BOISE, Idaho (News release) -- Boise Cascade Company reported fourth quarter net income of $8.7 million, or $0.24 per share, on sales of $1.5 billion. For the full year 2025, Boise Cascade reported net income of $132.8 million, or $3.53 per share, on sales of $6.4 billion. Fourth quarter and full year earnings were negatively impacted by approximately $6 million, or $0.16 per share after-tax, related to an accrual for legal proceedings in our Building Materials Distribution segment. For 2024 comparative results, see the table below.

"While the fourth quarter reflected the expected seasonal softness in demand, I am proud of our teams for delivering strong operating results despite ongoing market headwinds," said Nate Jorgensen, CEO. "I want to thank each Boise Cascade associate for their dedication and perseverance throughout the year. The foundation of our success remains our people and the values we live every day. Looking ahead, we are well positioned to capture opportunities when housing starts recover, supported by our resilient business model and strategic investments in both our distribution and EWP manufacturing businesses. As I prepare to retire, I am deeply grateful for the Board of Directors' support and for the strength of our leadership team. I have great confidence in Jeff as he steps into the role of CEO. His vision, experience, and steadfast commitment to our values will serve Boise Cascade well as we advance our objectives and create long-term value for our stakeholders."

Fourth Quarter and Year End 2025 Highlights

In fourth quarter 2025, total U.S. housing starts and single-family housing starts decreased 4% and 7%, respectively, compared to the same period in 2024. For the full year 2025, total U.S. housing starts and single-family housing starts decreased 1% and 7%, respectively, compared to 2024. Single-family housing starts are the key demand driver for our sales.

Building Materials Distribution (BMD)

BMD's sales decreased $75.7 million, or 5%, to $1,363.1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2025, from $1,438.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2024. Compared with the same quarter in the prior year, the decrease in sales was driven by decreases in sales prices and sales volumes of 4% and 1%, respectively. By product line, commodity sales decreased 9%, general line product sales increased 3%, and EWP sales (substantially all of which are sourced through our Wood Products segment) decreased 14%. BMD segment income decreased $29.2 million to $41.5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2025, from $70.7 million for the three months ended December 31, 2024. The decrease in segment income was driven by a gross margin decrease of $21.3 million, resulting primarily from decreased margins on commodity and EWP products, offset partially by increased margins on general line products. Segment income in the fourth quarter was also impacted by the previously referenced $6 million accrual for legal proceedings.

For the year ended December 31, 2025, sales decreased $225.2 million, or 4%, to $5,941.3 million from $6,166.5 million in 2024. The decrease in sales was driven by a 2% decrease in both sales prices and sales volumes. By product line, commodity sales decreased 6%, general line product sales increased 3%, and EWP sales decreased 13%. BMD segment income decreased $81.2 million to $222.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, from $303.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. The decline in segment income was driven by a gross margin decrease of $48.8 million, resulting primarily from lower gross margins on commodity and EWP products, offset partially by improved gross margins on general line products. In addition, selling and distribution expenses and depreciation and amortization expense increased $21.8 million and $9.2 million, respectively.

Wood Products

Wood Products' sales, including sales to BMD, decreased $65.7 million, or 16%, to $354.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2025, from $419.7 million for the three months ended December 31, 2024. The decrease in sales was driven by lower sales prices and sales volumes for LVL and I-joists (collectively referred to as EWP) and plywood. For the three months ended December 31, 2025, Wood Products' segment loss was $13.8 million compared to segment income of $33.6 million for the three months ended December 31, 2024. The decrease in segment income was due primarily to lower EWP sales prices and sales volumes, as well as lower plywood sales prices and higher per-unit conversion costs.

For the year ended December 31, 2025, sales, including sales to BMD, decreased $218.9 million, or 12%, to $1,613.4 million from $1,832.3 million in 2024. The decrease in sales was driven by lower sales prices and sales volumes for EWP and plywood. Wood Products' segment income decreased $225.6 million to $5.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, from $231.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. The decrease in segment income was due primarily to lower EWP and plywood sales prices and sales volumes, as well as higher per-unit conversion costs, which were impacted, in part, by planned downtime to complete significant mill modernization capital projects at our Oakdale plywood mill. These decreases in segment income were offset partially by a $3.9 million gain on the sale of a non-operating property.

Comparative average net selling prices and sales volume changes for EWP and plywood are as follows:

Balance Sheet and Liquidity

Boise Cascade ended fourth quarter 2025 with $477.2 million of cash and cash equivalents and $395.1 million of undrawn committed bank line availability, for total available liquidity of $872.3 million. The Company had $450.0 million of outstanding debt at December 31, 2025.

Capital Allocation

During the year ended December 31, 2025, the Company used a combined $274.8 million of cash for capital spending and acquisitions. We expect capital expenditures in 2026, excluding potential acquisition spending, to total approximately $150 million to $170 million. We expect our capital spending in 2026 will be for business improvement and efficiency projects, replacement projects, and ongoing environmental compliance. This level of capital expenditures could increase or decrease as a result of several factors, including efforts to further accelerate organic growth, exercise of lease purchase options, our financial results, future economic conditions, availability of engineering and construction resources, and timing and availability of equipment purchases.

For the year ended December 31, 2025, the Company paid $34.6 million in common stock dividends. On February 6, 2026, our board of directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.22 per share on our common stock, payable on March 18, 2026, to stockholders of record on February 23, 2026.

For the three months ended December 31, 2025, the Company paid $70.4 million for the repurchase of 972,640 shares of our common stock. For the year ended December 31, 2025, the Company paid $181.4 million for the repurchase of 2,101,392 shares of our common stock. In January and February 2026, the Company repurchased and retired an additional 469,284 shares of our common stock at a cost of approximately $39 million. Subsequent to these share repurchases, approximately $200 million of our common stock was available for repurchase under our existing share repurchase program.

Outlook

Demand for the products we purchase and distribute, as well as the products we manufacture, is closely tied to new residential construction, residential repair-and-remodeling activity, and light commercial construction. Residential construction, particularly new single-family construction, remains a key demand driver for the products we distribute and manufacture. In 2025, single-family starts fell short of 2024 levels by approximately 7% and are expected to be flat or modestly down in 2026. Home builders moderated their starts in 2025 to avoid further buildup of finished home inventory as affordability remains a persistent challenge for prospective homebuyers. Throughout 2025 builders bridged the supply-demand gap with increased incentives and high single-digit declines in new home prices. Multi-family experienced growth in 2025 but starts are expected to level off in 2026 due to prohibitive capital costs for developers combined with low rent growth and a decrease in permit activity. Industry experts expect flat home improvement spending in 2026 as high costs of borrowing and historically low home turnover continue to constrain demand. Near term demand will continue to be influenced by factors such as mortgage rates, home affordability, home equity levels, home sizes, new and existing home inventory levels, unemployment rates, and consumer confidence. Long-term demand drivers for residential construction, including generational tailwinds and an undersupply of housing units, remain strong, while elevated levels of homeowner equity and an aging U.S. housing stock support robust repair-and-remodel spending and reinforce the industry's solid fundamentals.

Our distribution business, which purchases and resells a diverse range of products, experiences opportunities for increased sales and margins during periods of rising prices, while periods of declining prices may present challenges. Future product pricing, particularly for commodity products we distribute and manufacture, is expected to remain dynamic, influenced by economic conditions, industry operating rates, supply disruptions, duties, tariffs, transportation constraints, inventory levels, and seasonal demand patterns. We will continue to monitor end market demand signals and align production rates and inventory stocking positions accordingly.