SEATTLE, Jan. 31, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Weyerhaeuser Company (NYSE: WY) today reported a fourth quarter net loss of $14 million, or two cents per diluted share, on net sales of $1.5 billion. This compares with a net loss of $93 million, or 12 cents per diluted share, on net sales of $1.6 billion for the same period last year and net earnings of $99 million for the third quarter of 2019.

View our earnings release and financial statements in a printer-friendly PDF.

Excluding net after-tax charges of $37 million for special items, the company reported fourth quarter net earnings of $23 million, or three cents per diluted share. This compares with net earnings before special items of $70 million for the same period last year and $59 million for the third quarter of 2019.

Adjusted EBITDA for the fourth quarter of 2019 was $260 million compared with $346 million for the same period last year and $308 million for the third quarter of 2019.

For the full year 2019, Weyerhaeuser reported a net loss of $76 million, or 10 cents per diluted share, on net sales of $6.6 billion. This compares with net earnings of $748 million on net sales of $7.5 billion for the full year 2018.

Full year 2019 includes net after-tax charges of $361 million for special items. Excluding these items, the company reported net earnings before special items of $285 million, or 39 cents per diluted share. This compares with net earnings before special items of $891 million for the full year 2018.

"Our 2019 performance reflects strong execution across all businesses despite significant headwinds from a sluggish housing market, global trade uncertainty, and persistently challenged commodity prices," said Devin W. Stockfish, president and chief executive officer. "Through our continued focus on operational excellence, we achieved record low cost performance in lumber and oriented strand board and delivered the highest EBITDA ever from our Real Estate & ENR business. Additionally, we reduced our pension obligations by $1.5 billion, strategically optimized a significant portion of our Northern timberlands portfolio, and returned over $1 billion of cash to shareholders. Entering 2020, we are encouraged by the recent pickup in U.S. housing activity, and we expect modest growth will drive improvement across our markets as the year progresses. We remain focused on creating value for shareholders through industry-leading operating performance and disciplined capital allocation."

TIMBERLANDS

Q4 2019 Performance – In the West, average sales realizations for domestic and Japan export logs were modestly higher and fee harvest volumes increased slightly. Western road and forestry spending was seasonally lower. In the South, average log sales realizations declined slightly and fee harvest volumes were lower.

Fourth quarter special items include a $48 million gain on the sale of the company's Michigan timberlands, which closed in November, and an $80 million noncash impairment charge related to the previously announced sale of our Montana timberlands. The Montana transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to be completed in the second quarter.

Q1 2020 Outlook – Weyerhaeuser expects first quarter earnings and Adjusted EBITDA will be slightly higher than the fourth quarter. In the West, the company anticipates higher domestic and export log sales volumes, modestly higher average domestic log sales realizations and lower road spending. In the South, the company expects seasonally lower fee harvest volumes and average log sales realizations comparable with the fourth quarter average.

REAL ESTATE, ENERGY & NATURAL RESOURCES

Q4 2019 Performance – Earnings and Adjusted EBITDA decreased due to fewer real estate sales and lower construction materials and energy royalties in our Energy & Natural Resources business. The segment reported full year Adjusted EBITDA of $274 million.

Q1 2020 Outlook – Weyerhaeuser anticipates first quarter earnings and Adjusted EBITDA will be significantly higher than the fourth quarter due to the timing of Real Estate transactions. The company expects full year 2020 Adjusted EBITDA for the segment will be approximately $255 million. This guidance incorporates the effect of fewer available real estate acres following the divestitures of our Montana and Michigan timberlands.

WOOD PRODUCTS

Q4 2019 Performance – Sales volumes declined seasonally and Western and Canadian log costs increased compared with the third quarter. Per unit manufacturing costs improved due to strong operating performance and ongoing operational excellence initiatives.

Average sales realizations for oriented strand board improved slightly. In lumber, although the benchmark Framing Lumber Composite price improved modestly in the fourth quarter, published average pricing for wide-width Southern yellow pine lumber decreased. Weyerhaeuser's average lumber sales realizations were comparable with the third quarter average, reflecting the company's regional and product mix.

Q1 2020 Outlook – Weyerhaeuser anticipates first quarter earnings and Adjusted EBITDA will be slightly higher than the fourth quarter, before any improvement in average sales realizations. The company expects seasonally improved operating rates and manufacturing costs for engineered wood products and slightly higher sales volumes for lumber and oriented strand board.

UNALLOCATED

Q4 2019 Performance – Unallocated corporate function and variable compensation expense increased due to seasonally higher spending and a year-to-date adjustment for incentive compensation. Fourth quarter results also include a small expense from elimination of intersegment profit in inventory and LIFO compared with income from this item in the third quarter.

Fourth quarter pretax special items consist of a $6 million noncash non-operating settlement charge related to the transfer of Canadian pension assets and liabilities through purchases of group annuity contracts.

