Harold Edwards, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, stated, “Our achievement of solid lemon revenue and record avocado production, reaching 1510萬 pounds of avocados sold in 2024, demonstrates the inherent strength of our agricultural platform and validates our strategic focus on this high-value segment. The exceptional performance in avocados reinforces our strategic decision to expand our avocado production by 1,000 acres through fiscal year 2027, a transformation that is expected to drive significant EBITDA growth. In addition, our lemon offering is achieving increased penetration in the foodservice and quick service restaurant channels, and we expect more meaningful market penetration in fiscal 2025. We anticipate that further growth will come from enhanced sourcing of third-party lemons, alongside the significant monetization potential of our water and real estate assets. Our compelling portfolio of agricultural and real estate assets, together with our valuable water resources and strong balance sheet, create multiple pathways intended to build lasting shareholder value."
Mr. Edwards continued, 「Our Harvest at Limoneira residential real estate joint venture with the Lewis Group of Companies (「Lewis」) continues to perform very well and we also anticipate meaningful water monetization transactions in fiscal year 2025. In addition, we continue to explore strategic alternatives for our assets and are very pleased with the interest. We remain committed to thoroughly exploring all options to maximize stockholder value and will provide updates if the board of directors finds that further disclosure is necessary or advisable.」
Fiscal Year 2024 Fourth Quarter Results
For the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2024, total net revenue was $4390萬, compared to total net revenue of $4140萬 in the fourth quarter of the previous fiscal year. Agribusiness revenue was $4250萬, compared to $4010萬 in the fourth quarter of last fiscal year. Other operations revenue was $140萬, compared to $130萬 in the fourth quarter of last fiscal year.
The Company expects fresh lemon volumes to be in the range of 500萬 to 550萬 cartons for fiscal year 2025. Avocado volumes are expected to be in the range of 700萬 to 800萬 pounds for fiscal year 2025.
The Company expects to receive total proceeds of $18000萬 from Harvest, LLCb II, LLC and East Area II spread out over seven fiscal years, with approximately $1500萬 received in fiscal year 2024.
Harvest at Limoneira Cash Flow Projections (in millions)
財政年度
2024 Actual
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
Projected Distributions
$15
$8
$18
$34
$41
$22
$42
The Company has 1,000 acres of non-bearing lemons and avocados estimated to become full bearing over the next four to five years, which the Company expects will enable strong organic growth in the coming years. Additionally, the Company plans to continue expanding its plantings of avocados over the next three years and expects to have an increase in third-party grower lemons. The foregoing describes organic growth opportunities and does not include potential acquisition opportunities for the Company in its highly fragmented industry.
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements are based on Limoneira’s current expectations about future events and CAN be identified by terms such as 「expect,」 「may,」 「anticipate,」 "plans", 「intend,」 「should be,」 「will be,」 「is likely to,」 「strive to,」 and similar expressions referring to future periods.
Limoneira believes the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable but cannot guarantee future results, level of activity, performance or achievements. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, Limoneira cautions you against relying on any of these forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause future outcomes to differ materially from those foreseen in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: success in executing the Company’s business plans and strategies, including the review and evaluation of strategic transactions; the process by which the Company engages in its evaluation of strategic transactions; the outcome of potential future strategic transactions and the terms thereof; the possibility that the evaluation of potential strategic transactions will not realize any additional value to our stockholders, and managing the risks involved in the foregoing; changes in laws, regulations, rules, quotas, tariffs and import laws; weather conditions that affect production, transportation, storage, import and export of fresh product; increased pressure from crop disease, insects and other pests; disruption of water supplies or changes in water allocations; disruption in the global supply chain; pricing and supply of raw materials and products; market responses to industry volume pressures; pricing and supply of energy; changes in interest and currency exchange rates; availability of financing for land development activities; political changes and economic crises; international conflict; acts of terrorism; labor disruptions, strikes or work stoppages; loss of important intellectual property rights; inability to pay debt obligations; inability to engage in certain transactions due to restrictive covenants in debt instruments; government restrictions on land use; and market and pricing risks due to concentrated ownership of stock. Other risks and uncertainties include those that are described in Limoneira’s SEC filings that are available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. Limoneira undertakes no obligation to subsequently update or revise the forward-looking statements made in this press release, except as required by law.