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Mar 28, 2020

Rayonier AM Q1 2020 Earnings Report

Rayonier AM's first quarter performance reflected a loss from continuing operations, but EBITDA improved due to lower costs and operational reliability, despite being disrupted by the COVID-19 outbreak.

Key Takeaways

Rayonier Advanced Materials reported a first-quarter loss from continuing operations of $25 million, comparable to the prior year. EBITDA improved by $17 million to $27 million, driven by lower costs from improved reliability. The company maintains solid liquidity at $145 million and expects second-quarter 2020 results to be well above the prior year.

Established safety protocols in response to COVID-19, including remote work and enhanced sanitation.

Operations were curtailed for products with significantly reduced demand, and annual maintenance outages were delayed.

Maintained a strong focus on cost reductions and streamlined capital expenditures.

EBITDA improved by $17 million driven by lower costs from improved reliability.

Total Revenue
$410M
Previous year: $483M
-15.1%
EPS
-$0.39
Previous year: -$0.52
-25.0%
Interest Expense
$15M
Gross Profit
$8.28M
Previous year: $17M
-51.3%
Cash and Equivalents
$43M
Previous year: $68M
-36.8%
Free Cash Flow
-$25.3M
Previous year: -$57.6M
-56.0%
Total Assets
$2.45B
Previous year: $2.66B
-7.7%

Rayonier AM

Rayonier AM

Rayonier AM Revenue by Segment

Forward Guidance

The Company expects varying impacts across its segments due to COVID-19. High Purity Cellulose sees modest impact, Forest Products manages production balancing lumber demand and wood chip availability, Paperboard experiences limited impact, and Pulp & Newsprint sees positive pricing momentum for high yield pulp but declining demand for newsprint.

Positive Outlook

  • Strength in food and pharmaceutical end-markets is mostly offsetting weakness in the automotive and certain industrial segments for High Purity Cellulose.
  • The Company has realized significant pricing momentum in absorbent materials (fluff pulp) markets with strong demand globally.
  • Remodeling activity remains robust as demand for stud lumber products from lumber retailers continues above expectations for Forest Products.
  • Paperboard profitability has benefited from lower input costs.
  • The Company is experiencing positive pricing momentum for its high yield pulp products with weakness in Europe being more than offset by increased demand in China.

Challenges Ahead

  • Customers are beginning to experience weakness in acetate industrial and textile applications.
  • Viscose pulp markets remain extremely weak due to tariffs and stay-at-home directives.
  • Lumber sales prices had fallen 35 percent below the prior six-week levels due to buyer reaction to the potential impact of COVID-19.
  • Demand for newsprint products has declined significantly, an estimated 12 percent from prior year and accelerating into April.
  • The outlook for the balance of the year is far from certain due to COVID-19.

Revenue & Expenses

Visualization of income flow from segment revenue to net income