ABOUT WEYERHAEUSER

Weyerhaeuser Company, one of the world's largest private owners of timberlands, began operations in 1900. We own or control approximately 11 million acres of timberlands in the U.S., and manage additional timberlands under long-term licenses in Canada. We manage these timberlands on a sustainable basis in compliance with internationally recognized forestry standards. We are also one of the largest manufacturers of wood products in America. Our company is a real estate investment trust. In 2019, we generated $6.6 billion in net sales and employed approximately 9,400 people who serve customers worldwide. We are listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index. Our common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol WY. Learn more at https://www.weyerhaeuser.com/.

EARNINGS CALL INFORMATION

Weyerhaeuser will hold a live conference call at 7 a.m. Pacific (10 a.m. Eastern) on January 31, 2020 to discuss fourth quarter results.

To access the live webcast and presentation online, go to the Investor Relations section on www.weyerhaeuser.com on January 31, 2020.

To join the conference call from within North America, dial 855-223-0757 (access code: 2195447) at least 15 minutes prior to the call. Those calling from outside North America should dial 574-990-1206 (access code: 2195447). Replays will be available for two weeks at 855-859-2056 (access code: 2195447) from within North America and at 404-537-3406 (access code: 2195447) from outside North America.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains statements concerning the company's future results and performance that are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including with respect to the following: our earnings, earnings before special items, Adjusted EBITDA; average log sale realizations; log sale volumes; and fee harvest volumes in our timber business; sales volumes as well as manufacturing operating costs and operating rates for Wood Products. These statements generally are identified by words such as "believe," "project," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "strategy," "future," "opportunity," "plan," "may," "should," "will," "would," and expressions such as "will be," "will continue," "will likely result," and similar words and expressions. These statements are based on our current expectations and assumptions and are not guarantees of future performance. The realization of our expectations and the accuracy of our assumptions are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to:

• the effect of general economic conditions, including employment rates, interest rate levels, housing starts, availability of financing for home mortgages and strength of the U.S. dollar;
• market demand for our products, including market demand for our timberland properties with higher and better uses, which is related to, among other factors, the strength of the various U.S. business segments and U.S. and international economic conditions;
• changes in currency exchange rates, particularly the relative value of the U.S. dollar to the Japanese yen, the Chinese yuan and the Canadian dollar, and the relative value of the euro to the yen;
• restrictions on international trade and tariffs imposed on imports or exports;
• the availability and cost of shipping and transportation;
• economic activity in Asia, especially Japan and China;
• performance of our manufacturing operations, including maintenance and capital requirements;
• potential disruptions in our manufacturing operations;
• the level of competition from domestic and foreign producers;
• raw material availability and prices;
• the effect of weather;
• changes in global or regional climate conditions and governmental response to such changes;
• the risk of loss from fires, floods, windstorms, hurricanes, pest infestation and other natural disasters;
• energy prices;
• our operational excellence initiatives;
• the successful and timely execution and integration of our strategic acquisitions, including our ability to realize expected benefits and synergies, and the successful and timely execution of our strategic divestitures, each of which is subject to a number of risks and conditions beyond our control including, but not limited to, timing and required regulatory approvals;
• transportation and labor availability and costs;
• federal tax policies;
• the effect of forestry, land use, environmental and other governmental regulations;
• legal proceedings;
• performance of pension fund investments and related derivatives;
• the effect of timing of retirements and changes in the market price of our common stock on charges for share-based compensation;
• the accuracy of our estimates of costs and expenses related to contingent liabilities;
• changes in accounting principles; and
• other matters described under "Risk Factors" in our annual reports on Form 10-K, as well as those set forth from time to time in our other public statements and other reports and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events, or otherwise.

For more information contact:
Analysts: Beth Baum, 206- 539-3907
Media: Nancy Thompson, 919-861-0342

RECONCILIATION OF ADJUSTED EBITDA TO NET EARNINGS (LOSS)

We reconcile Adjusted EBITDA to net earnings (loss) for the consolidated company and to operating income (loss) for the business segments, as those are the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measures for each.

The table below reconciles Adjusted EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2019:

The table below reconciles Adjusted EBITDA for the year ended December 31, 2018:

The table below reconciles Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter ended December 31, 2019:

The table below reconciles Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter ended September 30, 2019:

The table below reconciles Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter ended December 31, 2018:

RECONCILIATION OF NET EARNINGS BEFORE SPECIAL ITEMS TO NET EARNINGS (LOSS)

We reconcile net earnings before special items to net earnings and net earnings per diluted share before special items to net earnings per diluted share, as those are the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measures. We believe the measures provide meaningful supplemental information for investors about our operating performance, better facilitate period to period comparisons, and are widely used by analysts, lenders, rating agencies and other interested parties.

The table below reconciles net earnings before special items to net earnings (loss):

The table below reconciles net earnings per diluted share before special items to net earnings (loss) per diluted share: