Louisiana-Pacific Corp: Form 10-Q for the period ended Mar 31, 2024

This Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations should be read in conjunction with our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and related Notes and other financial information appearing elsewhere in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q. The following discussion includes forward-looking statements that are based on the beliefs of our management, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to our management. We encourage you to review the risks and uncertainties described in the sections titled "Risk Factors" and "Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" included in our 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K and in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q. These risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements contained in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q or implied by past results and trends. Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for any period in the future, and our interim results are not necessarily indicative of the results we expect for the full fiscal year or any other period.

General

We are a leading provider of high-performance building solutions that meet the demands of builders, remodelers, and homeowners worldwide. We have leveraged our expertise serving the new home construction, repair and remodeling, and outdoor structures markets to become an industry leader known for innovation, quality, and reliability. Our manufacturing facilities are located in the U.S., Canada, Chile, and Brazil. To serve these markets, we operate in three segments: Siding, OSB, and LPSA.

Demand for Building Products

Demand for our products correlates positively with new home construction and repair and remodeling activity in North America, which historically has been characterized by significant cyclicality. The U.S. Census Bureau reported on April 16, 2024, that actual single-family housing starts were 27% higher for the three months ended March 31, 2024 as compared to the same period in 2023. Actual multi-family housing starts for the three months ended March 31, 2024 were about 37% lower as compared to the same period in 2023. Repair and remodeling activity is difficult to reasonably measure, but many indications suggest that repair and remodeling activity is moderating and may have exhibited year-over-year declines.

Future economic conditions in the United States and the demand for homes are uncertain due to inflationary impacts on the economy, including interest rates, employment levels, consumer confidence, and financial markets, among other things. The potential effect of these factors on our future operational and financial performance is uncertain. As a result, our past performance may not be indicative of future results.

Supply and Demand for Siding

Our Siding Solutions products are specialty building materials and are subject to competition from various siding technologies, including vinyl, stucco, wood, fiber cement, brick, and others. We believe we are the largest manufacturer in the engineered wood siding market in North America and South America. We have consistently grown our Siding segment above the underlying market growth rates. Our Siding segment is generally less sensitive to new housing market cyclicality since a majority of its demand comes from other markets, including off-site structure producers and repair and remodel. Our growth in this market depends upon the continued displacement of vinyl, wood, fiber cement, stucco, bricks, and other alternatives, our product innovation and our technological expertise in wood and wood composites to address the needs of our customers.

Supply and Demand for OSB

OSB is a commodity product, and it is subject to competition from manufacturers worldwide. Product supply is influenced primarily by fluctuations in available manufacturing capacity and imports. The ratio of overall OSB demand to capacity generally drives price. We cannot predict whether the prices of our OSB products will remain at current levels or increase or decrease in the future.

Critical Accounting Policies and Significant Estimates

Note 1 of the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in our 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K is a discussion of our significant accounting policies and significant accounting estimates and judgments. Throughout the preparation of the financial statements, we employ significant judgments in the application of accounting principles and methods. These judgments are primarily related to the assumptions used to arrive at various estimates.

There have been no changes in the application of principles, methods, and assumptions used to determine our significant estimates since December 31, 2023.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Other Key Performance Indicators

