UFP Industries Reports Record Earnings for Fourth Quarter and Year


-- Unit sales increase 25 percent and diluted EPS increases 117 percent in Q4; board increases share buyback authorization

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Feb. 16, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- UFP Industries, Inc. (Nasdaq: UFPI) today announced record net sales and net earnings for the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2021. The company, which passed $8.6 billion in net sales for fiscal 2021, also reported record earnings per diluted share of $8.59, a 115 percent increase over the previous year. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021, net sales were $2 billion, a 45 percent increase over the fourth quarter of 2020, while earnings per diluted share were $2.21, a 117 percent increase over the fourth quarter of 2020.

“Our new market-focused organizational structure is helping us to better identify growth opportunities, and we are more strategically investing our capital. These investments, coupled with the addition of new value-added products and very strong demand, have resulted in unprecedented growth,” said CEO Matthew J. Missad. “We are grateful for our hard-working teammates who overcame what we hope are once-in-a-lifetime COVID-19 disruptions, as well as normal production and delivery challenges, to meet the demand and serve our customers. We are delighted to recognize the contributions of our hourly and production employees during this challenging period by paying them more than $50 million in additional bonuses and other compensation for 2021.”

UFP Industries made four acquisitions during the fourth quarter: Shelter Products (distribution in U.S.); Boxpack Packaging (Australia), a 70 percent equity stake in Ficus Pax (industrial packaging in India), and Advantage Label & Packaging (U.S.). Altogether, UFP Industries acquired nine companies, including PalletOne and Spartanburg Forest Products, during fiscal 2021. Together, they contributed 20 percent of the unit sales growth during the fourth quarter and 24 percent during fiscal 2021.

Fourth Quarter 2021 Highlights (comparisons on a year-over-year basis):

  • Net sales of $2.02 billion increased 45 percent due to a 5 percent increase in organic unit sales, a 20 percent increase in unit sales from acquisitions, and a 20 percent increase in lumber prices.
  • Earnings from operations of $195 million increased 121 percent. Acquisitions contributed $19 million to earnings.
  • An increase in SG&A of $91 million, or 105 percent, is largely attributable to bonus and sales incentive compensation expenses resulting from increased profitability (up $67 million), recent acquisitions ($10 million), increases in wages and benefits ($4 million), and travel and lodging (up $3 million) as employees resumed more normal business travel activity. SG&A as a percentage of gross profit rose from 46 percent to 48 percent.
  • New product sales of $189.1 million increased 42 percent.
  • Adjusted EBITDA of $223.3 million increased 89 percent, and adjusted EBITDA margin expanded by 260 basis points to 11.1 percent. Acquisitions contributed $25 million to adjusted EBITDA.

Fiscal 2021 Highlights (comparisons on a year-over-year basis):

  • Net sales of $8.64 billion increased 68 percent due to a 4 percent increase in organic unit sales, a 24 percent increase in unit sales from acquisitions, and a 40 percent increase in lumber prices.
  • Earnings from operations of $737.6 million increased 113 percent. Acquisitions contributed $50 million to earnings.
  • An increase in SG&A of $238 million or 54 percent is largely attributable to increases in bonus and sales incentive compensation expenses due to increased profitability (up $147 million), recent acquisitions ($50 million), and increases in wages and benefits ($19 million) and travel and lodging ($5 million). SG&A as a percentage of gross profit fell from 56 percent to 49 percent.
  • New product sales were $842 million, up 56 percent.
  • Adjusted EBITDA of $834.9 million increased 93 percent, and adjusted EBITDA margin expanded by 130 basis points to 9.7 percent. Acquisitions contributed $71 million to adjusted EBITDA.

