Net Revenues Grew 5% to $39.7 Million in First
Quarter of Fiscal Year 2024 Compared to Prior Year
Strategic Shift Toward Higher Margin
“Asset-Lighter” Business Model Reflected in First Quarter of Fiscal
Year 2024 Results; Agribusiness Operating Loss Improved 84% and
Agribusiness Costs and Expenses Decreased 5% in First Quarter of
Fiscal Year 2024 Compared to Prior Year
Brokered Lemons and Other Lemon Sales Increased
to $2.9 Million and Company Achieved $2.0 Million in Farm
Management Revenue in First Quarter of Fiscal Year 2024
Company Reiterates Lemon and Avocado Volume
Guidance for Fiscal Year 2024
Company Continues Exploration of Strategic
Alternatives Intended to Maximize Stockholder Value
Limoneira Company (the “Company” or “Limoneira”) (Nasdaq: LMNR),
a diversified citrus growing, packing, selling and marketing
company with related agribusiness activities and real estate
development operations, today reported financial results for the
first quarter ended January 31, 2024.
Management Comments
Harold Edwards, President and Chief Executive Officer of the
Company, stated, “We are very encouraged to see the Company’s
strategic shift towards an “asset-lighter” business model reflected
in our results, with agribusiness expenses decreasing by 5%,
agribusiness operating loss improving by 84% and our adjusted
EBITDA improving by 39% in the first quarter of fiscal year 2024
compared to the prior year period. Going forward we expect
continued improvement as the asset-lighter model starts to have a
meaningful impact on our operating results. As part of the
Company’s exploration of strategic alternatives to maximize value,
we have decided it is in the best interest of our stockholders to
temporarily pause the sale of the two remaining non-strategic
assets, as well as move away from pursuing a packinghouse in Chile
and instead add value by focusing on expanding our avocado
production over the next three years.”
Mr. Edwards continued, “Results for the first quarter were
impacted by increased rainfall in California that delayed the
picking of lemons from the first quarter to the second quarter;
however, we do not expect the rainfall to have any other impact on
the overall harvest or the quality of the fruit. Additionally,
avocado harvests will begin in the second quarter and run into the
third quarter due to the seasonality of California avocados and
lack of import pressure from Mexico and Peru in the U.S. market
during that period.”
Fiscal Year 2024 First Quarter Results
For the first quarter of fiscal year 2024, total net revenue
increased 5% to $39.7 million, compared to total net revenue of
$37.9 million in the first quarter of the previous fiscal year.
Agribusiness revenue was $38.3 million, compared to $36.5 million
in the first quarter of last fiscal year. Other operations revenue
was $1.4 million in both the first quarters of fiscal years 2024
and 2023.
Agribusiness revenue in the first quarter of fiscal year 2024
includes $23.9 million in fresh lemon sales, compared to $24.7
million of fresh lemon sales during the same period of fiscal year
2023. Approximately 1,137,000 cartons of U.S. packed fresh lemons
were sold in aggregate during the first quarter of fiscal year 2024
at a $21.06 average price per carton, compared to approximately
1,308,000 cartons sold at a $18.88 average price per carton during
the first quarter of fiscal year 2023. Brokered lemons and other
lemon sales were $2.9 million and $1.4 million, in the first
quarter of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, respectively.
The Company recognized no avocado revenue in the first quarters
of fiscal years 2024 and 2023 due to the timing of harvest.
The Company recognized $1.1 million of orange revenue in the
first quarter of fiscal year 2024, compared to $1.2 million in the
same period of fiscal year 2023. Approximately 80,000 cartons of
oranges were sold during the first quarter of fiscal year 2024 at a
$14.26 average price per carton, compared to approximately 64,000
cartons sold at a $18.00 average price per carton during the first
quarter of fiscal year 2023. Specialty citrus and other crops
revenue was $1.1 million for the first quarter of fiscal year 2024,
compared to $1.2 million in the same period of fiscal year
2023.
Farm management revenues were $2.0 million in the first quarter
of fiscal year 2024, primarily due to the Northern Properties
farming, management and operations services. There were no farm
management revenues in the first quarter of fiscal year 2023.
