Limoneira Company, a diversified citrus packing, selling, and marketing company with related agribusiness activities and real estate development operations, has reported financial results for the first quarter ended January 31, 2019.
- First Quarter 2019 Revenue Grew 33% to $42.0 Million.
- Company Reiterates Operating Income, EBITDA, and adjusted EPS Guidance for Fiscal Year 2019.
- Strategic Joint Venture and Land Acquisition in Argentina on Track to Close March 2019.
Management Comments
Harold Edwards, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, “Our topline growth was primarily due to a 39% increase in lemon sales, partially offset by weaker lemon pricing due to colder weather in the U.S. during the last month of the quarter and lower orange pricing in the quarter. Our business is best viewed on an annual basis, which is why despite the lower pricing environment, we believe the underlying fundamentals of the business are strong and remain confident we will achieve our full year 2019 guidance. As we continue to expand and solidify our place as a global supplier of fresh citrus, through organic growth and acquisitions such as our recent joint venture and land acquisition in Argentina, we will continue to reduce the seasonal nature of our business. In addition, our real estate development project, Harvest at Limoneira, has now closed on 174 lot sales and we expect this project will generate meaningful equity earnings on our statement of operations during the second quarter of this year.”
Alex Teague, Senior Vice President, stated, “We are very excited to start off the first half of this year with a strategic move into Argentina, as we continue to look for ways to access new markets and networks to increase our production and distribution as part of our One World of CitrusTM initiative. This expansion of our global footprint into Argentina strengthens our ability to become a 365-day, 24/7 global supplier of fresh citrus to our valued customers around the world. In addition, we are pleased with the successful integration of our two acquisitions last year and are seeing great grower retention from the Oxnard Lemon acquisition and increased production capabilities.”
To view the full financial release, click here.