UFP Industries maintains a strong balance sheet with just over $50 million in net debt and $805 million of liquidity at the end of December 2021. As a result of the cash flow generated in 2021 and the growth opportunities ahead, the company is increasing its capital expenditure target to a range of $175-225 million in 2022, an increase over the $151 million spent in 2021. This growth reflects the enhanced speed and focus created by the new organizational structure as well as the recognition that certain organic growth has a better return on investment than some acquisition growth opportunities, as pricing for acquisitions remains elevated. The investments include additional capacity for Deckorators and UFP-Edge; new locations that expand the geographic reach of the company’s site-built operations; automation, robotics and technology; and upgrades to existing facilities that will help strengthen UFP’s position as an employer of choice. In order to be approved, each expansionary capital project must meet the company’s financial targets.

The company has also increased capital available for share repurchases. The company’s board authorized an increase in its share repurchase program to a total of up to 2.6 million shares. The company may utilize this authorization to repurchase shares to offset dilution resulting from long-term, share-based incentive compensation programs.

“The volatility in both the lumber market and the economy during the past few years has only validated the strength of our balanced business model and new market-focused structure,” said Missad. “More businesses are turning to UFP because of our growing portfolio and geographic reach, as well as our reliability as a supplier.”

By business segment, the Company reported the following 2021 results:

UFP Retail Solutions

Fourth Quarter: $703.9 million in net sales, up 39 percent over the fourth quarter of 2020 due to a 34 percent increase in unit sales from the acquisitions of Sunbelt Forest Products and Spartanburg Forest Products, a 2 percent increase in organic unit sales, and a 3 percent increase in selling prices. Unit sales increased for UFP-Edge (up 9 percent), and ProWood (up 1 percent). Unit sales fell for Deckorators (down 7 percent) and Outdoor Essentials (down 4 percent). The decline in Deckorators’ unit sales is attributable to decking accessories (down 21 percent). Unit sales for Deckorators decking rose 11 percent. Gross profit for the retail segment rose 6 percent to $64 million. Gross profit margin fell from 12 percent to 9 percent mostly due to falling lumber prices early in the quarter and a change in product mix resulting from acquisitions whose product mix is more heavily weighted toward treated lumber.

Full Year: $3.42 billion in net sales, up 58 percent from 2020 due to a 35 percent increase in unit sales from acquisitions, a 27 percent increase in selling prices, and a 4 percent decline in organic unit sales. Unit sales rose for UFP Edge (up 17 percent), Deckorators (up 9 percent), and Outdoor Essentials (up 5 percent). Unit sales fell for ProWood (down 14 percent). Gross profit rose 1.6 percent to $298 million, well below the segment’s 31 percent increase in unit sales. Gross profit was unfavorably impacted by falling lumber prices from June through October and the treated lumber sales of acquisitions.

UFP Industrial

Fourth Quarter: $514.9 million in net sales, up 67 percent from the fourth quarter of 2020 due to a 42 percent increase in selling prices, a 29 percent increase in unit sales from the acquisition of PalletOne, and a 4 percent decline in organic unit growth. Organic unit growth was adversely impacted by capacity and labor constraints, long lead times for equipment, and the company’s strategy of being more selective in taking on new business to focus on higher-margin products. Gross profit rose 152 percent to $123 million, exceeding unit sales growth of 29 percent, due to acquisitions, an increasing proportion of value-added products, and value-based pricing discipline that includes the impact of higher lumber, labor and transportation costs.

Full Year: $2.15 billion in net sales, up 100 percent from the previous year due to a 60 percent increase in selling prices, a 35 percent increase in unit sales from the acquisition of PalletOne, and a 5 percent increase in organic unit sales. Gross profit rose 163 percent to $465 million, exceeding unit sales growth of 40 percent, due to value-based pricing discipline and leveraging fixed costs, as well as a greater proportion of value-added products.

UFP Construction

Fourth Quarter: $677.3 million in net sales, up 33 percent over the fourth quarter of 2020, due to an 18 percent increase in selling prices, a 13 percent increase in organic unit growth, and a 2 percent increase in unit sales from acquisitions. Unit sales increased to these markets: commercial (up 38 percent), manufactured housing (up 20 percent) and residential (up 6 percent). Gross profit increased 98 percent to $154 million in the fourth quarter, due to better pricing discipline and the company’s ability to better leverage fixed costs.

