UFP Industries Reports Record First Quarter Results

Strong sales growth and continued execution results in year-over-year increases in diluted EPS of 80 percent and quarterly dividend of 67 percent


GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., April 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- UFP Industries, Inc. (Nasdaq: UFPI) today announced record net sales of $2.49 billion and net earnings of $190 million for the first quarter of 2022. The company also reported record earnings per diluted share of $3.00, an 80 percent increase over the first quarter of 2021.

“We cannot give enough credit to the entire UFP team for the significant progress they have made to add more value to our products and services to better serve our customers. Our long streak of record-breaking results is evidence of their hard work and success,” said CEO Matthew J. Missad. “Our impressive results also demonstrate the advantage of our balanced business model, which operates in diverse markets, positioning us for success even when some markets face uncertainty and challenges. The company’s reorganization in 2020 has given us a deeper level of focus and expertise in our diverse markets. We are increasingly the supplier of choice because we are unmatched in providing the value-added products and services businesses need to lower their costs and reduce their labor needs. We remain optimistic as this transformation is still underway and will continue to benefit our customers and company in the years to come.”

First Quarter 2022 Highlights (comparisons on a year-over-year basis):

  • Net sales of $2.49 billion increased 36 percent due to a 26 percent increase in lumber prices, a 3 percent increase in organic unit sales, and a 7 percent increase in unit sales from acquisitions.
  • Earnings from operations of $259 million increased 88 percent. Acquisitions contributed $10 million to earnings.
  • An increase in SG&A of $70 million, or 47 percent, is largely attributable to increases in bonus and sales incentive compensation expenses ($46 million) resulting from increased profitability, increases in wages and benefits ($10 million), and recent acquisitions ($5 million). SG&A as a percentage of gross profit fell from 52 percent to 46 percent.
  • New product sales of $151 million increased 58 percent. This does not include new products sales of $80 million during the first quarter of 2021 that no longer meet our criteria of being a new product.
  • Adjusted EBITDA of $292.2 million increased 80 percent, and adjusted EBITDA margin improved by 280 basis points to 11.7 percent. Acquisitions contributed $12 million to adjusted EBITDA.

UFP Industries maintains a strong balance sheet, with $445 million of liquidity at the end of March 2022. The company’s diversified approach to capital allocation includes the following:

  • The company has targeted $175-225 million for capital expenditures in 2022, an increase over the $151 million spent in 2021.
  • In February 2022, the Board of Directors of UFP Industries authorized an increase in the company’s share repurchase program of up to 2.6 million shares, and the company purchased approximately 800,000 shares at an average price of $77.53 in March and April 2022 under its 10b51 share repurchase plan.
  • On April 20, 2022, the Board approved an increase in its quarterly dividend payment to $0.25 per share, an increase of 25 percent over the dividend paid on March 15, 2022, and 67 percent higher than the dividend paid on June 15, 2021. The dividend is payable on June 15, 2022, to shareholders of record on June 1, 2022.
  • The company continues to seek opportunities to invest in companies that represent a strong strategic fit and allow it to drive new growth, enhance its capabilities, and create more value for its customers and shareholders.

“We continue to invest in and build upon the successful transformation of UFP Industries into a value-added solutions provider to our customers, which has led to impressive operating results and returns on investment,” added Missad. “We’ll continue to invest our capital wisely for long-term growth and focus on opportunities that generate attractive returns. We anticipate continuing to use cash for share buybacks, as we think UFP Industries is a great investment, while also rewarding shareholders with increased dividends.”

By business segment, the company reported the following first quarter 2022 results:

UFP Retail Solutions

$993 million in net sales, up 31 percent over the first quarter of 2021 due to a 19 percent increase in selling prices, a 14 percent increase in unit sales from the acquisitions of Sunbelt Forest Products and Spartanburg Forest Products, and a 2 percent decline in organic unit sales. The company transferred certain concrete forming products from the retail segment to the construction segment during the quarter, which accounted for a 3 percent decline in organic unit sales.

An organic unit sales decline in several product lines is largely attributable to the return to more normal consumer buying habits in 2022 after the unusually high pandemic-related sales of pressure-treated lumber in the first quarter of 2021. Organic unit sales fell 7 percent for Deckorators, primarily because of a 13 percent drop in sales of decking accessories, while composite decking sales rose 5 percent. Organic unit sales also fell 2 percent for both Outdoor Essentials and ProWood but were up 7 percent for UFP-Edge due to expanded capacity and market share gains.

Gross profit for the retail segment rose 34 percent to $134 million, primarily due to acquisitions and increased sales of UFP-Edge. Gross profit margin rose to 13.5 percent in 2022 from 13.2 percent in 2021.