In evaluating our business, we utilize non-GAAP financial measures that fall within the meaning of SEC Regulation G and Regulation S-K Item 10(e), which we believe provide users of the financial information with additional meaningful comparison to prior reported results. Non-GAAP financial measures do not have standardized definitions and are not defined by U.S. GAAP. In this quarterly report on Form 10-Q, we disclose income attributed to LP before interest expense, provision for income taxes, depreciation and amortization, and excluding stock-based compensation expense, loss on impairment attributed to LP, business exit charges, product-line discontinuance charges, other operating credits and charges, net, loss on early debt extinguishment, investment income, pension settlement charges, and other non-operating items, as Adjusted EBITDA (Adjusted EBITDA), which is a non-GAAP financial measure. We have included Adjusted EBITDA in this report because we view it as an important supplemental measure of our performance and believe that it is frequently used by interested persons in the evaluation of companies that have different financing and capital structures and/or tax rates. We also disclose income attributed to LP, excluding loss on impairment attributed to LP, business exit charges, product-line discontinuance charges, interest expense outside of normal operations, other operating credits and charges, net, loss on early debt extinguishment, gain (loss) on acquisition, and pension settlement charges, and adjusting for a normalized tax rate, as Adjusted Income (Adjusted Income). We also disclose Adjusted Diluted EPS, which is calculated as Adjusted Income divided by diluted shares outstanding. We believe that Adjusted Diluted EPS and Adjusted Income are useful measures for evaluating our ability to generate earnings and that providing these measures should allow interested persons to more readily compare the earnings for past and future periods. Reconciliations of Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Income and Adjusted Diluted EPS to their most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure, Net income, are presented below.

Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Income, and Adjusted Diluted EPS are not substitutes for the U.S. GAAP measures of net income, income attributed to LP, and income attributed to LP per diluted share or for any other U.S. GAAP measures of operating performance. It should be noted that other companies may present similarly titled measures differently, and therefore, as presented by us, these measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Income, and Adjusted Diluted EPS have material limitations as performance measures because they exclude items that are actually incurred or experienced in connection with the operation of our business.

The following table reconciles net income to Adjusted EBITDA (dollar amounts in millions):

20

The following table provides the reconciliation of net income to Adjusted Income (dollar amounts in millions, except per share amounts):

Key Performance Indicators

In addition, management monitors certain key performance indicators to evaluate our business performance, which include our Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) and our sales volume relative to housing starts, as provided by reports from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The following tables present summary data relating to: (i) housing starts within the United States, (ii) our sales volumes, and (iii) our OEE performance. We consider the following items to be key performance indicators for our business because LP’s management uses these metrics to evaluate our business and trends in our industry, measure our performance, and make strategic decisions. We believe that the key performance indicators presented may provide additional perspective and insights when analyzing our core operating performance. These key performance indicators should not be considered superior to, as a substitute for, or as an alternative to, and should be considered in conjunction with, the financial measures that were prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. These measures may not be comparable to similarly titled performance indicators used by other companies.

We monitor housing starts, which is a leading external indicator of residential construction in the United States that correlates with the demand for many of our products. We believe that housing starts is a useful measure for evaluating our results and that providing this measure should allow interested persons to more readily compare our sales volume for past and future periods to an external indicator of product demand. Other companies may present housing start data differently, and therefore, as presented by us, our housing start data may not be comparable to similarly titled performance indicators reported by other companies.

The following table sets forth housing starts for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 (in thousands):

1 Actual U.S. housing starts data, in thousands, reported by the U.S. Census Bureau as published through April 16, 2024.

We monitor sales volumes for our products in our Siding, OSB, and LPSA segments, which we define as the number of units of our products sold within the applicable period. Evaluating sales volume by product type helps us identify and address changes in product demand, broad market factors that may affect our performance, and opportunities for future growth. It should be noted that other companies may present sales volume data differently, and therefore, as presented by us, sales volume data may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. We believe that sales volumes can be a useful measure for evaluating and understanding our business.

The following table sets forth sales volumes for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023:

We measure OEE of each of our mills to track improvements in the utilization and productivity of our manufacturing assets. OEE is a composite metric that considers asset uptime (adjusted for capital project downtime and similar events), production rates, and finished product quality. We believe that when used in conjunction with other metrics, OEE can be a useful measure for evaluating our ability to generate profits, and that providing this measure should allow interested persons to monitor operational improvements. We use a best-in-class target across all LP sites that allows us to optimize capital investments, focus maintenance and reliability improvements, and improve overall equipment efficiency. It should be noted that other companies may present OEE data differently, and therefore, as presented by us, OEE data may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.

