UFP Industries Reports Record Earnings for Fourth Quarter and Year

Rhea-AI Summary

UFP Industries (Nasdaq: UFPI) reported record net sales of $5.15 billion and EPS of $4.00 for fiscal 2020, marking a 37% increase in earnings per share year-over-year. In Q4 2020, net sales reached $1.39 billion, a 40% increase compared to Q4 2019. New product sales surged 46%, driven by the Deckorators Voyage decking line. The company’s SG&A expenses improved significantly, reflecting operational efficiencies. UFP maintains robust liquidity of approximately $485 million and plans to increase its quarterly dividend by 20% to 15 cents per share, payable on March 15, 2021.

Positive

• Record net sales of $5.15 billion for fiscal 2020, a 17% increase year-over-year.
• EPS of $4.00 represents a 37% increase from the previous year.
• Q4 2020 net sales of $1.39 billion, up 40% year-over-year.
• New product sales increased 46%, contributing to gross profit growth.
• Improved SG&A expenses as a percentage of gross profit, down to 46% from 67%.
• Strong liquidity position with $485 million at the end of January 2021.
• 20% increase in quarterly dividend to 15 cents per share, effective March 15, 2021.

Negative

• Asset impairment charges of $12 million in Q4 2020.
• Commercial construction unit reported an operating loss of $25 million, exclusive of impairment charges.

Value-added products and operational efficiencies help drive performance

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Feb. 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- UFP Industries, Inc. (Nasdaq: UFPI) today announced record net sales and net earnings for the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2020. The company, while surpassing the $5 billion mark in annual net sales for the first time, also reported record EPS of $4.00 per diluted share for fiscal 2020, a 37 percent increase over the previous year. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020, net sales were $1.39 billion, a 40 percent increase over the fourth quarter of 2019, while EPS was $1.02 per diluted share, a 67 percent increase over the fourth quarter of 2019.

“Despite the disruptions that marked 2020, our reorganized structure allowed our employees to remain focused on bringing new value-added products to market faster and using capital more efficiently, while supporting more rapid growth at a lower incremental cost,” said CEO Matthew J. Missad. “I am most impressed by the perseverance of our hourly production employees who safely served our customers. Their commitment to our company enabled us to reward our hourly employees with more than $25 million in bonuses and additional benefits for 2020. I want to express my deepest gratitude for their dedication.”

New product sales for the fourth quarter increased 46 percent over the same period of 2019, led by the company’s new Deckorators Voyage decking line and Dimensions project panels business. These improvements in sales mix contributed to an increase in the company’s gross profit per unit, as gross profit increased by 19 percent, exceeding the company’s 15 percent increase in unit sales growth. Additionally, the company’s SG&A expense as a percentage of gross profit improved to 46 percent compared to 67 percent in 2019, due to its continued efforts to focus on leveraging fixed costs and creating efficiencies as it grows organically and through acquisitions. Certain expenses, such as travel, decreased due to the impact of the pandemic and the company’s increased use of equity awards as part of its annual incentive compensation program.

“I’m pleased to see our strategies and execution are continuing to drive improvements in profit per unit, especially in a quarter like this when lumber market volatility was a formidable challenge,” said Missad. “As usual, our people were up to the challenge.”

Fourth Quarter 2020 Highlights (comparisons on a year-over-year basis):

• Net sales of $1.39 billion increased 40 percent due to a 15 percent increase in unit sales and 25 percent increase in lumber prices
• Earnings from operations of $88.2 million increased 70 percent despite $12 million in asset impairment charges and other costs taken during the quarter (detailed in the Business Segment section below). The company’s use of share grants as part of its annual incentive program resulted in a $20 million decrease in bonus expense in the fourth quarter of 2020 compared to 2019. Excluding impairment charges and the decrease in bonus expense, earnings from operations increased 55 percent.
• New product sales of $131.8 million increased 46 percent
  

