Stella-Jones Reports 2017 Third Quarter Results

MONTREAL, QUEBEC–(Marketwired – Nov. 3, 2017) – Stella-Jones Inc. (TSX:SJ) (“Stella-Jones” or the “Company”) today announced financial results for its third quarter ended September 30, 2017.

“Stella-Jones’ growing reach in the utility pole and residential lumber markets led to solid sales growth in these product categories during the third quarter, more than offsetting the effect of lower year-over-year pricing in the railway tie product category. Furthermore, a strong operating cash flow generation allowed us to significantly reduce our long-term debt and positions us for future expansion,” said Brian McManus, President and Chief Executive Officer.

Financial highlights (in millions of Canadian dollars, except per share data)		Quarters ended Sept. 30,		Nine-months ended Sept. 30,
		2017	2016	2017	2016
Sales		517.6	512.6	1,508.8	1,496.6
Operating income		63.1	67.3	178.4	205.1
Net income for the period		42.0	45.7	116.8	135.4
	Per share – basic and diluted ($)	0.61	0.66	1.68	1.96
Weighted average shares outstanding (basic, in ‘000s)		69,330	69,255	69,319	69,200

THIRD QUARTER RESULTS

Sales reached 7.6 million, up 1.0% from 2.6 million last year. Acquisitions contributed sales of approximately .1 million, while the conversion effect from fluctuations in the value of the Canadian dollar, Stella-Jones’ reporting currency, versus the U.S. dollar, had a negative impact of .9 million on the value of U.S. dollar denominated sales. Excluding these factors, sales increased by .9 million, or 2.5%.

Railway tie sales amounted to 0.8 million, compared with sales of 6.6 million in last year’s third quarter. Excluding the currency conversion effect, railway tie sales declined approximately .7 million, or 11.6%, mainly due to lower pricing.

Utility pole sales reached 2.5 million in the third quarter of 2017, representing a 7.8% increase over sales of 0.0 million a year ago. Excluding the contribution from acquisitions and the currency conversion effect, sales increased approximately .4 million, or 9.0%, reflecting organic sales growth in the southeastern United States and a gradual return to historical maintenance demand.

Sales in the residential lumber category reached 5.8 million in the third quarter of 2017, up from 7.3 million a year earlier. Excluding the currency conversion effect, residential lumber sales increased approximately .2 million, or 18.8%, mainly reflecting higher selling prices due to increased untreated lumber costs and more favourable weather in Canada during the third quarter of 2017 compared to the same period last year.

Industrial product sales reached .6 million in the third quarter of 2017, down from .5 million in the third quarter of 2016. This variation is mainly due to lower sales of marine pilings in Canada, partially offset by higher sales of rail-related products in the United States. Logs and lumber sales totalled .9 million, versus .3 million in the third quarter of 2016. This variation reflects the timing of lumber purchase and resale activities, the timing of timber harvesting, as well as higher selling prices due to increased lumber costs.

Operating income stood at .1 million, or 12.2% of sales, compared with .3 million, or 13.1% of sales in the third quarter of the previous year. The decrease as a percentage of sales essentially reflects lower selling prices for railway ties and a less favourable geographical mix in the utility pole category.

Net income for the third quarter of 2017 was .0 million, or {$content}.61 per diluted share, versus .7 million, or {$content}.66 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2016.

NINE-MONTH RESULTS

For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2017, sales amounted to .51 billion, versus .50 billion for the corresponding period a year earlier. Acquisitions contributed sales of .9 million, while the currency conversion effect had a negative impact of .3 million on the value of U.S. dollar denominated sales. Excluding these factors, sales decreased approximately .4 million, or 1.6%.

Operating income reached 8.4 million, or 11.8% of sales, compared with 5.1 million, or 13.7% of sales, last year. Net income totalled 6.8 million, or .68 per diluted share, versus 5.4 million, or .96 per diluted share, in the prior year.

SOLID FINANCIAL POSITION

As at September 30, 2017, the Company’s financial position remained solid with long-term debt, including the current portion, of 4.1 million, down significantly from 5.8 million three months earlier. The decrease in long-term debt reflects a solid operating cash flow generation during the quarter and, to a lesser extent, the effect of local currency translation on U.S. dollar denominated long-term debt. As at September 30, 2017, Stella-Jones’ total debt to total capitalization ratio was 0.30:1, down from 0.37:1 three months earlier.

QUARTERLY DIVIDEND OF {$content}.11 PER SHARE

On November 2, 2017, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of {$content}.11 per common share payable on December 21, 2017 to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 4, 2017.

OUTLOOK

“Based on current trends, we expect to conclude 2017 with slightly higher sales compared to the previous year. Looking ahead to 2018, conditions prevailing in the railway tie category should yield relatively stable sales. Meanwhile, normal maintenance patterns and improving demand for transmission poles should provide further momentum in the utility pole category. We also expect margins to slightly improve throughout 2018. Our focus remains on growing shareholder value by maximizing operating cash flow through ensuring efficient and cost- effective operations. Funds generated will be invested in working capital and our existing network, while maintaining an optimal dividend policy and examining expansion opportunities that offer strategic value in our main product categories,” concluded Mr. McManus.

CONFERENCE CALL

Stella-Jones will hold a conference call to discuss these results on November 3, 2017, at 10:00 AM Eastern Time. Interested parties can join the call by dialing 1-647-788-4922 (Toronto or overseas) or 1-877-223-4471 (elsewhere in North America). Parties unable to call in at this time may access a recording by calling 1-800-585-8367 and entering the passcode 83494502. This recording will be available on Friday, November 3, 2017 as of 1:00 PM Eastern Time until 11:59 PM Eastern Time on Friday, November 10, 2017.

NON-IFRS FINANCIAL MEASURES

Operating income is a financial measure not prescribed by IFRS and is not likely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. Management considers this non-IFRS measure to be useful information to assist knowledgeable investors regarding the Company’s financial condition and results of operations as it provides an additional measure of its performance.

ABOUT STELLA-JONES

Stella-Jones Inc. (TSX:SJ) is a leading producer and marketer of pressure treated wood products. The Company supplies North America’s railroad operators with railway ties and timbers, and the continent’s electrical utilities and telecommunication companies with utility poles. Stella-Jones also manufactures and distributes residential lumber and accessories to retailers for outdoor applications, as well as industrial products for construction and marine applications. The Company’s common shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

Except for historical information provided herein, this press release may contain information and statements of a forward-looking nature concerning the future performance of the Company. These statements are based on suppositions and uncertainties as well as on management’s best possible evaluation of future events. Such factors may include, without excluding other considerations, fluctuations in quarterly results, evolution in customer demand for the Company’s products and services, the impact of price pressures exerted by competitors, the ability of the Company to raise the capital required for acquisitions, and general market trends or economic changes. As a result, readers are advised that actual results may differ from expected results.

Note to readers: Condensed interim unaudited consolidated financial statements for the third quarter ended September 30, 2017 are available on Stella-Jones’ website at www.stella-jones.com