OEE for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 for each of our segments is listed below:

Results of Operations

Our results of operations for each of our segments are discussed below, as are the results of operations for the “other” category, which comprises other products that are not individually significant. See "Note 14 - Selected Segment Data" of the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in "Item 1 - Financial Statements" of this quarterly report on Form 10-Q for further information regarding our segments.

Siding

The Siding segment serves diverse end markets with a broad product offering, including LP SmartSide Trim & Siding, LP SmartSide ExpertFinish Trim & Siding, LP BuilderSeries Lap Siding, and LP Outdoor Building

Solutions (collectively referred to as Siding Solutions). Our Siding Solutions products consist of a full line of engineered wood siding, trim, soffit, and fascia.

Segment net sales and Adjusted EBITDA for this segment were as follows (dollar amounts in millions):

Net sales in this segment by product line were as follows (dollar amounts in millions):

Percent changes in average net sales prices and unit shipments for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the corresponding period in 2023, were as follows:

The year-over-year net sales increase for the Siding segment of $30 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 reflects increased sales volumes and list price increases.

First quarter 2024 Adjusted EBITDA increased year-over-year by $23 million, including the impact of the net sales increase and a $10 million decrease in costs, including freight, raw materials, and labor, partially offset by a $7 million increase in mill overhead.

OSB

The OSB segment manufactures and distributes OSB structural panel products, including the innovative value-added OSB product portfolio known as LP Structural Solutions (which includes LP TechShield Radiant Barrier, LP WeatherLogic Air & Water Barrier, LP Legacy Premium Sub-Flooring, LP NovaCore Thermal Insulated Sheathing, LP FlameBlock Fire-Rated Sheathing, and LP TopNotch 350 Durable Sub-Flooring). OSB is manufactured using wood strands arranged in layers and bonded with resins.

Segment net sales and Adjusted EBITDA for this segment were as follows (dollar amounts in millions):

23

Net sales in this segment by product line were as follows (dollar amounts in millions):

Percent changes in average net sales prices and unit shipments for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the corresponding period in 2023, were as follows:

The year-over-year net sales increase for the OSB segment of $124 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 reflects a $62 million increase in OSB prices and a $56 million increase in sales volumes.

First quarter 2024 Adjusted EBITDA increased year-over-year by $86 million, reflecting the impact of higher OSB prices and sales volumes, partially offset by higher mill-related costs.

LPSA

Our LPSA segment manufactures and distributes LP OSB structural panel and Siding Solutions products in South America and certain export markets. This segment also sells and distributes a variety of companion products to support the region’s transition to wood frame construction. The LPSA segment carries out manufacturing operations in Chile and Brazil and operates sales offices in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Paraguay, and Peru.

Segment net sales and Adjusted EBITDA for this segment were as follows (dollar amounts in millions):

24

Net sales in this segment by product were as follows (dollar amounts in millions):

Percent changes in average net sales price and unit shipments for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the corresponding period in 2023, were as follows:

The year-over-year net sales decrease for the LPSA segment of $8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 reflects lower average selling prices and unfavorable currency fluctuations, partially offset by higher sales volumes.

First quarter 2024 Adjusted EBITDA decreased year-over-year by $2 million, reflecting lower average selling prices and unfavorable currency fluctuations, partially offset by lower raw material costs.

Other

Our other products segment includes other minor products, services, and closed operations, which do not qualify as discontinued operations. During the second quarter of 2023, we announced the shutdown of our off-site framing operation Entekra Holdings LLC (Entekra). Other net sales were $3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, as compared to $8 million for the corresponding period in 2023. The year-over-year decrease in other net sales for the three months ended March 31, 2024 was primarily due to lower Entekra sales volumes as a result of the aforementioned shutdown. Adjusted EBITDA was $(1) million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, as compared to $(9) million for the corresponding period in 2023.

Selling, General, and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general, and administrative expenses were $69 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to $66 million for the corresponding period in 2023. The year-over-year increase in Selling, general, and administrative expenses was driven by higher employee compensation.