Fiscal 2020 Highlights (comparisons on a year-over-year basis):

• Net sales of $5.15 billion increased 17 percent due to a unit sales increase of 6 percent and an increase in lumber prices of 11 percent
• Earnings from operations of $345.8 million increased 41 percent
• Adjusted EBITDA of $431.4 million increased 36 percent, exceeding the company’s unit sales increase of 6 percent
• New product sales were $539 million, up 26 percent

UFP Industries maintains a strong balance sheet and had liquidity of approximately $485 million at the end of January 2021. As previously announced, the company was able to utilize its strong cash position to complete the $259 million acquisition of PalletOne and its wholly owned subsidiary, Sunbelt Forest Products (Sunbelt), at the beginning of fiscal 2021. PalletOne operates 17 pallet manufacturing facilities in the U.S. and expands UFP’s geographic reach, capacity and ability to grow sales of machine-built pallets. Sunbelt operates five pressure-treating facilities in the Southeastern U.S. The companies had combined 2020 sales of $698 million. In addition, on February 22, 2021, UFP announced an agreement for Sunbelt to purchase Spartanburg Forest Products and its affiliates, further expanding its pressure-treating capacity. Also in February 2021, the company increased its revolving long-term credit facility by $175 million to $550 million.

As a result of the company’s strong balance sheet and confidence in future earnings and cash flow, on January 28, 2021, UFP’s Board of Directors voted to increase its quarterly dividend by 20 percent to 15 cents a share, payable on March 15, 2021, to shareholders of record on March 1, 2021.

By business segment, the Company reported the following 2020 results:

UFP Retail Solutions

• Fourth Quarter: $505.2 million in net sales, up 76 percent over the fourth quarter of 2019 due to a 38 percent increase in unit sales and a 38 percent increase in selling prices. All business units experienced double-digit unit sales increases: Deckorators (up 80 percent), Outdoor Essentials (up 64 percent), Home & Decor (up 38 percent), UFP Edge (up 27 percent), and ProWood (up 25 percent).
• Full Year: $2.17 billion in net sales, up 45 percent from 2019, due to a 25 percent increase in unit sales and a 20 percent increase in selling prices. All business units experienced double-digit unit sales increases: Home & Decor (up 49 percent), Outdoor Essentials (up 28 percent), ProWood (up 25 percent), Deckorators (up 20 percent) and UFP Edge (up 14 percent). Total E-Commerce sales for the year, including sales in other business units, were $129 million, up 96 percent over 2019.

UFP Industrial

• Fourth Quarter: $309.1 million in net sales, up 25 percent from the fourth quarter of 2019; unit sales increased 10 percent and selling prices increased 15 percent. Organic growth accounted for 6 percent of the unit sales growth; acquisitions accounted for 4 percent.
• Full Year: $1.07 billion in net sales, down 1 percent from the previous year. Unit sales fell 6 percent due to pandemic-related shutdowns, while selling prices increased 5 percent. UFP Industrial’s sales improved throughout the year as pandemic-related restrictions eased, and the fourth quarter was a sales record for the segment.

UFP Construction

• Fourth Quarter: $508.3 million in net sales, up 24 percent over the fourth quarter of 2019, due entirely to an increase in selling prices. Unit sales to residential and manufactured housing customers rose 16 percent and 11 percent, respectively. Unit sales to commercial customers fell 30 percent, with an organic unit sales decrease of 35 percent offset by a 5 percent unit sales increase from acquisitions.
• Full Year: $1.70 billion in net sales, up 4 percent from the previous year due to a 10 percent increase in selling prices offset by a 6 percent decrease in unit sales. Unit sales to manufactured housing customers rose 2 percent for the year; unit sales to site built and commercial customers fell 2 percent and 23 percent, respectively.
• Annual net sales in the Commercial Construction business unit declined by approximately $70 million in 2020 from 2019, and the unit reported an annual operating loss, exclusive of impairment charges, totaling $25 million in 2020. As a result, the company is consolidating production, eliminating less profitable products and services, and executing a plan to drive more efficiencies in the business unit. These actions and lower future demand expectations resulted in an impairment in the value of certain leased assets and goodwill associated with the business unit of approximately $15 million, which was recorded in the fourth quarter.
  

