BOISE, Idaho (News release) -- Boise Cascade Company reported fourth quarter net income of $68.9 million, or $1.78 per share, on sales of $1.6 billion. For the full year 2024, Boise Cascade reported net income of $376.4 million, or $9.57 per share, on sales of $6.7 billion. For 2023 comparative results, see the table below.

"As we close out 2024, I first want to express my gratitude to our associates as they have shown commitment to our values and steadfast support for our customers, suppliers, and each other. We had many accomplishments during the year, which included both divisions delivering solid financial results, additional growth in our distribution business, capital investments in support of our EWP growth strategy, and meaningful capital returns to our shareholders," stated Nate Jorgensen, CEO. "As we look forward to 2025, uncertainties surrounding the economy and residential construction activity will heavily influence the demand environment. However, our balance sheet remains strong, and we are well positioned to continue executing our reinvestment and growth strategies, while serving and supporting our customer and vendor partners."

Fourth Quarter and Year End 2024 Highlights

In fourth quarter 2024, total U.S. housing starts and single-family housing starts decreased 6% and 4%, respectively, compared to the same period in 2023. For the full year 2024, total housing starts decreased 4%, while single-family housing starts increased 7%, compared to 2023. Single-family housing starts are the key demand driver for our sales.

Wood Products

Wood Products' sales, including sales to Building Materials Distribution (BMD), decreased $30.0 million, or 7%, to $419.7 million for the three months ended December 31, 2024, from $449.7 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023. The decrease in sales was driven by lower sales prices for LVL and I-joists (collectively referred to as EWP) and plywood, as well as lower I-joist sales volumes. These decreases were offset partially by higher LVL and plywood sales volumes. Wood Products' segment income decreased $30.5 million to $33.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2024, from $64.1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023. The decrease in segment income was due primarily to lower EWP and plywood sales prices.

For the year ended December 31, 2024, sales, including sales to BMD, decreased $100.3 million, or 5%, to $1,832.3 million from $1,932.6 million in 2023. The decrease in sales was driven by lower sales prices for EWP, as well as lower plywood sales volumes and prices. Other sales related to lumber and residual byproducts also decreased. These decreases were offset partially by higher EWP sales volumes. Wood Products' segment income decreased $105.7 million to $231.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, from $337.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. The decrease in segment income was due primarily to lower EWP and plywood sales prices, as well as higher wood fiber and conversion costs. These decreases in segment income were offset partially by higher EWP sales volumes.

Comparative average net selling prices and sales volume changes for EWP and plywood are as follows:

Building Materials Distribution

BMD's sales decreased $53.8 million, or 4%, to $1,438.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2024, from $1,492.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023. Compared with the same quarter in the prior year, the overall decrease in sales was driven by a 2% decrease in both sales price and volume. By product line, commodity sales decreased 4%, general line product sales increased 1%, and EWP sales (substantially all of which are sourced through our Wood Products segment) decreased 11%. BMD segment income increased $0.2 million to $70.7 million for the three months ended December 31, 2024, from $70.5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023. General and administrative expenses decreased $3.6 million, offset by increased depreciation and amortization expense of $3.6 million. The decrease in general and administrative expenses was due primarily to acquisition-related expenses in the prior year quarter for the BROSCO acquisition. Gross margins were flat when compared to the same quarter in the prior year.

For the year ended December 31, 2024, sales decreased $12.2 million, or less than 1%, to $6,166.5 million from $6,178.7 million in 2023. The decrease in sales was driven by a sales price decrease of 3%, offset partially by a sales volume increase of 3%. Excluding the impact of the BROSCO acquisition on October 2, 2023, sales would have decreased by 2%. By product line, commodity sales decreased 5%, general line product sales increased 7%, and EWP sales decreased 4%. BMD segment income decreased $32.4 million to $303.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, from $335.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. The decline in segment income was driven by increased selling and distribution expenses and depreciation and amortization expense of $37.4 million and $17.2 million, respectively. These decreases in segment income were offset partially by a gross margin increase of $15.1 million, resulting primarily from improved gross margins on general line products, offset partially by lower gross margins on EWP and commodity products. In addition, general and administrative expenses decreased $6.7 million, due primarily to $5.1 million of acquisition-related expenses in the prior year for the BROSCO acquisition.

