter variance was due to higher compensation expense as well as a mark to market adjustment related to the deferred compensation plans. Net cash interest expense totaled $5.8 million in Q3 2012 compared to $6.2 million in Q3 2011 and $5.8 million in Q2 2012.

Balance Sheet

Potlatch finished the quarter with $62.5 million of cash and short-term investments on the balance sheet.

Dividend Distribution

During the third quarter, Potlatch paid a quarterly cash distribution on the company's stock of $0.31 per share.

Conservation Sale

In September 2012, Potlatch reached an agreement with Minnesota conservation advocates on an approximately 2,000 acre, $11 million conservation sale of HBU property, which is expected to close in late November 2012.

Outlook

"We are very pleased with our third quarter and year-to-date results and expect continued strong performance as we move through the fourth quarter. In our Wood Products business, prices have begun their normal seasonal softening, but we expect prices to remain relatively firm. In fact, we anticipate lumber prices will bottom out in October or November before beginning to climb again in December as buyers will then be in the market preparing for 2013 and wanting to get ahead of the strengthening housing market. In our Resource segment, we continue to expect our 2012 harvest to be approximately 3.5 million tons. In general, our Resource segment is benefitting from the improved demand and higher lumber pricing in the wood products industry, particularly in Idaho. However, we expect log prices to decrease slightly in the fourth quarter, primarily due to seasonal factors and product mix. Nonetheless, as we look to 2013, we expect housing starts to continue to increase and anticipate firmer log and lumber prices in that year and beyond. We will provide an update on planned 2013 harvest levels during our fourth quarter earnings call in early 2013. Finally, we expect solid earnings in our Real Estate business for the fourth quarter with the planned $11 million conservation sale in addition to other attractive real estate sales," concluded Mr. Covey.

Conference Call Information

A live conference call and webcast will be held today, October 22, 2012, at 9 a.m. Pacific Time (noon Eastern Time). Investors may access the webcast at www.potlatchcorp.com by clicking on the Investor Resources link or by conference call at 1-866-393-8403 for U.S./Canada and 1-706-679-7929 for international callers. Participants will be asked to provide conference I.D. number 33029859. Supplemental materials that will be discussed during the call are available on the website.

A replay of the conference call will be available two hours following the call until October 29, 2012 by calling 1-800-585-8367 for U.S./Canada or 1-404-537-3406 for international callers. Callers must enter conference I.D. number 33029859 to access the replay.

About Potlatch

Potlatch is a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) with approximately 1.43 million acres of timberland in Arkansas, Idaho and Minnesota. Potlatch, a verified forest practices leader, is committed to providing superior returns to stockholders through long-term stewardship of its forest resources. The company also conducts a land sales and development business and operates wood products manufacturing facilities through its taxable REIT subsidiary.

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