BOISE CASCADE Co

We ended first quarter 2024 with $890.2 million of cash and cash equivalents and $445.5 million of debt. At March 31, 2024, we had $1,286.0 million of available liquidity (cash and cash equivalents and undrawn committed bank line availability). Our cash and cash equivalents decreased by $59.3 million during the three months ended March 31, 2024, as cash provided by operations was offset by capital spending, treasury stock purchases, dividends paid on our common stock, and tax withholding payments on stock-based awards. Further descriptions of our cash sources and uses for the three-month comparative periods are noted below.

We believe that our cash flows from operations, combined with our current cash levels and available borrowing capacity, will be adequate to fund debt service requirements and provide cash, as required, to support our ongoing operations, capital expenditures, lease obligations, working capital, income tax payments, and to pay cash dividends to holders of our common stock over the next 12 months. We expect to fund our seasonal and intra-month working capital requirements in 2024 from cash on hand and, if necessary, borrowings under our revolving credit facility.

Sources and Uses of Cash

We generate cash primarily from sales of our products, as well as short-term and long-term borrowings. Our primary uses of cash are for expenses related to the manufacture and distribution of building products, including inventory purchased for resale, wood fiber, labor, energy, and glues and resins. In addition to paying for ongoing operating costs, we use cash to invest in our business, service our debt and lease obligations, and return cash to our shareholders through dividends or common stock repurchases. Below is a discussion of our sources and uses of cash for operating activities, investing activities, and financing activities.

Operating Activities

For the three months ended March 31, 2024, our operating activities generated $27.5 million of cash, compared with $48.0 million of cash generated in the same period in 2023. The $20.5 million decrease in cash provided by operations was due primarily to a greater year-over-year increase in working capital. Working capital increased $149.2 million during the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared with a $117.7 million increase for the same period in the prior year. See "Our Operating Results" in this Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for more information related to factors affecting our operating results.

The increase in working capital during both periods was primarily attributable to higher receivables and inventories, offset by an increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities. The increase in receivables in both periods primarily reflect increased sales of approximately 19% and 26%, comparing sales for the months of March 2024 and 2023 with sales for the months of December 2023 and 2022, respectively. Inventories increased during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and March 31, 2023 in preparation for the spring building season. The increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities as of March 31, 2024 was related to the increase in inventories and extended terms offered by certain BMD vendors, offset partially by employee incentive compensation payouts made during the quarter. The increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities as of March 31, 2023 was related to the increase in inventories, offset partially by employee incentive compensation payouts made during the quarter and lower accrued rebates.

Investment Activities

During the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, we used $34.3 million and $30.1 million, respectively, of cash for purchases of property and equipment, including business improvement and quality/efficiency projects, replacement and expansion projects, and ongoing environmental compliance. During the three months ended March 31, 2024, we also used $3.4 million of cash for post-transaction closing adjustments related to the BROSCO acquisition. For further discussion on the BROSCO acquisition, see Note 5, Acquisition, of the Condensed Notes to Unaudited Quarterly Consolidated Financial Statements in "Item 1. Financial Statements" of this Form 10-Q.

Excluding potential acquisitions, we expect capital expenditures in 2024 to total approximately $250 million to $270 million. We expect our capital spending in 2024 will be for business improvement and quality/efficiency projects, replacement and expansion projects, and ongoing environmental compliance. Our 2024 capital expenditures range includes spending on previously announced projects to add I-joist production capabilities at our Thorsby EWP mill and converting a plywood layup line to a parallel laminated veneer line at our Chapman, Alabama plywood facility. At our Oakdale, Louisiana facility, multiple investment projects are planned over the next two years which include upgrade and redesign of the log utilization center, a new veneer dryer and press, and modification of an existing veneer dryer. In addition, our 2024 capital expenditures range includes spending on the previously announced greenfield distribution centers in Texas and South Carolina in our BMD segment. This level of capital expenditures could increase or decrease as a result of several factors, including acquisitions, efforts to further accelerate organic growth, exercise of lease purchase options, our financial results, future economic conditions, availability of engineering and construction resources, and timing and availability of equipment purchases.

Financing Activities

During the three months ended March 31, 2024, our financing activities used $49.6 million of cash, including $27.0 million for the repurchase of 205,938 shares of our common stock, $11.2 million for common stock dividend payments, and $11.0 million of tax withholding payments on stock-based awards. During the three months ended March 31, 2024, we did not borrow under our revolving credit facility and therefore have no borrowings outstanding on the facility as of March 31, 2024.

During the three months ended March 31, 2023, our financing activities used $16.1 million of cash, including $8.3 million for common stock dividend payments, $5.9 million of tax withholding payments on stock-based awards, and $1.5 million for the repurchase of 24,727 shares of our common stock. During the three months ended March 31, 2023, we did not borrow under our revolving credit facility.

Future dividend declarations, including amount per share, record date and payment date, will be made at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend upon, among other things, legal capital requirements and surplus, our future operations and earnings, general financial condition, material cash requirements, restrictions imposed by our asset-based credit facility and the indenture governing our senior notes, applicable laws, and other factors that our board of directors may deem relevant.

For more information related to our debt transactions and structure, our dividend policy, and our stock repurchase program, see the discussion in Note 7, Debt, and Note 10, Stockholders' Equity, respectively, of the Condensed Notes to Unaudited Quarterly Consolidated Financial Statements in "Item 1. Financial Statements" of this Form 10-Q.

Other Material Cash Requirements

For information about other material cash requirements, see Liquidity and Capital Resources in "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our 2023 Form 10-K. As of March 31, 2024, there have been no material changes in other material cash requirements outside the ordinary course of business since December 31, 2023.