Balance Sheet and Liquidity

Boise Cascade ended fourth quarter 2024 with $713.3 million of cash and cash equivalents and $395.7 million of undrawn committed bank line availability, for total available liquidity of $1,109.0 million. The Company had $450.0 million of outstanding debt at December 31, 2024.

Capital Allocation

During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company used a combined $239.8 million of cash for capital spending and acquisitions. We expect capital expenditures in 2025, excluding potential acquisition spending, to total approximately $220 million to $240 million. Our 2025 capital expenditures range includes additional spending on multi-year investments to add I-joist production capabilities at our Thorsby, Alabama EWP mill, as well as the continuation of significant modernization projects at our Oakdale, Louisiana veneer and plywood mill. Our 2025 capital expenditures range also includes continued spending on the previously announced greenfield distribution centers in Texas and South Carolina in our BMD segment. This level of capital expenditures could increase or decrease as a result of several factors, including acquisitions, efforts to further accelerate organic growth, exercise of lease purchase options, our financial results, future economic conditions, availability of engineering and construction resources, and timing and availability of equipment purchases.

For the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company paid common stock dividends of $228.8 million in regular and special dividends, which was comprised of $0.82 per share in regular dividends and a $5.00 per share special dividend. On February 7, 2025, our board of directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.21 per share on our common stock, payable on March 19, 2025, to stockholders of record on February 24, 2025.

For the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company paid $194.9 million for the repurchase of approximately 1.5 million shares of our common stock. In January 2025, the Company repurchased an additional 250,000 shares of our common stock at a cost of approximately $30 million. Subsequent to these share repurchases, approximately 1.6 million shares were available for repurchase under our existing share repurchase program.

Outlook

Demand for the products we manufacture, as well as the products we purchase and distribute, is correlated with new residential construction, residential repair-and-remodeling activity, and light commercial construction. Residential construction, particularly new single-family construction, is the key demand driver for the products we manufacture and distribute. As reported by the U.S. Census Bureau, housing starts were 1.37 million in 2024. Current industry forecasts for U.S. housing starts are approximately 1.35 million in 2025. Single-family starts in 2024 outpaced 2023 levels by 7%, and are expected to remain at approximately 1.0 million, despite the affordability challenges consumers are facing in the current rate environment. Multi-family starts declined sharply in 2024 and are expected to continue to face headwinds in 2025 due to prohibitive capital costs for developers, combined with elevated levels of multi-family unit completions in 2023 and 2024. We expect 2025 to reflect modest growth in home improvement spending, as the age of U.S. housing stock, elevated levels of homeowner equity, and recent improvement in existing home sales will provide a favorable backdrop for repair-and-remodel spending. Ultimately, macroeconomic factors, the level and expectations for mortgage rates, home affordability, home equity levels, home size, levels of new and existing home inventory for sale, and other factors will influence the near-term demand environment for the products we manufacture and distribute.

As a manufacturer of certain commodity products, we have sales and profitability exposure to declines in commodity product prices and rising input costs. Our distribution business purchases and resells a broad mix of products with periods of increasing prices providing the opportunity for higher sales and increased margins, while declining price environments expose us to declines in sales and profitability. Future product pricing, particularly commodity products pricing and input costs, may be volatile in response to economic uncertainties, industry operating rates, supply-related disruptions, transportation constraints or disruptions, net import and export activity, inventory levels in various distribution channels, and seasonal demand patterns. In addition, changes in laws or government regulations, such as the imposition of tariffs, could impact our product pricing and input costs.