Pure Cycle Reports First Quarter Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Pure Cycle reported a net income of $0.8 million on revenues of $4.9 million for Q1 2021. The company completed its initial development phase at Sky Ranch ahead of schedule, with 66% of lots purchased for a total of $9.9 million in tap fees. The next phase, featuring 895 lots, is set to break ground in January 2021, expected to increase lot prices by 30%. Despite a drop in lot sale revenue, efficiencies in operational expenses allowed them to remain profitable. Investments in water rights reached $55.2 million as of November 30, 2020, supporting future growth.

Positive

• Net income increased 265% year-over-year, from a loss of $0.5 million in Q1 2020 to a profit of $0.8 million in Q1 2021.
• Completed the first phase at Sky Ranch, leading to $9.9 million in tap fees.
• Next phase at Sky Ranch to include 895 lots, with 789 already contracted to builders, indicating strong future demand.
• 30% increase in lot prices for the upcoming phase reflects confidence in property value growth.
• Investments in water and water rights increased to $55.2 million, positioning the company for future revenue streams.

Negative

• Total revenues decreased 53% from $10.5 million in Q1 2020 to $4.9 million in Q1 2021, primarily due to timing of lot sales.
• Lot fee revenue fell dramatically by 72%, from $8.5 million in Q1 2020 to $2.4 million in Q1 2021, affecting overall revenue stability.
• Pending reimbursement of $21.1 million relies on external tax revenues or municipal bonds, introducing financial uncertainty.

"Fiscal 2020 was a transformational year for Pure Cycle and we are continuing to execute on our initiatives in fiscal 2021," commented Mark W. Harding, President of Pure Cycle. "We have delivered all of the finished lots in the first phase at Sky Ranch and will break ground on the next phase in January 2021. Our team is dedicated to executing on our business plans in both our land and water resource development segments with the same focus, attention to detail, and success as the initial phase, using lessons learned to increase efficiencies and produce solid financial results." continued Mr. Harding.

Highlights

Revenues of $4.9 million for the three months ended November 30, 2020

Initial development phase at Sky Ranch is nearing completion, with the remaining $1.3 million expected to be spent in fiscal 2021

337 or 66% of lots in the initial phase of Sky Ranch have purchased water and wastewater taps, totaling $9.9 million in tap fees to date

Next development phase scheduled to break ground January 2021, expected to include 895 lots, of which 789 have been contracted to home builders

DENVER, CO / ACCESSWIRE / January 4, 2021 / Pure Cycle Corporation (NASDAQ:PCYO) is reporting net income of $0.8 million for the three months ended November 30, 2020, on revenues of $4.9 million. As Pure Cycle continues to expand its land segment and water systems to provide services to customers, investments in water and water rights increased to $55.2 million as of November 30, 2020.

"As we step into the next phases at Sky Ranch, I want to reiterate that our 30% increase in lot prices in the next phase provides a testament to our strong performance in the initial Filing of Sky Ranch. We continue to carry forward more than $21 million of total reimbursable costs from the initial development and with our next phase at nearly twice the size of our initial phase, we will see a significant increase in tap fee revenues, annual water connections for our water and wastewater resource development segment, lot revenues, and public improvement reimbursables," commented Mr. Harding. "The strategic complement between our land development activities and our water and wastewater activities is unleashing the immense untapped value of our long-held assets." concluded Mr. Harding.

Financial Summary

Revenue - Metered water usage from municipal customers increased over the prior year due to the success of Sky Ranch. Total revenues decreased for Q1 2021 compared to Q1 2020, primarily due to timing of the recognition of lot sales as we completed the first development phase at Sky Ranch nearly two years ahead of schedule resulting in earlier recognition than anticipated. In addition, due to COVID-19 delaying the permitting process at the county, the timing of lot sales in the next phase of development were not lined up with the completion of the initial development phase as we anticipated, resulting in a decline in recognized lot sale revenue. But as we bring the next phase of development to the market, lot sale revenue will again be recognized throughout the development timeline.