Full Year: $2.70 billion in net sales, up 59 percent from the previous year due to a 42 percent increase in selling prices, a 14 percent increase in organic unit sales, and a 3 percent increase in unit sales from acquisitions. Unit sales increased to these markets: manufactured housing (up 25 percent), residential (up 21 percent), and commercial (up 16 percent). For the year, gross profit increased 103 percent to $531 million, exceeding unit sales growth of 17 percent, due to better pricing discipline and the company’s ability to better leverage fixed costs.

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 16, 2022. 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 4878996. 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 18, 2022, at 855-859-2056 or 404-537-3406.

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.


CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (UNAUDITED)
FOR THE THREE AND TWELVE MONTHS ENDED
DECEMBER 2021/2020

 Quarter PeriodYear to Date
(In thousands, except per share data)2021202020212020
NET SALES$2,016,805   100.0 $1,393,708   100.0 $8,636,134   100.0 $5,153,998   100.0 %
                     
COST OF GOODS SOLD  1,645,241  81.6   1,206,653  86.6   7,229,167  83.7   4,353,702  84.5  
                     
GROSS PROFIT 371,564  18.4   187,055  13.4   1,406,967  16.3   800,296  15.5  
                     
SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES 178,149  8.8   86,826  6.2   682,253  7.9   444,596  8.6  
OTHER (GAINS) LOSSES, NET (1,592) (0.1)  11,995  0.9   (12,840) (0.1)  9,874  0.2  
                     
EARNINGS FROM OPERATIONS 195,007  9.7   88,234  6.3   737,554  8.5   345,826  6.7  
                     
OTHER INTEREST AND EXPENSE, NET 1,938  0.1   174     11,218  0.1   4,843  0.1  
                     
EARNINGS BEFORE INCOME TAXES 193,069  9.6   88,060  6.3   726,336  8.4   340,983  6.6  
                     
INCOME TAXES 46,063  2.3   23,303  1.7   173,972  2.0   87,101  1.7  
                     
NET EARNINGS 147,006  7.3   64,757  4.6   552,364  6.4   253,882  4.9  
                     
LESS NET EARNINGS ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTEREST (9,100) (0.5)  (1,805) (0.1)  (16,724) (0.2)  (7,104) (0.1) 
                     
NET EARNINGS ATTRIBUTABLE TO CONTROLLING INTEREST$137,906  6.8  $62,952  4.5  $535,640  6.2  $246,778  4.8  
                     
EARNINGS PER SHARE - BASIC $2.21    $1.02    $8.61    $4.00    
                     
EARNINGS PER SHARE - DILUTED$2.21    $1.02    $8.59    $4.00    
                     
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME 143,210     74,754     547,068     259,849    
                     
LESS COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTEREST (7,431)    (6,622)    (15,039)    (9,976)   
                     
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO CONTROLLING INTEREST$135,779    $68,132    $532,029    $249,873    
                     


SUPPLEMENTAL DATA                      
(In thousands) Quarter Period Year to Date
Segment Classification    2021    2020 % change    2021       2020 % change
Retail $703,897     $505,249  39.3% $3,418,337     $2,167,122  57.7%
Industrial  514,854      309,071  66.6%  2,148,142      1,072,117  100.4%
Construction  677,326      508,254  33.3%  2,698,434      1,695,684  59.1%
All Other  120,728      71,134  69.7%  371,221      219,075  69.4%
Total Net Sales $2,016,805     $1,393,708  44.7% $8,636,134     $5,153,998  67.6%
                       
  2021 % of Sales 2020 % of Sales 2021 % of Sales 2020 % of Sales
SG&A $178,149  8.8% $86,826  6.2% $682,253  7.9% $444,596  8.6%
                       
