FORT MYERS, Fla., Feb. 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alico, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALCO) today announces financial results for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2020, the highlights which are as follows:

• Not-from-concentrate orange juice consumption continues to be strong.
• Production of Early and Mid-Season fruit is down from the previous year.
• Market prices per pound solids increase in fiscal year 2021.
• Additional proceeds of $4.1 million received under the Florida Citrus Recovery Block Grant Program.
• Balance sheet remains strong with a working capital ratio of 3.21 to 1.00.
• Company reaffirms guidance of net income, EBITDA, adjusted net income and adjusted EBITDA for fiscal year 2021.

Results of Operations

For the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2020, the Company recorded net income attributable to Alico common stockholders of approximately $3.8 million and earnings of $0.51 per diluted common share, compared to net income attributable to Alico common stockholders of approximately $0.8 million and earnings of $0.11 per diluted common share in the first fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2019. The increase in net income attributable to Alico common stockholders is primarily due to an increased amount of gain on the sale of real estate, property and equipment and assets held for sale being recorded in the quarter ended December 31, 2020, compared to the quarter ended December 31, 2019, primarily due to the sale of certain parcels on the east side of the Alico Ranch.

When both quarters are adjusted for certain non-recurring items, the Company had an adjusted loss of $0.23 per diluted common share for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2020, compared to an adjusted loss of $0.29 per diluted common share for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2019. Adjusted EBITDA for the quarters ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 was approximately $2.7 million and $2.1 million, respectively.

These financial results reflect the seasonal nature of the Company’s business. The majority of the Company’s citrus crop is harvested in the second and third quarters of the fiscal year; consequently, most of the Company's profit and cash flows from operating activities are typically recognized in those quarters and the Company’s working capital requirements are typically greater in the first and fourth quarters of the fiscal year.

For the three months ended December 31, 2020, Alico Citrus harvested approximately 0.8 million boxes of fruit, a decrease of 14.6% from the first quarter of the prior fiscal year. The decrease was principally related to there being less fruit available on the citrus trees as well as greater fruit drop in the current harvest season compared to the prior harvest season. However, as anticipated, the Company has seen an increase in the price per pound solids from $1.87 to $2.25. A significant reason for this improvement is increased consumption of not-from-concentrate orange juice by retail consumers since March 2020, as evidenced by published Nielsen data. This decreased the inventory supply levels at Florida citrus juice processors. Based on the latest published Nielsen data for the twelve week period ended December 26, 2020, consumption of not-from-concentrate orange juice by retail consumers increased by 14%, compared to the same period in the prior year.

The Company experienced an overall decrease in pound solids per box, which was 5.26 for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2020, compared to 5.52 for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2019.

The Company’s harvesting activities to date have not been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, and there have been no disruptions in delivering fruit to the processors. Additionally, to date, the Company has not experienced any material challenges to its operations from COVID-19.

Land Management and Other Operations Division Results

Land Management and Other Operations include lease income from grazing rights leases, hunting leases, a farm lease, a lease to a third party of an aggregate mine, leases of oil extraction rights to third parties and other miscellaneous income.

Income from operations for the Land Management and Other Operations Division for the three months ended December 31, 2020 improved by $0.3 million compared to the three months ended December 31, 2019. This improvement was primarily due to the Company no longer pursuing its dispersed water storage project and therefore incurring no water conservation expenses in the three months ended December 31, 2020. On September 10, 2020, the Company sold approximately 10,700 acres on the western part of Alico Ranch to the State of Florida. Because the acres involved in the sale would have been critical to its planned dispersed water storage project, the Company decided to abandon permit approval activities for this particular project. The Company anticipates it will have no future water conservation expenses incurred relating to the dispersed water storage project.

Management Comment

John Kiernan, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented “We are encouraged by the continued increased consumption of not-from-concentrate orange juice by retail consumers. Since March 2020 we have seen double-digit growth in consumption, which, along with tighter supply, has significantly improved market prices for Early and Mid-Season fruit over the previous year. Alico is confident this will continue with Valencia market pricing for this season.