Profitability - We remained profitable despite the drop in lot sale revenue noted above, which is a testament to our ability to scale operational expenses to match revenue, and our ability to operate our water system in an efficient manner. The results posted in Q1 2020 were also materially improved by the reimbursement of public improvements. Timing of reimbursements for the remaining $21.1 million in total reimbursable costs are dependent upon the Sky Ranch Districts and Community Authority Board having sufficient tax revenues or issuing municipal bonds to be able to repay Pure Cycle.

Working Capital - As of November 30, 2020, our working capital was $19.9 million, which includes cash of $21.3 million.

"We are actively growing our balance sheet and remain focused on using both our land and water assets in a cohesive and strategic manner," commented Kevin B. McNeill, Pure Cycle's CFO. "We strive to create value for our stakeholders through this growth in assets. As we move into the second development phase at Sky Ranch, our land development activities will increase as we deliver lots to our home builder customers." continued Mr. McNeill.

Operational Summary

Water and wastewater resource development - Our water and wastewater resource development segment continues to grow as houses are sold at Sky Ranch and Wild Pointe. We delivered 12.3 million gallons of water to Sky Ranch in the first fiscal quarter of 2021, compared to 373,000 gallons in the first fiscal quarter of 2020, which the increase is mainly due to new homes being occupied at Sky Ranch and the delivery of water to irrigate parks and outdoor landscaping at Sky Ranch. As homes continue selling at Sky Ranch, we continue to collect water and wastewater taps fees, in fact during the three months ended November 30, 2020, we sold thirty-five water and wastewater taps for $1.1 million. Additionally, we delivered 80.1 million gallons of water to an oil and gas customer for use in the hydraulic fracturing process which generated $1.2 million in revenue.

Land development - With our initial development phase at Sky Ranch being completed nearly two years ahead of schedule, and delays in the permitting process for the next phase due to COVID-19, our land development revenues and expenses decreased in the first fiscal quarter of 2021 compared to fiscal 2020. As of December 14, 2020, 339 homes out of 506 have been sold by our homebuilder customers, and they continue to sell around 27 homes per month (or nine per each of the three builders per month - which the next development phase will have four builders selling homes). We anticipate lot development activities related to the next development phase to increase dramatically as we break ground in January 2021.

The table below presents Pure Cycle's summarized unaudited consolidated financial position as of November 30, 2020 and August 31, 2020 (in thousands):

ASSETS:		November 30, 2020				August 31, 2020				Change				% Change
		(Unaudited)
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	21,303			$	21,797			$	(494	)			(2	%)
Land development inventories			-				481				(481	)			(100	%)
All other current assets			3,055				3,713				(658	)			(18	%)
Total current assets			24,358				25,991				(1,633	)			(6	%)
Investments in water and water systems, net			55,165				55,087				78				0	%
All other long-term assets			9,430				8,683				747				9	%
Total assets		$	88,953			$	89,761			$	(808	)			(1	%)
LIABILITIES:
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		$	2,364			$	2,783			$	(419	)			(15	%)
All other current liabilities			2,058				3,435				(1,377	)			(40	%)
Total current liabilities			4,422				6,218				(1,796	)			(29	%)
All long-term liabilities			1,556				1,499				57				4	%
Total liabilities			5,978				7,717				(1,739	)			(23	%)
Total shareholders' equity			82,975				82,044				931				1	%
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity		$	88,953			$	89,761			$	(808	)			(1	%)

The following table provides summarized unaudited consolidated results of operations for the three months ended November 30, 2020 and 2019 (in thousands):