Total costs and expenses in the first quarter of fiscal year
2024 were $47.5 million, compared to $12.0 million in the first
quarter of last fiscal year. The increase of $35.5 million was
primarily related to the gain on the sale of the Northern
Properties in the first quarter of fiscal year 2023, partially
offset by decreases in agribusiness costs and expenses and selling,
general and administrative expenses.
Operating loss for the first quarter of fiscal year 2024 was
$7.7 million, compared to operating income of $25.9 million in the
first quarter of the previous fiscal year, which was primarily
related to the gain on the sale of the Northern Properties in the
first quarter of fiscal year 2023.
Net loss applicable to common stock, after preferred dividends,
for the first quarter of fiscal year 2024 was $3.7 million,
compared to net income applicable to common stock of $15.5 million
in the first quarter of fiscal year 2023. Net loss per diluted
share for the first quarter of fiscal year 2024 was $0.21, compared
to net income per diluted share of $0.84 for the same period of
fiscal year 2023.
Adjusted net loss for diluted EPS in the first quarter of fiscal
year 2024 was $3.2 million or $0.18 per diluted share, compared to
the first quarter of fiscal year 2023 of $9.3 million or $0.53 per
diluted share. A reconciliation of net (loss) income attributable
to Limoneira Company to adjusted net loss for diluted EPS is
provided at the end of this release.
Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA was a loss of $4.8 million in the first
quarter of fiscal year 2024, compared to a loss of $7.9 million in
the same period of fiscal year 2023. A reconciliation of net (loss)
income attributable to Limoneira Company to non-GAAP adjusted
EBITDA is provided at the end of this release.
Balance Sheet and Liquidity
During the first quarter of fiscal year 2024, net cash used in
operating activities was $10.3 million, compared to $21.2 million
in the same period of the prior fiscal year. For the first quarter
of fiscal year 2024, net cash used in investing activities was $1.6
million, compared to net cash provided by investing activities of
$99.1 million in the first quarter of the prior fiscal year. Net
cash provided by financing activities was $8.8 million for the
first quarter of fiscal year 2024, compared to net cash used in
financing activities of $66.3 million in the same period of the
prior fiscal year.
On January 31, 2023, the Company sold its Northern Properties,
which resulted in total net proceeds of $98.4 million. The proceeds
were used to pay down all of the Company’s domestic debt except the
AgWest Farm Credit $40.0 million non-revolving line of credit with
an interest rate that is fixed at 3.57% through July 1, 2025.
Long-term debt as of January 31, 2024, was $51.4 million, compared
to $40.6 million at the end of fiscal year 2023. Debt levels as of
January 31, 2024, less $0.5 million of cash on hand, resulted in a
net debt position of $51.6 million at quarter end.
Real Estate Development and Property Sales
The Company’s joint venture with The Lewis Group of Companies
(“Lewis”) for the residential development of its East Area I real
estate development project, named Harvest at Limoneira, is
currently expected to have approximately 1,500 total residential
units built and sold over the life of the project. In October 2023,
the joint venture closed on lot sales representing 121 residential
units, thus completing the sell-out of Phase 1 of the development.
A total of 707 residential units have closed from the project’s
inception to October 31, 2023. The company is also currently in
negotiations for the entire Phase 2 of the development and is
working on expanding the total number of residential units for the
project from 1,500 to 2,050 units.
Guidance
The Company expects fresh lemon volumes to be in the range of
5.0 million to 5.5 million cartons for fiscal year 2024. Avocado
volumes are expected to be in the range of 7.0 million to 8.0
million pounds for fiscal year 2024.
The Company expects to receive total proceeds of $131 million
from Harvest at Limoneira, LLCB II and East Area II spread out over
nine fiscal years, with approximately $8 million received in fiscal
year 2022.
Updated Harvest at Limoneira Cash Flow Projections (in
millions)
Fiscal Year
2022 Actual
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
Projected Distributions
$8
$3
$8
$20
$30
$32
$15
$15
The Company has 700 acres of non-bearing lemons and avocados
estimated to become full bearing over the next four to five years,
which the Company expects will enable strong organic growth in the
coming years. Additionally, the Company plans to expand its
plantings of avocados over the next three years and also expects to
have an increase in third-party grower fruit. The foregoing
describes organic growth opportunities and does not include
potential acquisition opportunities for the Company in its highly
fragmented industry.
