BOISE CASCADE Co

We recorded income from operations of $147.0 million during the three months ended June 30, 2024, compared with income from operations of $190.0 million during the three months ended June 30, 2023. In our Wood Products segment, income decreased $31.3 million to $72.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024, from $104.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2023, due primarily to lower EWP sales prices, as well as higher wood fiber and conversion costs. These decreases in segment income were offset partially by higher EWP sales volumes. In our BMD segment, income decreased $13.2 million to $85.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024, from $98.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2023, driven by increased selling and distribution expenses and depreciation and amortization expense of $10.9 million and $4.4 million, respectively. These decreases were offset partially by decreased general and administrative expenses of $2.0 million. Gross margins were flat when compared with the same quarter in the prior year. These changes are discussed further in "Our Operating Results" below.

We ended second quarter 2024 with $922.1 million of cash and cash equivalents and $395.7 million of undrawn committed bank line availability, for total available liquidity of $1,317.8 million. We had $445.7 million of outstanding debt at June 30, 2024. We used $27.5 million of cash during the six months ended June 30, 2024, principally to fund seasonal working capital increases and capital spending, treasury stock purchases, dividends paid on our common stock, and tax withholding payments on stock-based awards. A further description of our cash sources and uses for the six-month comparative periods are discussed in "Liquidity and Capital Resources" below.

Demand for the products we manufacture, as well as the products we purchase and distribute, is correlated with new residential construction, residential repair-and-remodeling activity and light commercial construction. Residential construction, particularly new single-family construction, is the key demand driver for the products we manufacture and distribute. Current industry forecasts for 2024 U.S. housing starts are slightly below actual housing starts of 1.42 million in 2023, as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau. Home affordability remains a challenge for many consumers due to the cost of housing, as well as persistent elevated mortgage rates. However, with low unemployment, an undersupply of existing housing stock available for sale, and favorable demographic trends, new residential construction is expected to remain an important source of supply for homebuyers. Multi-family starts have declined sharply from historic levels due to increased capital costs for developers, combined with elevated supply. Regarding home improvement spending, the age of U.S. housing stock and elevated levels of homeowner equity will continue to provide a favorable backdrop for repair-and-remodel spending. However, while home improvement spending is expected to remain healthy compared to history, renovation spending has softened due to consumer uncertainty, labor availability, higher borrowing costs, and building material inflation. Ultimately, macroeconomic factors, the level and expectations for mortgage rates, home affordability, home equity levels, home size, and other factors will likely influence the near-term demand environment for the products we manufacture and distribute.

As a manufacturer of certain commodity products, we have sales and profitability exposure to declines in commodity product prices and rising input costs. Our distribution business purchases and resells a broad mix of products with periods of increasing prices providing the opportunity for higher sales and increased margins, while declining price environments expose us to declines in sales and profitability. Future product pricing, particularly commodity products pricing and input costs, may be volatile in response to economic uncertainties, industry operating rates, supply-related disruptions, transportation constraints or disruptions, net import and export activity, inventory levels in various distribution channels, and seasonal demand patterns.