“As we have commenced the fiscal year 2021 harvest season, Alico has seen, along with the entire Florida citrus industry, a decrease in processed box production of the Early and Mid-Season crop, as compared to the same period last year. The latest published USDA citrus forecast report estimates an approximate 33% decline of the Early and Mid-Season crop for the current harvest season, as compared to the prior year. Because of its comprehensive grove management program, Alico believes its percentage decline in Early and Mid-Season crop will be substantially lower than the USDA’s estimate.

“Alico continues to pursue strategic ranch land sales opportunities. As previously announced, the State of Florida entered into an option agreement to purchase approximately 5,804 acres of Alico Ranch for approximately $14.6 million. If the State elects to exercise this option, we would expect the closing to occur in the beginning of the third quarter of our 2021 fiscal year. In addition, we have sold off certain smaller ranch parcels at premium prices in the first quarter ended December 31, 2020.”

Mr. Kiernan continued, “After carefully considering the impact of lower production but higher prices this season, the Company is affirming its previously announced guidance for the fiscal year 2021. Our confidence is the result of a combination of our insight into the factors supporting increased market prices as well as our track record for continued stringent management of our operating and general and administrative expenses.”

Other Corporate Financial Information

General and administrative expenses for the three months ended December 31, 2020 totaled approximately $2.5 million, compared to approximately $2.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019. The decrease is attributable in large part to (i) a reduction in payroll expenses for the quarter ended December 31, 2020 of approximately $0.2 million relating to one of the senior managers resigning in December 2019 and (ii) a reduction in pension expense related to the Company’s deferred retirement benefit plan of approximately $0.1 million as a result of the Company terminating such plan and paying out each of the plan participants in August 2020.

Other income (expense), net for the three months ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 was approximately $2.2 million and approximately $(1.6) million, respectively. The shift to other income, net from other expense, net is primarily due to the Company recording gains on sale of real estate, property and equipment and assets held for sale of approximately $3.4 million relating to the sale of approximately 700 acres from the Alico ranch to several third parties and the sale of mineral rights to a third party in the three months ended December 30, 2020. For the three months ended December 31, 2019, the Company only recorded a nominal gain on sale of real estate, property and equipment and assets held for sale. Additionally, a reduction, in the three months ended December 31, 2020, of approximately $0.4 million in interest expense, as compared to the three months ended December 31, 2019, was realized primarily due to the reduction of its long-term debt attributable to making its mandatory principal payments.

During the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2020, the Company received approximately $4.1 million of additional proceeds under the Florida Citrus Recovery Block Grant (“Florida CRBG”) program relating to Hurricane Irma. To date, the Company has received $24.2 million of proceeds under the Florida CRBG program, which represented reimbursement under the Part 1, Part 2 and substantially all of Part 3.

Guidance

The Company is reaffirming its guidance for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021 as follows:

• The Company is projecting net income to be between $7.5 million and $10.0 million.
• Fiscal year 2021 adjusted net income (after adjusting for certain expected non-recurring items) is expected to be between $4.5 million and $6.9 million.
• The Company is projecting EBITDA between $29.0 million and $33.0 million.
• Fiscal year 2021 adjusted EBITDA (after adjusting for certain expected non-recurring items) is expected to be between $25.0 million and $28.8 million.

The above guidance does not include any estimate of gains from asset sales. In the event any significant gains from asset sales are realized, Alico may decide to revise the Company’s guidance.

Dividend

On January 8, 2021, the Company paid a first quarter cash dividend of $0.18 per share on its outstanding common stock to stockholders of record as of December 24, 2020.

Balance Sheet and Liquidity

The Company continues to demonstrate financial strength within its balance sheet, as highlighted below:

• The Company’s working capital was approximately $39.8 million at December 31, 2020, representing a 3.21 to 1.00 ratio.
• The Company maintains a solid debt to equity ratio. At December 31, 2020, September 30, 2020, and September 30, 2019, the ratios were 0.70 to 1.00, 0.68 to 1.00, and 0.82 to 1.00, respectively.

As of December 31, 2020, the Company had long-term debt, including lines of credit, net of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, of approximately $155.2 million.

About Alico

Alico, Inc. primarily operates two divisions: Alico Citrus, one of the nation’s largest citrus producers, and Land Management and Other Operations, which include environmental services, land leasing and related support operations. Learn more about Alico (Nasdaq: “ALCO”) at www.alicoinc.com.