Weyerhaeuser’s third-quarter earnings plunged 25 percent compared with last year, when the lumber and real estate company recorded income from a couple of businesses it has since sold and a hefty tax gain.
But the Federal Way company’s revenue rose, and CEO Dan Fulton said Weyerhaeuser was “capitalizing on an improving housing market.”
Weyerhaeuser said Friday that it earned $117 million, or 22 cents a share, in the three months that ended Sept. 30. That compares with earnings of $157 million, or $29 cents a share, in last year’s quarter.
Revenue climbed 13 percent to $1.77 billion.
Analysts surveyed by FactSet expected, on average, earnings of 18 cents a share on $1.79 billion in revenue.
Weyerhaeuser said last year’s results included $24 million in earnings from businesses that were sold in last year’s third quarter. The company also recorded a $104 million income tax gain in last year’s third quarter, as opposed to a $13 million charge in this year’s quarter.
Weyerhaeuser also said revenue from its cellulose fibers business fell 9 percent this year to $459 million, but that was more than countered by wood products revenue that climbed 35 percent to $816 million.
Several expenses also rose in this year’s quarter for Weyerhaeuser.
The company’s costs to produce its products climbed 11 percent to $1.42 billion, and its selling, general and administrative expenses rose 16 percent to $156 million.
Earlier this month, the company said it will raise its dividend 13 percent, or 2 cents, to 17 cents.
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