UFP Industrial

$611 million in net sales, up 36 percent from the first quarter of 2021 due to a 39 percent increase in selling prices, a 1 percent increase in unit sales from acquisitions, and a 4 percent decline in organic unit growth. The organic unit sales decline is attributable to an intentional change in product mix, as the segment focuses more on higher-margin products while being more selective in taking on new business.

Gross profit rose 87 percent to $150 million, primarily due to better pricing discipline that includes the impact of higher lumber, labor and transportation costs, and the value the company provides to customers.

UFP Construction

$786 million in net sales, up 41 percent over the first quarter of 2021, due to a 26 percent increase in selling prices, an 11 percent increase in organic unit growth, 3 percent growth from the transfer of certain concrete forming products from retail, and a 1 percent increase in unit sales from acquisitions. Unit sales increased to these markets: commercial (up 30 percent), manufactured housing (up 16 percent), concrete forming (up 13 percent), and residential (up 2 percent).

Gross profit increased 83 percent to $161 million in the first quarter, due to increased unit sales, the company’s ability to better leverage fixed costs, and better pricing discipline.

More than 75 percent of the company’s residential construction sales were in areas such as Texas and the Mid-Atlantic, Southeast and Mountain West regions, which have experienced significant population growth and are forecast to continue to grow. As such, our customers are better insulated from downturns in the housing market.

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 Thursday, April 21, 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 4287318. 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 April 23, 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 MONTHS ENDED
MARCH 2022/2021

  Quarter Period and Year to Date
(In thousands, except per share data)    20222021
NET SALES $2,489,313  100.0%$1,825,004  100.0%
          
COST OF GOODS SOLD    2,010,950  80.8  1,538,450  84.3 
          
GROSS PROFIT  478,363  19.2  286,554  15.7 
          
SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES  220,150  8.8  150,098  8.2 
OTHER (GAINS) LOSSES, NET  (812)   (1,031) (0.1)
          
EARNINGS FROM OPERATIONS  259,025  10.4  137,487  7.5 
          
OTHER INTEREST AND EXPENSE, NET  4,910  0.2  1,485  0.1 
          
EARNINGS BEFORE INCOME TAXES  254,115  10.2  136,002  7.5 
          
INCOME TAXES  60,984  2.4  31,751  1.7 
          
NET EARNINGS  193,131  7.8  104,251  5.7 
          
LESS NET EARNINGS ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTEREST  (3,428) (0.1) (940) (0.1)
          
NET EARNINGS ATTRIBUTABLE TO CONTROLLING INTEREST $189,703  7.6 $103,311  5.7 
          
EARNINGS PER SHARE - BASIC  $3.01   $1.67   
          
EARNINGS PER SHARE - DILUTED $3.00   $1.67   
          
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME $196,315   $102,055   
          
LESS COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTEREST  (4,377)   (414)  
          
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO CONTROLLING INTEREST $191,938   $101,641   
          
          


SUPPLEMENTAL DATA           
(In thousands) Quarter Period and Year to Date
Segment Classification    2022    2021 % change
Retail $993,232     $759,021  30.9%
Industrial  611,369      448,874  36.2%
Construction  786,471      559,530  40.6%
All Other  98,241      57,579  70.6%
Total Net Sales $2,489,313     $1,825,004  36.4%
            
  2022 % of Sales 2021 % of Sales
SG&A $220,150  8.8% $150,098  8.2%
            
SG&A as a Percentage of Gross Profit  46.0%     52.4%  
              

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS BY SEGMENT (UNAUDITED)
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED
MARCH 2022/2021

  Quarter Period and Year to Date
     2022
(In thousands) Retail Industrial Construction All Other Corporate Total
NET SALES $993,232  $611,369  $786,471  $95,567  $2,674  $2,489,313 
COST OF GOODS SOLD  858,895   461,815   625,059   64,024   1,157   2,010,950 
GROSS PROFIT  134,337   149,554   161,412   31,543   1,517   478,363 
SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES  62,668   67,231   82,337   16,625   (8,711)  220,150 
OTHER  272   (68)  257   103   (1,376)  (812)
EARNINGS FROM OPERATIONS $71,397  $82,391  $78,818  $14,815  $11,604  $259,025 
                      
                      


