Logs are piled up at West Fraser Timber in Quesnel, B.C., on April 21, 2009.JONATHAN HAYWARD/The Canadian Press
West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. beat expectations as it earned $48-million in its latest quarter despite lower revenues.
The Vancouver-based forest products producer says it earned 70 cents per share for the three months ended June 30, compared with a loss of $58-million or 92 cents a share in the second quarter of 2019.
Adjusted profits increased to $79-million or $1.13 per share, from $28 million or 42 cents a year earlier.
Revenues decreased three per cent to $1.28-billion from $1.32-billion in the prior year’s quarter.
West Fraser was expected to report 19 cents a share in adjusted earnings on $1.15-billion of revenues, according to financial markets data firm Refinitiv.
The company says it adjusted operations starting in March to address COVID-19 which led to a reduction in production of lumber and pulp. Yet, as the quarter progressed, demand for lumber and plywood was more resilient than expected, resulting in increased pricing.
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