Conference Call Information
The Company will host a conference call to discuss its financial
results on March 7, 2024, at 1:30 pm Pacific Time (4:30 pm Eastern
Time). Investors interested in participating in the live call can
dial (877) 407-0789 from the U.S. International callers can dial
(201) 689-8562. A telephone replay will be available approximately
two hours after the call concludes and will be available through
March 21, 2024, by dialing (844) 512-2921 from the U.S., or (412)
317-6671 from international locations; passcode is 13744733.
About Limoneira Company
Limoneira Company, a 130-year-old international agribusiness
headquartered in Santa Paula, California, has grown to become one
of the premier integrated agribusinesses in the world. Limoneira
(lē moñ âra) is a dedicated sustainability company with 11,000
acres of rich agricultural lands, real estate properties and water
rights in California, Arizona, Chile and Argentina. The Company is
a leading producer of lemons, avocados and other crops that are
enjoyed throughout the world. For more about Limoneira Company,
visit www.limoneira.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within
the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended. These forward-looking statements are based on Limoneira’s
current expectations about future events and can be identified by
terms such as “expect,” “may,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “should be,”
“will be,” “is likely to,” “strive to,” and similar expressions
referring to future periods.
Limoneira believes the expectations reflected in the
forward-looking statements are reasonable but cannot guarantee
future results, level of activity, performance or achievements.
Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or
implied in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, Limoneira
cautions you against relying on any of these forward-looking
statements. Factors that may cause future outcomes to differ
materially from those foreseen in forward-looking statements
include, but are not limited to: success in executing the Company’s
business plans and strategies, including the review and evaluation
of strategic transactions; the process by which the Company engages
in its evaluation of strategic transactions; the outcome of
potential future strategic transactions and the terms thereof; the
possibility that the evaluation of potential strategic transactions
will not realize any additional value to our stockholders, and
managing the risks involved in the foregoing; additional impacts
from the current COVID-19 pandemic, changes in laws, regulations,
rules, quotas, tariffs and import laws; weather conditions that
affect production, transportation, storage, import and export of
fresh product; increased pressure from crop disease, insects and
other pests; disruption of water supplies or changes in water
allocations; disruption in the global supply chain; pricing and
supply of raw materials and products; market responses to industry
volume pressures; pricing and supply of energy; changes in interest
and currency exchange rates; availability of financing for land
development activities; political changes and economic crises;
international conflict; acts of terrorism; labor disruptions,
strikes or work stoppages; loss of important intellectual property
rights; inability to pay debt obligations; inability to engage in
certain transactions due to restrictive covenants in debt
instruments; government restrictions on land use; and market and
pricing risks due to concentrated ownership of stock. Other risks
and uncertainties include those that are described in Limoneira’s
SEC filings that are available on the SEC’s website at
http://www.sec.gov. Limoneira undertakes no obligation to
subsequently update or revise the forward-looking statements made
in this press release, except as required by law.