		Three Months Ended November 30,
		2020				2019				Change				% Change
		(unaudited)
Revenues:
Metered water usage
Municipal water usage revenues		$	167			$	103			$	64				62	%
Oil and Gas water usage revenues			1,199				37				1,162				3,141	%
Wastewater treatment revenues			42				20				22				110	%
Lot fee revenue			2,356				8,542				(6,186	)			(72	%)
Water and wastewater tap revenue			1,083				1,672				(589	)			(35	%)
Other revenue			21				86				(65	)			(76	%)
Total revenues		$	4,868			$	10,460			$	(5,592	)			(53	%)
Expenses:
Water service operations		$	(545	)		$	(254	)		$	(291	)			115	%
Wastewater services operations			(92	)			(26	)			(66	)			254	%
Lot fee construction costs incurred			(1,719	)			(8,063	)			6,344				79	%
Other			(24	)			(24	)			-				0	%
Depreciation and depletion			(365	)			(219	)			(146	)			67	%
Total cost of revenues			(2,745	)			(8,586	)			5,841				68	%
Gross profit			2,123				1,874				249				13	%
General and administrative expenses			(1,086	)			(801	)			(285	)			36	%
Depreciation			(84	)			(85	)			1				1	%
Operating income			953				988				(35	)			(4	%)
Income from reimbursables			-				6,276				(6,276	)			(100	%)
Other income			152				386				(234	)			(61	%)
Net income before taxes			1,105				1,374				(269	)			(20	%)
Income tax expense			(260	)			(1,887	)			1,627				86	%
Net income		$	845			$	(513	)		$	1,358				265	%
Earnings per fully diluted share		$	0.04			$	0.24			$	(0.21	)			(85	%)

Earnings Call Information

Pure Cycle will host a conference call on Tuesday, January 5, 2021, at 4PM Eastern (2PM Mountain) to discuss the financial results and answer questions. Call details are presented below. For the earnings call, Pure Cycle will post a detailed slide presentation on its website (www.purecyclewater.com), which provides an overview of Pure Cycle and presents summary financial results for the three months ended November 30, 2020.

When:	4:00PM Eastern (2PM Mountain) on January 5, 2021
Call-in number:	1-877-407-8033 (no pass codes required)
International call-in number:	+1 201-689-8033 (no pass codes required)
Replay available until:	Tuesday, January 19, 2021, 4:00PM ET
Replay call in number:	1-877-481-4010, replay pass code: 39387
Event link:	https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/2247/39387

Company Information

Pure Cycle is a diversified land and water resource development company. At our core we are an innovative and vertically integrated wholesale water and wastewater service provider that, in addition to developing wholesale water and wastewater resources, also develops master planned communities to which we provide water and wastewater services.

Additional information, including our recent press releases and SEC filings are available at www.purecyclewater.com, or you may contact our President, Mark W. Harding, or our CFO, Kevin B. McNeill, at 303-292-3456 or at info@purecyclewater.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements are all statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will or may occur in the future, such as statements about the following: timing of development at Sky Ranch; and tap sales and home sales by our home builder customers. The words "anticipate," "likely," "may," "should," "could," "will," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "plan," "intend" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from projected results include, without limitation: home mortgage interest rates and other factors impacting the housing market and home sales; the risk factors discussed in Part I, Item 1A of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2020; and those factors discussed from time to time in our press releases, public statement and documents filed or furnished with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, we disclaim any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE: Pure Cycle Corporation

View source version on accesswire.com:
https://www.accesswire.com/623044/Pure-Cycle-Reports-First-Quarter-Results

FAQ

What were Pure Cycle's revenues for Q1 2021?

Pure Cycle reported revenues of $4.9 million for the three months ended November 30, 2020.

How did Pure Cycle's net income change in Q1 2021?

Net income increased by 265%, from a loss of $0.5 million in Q1 2020 to a profit of $0.8 million in Q1 2021.

What is the status of the Sky Ranch development?

The initial phase at Sky Ranch is completed, and the next phase, which includes 895 lots, is set to break ground in January 2021.

What impact did COVID-19 have on Pure Cycle's revenues?

COVID-19 delayed the permitting process for the next development phase, affecting timing and recognition of lot sales.

How much did Pure Cycle invest in water and water rights?

As of November 30, 2020, investments in water and water rights increased to $55.2 million.