Forestry companies fall as U.S. housing stats show potential slowing demand

TORONTO – Shares in several major Canadian forestry companies closed down Wednesday after an analyst downgrade and lower-than expected building permits for the crucial U.S. housing sector.

CIBC analyst Hamir Patel said in a note that the bank has reduced its outlook on the industry, including downgrades on Interfor Corp., Resolute Forest Products Inc., and West Fraser Timber Co., as concerns mount about U.S. housing.

“With more warnings signs flashing in the U.S. housing market…we are now moving to the sidelines on all commodity wood product stock,” wrote Patel.

Canfor Corp. closed down six per cent, Resolute ended down 4.5 per cent, Interfor down four per cent, and West Fraser down 3.9 per cent.

The shift came as the U.S. Commerce Department said Wednesday that applications for building permits, seen as a reliable indicator of future activity, fell by 5.7 per cent in August after a 0.9 per cent rise in July. Permit applications have been down four of the past five months.

The reading is quite a bit weaker than expected and shows that permits have clearly faded from the cycle high in March, said BMO senior economist Robert Kavcic in a note.

“This is consistent with our view that residential construction looks to be largely a wash on overall economic growth at this stage of the cycle.”

The drop in permits contrasted with a surprise 9.2 per cent jump in August housing starts, but Kavcic said it was largely a catch-up move from slumps in the previous two months.

The signs of potential slowing come after a strong run for the industry, supported by tight supplies and a rebounding housing sector that have pushed prices up to all-time highs this summer.

Patel noted that a strong first half of the year and a “decent” third quarter have set the industry up for what could be a record year.

High lumber prices have also helped insulate the industry from the softwood lumber tariffs the U.S. imposed in April, 2017 that average just over 20 per cent.

Western softwood lumber prices have averaged US$536 per thousand board feet this year, up from US$401 last year. Prices peaked at more than US$650 per thousand board feet in June but have since plunged, falling 14 per cent in the last two weeks alone to US$412, said Patel.

The tariffs came after a 2006 softwood lumber agreement expired in October 2015. Last week, a group of U.S. senators urged U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to reach a new softwood lumber agreement because of the high lumber prices caused by the tariffs.

Companies in this story: (TSX:WFT, TSX:CFP, TSX:RFP, TSX:IFP)