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Boise Cascade Co.: Q3 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 3 November 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 3 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net income and EPS fell sharply: Net income was $21.8 million, or $0.58 diluted per share, against $91.0 million, or $2.33, a year earlier. Sales fell 3% to $1.67 billion. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA fell 52%: Adjusted EBITDA was $74.4 million, down from $154.5 million. Wood Products EBITDA fell 81% and Building Materials Distribution EBITDA fell 20%. Source
  • Wood Products swung to a loss: Wood Products sales fell 13% to $396.4 million and the segment posted a $12.1 million loss, against $53.9 million of income a year earlier. Source
  • Building Materials Distribution income fell 27%: BMD sales eased 1% to $1,556.2 million. Segment income fell $20.5 million to $54.3 million on lower commodity and EWP margins, partly offset by general line margins. Source
  • Single-family starts fell 3%: In July and August 2025, total housing starts rose 2% and single-family starts fell 3% against the same months of 2024. Year to date through August, single-family starts fell 5%. Source
  • Demand expected cautious early in year: Management said demand is expected to be cautious in the first half of the year, improving gradually later, with rate cuts and normalized homebuilder inventory cited as drivers. Source
  • Fourth-quarter downtime planned: Seasonally slower fourth-quarter activity is expected. The company plans capital project and maintenance downtime at some plants and may add market-related downtime. Source
  • Operating cash flow fell for nine months: Nine-month operating cash flow was $123.1 million, against $343.8 million. Receivables rose $111.7 million and inventories rose $42.5 million; capital spending was $187.4 million. Source

“In the face of subdued demand and commodity pricing headwinds, we were able to post good earnings for the third quarter of 2025”

Nate Jorgensen, CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Capital expenditures Source2025, excluding potential acquisition spending$230 million to $250 millionRaised from $220 million to $240 million
Capital expenditures Source2026, excluding potential acquisition spending$150 million to $170 millionNew
Share repurchases SourceAuthorization dated October 30, 2025up to $300.0 millionNew
Housing starts Source2026Consistent with 2025 housing start levelsNew

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: The 2025 capital expenditure range moved from $220 million to $240 million up to $230 million to $250 million. Source
  • New guidance: A capital expenditure range for 2026 of $150 million to $170 million was given for the first time. Source
  • New: The board authorized up to $300.0 million of share repurchases, replacing the prior authorization. Source

Results and earnings

  • Net income and EPS fell sharply: Net income was $21.8 million, or $0.58 diluted per share, against $91.0 million, or $2.33, a year earlier. Sales fell 3% to $1.67 billion. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA fell 52%: Adjusted EBITDA was $74.4 million, down from $154.5 million. Wood Products EBITDA fell 81% and Building Materials Distribution EBITDA fell 20%. Source
  • Nine-month earnings below prior year: For the nine months, net income was $124.1 million, against $307.5 million in 2024. Nine-month sales were $4.94 billion, against $5.16 billion. Source
  • Non-GAAP measures defined: The company defines EBITDA as income before interest, income taxes, and depreciation and amortization; Adjusted EBITDA also excludes swap fair value changes. Source

Segment results

  • Wood Products swung to a loss: Wood Products sales fell 13% to $396.4 million and the segment posted a $12.1 million loss, against $53.9 million of income a year earlier. Source
  • Building Materials Distribution income fell 27%: BMD sales eased 1% to $1,556.2 million. Segment income fell $20.5 million to $54.3 million on lower commodity and EWP margins, partly offset by general line margins. Source
  • Intersegment eliminations declined: Intersegment eliminations were $284.7 million in the quarter, against $307.6 million a year earlier. Source

“We have great clarity on our business model, and the strength of our financial position and unwavering commitment to our core values enable Boise Cascade to remain focused on the execution of our strategic priorities.”

Nate Jorgensen, CEO

Products and pricing

  • EWP prices and volumes fell: Against third quarter 2024, LVL prices fell 13% and I-joist prices fell 12%. LVL volumes fell 7% and I-joist volumes fell 10%. Against second quarter, LVL and I-joist volumes each fell 15%. Source
  • Plywood prices lower, volumes mixed: Plywood average net selling price fell 2% year over year and 5% from second quarter. Plywood volume fell 1% year over year and rose 9% from second quarter. Source
  • BMD sales by product line: BMD commodity sales fell 3%, general line sales rose 6%, and EWP sales through BMD fell 11%, with sales price down 1% and volumes flat. Source

