Limoneira Company Announces Fiscal Third Quarter 2022 Financial Results

Revenue Grew 20% to $58.9 Million Compared to Prior Year Driven by Record Avocado Revenues and Strong Fresh Lemon Sales

Operating Income Increased Over 200% to $11.1 Million Compared to Prior Year

Earnings Per Share were $0.40, a 100% Increase Compared to Prior Year

Company Expects to Receive $8 million in Proceeds during the Fiscal Fourth Quarter 2022 from Harvest at Limoneira

SANTA PAULA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- 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 fiscal third quarter ended July 31, 2022.

Management Comments

Harold Edwards, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, stated, “Operating income increased over 200% and our top line by 20%, driven by record avocado revenues and increased fresh lemon sales in the third quarter of fiscal 2022. Our strategic approach to fresh utilization enabled our sales and marketing team to successfully market our fresh lemons throughout the year. In addition, our avocado segment has continued to outperform expectations this fiscal year with pricing almost doubling year-over-year resulting in record avocado revenues of $12.6 million in the third quarter of 2022. Lemon pricing remained challenged in the third quarter as the domestic and global lemon markets continue to work through a surplus of inventory. Our industry continued to face rising labor costs and higher packing and supplier costs, but our strong top line and more efficient marketing and selling plans more than offset these cost increases.”

Mr. Edwards continued, “Our new strategic plan to expand One World of Citrus, increase our avocado plantings and strategically sell certain assets to dramatically increase our cash flow in the near future is progressing as expected. As an example, in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2022, we expect to generate $8.0 million in cash proceeds from the sale of 17 acres to Limoneira Lewis Community Builders, LLC (“LLCB”) to potentially develop additional residential units. We will continue to develop “best in class” grower services to recruit additional grower partners. We have over 15,400 acres of rich agricultural lands, real estate properties, and water rights in California, Arizona, Chile and Argentina with a fair-market-value of over $600 million in today’s market yet a book value on Limoneira’s balance sheet of $220 million because many of these assets were acquired years ago at a low-cost basis. Selective monetization of certain assets in Limoneira’s portfolio potentially creates a tremendous value creation opportunity for our shareholders.”

Fiscal Year 2022 Third Quarter Results

For the third quarter of fiscal year 2022, total net revenue increased 20% to $58.9 million, compared to total net revenue of $49.1 million in the third quarter of the previous fiscal year. Agribusiness revenue was $57.6 million, compared to $48.0 million in the third quarter of last fiscal year. Other operations revenue increased to $1.3 million compared to $1.2 million for the third quarter of fiscal year 2021.

Agribusiness revenue for the third quarter of fiscal year 2022 includes $27.8 million in fresh lemon sales, compared to $24.4 million of fresh lemon sales during the same period of fiscal year 2021. Approximately 1,512,000 cartons of fresh lemons were sold in aggregate during the third quarter of fiscal year 2022 at an $18.39 average price per carton compared to approximately 1,144,000 cartons sold at a $21.34 average price per carton during the third quarter of fiscal year 2021.

The Company recognized a record $12.6 million of avocado revenue in the third quarter of fiscal year 2022 compared to $4.1 million in the same period last fiscal year. Approximately 5.7 million pounds of avocados were sold in aggregate during the third quarter of fiscal year 2022 at a $2.21 average price per pound compared to approximately 3.5 million pounds sold at a $1.16 average price per pound during the third quarter of fiscal year 2021.

The Company recognized $3.7 million of orange revenue in the third quarter of fiscal year 2022, compared to $2.0 million in the same period of fiscal year 2021, primarily attributable to higher prices partially offset by decreased volume of oranges sold. Approximately 209,000 cartons of oranges were sold during the third quarter of fiscal year 2022 at a $17.88 average price per carton, compared to approximately 259,000 cartons sold at a $7.65 average price per carton during the third quarter of fiscal year 2021.

Specialty citrus and other crops revenues were similar to the prior year at $1.1 million for the third quarter of fiscal years 2022 and 2021.

Total costs and expenses for the third quarter of fiscal year 2022 were $47.9 million, compared to $45.8 million in the third quarter of last fiscal year.

Despite the inflationary pressures throughout the Company’s industry, operating income for the third quarter of fiscal year 2022 increased by over 200% to $11.1 million, compared to operating income of $3.4 million in the third quarter of the previous fiscal year.

Net income applicable to common stock, after preferred dividends, for the third quarter of fiscal year 2022 was $7.3 million, compared to $3.6 million in the third quarter of fiscal year 2021. Net income per diluted share for the third quarter of fiscal year 2022 was $0.40 compared to $0.20 for the same period of fiscal year 2021.

Adjusted net income for diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) was $7.5 million or $0.41 per diluted share, compared to the third quarter of fiscal year 2021 of $3.7 million or $0.20 per diluted share. A reconciliation of adjusted net income to net income attributable to Limoneira Company is provided at the end of this release.

Adjusted EBITDA was $14.2 million in the third quarter of fiscal year 2022, compared to $7.8 million in the same period of fiscal year 2021. A reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA to net income attributable to Limoneira Company is provided at the end of this release.