LIMONEIRA COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(UNAUDITED)
(in thousands, except share and
per share data)
January 31, 2024
October 31, 2023
Assets
Current assets:
Cash
$
527
$
3,631
Accounts receivable, net
16,663
14,458
Cultural costs
2,584
2,334
Prepaid expenses and other current
assets
5,492
5,588
Receivables/other from related parties
3,333
4,214
Total current assets
28,599
30,225
Property, plant and equipment, net
160,197
160,631
Real estate development
9,980
9,987
Equity in investments
79,057
78,816
Goodwill
1,508
1,512
Intangible assets, net
6,419
6,657
Other assets
13,816
13,382
Total assets
$
299,576
$
301,210
Liabilities, Convertible Preferred
Stock and Stockholders' Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable
$
8,765
$
9,892
Growers and suppliers payable
8,297
9,629
Accrued liabilities
8,084
8,651
Payables to related parties
5,139
4,805
Current portion of long-term debt
668
381
Total current liabilities
30,953
33,358
Long-term liabilities:
Long-term debt, less current portion
51,413
40,628
Deferred income taxes
17,988
22,172
Other long-term liabilities
4,224
4,555
Total liabilities
104,578
100,713
Commitments and contingencies
—
—
Series B Convertible Preferred Stock –
$100.00 par value (50,000 shares authorized: 14,790 shares issued
and outstanding at January 31, 2024 and October 31, 2023) (8.75%
coupon rate)
1,479
1,479
Series B-2 Convertible Preferred Stock –
$100.00 par value (10,000 shares authorized: 9,300 shares issued
and outstanding at January 31, 2024 and October 31, 2023) (4%
dividend rate on liquidation value of $1,000 per share)
9,331
9,331
Stockholders' equity:
Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock – $0.01 par value (20,000 shares authorized: zero issued or
outstanding at January 31, 2024 and October 31, 2023)
—
—
Common Stock – $0.01 par value (39,000,000
shares authorized: 18,255,895 and 18,192,009 shares issued and
18,004,918 and 17,941,032 shares outstanding at January 31, 2024
and October 31, 2023, respectively)
180
179
Additional paid-in capital
168,620
168,441
Retained earnings
13,957
19,017
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(6,133
)
(5,666
)
Treasury stock, at cost, 250,977 shares at
January 31, 2024 and October 31, 2023
(3,493
)
(3,493
)
Noncontrolling interest
11,057
11,209
Total stockholders' equity
184,188
189,687
Total liabilities, convertible preferred
stock and stockholders' equity
$
299,576
$
301,210
LIMONEIRA COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF
OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)
(in thousands, except per share
data)
Three Months Ended
January 31,
2024
2023
Net revenues:
Agribusiness
$
38,339
$
36,528
Other operations
1,392
1,373
Total net revenues
39,731
37,901
Costs and expenses:
Agribusiness
39,114
41,241
Other operations
1,182
1,238
Gain on disposal of assets, net
(165
)
(39,742
)
Selling, general and administrative
7,345
9,280
Total costs and expenses
47,476
12,017
Operating (loss) income
(7,745
)
25,884
Other (expense) income:
Interest income
22
8
Interest expense, net of patronage
dividends
(207
)
(1,172
)
Equity in earnings of investments, net
41
253
Other income (expense), net
22
(2,612
)
Total other expense
(122
)
(3,523
)
(Loss) income before income tax benefit
(provision)
(7,867
)
22,361
Income tax benefit (provision)
4,190
(6,827
)
Net (loss) income
(3,677
)
15,534
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling
interest
92
97
Net (loss) income attributable to
Limoneira Company
(3,585
)
15,631
Preferred dividends
(125
)
(125
)
Net (loss) income applicable to common
stock
$
(3,710
)
$
15,506
Basic net (loss) income per common
share
$
(0.21
)
$
0.87
Diluted net (loss) income per common
share
$
(0.21
)
$
0.84
Weighted-average common shares
outstanding-basic
17,627
17,573
Weighted-average common shares
outstanding-diluted
17,627
18,378
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Due to significant depreciable assets associated with the nature
of the Company's operations and interest costs associated with our
capital structure, management believes that earnings before
interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA")
and adjusted EBITDA, which excludes stock-based compensation,
pension settlement cost, gain on disposal of assets, net, and cash
bonus related to sale of assets are important measures to evaluate
our results of operations between periods on a more comparable
basis. Such measurements are not prepared in accordance with U.S.
generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") and should not be
construed as an alternative to reported results determined in
accordance with GAAP. The non-GAAP information provided is unique
to the Company and may not be consistent with methodologies used by
other companies.
EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are summarized and reconciled to net
(loss) income attributable to Limoneira Company, which management
considers to be the most directly comparable financial measure
calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP, as follows (in
thousands):
Three Months Ended
January 31,
2024
2023
Net (loss) income attributable to
Limoneira Company
$
(3,585
)
$
15,631
Interest income
(22
)
(8
)
Interest expense, net of patronage
dividends
207
1,172
Income tax (benefit) provision
(4,190
)
6,827
Depreciation and amortization
2,058
2,447
EBITDA
(5,532
)
26,069
Stock-based compensation
864
1,064
Pension settlement cost
—
2,741
Gain on disposal of assets, net
(165
)
(39,742
)
Cash bonus related to sale of assets
—
2,000
Adjusted EBITDA
$
(4,833
)
$
(7,868
)
The following is a reconciliation of net (loss) income
attributable to Limoneira Company to adjusted net loss for diluted
EPS (in thousands, except per share data):
Three Months Ended
January 31,
2024
2023
Net (loss) income attributable to
Limoneira Company
$
(3,585
)
$
15,631
Effect of preferred stock and unvested,
restricted stock
(152
)
(286
)
Stock-based compensation
864
1,064
Pension settlement cost
—
2,741
Gain on disposal of assets, net
(165
)
(39,742
)
Cash bonus related to sale of assets
—
2,000
Tax effect of adjustments at federal and
state rates
(192
)
9,269
Adjusted net loss for diluted EPS
$
(3,230
)
$
(9,323
)
Diluted net (loss) income per common
share
$
(0.21
)
$
0.84
Adjusted diluted net loss per common
share
$
(0.18
)
$
(0.53
)
Weighted-average common shares outstanding
- diluted
17,627
18,378
Effect of preferred stock
—
(805
)
Adjusted weighted-average common shares
outstanding - diluted
17,627
17,573
Supplemental Information
(in thousands, except acres and average price amounts):
Agribusiness Segment
Information for the Three Months Ended January 31, 2024
Fresh
Lemons
Lemon
Packing
Eliminations
Avocados
Other
Agribusiness
Total
Agribusiness
Revenues from external customers
$
27,384
$
5,592
$
—
$
—
$
5,363
$
38,339
Intersegment revenue
—
6,716
(6,716
)
—
—
—
Total net revenues
27,384
12,308
(6,716
)
—
5,363
38,339
Costs and expenses
28,841
10,718
(6,716
)
—
4,527
37,370
Depreciation and amortization
—
—
—
—
—
1,744
Operating income (loss)
$
(1,457
)
$
1,590
$
—
$
—
$
836
$
(775
)
Agribusiness Segment
Information for the Three Months Ended January 31, 2023
Fresh
Lemons
Lemon
Packing
Eliminations
Avocados
Other
Agribusiness
Total
Agribusiness
Revenues from external customers
$
27,321
$
5,648
$
—
$
—
$
3,559
$
36,528
Intersegment revenue
—
7,363
(7,363
)
—
—
—
Total net revenues
27,321
13,011
(7,363
)
—
3,559
36,528
Costs and expenses
32,314
11,353
(7,363
)
—
2,802
39,106
Depreciation and amortization
—
—
—
—
—
2,135
Operating income (loss)
$
(4,993
)
$
1,658
$
—
$
—
$
757
$
(4,713
)
Lemons
Q1 2024
Q1 2023
Lemon Packing
Q1 2024
Q1 2023
United States:
Cartons packed and sold
1,137
1,308
Acres harvested
1,900
3,600
Revenue
$
12,308
$
13,011
Limoneira cartons sold
185
443
Direct costs
10,718
11,353
Third-party grower cartons sold
952
865
Operating income
$
1,590
$
1,658
Average price per carton
$
21.06
$
18.88
Avocados
Q1 2024
Q1 2023
Chile:
Pounds sold
—
—
Lemon revenue
$
1,000
$
200
Average price per pound
$
—
$
—
40-pound carton equivalents
162
184
Other Agribusiness
Q1 2024
Q1 2023
Other:
Orange cartons sold
80
64
Lemon shipping and handling
$
5,600
$
5,600
Average price per carton
$
14.26
$
18.00
Lemon by-product sales
$
500
$
1,200
Specialty citrus cartons sold
17
54
Brokered lemons and other lemon sales
$
1,900
$
2,300
Average price per carton
$
28.88
$
23.09
Farm management
$
2,048
$
—
Agribusiness costs and expenses
Q1 2024
Q1 2023
Packing costs
$
10,718
$
11,353
Harvest costs
1,933
4,078
Growing costs
6,192
7,671
Third-party grower and supplier costs
17,723
15,018
Other costs
804
986
Depreciation and amortization
1,744
2,135
Agribusiness costs and expenses
$
39,114
$
41,241
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240307241980/en/
Investors John Mills Managing Partner ICR
646-277-1254
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