SG&A as a Percentage of Gross Profit  47.9%     46.4%    48.5%     55.6%  


CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS BY SEGMENT (UNAUDITED)
FOR THE THREE AND TWELVE MONTHS ENDED
DECEMBER 2021/2020

 Quarter Period
 2021
(In thousands)Retail Industrial Construction All Other Corporate Total
NET SALES$703,897  $514,854  $677,326  $118,738  $1,990  $2,016,805 
COST OF GOODS SOLD 639,827   391,365   523,334   76,846   13,869   1,645,241 
GROSS PROFIT 64,070   123,489   153,992   41,892   (11,879)  371,564 
SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES 24,658   49,455   74,148   12,182   17,706   178,149 
OTHER 88   (560)  (56)  (533)  (531)  (1,592)
EARNINGS FROM OPERATIONS$39,324  $74,594  $79,900  $30,243  $(29,054) $195,007 
                   


 Quarter Period
 2020
(In thousands)Retail Industrial Construction All Other Corporate Total
NET SALES$505,249  $309,071  $508,254  $68,591  $2,543  $1,393,708 
COST OF GOODS SOLD 444,886   260,042   430,537   45,876   25,312   1,206,653 
GROSS PROFIT 60,363   49,029   77,717   22,715   (22,769)  187,055 
SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES 27,045   23,484   45,418   6,243   (15,364)  86,826 
OTHER 90   (3,996)  13,835   2,313   (247)  11,995 
EARNINGS FROM OPERATIONS$33,228  $29,541  $18,464  $14,159  $(7,158) $88,234 
                      


 Year to Date
 2021
(In thousands)Retail Industrial Construction All Other Corporate Total
NET SALES$3,418,337  $2,148,142  $2,698,434  $362,473  $8,748  $8,636,134 
COST OF GOODS SOLD 3,120,634   1,683,466   2,167,405   237,696   19,966   7,229,167 
GROSS PROFIT 297,703   464,676   531,029   124,777   (11,218)  1,406,967 
SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES 169,033   200,194   267,292   52,204   (6,470)  682,253 
OTHER (94)  (456)  (493)  (2,237)  (9,560)  (12,840)
EARNINGS FROM OPERATIONS$128,764  $264,938  $264,230  $74,810  $4,812  $737,554 
                  


 Year to Date
 2020
(In thousands)Retail Industrial Construction All Other Corporate Total
NET SALES$2,167,122  $1,072,117  $1,695,684  $217,094  $1,981  $5,153,998 
COST OF GOODS SOLD 1,874,114   895,466   1,433,469   147,117   3,536   4,353,702 
GROSS PROFIT 293,008   176,651   262,215   69,977   (1,555)  800,296 
SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES 137,641   97,146   179,516   34,471   (4,178)  444,596 
OTHER 56   (3,873)  13,690   775   (774)  9,874 
EARNINGS FROM OPERATIONS$155,311  $83,378  $69,009  $34,731  $3,397  $345,826 
                      


CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)
DECEMBER 2021/2020

(In thousands)              
ASSETS2021 2020    LIABILITIES AND EQUITY2021  2020
               
CURRENT ASSETS       CURRENT LIABILITIES      
Cash and cash equivalents$286,662 $436,507  Cash Overdraft$17,030 $ 
Restricted cash 4,561  101  Accounts payable 319,125  211,518 
Investments 36,495  24,308  Accrued liabilities 397,204  252,131 
Accounts receivable 737,805  470,504  Current portion of debt 42,683  100 
Inventories 963,320  567,294         
Other current assets 44,633  39,648         
               
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS 2,073,476  1,538,362  TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES 776,042  463,749 
               