“Our Commercial Construction business unit was one of the hardest hit by the lockdowns related to the pandemic,” said Missad. “While this unit reacted quickly to provide a variety of protective structures and signage for COVID-related needs, many core commercial construction markets, such as hospitality, financial services, and branded retail markets, slowed dramatically. Market conditions necessitated that we take significant actions to align capacity with current demand, and as a result of our actions, we believe the business unit will return to profitability in 2021.”

CONFERENCE CALL

UFP Industries will conduct a conference call to discuss information included in this news release and related matters at 4:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, February 24, 2021. The call will be hosted by CEO Matthew J. Missad and CFO Michael Cole, and will be available for analysts and institutional investors domestically at 866-518-4547 and internationally at 213-660-0879. Use conference pass code 1799103. The conference call will be available simultaneously and in its entirety to all interested investors and news media through a webcast at http://www.ufpi.com. A replay of the call will be available through February 26, 2021, at 855-859-2056, 404-537-3406 or 800-585-5367.

UFP Industries, Inc.

UFP Industries is a holding company whose operating subsidiaries – UFP Industrial, UFP Construction and UFP Retail Solutions – manufacture, distribute and sell a wide variety of value-added products used in residential and commercial construction, packaging and other industrial applications worldwide. Founded in 1955, the company is headquartered in Grand Rapids, Mich., with affiliates in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. For more about UFP Industries, go to www.ufpi.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act, as amended, that are based on management’s beliefs, assumptions, current expectations, estimates and projections about the markets we serve, the economy and the Company itself. Words like “anticipates,” “believes,” “confident,” “estimates,” “expects,” “forecasts,” “likely,” “plans,” “projects,” “should,” variations of such words, and similar expressions identify such forward-looking statements. These statements do not guarantee future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict with regard to timing, extent, likelihood and degree of occurrence. The Company does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect facts, circumstances, events, or assumptions that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made. Actual results could differ materially from those included in such forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainty. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements are the following: fluctuations in the price of lumber; adverse or unusual weather conditions; adverse economic conditions in the markets we serve; government regulations, particularly involving environmental and safety regulations; and our ability to make successful business acquisitions. Certain of these risk factors as well as other risk factors and additional information are included in the Company's reports on Form 10-K and 10-Q on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Non-GAAP Financial Information
This release includes certain financial information not prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Because not all companies calculate non-GAAP financial information identically (or at all), the presentations herein may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures used by other companies. Management considers Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure, an alternative performance measure which may provide useful information to investors.

Net earnings
Net earnings refers to net earnings attributable to controlling interest unless specifically noted.