Income Taxes

We recognized an estimated tax provision of $41 million and $1 million in the three months ended March 31, 2024, and 2023, respectively. The total effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 was 28% and 5%, respectively. Each quarter the income tax accrual is adjusted to the latest estimate and the difference from the previously accrued year-to-date balance is recorded in the current quarter. For 2024, the primary differences between the U.S. statutory rate of 21% and the effective rate related to state taxes and inflationary tax adjustments in certain South American entities. For 2023 the primary differences between the U.S. statutory rate of 21% and the effective rate related to benefits from stock-based compensation and inflationary tax adjustments in certain South American entities, partially offset by expenses from state taxes and executive compensation deduction limitations.

Legal and Environmental Matters

For a discussion of legal and environmental matters involving us and the potential impact thereof on our financial position, results of operations, and cash flows, see Items 3, 7, and 8 in our 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K and "Note 9 - Commitments and Contingencies" of the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in "Item 1 - Financial Statements" of this quarterly report on Form 10-Q.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Overview

Our principal sources of liquidity are existing cash and investment balances, cash generated by our operations, and our ability to borrow under such credit facilities as we may have in effect from time to time. We assess our liquidity in terms of our ability to generate cash to fund our short- and long-term cash requirements. As such, we project our anticipated cash requirements as well as cash flows generated from operating activities to meet those needs. We anticipate long-term cash uses may also include strategic acquisitions. On a long-term basis, we expect to rely on our credit facility for any long-term funding not provided by operating cash flows. We may also, from time to time, issue and sell equity, debt, or hybrid securities or engage in other capital market transactions.

Our principal uses of liquidity are paying the costs and expenses associated with our operations, servicing outstanding indebtedness, paying dividends, and making capital expenditures. We may also, from time to time, prepay or repurchase outstanding indebtedness or shares or acquire assets or businesses that are complementary to our operations. Any such repurchases may be commenced, suspended, discontinued, or resumed, and the method or methods of effecting any such repurchases may be changed, at any time, or from time to time, without prior notice.

We expect to fund our capital expenditures over at least the next 12 months through cash on hand, cash generated from operations, and available borrowing under our Amended Credit Facility, as necessary.

Operating Activities

During the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, cash provided by operations was $105 million and $(119) million, respectively. The increase in cash provided by operations was primarily related to higher net income, partially offset by changes in working capital.

Investing Activities

During the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, cash used in investing activities was $41 million and $113 million, respectively.

Capital expenditures for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, were $41 million and $114 million, respectively. The year-over-year decrease was primarily related to siding conversion expenditures in the prior year. Capital expenditures for the three months ended March 31, 2024 were primarily related to growth and sustaining maintenance projects.

Financing Activities

During the three months ended March 31, 2024, cash used in financing activities was $39 million. During this period we used $13 million to repurchase shares of LP common stock under the 2022 Share Repurchase Program. Additionally, we paid cash dividends of $19 million and used $6 million to repurchase stock from employees in connection with income tax withholding requirements associated with our employee stock-based compensation plans.

During the three months ended March 31, 2023, cash used in financing activities was $27 million. During this period we paid cash dividends of $17 million and used $10 million to repurchase stock from employees in connection with income tax withholding requirements associated with our employee stock-based compensation plans.

Credit Facility and Letter of Credit Facility

In November 2022, LP entered into the Credit Agreement with American AgCredit, PCA, as administrative agent and sole lead arranger, and CoBank, ACB, as letter of credit issuer, relating to the Amended Credit Facility. The

Credit Agreement provides for a revolving credit facility in the principal amount of up to $550 million, with a $60 million sub-limit for letters of credit. All loans under the Credit Agreement become due on November 29, 2028. As of March 31, 2024, we had no outstanding borrowings under our Amended Credit Facility.