Costs and margins

  • Wood Products conversion costs rose: Wood Products materials, labor and other operating expenses were 92.9% of segment sales, against 79.6% a year earlier, which management linked to higher per-unit conversion costs. Source
  • Wood Products margin turned negative: Wood Products segment margin was (3.0)% of sales, against 11.9% a year earlier and 3.1% in the second quarter. Source
  • BMD margin narrowed to 3.5%: BMD segment margin was 3.5% of sales against 4.8% a year earlier. Selling and distribution expenses and depreciation rose $7.8 million and $2.6 million. Source
  • Depreciation rose, corporate costs eased: Consolidated depreciation and amortization was $42.4 million, against $36.9 million a year earlier. Unallocated corporate costs were $9.9 million, against $11.3 million. Source

“Residential construction, particularly new single-family construction, remains a key driver of demand for the products we manufacture and distribute.”

Boise Cascade Co., press release

Housing demand

  • Single-family starts fell 3%: In July and August 2025, total housing starts rose 2% and single-family starts fell 3% against the same months of 2024. Year to date through August, single-family starts fell 5%. Source
  • Demand expected cautious early in year: Management said demand is expected to be cautious in the first half of the year, improving gradually later, with rate cuts and normalized homebuilder inventory cited as drivers. Source
  • Repair and remodel spending supported: Management cited an undersupply of housing, an aging housing stock and elevated homeowner equity as long-term support for repair-and-remodel spending. Source
  • Near-term demand drivers named: Management named mortgage rates, home affordability, home equity, home sizes, inventory levels, unemployment and consumer confidence as near-term demand factors. Source

Pricing and production plans

  • Commodity pricing expected to stay dynamic: Management expects commodity product pricing to remain dynamic, influenced by economic conditions, operating rates, supply disruptions, duties, tariffs and transportation. Source
  • Fourth-quarter downtime planned: Seasonally slower fourth-quarter activity is expected. The company plans capital project and maintenance downtime at some plants and may add market-related downtime. Source
  • Distribution margins tied to price direction: Management said the distribution business gains sales and margins when prices rise and may face challenges when prices decline. Source

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Liquidity of $907 million at quarter end: The company ended the quarter with $511.8 million of cash and $395.2 million of undrawn bank line, total liquidity of $907.0 million. Debt was $450.0 million. Source
  • Operating cash flow fell for nine months: Nine-month operating cash flow was $123.1 million, against $343.8 million. Receivables rose $111.7 million and inventories rose $42.5 million; capital spending was $187.4 million. Source
  • Buybacks continued into October: The company paid $111.0 million to repurchase 1,128,752 shares in the nine months and bought a further 120,000 shares for about $9 million in October 2025. Source
  • Dividends paid fell to $26.6 million: Nine-month common stock dividends paid were $26.6 million, against $220.5 million a year earlier. Source

Strategy and investment

  • Distribution model and EWP franchises cited: Management said the two-step distribution model, with the EWP and plywood franchises, will keep delivering value to customers and vendor partners through 2025 and into 2026. Source
  • Capital spending may move with plans: Management said capital expenditure levels could rise or fall with growth efforts, lease purchase options, financial results, economic conditions, engineering availability and equipment timing. Source

Coming up, as management said on 3 November 2025

  • Dividend payable December 17: The $0.22 quarterly dividend declared October 30, 2025 is payable December 17, 2025, to holders of record on December 1, 2025. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
LVL sales volume Sourcedown 7% vs 3Q 2024; down 15% vs 2Q 2025
I-joist sales volume Sourcedown 10% vs 3Q 2024; down 15% vs 2Q 2025
Plywood sales volume Sourcedown 1% vs 3Q 2024; up 9% vs 2Q 2025
LVL average net selling price Sourcedown 13% vs 3Q 2024; down 5% vs 2Q 2025
I-joist average net selling price Sourcedown 12% vs 3Q 2024; down 6% vs 2Q 2025
Plywood average net selling price Sourcedown 2% vs 3Q 2024; down 5% vs 2Q 2025
BMD sales price and volume Sourcesales price down 1% vs 3Q 2024; volumes flat
BMD EWP sales Sourcedown 11% vs 3Q 2024
Total U.S. housing starts (July and August 2025) Sourceup 2% vs same months 2024
Single-family housing starts (July and August 2025) Sourcedown 3% vs same months 2024

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management said the housing market in 2025 has been shaped by policy uncertainty, low consumer confidence, elevated rates and affordability challenges. Source
  • External: As a commodity plywood manufacturer, the company remains exposed to fluctuations in product pricing and input costs. Source
  • Operational: Planned fourth-quarter capital project and maintenance downtime at certain manufacturing facilities, with possible market-related downtime. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.