OTHER ASSETS 151,351  117,521         
INTANGIBLE ASSETS, NET 431,424  331,846  LONG-TERM DEBT AND FINANCE LEASE OBLIGATIONS 277,567  311,607 
        OTHER LIABILITIES 175,093  146,383 
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, NET 589,020  417,162  EQUITY 2,016,569  1,483,152 
               
               
TOTAL ASSETS$3,245,271 $2,404,891  TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY$3,245,271 $2,404,891 


CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
FOR THE TWELVE MONTHS ENDED
DECEMBER 2021/2020

(In thousands)20212020
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:    
Net earnings$552,364 $253,882 
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash from operating activities:    
     
Depreciation 84,184  63,964 
Amortization of intangibles 13,948  8,716 
Expense associated with share-based and grant compensation arrangements 11,224  4,034 
Deferred income taxes 5,653  1,857 
Unrealized gain on investment and other (4,118) (2,076)
Equity in earnings of investee 3,902   
Net (gain) loss on sale and disposition of assets (11,992) 1,470 
Goodwill impairment   11,485 
Gain from reduction of estimated earnout liability   (4,134)
Changes in:    
Accounts receivable (85,439) (87,552)
Inventories (260,301) (76,022)
Accounts payable and cash overdraft 78,060  62,405 
Accrued liabilities and other 124,992  98,448 
NET CASH FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES 512,477  336,477 
     
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:    
Purchases of property, plant, and equipment (151,166) (89,182)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment 29,973  2,922 
Acquisitions and purchase of noncontrolling interest, net of cash received (475,960) (65,255)
Purchases of investments (23,797) (28,054)
Proceeds from sale of investments 14,882  24,805 
Other (5,119) 46 
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES (611,187) (154,718)
     
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:    
Borrowings under revolving credit facilities 892,072  6,862 
Repayments under revolving credit facilities (888,695) (6,498)
Contingent consideration payment and other (3,176) (5,787)
Issuance of long-term debt   150,000 
Proceeds from issuance of common stock 2,116  1,395 
Dividends paid to shareholders (40,209) (30,669)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest (6,750) (932)
Repurchase of common stock   (29,212)
Other (364) 62 
NET CASH (USED IN) FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES (45,006) 85,221 
     
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash (1,669) 962 
NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS (145,385) 267,942 
     
ALL CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD 436,608  168,666 
     
ALL CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD$291,223 $436,608 
     
Reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash:    
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period$436,507 $168,336 
Restricted cash, beginning of period 101  330 
All cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period$436,608 $168,666 
     
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period$286,662 $436,507 
Restricted cash, end of period 4,561  101 
All cash and cash equivalents, end of period$291,223 $436,608 
     


ADJUSTED EBITDA RECONCILIATION (UNAUDITED)
FOR THE THREE AND TWELVE MONTHS ENDED
DECEMBER 2021/2020

 Quarter PeriodYear to Date
(In thousands)2021 20202021 2020
Net earnings$147,006  $64,757 $552,364  $253,882 
Interest expense 3,331   3,020  13,814   9,311 
Interest and investment income (521)  (851) (2,380)  (2,392)
Income taxes 46,063   23,303  173,972   87,101 
Expenses associated with share-based compensation arrangements 2,780   882  11,224   4,034 
Net gain on disposition and impairment of assets (1,510)  2,132  (11,992)  1,470 
Goodwill impairment    11,485     11,485 
Equity in earnings of investee 1,491     3,902    
Gain from reduction of estimated earnout liability    (4,134)    (4,134)
Unrealized loss (gain) on investments (2,362)  (1,994) (4,118)  (2,076)
Depreciation expense 22,443   16,738  84,184   63,964 
Amortization of intangibles 4,579   2,853  13,948   8,716 
Adjusted EBITDA$223,300  $118,191 $834,918  $431,361 
           
Adjusted EBITDA as a Percentage of Net Sales 11.1%  8.5% 9.7%  8.4%


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

Dick Gauthier
VP, Communications and Investor Relations
(616) 365-1555