Earnings call transcript: Conifex Timber posts Q2 2026 loss as tariffs weigh

Conifex Timber Inc. disclosed a Q2 2026 loss of CAD 9.5 million, or $0.23 per share, amid ongoing U.S. softwood lumber duties and reduced operations. Revenue totaled $23.0 million. Shares declined 3.85% to $0.13 in premarket trading, near the bottom of its 52-week range, as investors assessed persistent losses versus the company's longer-term recovery strategy.

Conifex scaled back production to conserve cash amid high duties and weak lumber prices, resulting in a 30% capacity utilization across its operations. The Mackenzie site in British Columbia, with a structural sawlog surplus and low delivered log costs, is seen as a potential catalyst for improved performance once production resumes.

The company's cumulative U.S. duty and tariff deposits reached $49.4 million U.S. (approximately CAD 68 million). Management anticipates the Mackenzie site to become EBITDA positive in 2027 if financing is secured and market conditions improve. The firm is actively seeking additional support from lenders and government programs.

In H1 2026, Conifex produced 35.8 million board feet of lumber, with a capacity utilization rate of about 30%. The net loss for the quarter remained unchanged from the first quarter, while the EBITDA loss narrowed by CAD 1.4 million.

Chairman and CEO Ken Shields highlighted the company's strategy of curtailing operations to protect its balance sheet during the challenging market environment. Shields also emphasized the company's competitive delivered log costs and targeted capital program as long-term advantages that could position the Mackenzie site well below the SPF lumber industry cost curve. However, the company remains reliant on securing additional financing, with no assurance of success.