UFP Industries Announces First Quarter Results

UFP Industries, Inc. announced first quarter 2024 results including net sales of $1.64 billion, net earnings attributable to controlling interests of $121 million, and earnings per diluted share of $1.96.

“We would like to credit our hard-working team and our balanced business model for allowing us to achieve first-quarter results that were in line with expectations,” said Chairman and CEO Matthew J. Missad. “As demand returns to more normalized levels, we are increasingly focused on improving our operational efficiencies by investing in automation and technology while consolidating operations where opportunities exist. We are also investing in growth through new products and by adding additional capacity in new regions. In addition, we will continue to leverage our strong cash flow and liquidity position to increase our share repurchase activity and support our quarterly dividend payouts. Our ability to invest in growth and return capital to shareholders supports our goal to create shareholder value during any economic environment.”

First Quarter 2024 Highlights (comparisons on a year-over-year basis)

• Net sales of $1.64 billion decreased 10 percent due to a 9 percent decrease in selling prices and a 1 percent decrease in organic unit sales.
• New product sales of $124 million were 7.6 percent of total sales compared to 7.4 percent in the first quarter of 2023.
• Adjusted EBITDA¹ of $181 million represents a decrease of 10 percent while adjusted EBITDA margin¹ declined 10 basis points to 11 percent.
• Net earnings attributable to controlling interests of $121 million represents a 4 percent decrease from last year and includes the favorable impact of a $9.7 million increase in an anticipated tax deduction associated with the company’s share-based compensation plan.

1	Represents a non-GAAP measurement; see the reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures and related explanations below.

Capital Allocation

UFP Industries maintains a strong balance sheet with $702.6 million in net surplus cash (surplus cash less interest-bearing debt and cash overdraft) on March 30, 2024, compared to $145.3 million in net surplus cash at the end of the first quarter of 2023. The company had approximately $2.2 billion of liquidity as of March 30, 2024. The company’s return-focused approach to capital allocation includes the following:

Acquisitions and Organic Growth

The company continues to pursue strategic acquisitions that drive long-term growth and margin improvements and offer strong returns. When acquisition targets are not available at valuations that allow it to meet or exceed its hurdle rates, the company will invest in organic growth. The company is targeting capital investments of up to $300 million in 2024, with approximately $100 million targeted for automation and technology upgrades and another $100 million for new facilities and increased capacity at existing facilities.

Dividend payments

On April 24, 2024, the Board of Directors for UFP Industries approved a quarterly dividend payment of $0.33 per share, a 32 percent increase over the quarterly dividend of $0.25 per share paid in June 2023. The dividend is payable on June 17, 2024, to shareholders of record on June 3, 2024.

Share repurchases

The Company is authorized to purchase up to $200 million worth of outstanding stock through July 31, 2024. From July 26, 2023, through the end of the first quarter of 2024, the company repurchased approximately 594,000 shares at an average price of $106.64 (a total of $63.3 million). During the first quarter of 2024, the company repurchased approximately 319,000 shares at an average share price of $114.74 (a total of $36.6 million), and in April repurchased approximately 352,000 shares at an average share price of $114.15 ($40.2 million). As of April 30, 2024, the company has $97 million remaining in its authorization.

By business segment, the company reported the following first quarter 2024 results:

UFP Retail Solutions

Net sales of $629 million, down 17 percent compared to the first quarter of 2023, attributable to a 6 percent decline in selling prices, a 3 percent decline due to the transfer of certain sales to other segments, and an 8 percent decline in organic unit sales. Unit sales of Deckorators decking and railing products increased 4 percent (net sales increased 10 percent), partially offsetting the 9 percent unit sales decline in ProWood. Overall, unit sales declined 9 percent with big box customers and 7 percent with independent retailers due to lower demand and more conservative inventory positioning. Gross profit for the retail segment increased 6 percent to $101 million, primarily due to operational improvements, SKU rationalization, and better inventory positioning and utilization of our managed inventory programs.

UFP Packaging

Net sales of $424 million, down 13 percent compared to the first quarter of 2023, due to an 11 percent decrease in selling prices and a 6 percent decline in organic unit sales, partially offset by a 4 percent increase due to the transfer of certain sales from the retail segment. A 9 percent increase in unit sales for PalletOne due to market share gains partially offset the 11 percent decline in unit sales for Structural Packaging, attributable to weaker demand. Gross profit for the packaging segment decreased 29 percent to $85 million due to competitive price pressure.

UFP Construction

Net sales of $518 million was relatively unchanged compared to the first quarter of 2023 as a 10 percent decrease in selling prices was offset by an 8 percent increase in organic unit sales and a 2 percent increase due to the transfer of certain sales from the retail segment. Organic unit sales increased in Site Built (up 18 percent) and Factory Built (up 13 percent), and the company is well-positioned to take advantage of any improvement in demand in these markets. Gross profit for the construction segment decreased 6 percent to $114 million due to competitive price pressure.

Short-Term Outlook

Lumber Market: We continue to anticipate lumber prices will remain at lower, more historical levels in 2024 based on current supply and demand dynamics.

End Market Demand: We continue to follow key indicators and forecasts in the markets we serve and have modified our earlier published outlook based on more recent macroeconomic data and reduced expectations for federal interest rate cuts in the latter half of 2024. We anticipate demand for our packaging and retail segments will be down mid-single digits and demand for our construction segment to be slightly up to slightly down in 2024 as compared to 2023. We expect the soft demand and competitive price environment will continue for most of the year, with year-over-year improvements in the back half of the year because of more favorable year-over-year comparisons.

For full results click here.

About UFP Industries, Inc.

UFP Industries, Inc. is a holding company whose operating subsidiaries – UFP Packaging, 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. UFP Industries is ranked #403 on the Fortune 500 and #149 on Industry Week’s list of America’s Largest Manufacturers. For more about UFP Industries, go to WWW.UFPI.COM.

Contact:

Dick Gauthier – VP of Investor Relations – (616) 365-1555

Source: UFP Industries, Inc.