Deltic Timber reports Q1 net income of US$4.9M, down 27% year-over-year, on net sales up 33% to US$55.4M; earnings drop driven by lower operating manufacturing segment income largely resulting from persistent winter weather slowing US construction

President and Chief Executive Officer, Ray C. Dillon, of Deltic Timber Corporation (NYSE: DEL) announced today that preliminary net income for the first quarter of 2014 was $4.9 million, $.39 a share, compared to net income of $6.8 million, $.53 a share, for the first quarter of 2013. The decrease was mainly due to lower operating income for the Company’s Manufacturing segment. This reduction was primarily the result of persistent winter weather conditions that slowed construction activity throughout much of the country, resulting in decreased sales volumes and lower average sales prices. Net cash provided by the Company’s operating activities was $3.7 million in the first quarter of 2014, compared to $9 million a year ago.

Commenting on the results, Mr. Dillon, stated, “Harsh winter weather conditions existed for much of the United States during the first quarter. Despite the negative impact this had on the consumption of softwood lumber for construction, Deltic’s operations again generated solid financial results. While the volume of lumber sold and the average sales price received for it were both down from a year ago, the Company harvested its planned volume for pine sawtimber and pine pulpwood for the quarter, benefitted from improved natural gas prices, and sold almost twice as many residential real estate lots than it did in the first quarter of last year. During the quarter, we also successfully completed a significant timberland acquisition in the Ola Region that will be strategically beneficial to our operations there.”

The Woodlands segment had operating income of $5.3 million for the first quarter of 2014, compared to $4.6 million for the same period of 2013. The Company harvested 209,548 tons of pine sawtimber during the current period of 2014, a 16 percent increase from the 181,069 tons harvested in the corresponding quarter of 2013. The average per-ton sales price for pine sawtimber in 2014’s first quarter was $24, a four percent increase from the $23 per ton during the first quarter of 2013. Pine pulpwood harvested in the first quarter of 2014 totaled 109,009 tons, a 12 percent increase from the 97,010 tons harvested for the same period in 2013. The average per-ton sales price was $8 for the current period of 2014, compared to $9 per-ton for 2013’s first quarter. The quarter-over-quarter increase in both pine sawtimber and pulpwood harvest volumes was mainly due to timing and the mix of products growing on the tracts harvested. Oil and gas lease rental and net royalty income totaled $1.4 million for the current period of 2014 compared to $1.2 million during the same quarter of 2013. The increase was due to a combination of higher natural gas prices and increased production volumes for gas wells from which the Company receives royalty payments. During the current quarter, the Company sold 160 acres of non-strategic recreational-use hardwood bottomland at an average sales price of $1,000 per acre versus first quarter 2013 sales of 288 acres at an average price of $1,800 per acre.

Deltic’s Manufacturing segment reported operating income of $8.3 million for the first quarter of 2014, which compares to $11.3 million in 2013’s first quarter. The average lumber sales price was $378 per thousand board feet in the first quarter of 2014, a six percent decrease from the $402 per thousand board feet realized for the first quarter of 2013. During the first quarter of 2014, the Company sold 64.3 million board feet, a decrease of 6.8 million board feet when compared to sales of 71.1 million board feet in 2013’s first quarter, as the Company decreased lumber production to match market demand. In the second quarter of 2013, Deltic acquired the balance of the ownership interest of Del-Tin Fiber from the Company’s former joint venture partner and has since consolidated the operating results into its Manufacturing segment. Del-Tin Fiber’s first quarter 2013 sales volume and average sales price for medium density fiberboard (“MDF”) are provided for comparison purposes. The average sales price for MDF sold during 2014’s first quarter was $577 per thousand square feet, which compares to $573 per thousand square feet reported in the first quarter of 2013. MDF sales volume in the first quarter of 2014 was 28.5 million square feet, a two percent decrease from the 29.1 million square feet sold during the first quarter of 2013, primarily due to transportation disruptions in some shipping lanes resulting from the winter weather. Deltic also monitors the market demand for MDF in order to make timely adjustments to operating hours to match the plant’s production with demand.

The Company’s Real Estate segment reported operating income of $.2 million for the first quarter of 2014, which compares to an operating loss of $.7 million for the same period of 2013. Residential lot sales totaled 23 lots in 2014’s first quarter versus 12 lot sales in the first quarter of 2013. Due to the mix of lots sold, the current quarter’s average per lot sales price of $88,900 compared favorably to first quarter 2013’s average per lot sales price of $74,400. There were no commercial real estate acreage sales in the first quarter of either year.

Corporate operating expense was $4.8 million in the first quarter of 2014, which compares to $4.6 million for the corresponding quarter of 2013. Since April of 2013, Del-Tin Fiber’s operating results have been consolidated into the Company’s Manufacturing segment, whereas in the first quarter of 2013, the results for Del-Tin Fiber were accounted for under the equity method. As a result, Deltic had no reported equity in the earnings of Del-Tin Fiber for the first quarter of 2014, while in the first quarter of 2013, the Company reported $1.1 million. Income tax expense for the first quarter of 2014 was $2.8 million, which compares to $3.8 million in the prior year’s first quarter. The decrease is due mainly to the lower pretax income for the first quarter of 2014.

Capital expenditures were $109.8 million for 2014’s first quarter and $13.4 million in 2013’s first quarter. The increase was due to timberland acquisitions made during the first quarter of 2014.

Regarding the outlook for the second quarter and year of 2014, Mr. Dillon stated, “At this time we anticipate the pine sawtimber harvest to be 155,000 to 165,000 tons and 575,000 to 625,000 tons, respectively. Finished lumber sales volumes are anticipated to be 65 to 75 million board feet for the second quarter and 270 to 290 million board feet for the year. MDF sales volumes for the second quarter and year of 2014 are estimated to be 25 to 35 million square feet and 110 to 130 million square feet, respectively. Actual sales volumes for both finished lumber and MDF are dependent upon market conditions. Residential lot sales are estimated at 8 to 12 lots and 60 to 80 lots for the second quarter and year of 2014, respectively. Even though commercial acreage in Chenal Valley has received interest from potential buyers, it is difficult to anticipate future closings due to the volatile nature of commercial real estate transactions and the significant number of factors related to any sale.”

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, adverse weather, cost and availability of materials used to manufacture the Company’s products, natural gas pricing, 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 Tuesday, April 22, 2014, at 10:00 a.m. Central Time to discuss first quarter 2014 earnings. Interested parties may participate in the call by dialing 1-866-318-8617 and referencing participant passcode identification number 83968209. 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 Tuesday, April 29, 2014, by dialing 1-888-286-8010 and referencing replay passcode identification number 79989212.