  Quarter Period and Year to Date
     2021
(In thousands) Retail Industrial Construction All Other Corporate Total
NET SALES $759,021  $448,874  $559,530  $55,577  $2,002  $1,825,004 
COST OF GOODS SOLD  658,548   368,549   470,846   38,026   2,481   1,538,450 
GROSS PROFIT  100,473   80,325   88,684   17,551   (479)  286,554 
SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES  47,100   40,113   55,545   10,421   (3,081)  150,098 
OTHER  (172)  (198)  121   (848)  66   (1,031)
EARNINGS FROM OPERATIONS $53,545  $40,410  $33,018  $7,978  $2,536  $137,487 
                    
                    

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)
MARCH 2022/2021

(In thousands)                
ASSETS     2022     2021     LIABILITIES AND EQUITY     2022     2021 
                 
CURRENT ASSETS        CURRENT LIABILITIES       
Cash and cash equivalents $73,783 $44,399  Cash Overdraft $61,711 $47,140 
Restricted cash  729  629  Accounts payable  425,956  299,398 
Investments  35,465  31,439  Accrued liabilities  372,640  264,384 
Accounts receivable  1,095,362  808,105  Current portion of debt  42,895  109 
Inventories  1,230,351  823,414          
Other current assets  36,727  29,072          
                 
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS  2,472,417  1,737,058  TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES  903,202  611,031 
                 
OTHER ASSETS  155,438  145,261          
INTANGIBLE ASSETS, NET  445,232  415,402  LONG-TERM DEBT AND FINANCE LEASE OBLIGATIONS  379,015  426,310 
         OTHER LIABILITIES  173,577  162,204 
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT,  NET  600,879  488,367  EQUITY  2,218,172  1,586,543 
                 
                 
TOTAL ASSETS $3,673,966 $2,786,088  TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY $3,673,966 $2,786,088 
                 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED
MARCH 2022/2021

(In thousands)  2022      2021  
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:       
Net earnings $193,131  $104,251  
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash from operating activities:       
        
Depreciation  21,842   18,733  
Amortization of intangibles  4,672   3,998  
Expense associated with share-based and grant compensation arrangements  6,931   2,981  
Deferred income taxes  101   142  
Unrealized loss (gain) on investment and other  1,601   (1,754) 
Equity in earnings of investee  515   630  
Net gain on sale and disposition of assets  (306)  (532) 
Changes in:       
Accounts receivable  (352,928)  (253,323) 
Inventories  (258,019)  (207,768) 
Accounts payable and cash overdraft  143,895   121,892  
Accrued liabilities and other  (9,722)  14,090  
NET CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES  (248,287)  (196,660) 
        
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:       
Purchases of property, plant, and equipment  (28,816)  (34,656) 
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment  1,207   5,062  
Acquisitions and purchase of noncontrolling interest, net of cash received  (24,571)  (261,133) 
Purchases of investments  (6,030)  (8,738) 
Proceeds from sale of investments  4,725   3,381  
Other  (2,995)  (414) 
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES  (56,480)  (296,498) 
        
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:       
Borrowings under revolving credit facilities  242,950   236,280  
Repayments under revolving credit facilities  (141,438)  (121,570) 
Repayments of debt  (199)    
Contingent consideration payment and other  (551)  (627) 
Proceeds from issuance of common stock  663   363  
Dividends paid to shareholders  (12,541)  (9,274) 
Distributions to noncontrolling interest  (2,053)  (2,914) 
Repurchase of common stock  (501)    
Other     (331) 
NET CASH FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES  86,330   101,927  
        
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash  1,726   (349) 
NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS  (216,711)  (391,580) 
        
ALL CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD  291,223   436,608  
        
ALL CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD $74,512  $45,028  
        
Reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash:       
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period $286,662  $436,507  
Restricted cash, beginning of period  4,561   101  
All cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period $291,223  $436,608  
        
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $73,783  $44,399  
Restricted cash, end of period  729   629  
All cash and cash equivalents, end of period $74,512  $45,028  
        
        

ADJUSTED EBITDA RECONCILIATION (UNAUDITED)
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED
MARCH 2022/2021

  Quarter Period and Year to Date
(In thousands) 2022 2021
Net earnings $193,131  $104,251 
Interest expense  3,302   3,151 
Interest and investment income  (509)  (542)
Income taxes  60,984   31,751 
Expenses associated with share-based compensation arrangements  6,931   2,981 
Net gain on disposition and impairment of assets  (306)  (532)
Equity in earnings of investee  515   630 
Unrealized loss (gain) on investments  1,602   (1,754)
Depreciation expense  21,842   18,733 
Amortization of intangibles  4,672   3,998 
Adjusted EBITDA $ 292,164  $ 162,667 
       
Adjusted EBITDA as a Percentage of Net Sales  11.7%  8.9%
         

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

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