The Credit Agreement contains various restrictive covenants and customary events of default. The breach of restrictive covenants or the occurrence of any other event of default under the Credit Agreement could result in the acceleration of our obligation to repay the indebtedness outstanding thereunder. The Credit Agreement also contains financial covenants that require us and our consolidated subsidiaries to have, as of the end of each quarter, a capitalization ratio (i.e., funded debt less unrestricted cash to total capitalization) of no more than 57.5%. As of March 31, 2024, we were in compliance with all financial covenants under the Credit Agreement.

In March 2020, LP entered into the Letter of Credit Facility, which provides for the funding of letters of credit up to an aggregate outstanding amount of $20 million, which may be secured by certain cash collateral of LP. The Letter of Credit Facility provides for an unused commitment fee, due quarterly, ranging from 0.50% to 1.875% of the daily available amount to be drawn on each letter of credit issued under the Letter of Credit Facility. The Letter of Credit Facility is subject to similar affirmative, negative, and financial covenants as those set forth in the Credit Agreement, including the capitalization ratio covenant. As of March 31, 2024, we were in compliance with all covenants under the Letter of Credit Facility.

Other Liquidity Matters

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

As of March 31, 2024, we had standby letters of credit of $14 million outstanding related to collateral for environmental impact on owned properties, a deposit for a forestry license, and insurance collateral, including workers' compensation.

Potential Impairments

We review the carrying values of our long-lived assets for potential impairments and believe we have adequate support for such carrying values as of March 31, 2024.

If demand and pricing for our products fall to levels significantly below cycle average demand and pricing, should we decide to invest capital in alternative projects, or should changes occur related to our wood supply for our mills, it is possible that future impairment charges will be required. As of March 31, 2024, there were no indications of impairment.

We also review from time to time potential dispositions of various assets, considering current and anticipated economic and industry conditions, our strategic plan, and other relevant factors. Because a determination to dispose of particular assets can require management to make assumptions regarding the transaction structure of the disposition and to estimate the net sales proceeds, which may be less than previous estimates of undiscounted future net cash flows, we may be required to record impairment charges in connection with decisions to dispose of assets.

We are exposed to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, commodity prices and interest rates which could impact our results of operations and financial condition.

Foreign Currency Risk

Each of our international operations has transactional foreign currency exposures related to buying and selling in currencies other than the local currencies in which it operates. Exposures are primarily related to the U.S. dollar relative to the Canadian dollar, the Brazilian real, the Chilean peso, and the Argentine Peso. We also have translation exposure resulting from translating the financial statements of foreign subsidiaries into U.S. dollars. Although we have in the past entered into foreign exchange contracts associated with certain of our indebtedness and may continue to enter into foreign exchange contracts associated with major equipment purchases to manage a portion of the foreign currency rate risk, we historically have not entered into currency rate hedges with respect to our exposure from operations, provided we may do so in the future.

Commodity Price Risk

Some of our products are sold as commodities, and therefore sales prices fluctuate daily based on market factors over which we have little or no control. The most significant commodity product we sell is OSB. There have been no material changes to the assumed production capacity and annual average price sensitivity for OSB previously disclosed under the caption “Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk” in our 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K. We historically have not entered into material commodity futures and swaps, although we may do so in the future.

Interest Rate Risk

We are exposed to market risk associated with changes in interest rates on our variable rate long-term debt. As of March 31, 2024, there were no outstanding borrowings under our Amended Credit Facility. We do not currently have any derivative or hedging arrangements to reduce the impact of changes in interest rates, or other known exposures, to changes in interest rates. There have been no material changes to the interest rate sensitivity analysis previously disclosed under the caption “Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk” in our 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

As of March 31, 2024, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer carried out, with the participation of the Company's management, a review and evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) promulgated under the Exchange Act. Based upon this evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of March 31, 2024, LP’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during our most recently completed fiscal quarter, ended March 31, 2024, that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect our internal control over financial reporting.

In addition to the other information set forth in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q, an investor should carefully consider the factors discussed in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” of the Company’s 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K. There have been no material changes to the risk factors previously disclosed under the caption "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in Part I of our 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

The risks described in our 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K are not the only risks facing the Company. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, operating results, or cash flows.