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (UNAUDITED)
FOR THE THREE AND TWELVE MONTHS ENDED
DECEMBER 2020/2019
		Quarter Period												Year to Date
(In thousands, except per share data)		2020						2019						2020						2019
NET SALES		$	1,393,708			100.0	%	$	998,041			100.0	%	$	5,153,998			100.0	%	$	4,416,009			100.0	%
COST OF GOODS SOLD			1,206,653			86.6			840,786			84.2			4,353,702			84.5			3,730,491			84.5
GROSS PROFIT			187,055			13.4			157,255			15.8			800,296			15.5			685,518			15.5
SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES			86,826			6.2			104,764			10.5			444,596			8.6			439,047			9.9
ASSET IMPAIRMENT CHARGES AND OTHER COSTS, NET (1)			11,995			0.9			735			0.1			9,874			0.2			1,565			—
EARNINGS FROM OPERATIONS			88,234			6.3			51,756			5.2			345,826			6.7			244,906			5.5
OTHER EXPENSE, NET			174			—			150			—			4,843			0.1			4,232			0.1
EARNINGS BEFORE INCOME TAXES			88,060			6.3			51,606			5.2			340,983			6.6			240,674			5.5
INCOME TAXES			23,303			1.7			12,930			1.3			87,101			1.7			58,270			1.3
NET EARNINGS			64,757			4.6			38,676			3.9			253,882			4.9			182,404			4.1
LESS NET EARNINGS ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTEREST			(1,805	)		(0.1	)		(940	)		(0.1	)		(7,104	)		(0.1	)		(2,754	)		(0.1	)
NET EARNINGS ATTRIBUTABLE TO CONTROLLING INTEREST		$	62,952			4.5		$	37,736			3.8		$	246,778			4.8		$	179,650			4.1
EARNINGS PER SHARE - BASIC		$	1.02					$	0.61					$	4.00					$	2.91
EARNINGS PER SHARE - DILUTED		$	1.02					$	0.61					$	4.00					$	2.91
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME			74,754						39,545						259,849						183,917
LESS COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTEREST			(6,622	)					(1,383	)					(9,976	)					(3,218	)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO CONTROLLING INTEREST		$	68,132					$	38,162					$	249,873					$	180,699
(1) Includes asset impairment charges totaling $15 million offset by a $4 million adjustment to decrease certain earnout liabilities, each recorded in the fourth quarter of 2020.

SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
(In thousands)			Quarter Period																	Year to Date
Segment Classification			2020									2019				%				2020									2019				%
Retail			$	505,249								$	286,380			76.4	%			$	2,167,122								$	1,498,710			44.6	%
Industrial				309,071									247,965			24.6	%				1,072,117									1,085,636			-1.2	%
Construction				508,254									411,689			23.5	%				1,695,683									1,637,156			3.6	%
All Other				71,134									52,007			36.8	%				219,076									194,507			12.6	%
Total Net Sales			$	1,393,708								$	998,041			39.6	%			$	5,153,998								$	4,416,009			16.7	%
			2020				% of Sales					2019				% of Sales				2020				% of Sales					2019				% of Sales
SG&A			$	86,826			6.2			%		$	104,764			10.5	%			$	444,596			8.6			%		$	439,047			9.9	%
SG&A as a Percentage of Gross Profit				46.4%									66.6	%							55.6	%								64.0	%

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)
DECEMBER 2020/2019
(In thousands)
ASSETS			2020			2019		LIABILITIES AND EQUITY			2020			2019
CURRENT ASSETS								CURRENT LIABILITIES
Cash and cash equivalents		$	436,507		$	168,336		Accounts payable		$	211,518		$	142,479
Restricted cash			101			330		Accrued liabilities			252,131			208,747
Investments			24,308			18,527		Current portion of debt			100			2,816
Accounts receivable			470,504			364,027
Inventories			567,294			486,874
Other current assets			39,648			54,978
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS			1,538,362			1,093,072		TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES			463,749			354,042
OTHER ASSETS			117,521			124,028
INTANGIBLE ASSETS, NET			331,846			285,203		LONG-TERM DEBT AND CAPITAL LEASE OBLIGATIONS			311,607			160,867
								OTHER LIABILITIES			146,383			116,835
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, NET			417,162			387,174		EQUITY			1,483,152			1,257,733
TOTAL ASSETS		$	2,404,891		$	1,889,477		TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY		$	2,404,891		$	1,889,477