Fiscal Year 2022 First Nine Months Results

For the nine months ended July 31, 2022, revenue was $144.9 million, compared to $132.5 million in the same period last fiscal year. Operating income for the first nine months of fiscal year 2022 was $4.1 million, compared to operating income of $0.1 million in the same period of last fiscal year. Net income applicable to common stock, after preferred dividends, was $2.0 million for the first nine months of fiscal year 2022, compared to net income applicable to common stock of $1.1 million in the same period of last fiscal year. Net income per diluted share for the first nine months of fiscal year 2022 was $0.11, compared to net income per diluted share of $0.06 in the same period of fiscal year 2021.

For the first nine months of fiscal year 2022, adjusted net income for diluted EPS was $2.9 million compared to adjusted net income for diluted EPS of $1.0 million for the same period in fiscal year 2021. In the first nine months of 2022, adjusted net income per diluted share was $0.17 compared to adjusted net income per diluted share of $0.06 for the same period in fiscal year 2021, based on approximately 17.5 million and 17.4 million, respectively, weighted average diluted common shares outstanding.

Balance Sheet and Liquidity

During the nine months ended July 31, 2022, net cash provided by operating activities was $10.9 million, compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $16.8 million in the same period of the prior fiscal year. For the nine months ended July 31, 2022, net cash used in investing activities was $5.3 million, compared to net cash used in investing activities of $8.7 million in the same period of the prior fiscal year. Net cash used in financing activities was $4.8 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2022, compared to net cash used in financing activities of $7.8 million in the same period of last fiscal year.

Long-term debt as of July 31, 2022, was $129.0 million, compared to $130.4 million at the end of fiscal year 2021.

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. At the end of fiscal year 2021, the joint venture had closed the sales of lots representing 586 residential units, thus concluding lot sales in Phase 1 of the development.

In March 2022, the joint venture signed a letter of intent to purchase 17 acres from Limoneira to potentially develop additional residential units. In September 2022, the Company entered into an agreement to sell the property to LLCB and expects to close the transaction and receive approximately $8.0 million in cash proceeds in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2022.

In July 2021, the Company entered into a non-binding letter of intent to sell approximately 25 acres of its East Area II property in five staged purchases to an investment company for the purpose of constructing a medical campus consisting of medical office buildings and an acute care hospital. Completion of the transaction is subject to the execution of a purchase and sale agreement and resolution of certain contingencies.

In the first quarter of fiscal year 2020, the Company entered into an agreement to sell its Sevilla property for $2.7 million, which is expected to close in calendar year 2022. After transaction and other costs, the Company expects to receive proceeds of approximately $2.7 million from the sale of its Sevilla property. As of July 31, 2022, the $2.7 million carrying value of the property was classified as held for sale and included in prepaid expenses and other current assets.

Guidance

The Company’s food service business and industry logistics continue to experience slowdown in its supply chain as well as inflationary pressures on a global basis. The Company believes it will continue to experience improving year over year results for the fiscal fourth quarter of 2022 due to its stronger position in retail food and club grocery, as well as a gain from the joint venture with Lewis related to Harvest at Limoneira.

The Company continues to expect fresh lemon volumes to be in the range of 4.5 million to 5.0 million cartons for fiscal year 2022. For the first nine months of fiscal year 2022, the Company achieved avocado volume of approximately 8.0 million pounds, which exceeds the expected range of 6.0 million to 7.0 million pounds for fiscal year 2022.

The Company expects cash distributions to be $95 million from Harvest at Limoneira during the next five fiscal years, beginning in fiscal year 2022.

Harvest at Limoneira Cash Flow Projections

The Company has an additional 1,000 acres of non-bearing lemons estimated to become full bearing over the next four years, which enables the Company to achieve strong organic growth for many years to come. The Company expects 200 of the 1,000 acres to become full bearing in fiscal year 2022. The Company anticipates this additional acreage will increase its domestic supply of Limoneira-owned lemons from its 2021 level by approximately 50%, or by about 900 thousand to 1.3 million additional fresh cartons, as the non-bearing and planned acreage becomes productive. The Company also expects to have a steady 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 September 8, 2022, 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 September 22, 2022, by dialing (844) 512-2921 from the U.S., or (412) 317-6671 from international locations; passcode is 13732445.

About Limoneira Company

Limoneira Company, a 129-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 15,400 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, oranges, specialty citrus 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, including guidance for fiscal years 2022 and beyond, 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: 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; 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.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Due to significant depreciable assets associated with the nature of our 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 named executive officer severance and loss (gain) on disposal of assets, are important measures to evaluate our results of operations between periods on a more comparable basis. In addition, we have presented adjusted net income attributable to Limoneira Company and adjusted net income per common share attributable to Limoneira Company to reflect the exclusion of named executive officer severance and loss (gain) on disposal of assets. 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. The Company has not provided a reconciliation of forward-looking non-GAAP measures, primarily due to variability and difficulty in making accurate forecasts and projections, as not all of the information necessary for a quantitative reconciliation is available to the Company without unreasonable efforts.

EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are summarized and reconciled to net 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):

The following is a reconciliation of net income attributable to Limoneira Company to adjusted net income for diluted EPS (in thousands, except share amounts):

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220908005998/en/

Investors:
John Mills
Managing Partner
ICR
646-277-1254

Source: Limoneira Company

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