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
FOR THE TWELVE MONTHS ENDED
DECEMBER 2020/2019
(In thousands)			2020			2019
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net earnings		$	253,882		$	182,404
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation			63,964			60,494
Amortization of intangibles			8,716			6,325
Expense associated with share-based and grant compensation arrangements			4,034			4,007
Deferred income taxes			1,857			7,176
Unrealized gain on investment and other			(2,076	)		(2,523	)
Net loss on disposition and impairment of assets			1,470			1,565
Goodwill impairment			11,485			—
Gain from reduction of estimated earnout liability			(4,134	)		—
Changes in:
Accounts receivable			(87,552	)		(16,872	)
Inventories			(76,022	)		73,120
Accounts payable and cash overdraft			62,405			(24,132	)
Accrued liabilities and other			98,448			57,727
NET CASH FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES			336,477			349,291
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of property, plant, and equipment			(89,182	)		(84,933	)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment			2,922			1,777
Acquisitions and purchase of noncontrolling interest, net of cash received			(65,255	)		(39,122	)
Investment in life insurance contracts			—			(15,253	)
Purchases of investments			(28,054	)		(13,352	)
Proceeds from sale of investments			24,805			9,828
Other			46			(982	)
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES			(154,718	)		(142,037	)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Borrowings under revolving credit facilities			6,862			422,057
Repayments under revolving credit facilities			(6,498	)		(460,537	)
Repayments of debt			(5,787	)		(3,136	)
Issuance of long-term debt			150,000			—
Proceeds from issuance of common stock			1,395			1,093
Dividends paid to shareholders			(30,669	)		(24,549	)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest			(932	)		(2,216	)
Repurchase of common stock			(29,212	)		—
Other			62			20
NET CASH FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES			85,221			(67,268	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash			962			482
NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS			267,942			140,468
ALL CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD			168,666			28,198
ALL CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD		$	436,608		$	168,666
Reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash:
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		$	168,336		$	27,316
Restricted cash, beginning of period			330			882
All cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		$	168,666		$	28,198
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period		$	436,507		$	168,336
Restricted cash, end of period			101			330
All cash and cash equivalents, end of period		$	436,608		$	168,666

ADJUSTED EBITDA RECONCILIATION (UNAUDITED)
FOR THE THREE AND TWELVE MONTHS ENDED
DECEMBER 2020/2019
		Quarter Period							Year to Date
(In thousands)		2020				2019			2020				2019
Net earnings		$	64,757			$	38,676		$	253,882			$	182,404
Interest expense			3,020				1,933			9,311				8,700
Interest and investment income			(851	)			(871	)		(2,392	)			(1,945	)
Income taxes			23,303				12,930			87,101				58,270
Expenses associated with share-based compensation arrangements			882				902			4,034				4,007
Net loss on disposition and impairment of assets			2,132				735			1,470				1,565
Goodwill impairment			11,485				—			11,485				—
Gain from reduction of estimated earnout liability			(4,134	)			—			(4,134	)			—
Unrealized gain on investments			(1,994	)			(912	)		(2,076	)			(2,523	)
Depreciation expense			16,738				15,842			63,964				60,494
Amortization of intangibles			2,853				1,635			8,716				6,325
Adjusted EBITDA		$	118,191			$	70,870		$	431,361			$	317,297

---------------AT THE COMPANY---------------

Dick Gauthier
VP, Business Outreach
(616) 365-1555

FAQ

What are the key financial highlights from UFPI's Q4 2020 earnings report?

UFP Industries reported net sales of $1.39 billion in Q4 2020, a 40% increase year-over-year, and an EPS of $1.02, a 67% rise compared to the same quarter in 2019.

How did UFPI perform financially in fiscal year 2020?

For fiscal 2020, UFP Industries achieved record net sales of $5.15 billion, with a 17% increase, and an EPS of $4.00, reflecting a 37% improvement from the previous year.

What new product sales did UFPI report in Q4 2020?

UFP Industries experienced a 46% increase in new product sales in Q4 2020, totaling $131.8 million, primarily from the Deckorators Voyage decking line.

When is UFPI's increased dividend going into effect?

UFP Industries' Board of Directors approved a 20% increase in its quarterly dividend to 15 cents per share, payable on March 15, 2021, to shareholders of record on March 1, 2021.