Table of Contents
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 10-Q
☒
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended November 30, 2023
or
☐
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from __________ to __________
Commission file number 000-08814
PURE CYCLE CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Colorado
84-0705083
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
34501 E. Quincy Avenue, Bldg. 65, Suite A, Watkins, CO
80137
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
(303) 292 – 3456
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Common Stock 1/3 of $.01 par value
PCYO
The NASDAQ Stock Market
(Title of each class)
(Trading Symbol(s))
(Name of each exchange on which registered)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer ☐
Accelerated filer ☐
Non-accelerated filer ☒
Smaller reporting company ☒
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date: 24,080,698 shares of 1/3 of $.01 par value common stock as of January 5, 2024.
INDEX TO NOVEMBER 30, 2023 FORM 10-Q
Page
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
4
Item 1. Consolidated Financial Statements
Consolidated Balance Sheets: November 30, 2023 (unaudited) and August 31, 2023
Consolidated Statements of Income (unaudited): For the three months ended November 30, 2023 and 2022
5
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity (unaudited): For the three months ended November 30, 2023 and 2022
6
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited): For the three months ended November 30, 2023 and 2022
7
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
8
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
19
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
26
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
27
Item 2. Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Item 6. Exhibits
SIGNATURES
28
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Statements that are not historical facts contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (Securities Act), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (Exchange Act). The words “anticipate,” “seek,” “project,” “future,” “likely,” “believe,” “may,” “should,” “could,” “will,” “estimate,” “expect,” “plan,” “intend” and similar expressions, as they relate to us, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements relating to, among other things:
1
Forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. There are no assurances that any of our expectations will be realized and actual results could differ materially from those in such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements include, without limitation:
2
We undertake no obligation, and disclaim any obligation, to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise. All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.
3
PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except shares)
November 30, 2023
August 31, 2023
ASSETS:
(unaudited)
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
$
21,784
26,012
Short term investments
167
—
Trade accounts receivable, net
4,778
1,092
Land under development
2,164
1,726
Income taxes receivable
551
Prepaid expenses and other assets
249
346
Total current assets
29,142
29,727
Restricted cash
2,880
2,475
Investments in water and water systems, net
57,698
57,798
Construction in progress
5,865
5,457
Single-family rental units
5,227
4,490
Land and mineral rights:
Held for development
4,871
4,652
Held for investment purposes
451
Other assets
1,234
1,359
Notes receivable – related parties, including accrued interest
Reimbursable public improvements and project management fees
28,270
24,999
Other
1,481
1,451
Operating leases - right of use assets
210
357
Total assets
137,329
133,216
LIABILITIES:
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable
2,783
1,960
Accrued liabilities
1,015
1,761
Accrued liabilities – related parties
906
1,021
Income taxes payable
200
Deferred lot sale revenues
3,791
1,661
Deferred water sales revenues
50
69
Debt, current portion
34
31
Total current liabilities
8,779
6,503
Debt, less current portion
6,874
6,885
Deferred tax liability, net
1,352
Lease obligations - operating leases, less current portion
142
242
Total liabilities
17,147
14,982
Commitments and contingencies
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Series B preferred shares: par value $0.001 per share, 25 million authorized; 432,513 issued and outstanding (liquidation preference of $432,513)
Common shares: par value 1/3 of $.01 per share, 40.0 million authorized; 24,066,720 and 24,078,720 outstanding, respectively
80
Additional paid-in capital
174,770
174,689
Accumulated deficit
(54,668)
(56,535)
Total shareholders’ equity
120,182
118,234
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
See accompanying Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (unaudited)
Three Months Ended
(In thousands, except share information)
November 30, 2022
Revenues:
Metered water usage from:
Municipal customers
202
121
Commercial customers
2,132
392
Wastewater treatment fees
86
63
Water and wastewater tap fees
581
150
Lot sales
1,896
513
Project management fees
100
Single-family rentals
109
25
Special facility projects and other
280
68
Total revenues
5,386
1,340
Expenses:
Water service operations
553
479
Wastewater service operations
159
138
Land development construction costs
688
143
Project management costs
79
72
Single-family rental costs
57
10
Depletion and depreciation
362
378
146
106
Total cost of revenues
2,044
1,326
General and administrative expenses
1,438
1,388
Depreciation
148
115
Operating (loss) income
1,756
(1,489)
Other income (expense):
Interest income - related party
724
247
Interest income - Investments
308
228
Oil and gas royalty income, net
116
Oil and gas lease income, net
18
Other, net
70
1,218
Interest expense, net
(108)
(50)
Income from operations before income taxes
2,802
289
Income tax expense
737
130
Net income
2,065
Earnings per common share - basic and diluted
Basic
0.09
0.01
Diluted
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
24,078,544
23,985,788
24,153,662
24,087,893
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY(unaudited)
Three Months Ended November 30, 2023
Preferred Stock
Common Stock
Additional
Accumulated
(in thousands, except shares)
Shares
Amount
Paid-in Capital
Deficit
Total
Balance at August 31, 2023
432,513
24,078,720
Restricted stock grants
8,000
23
Share-based compensation
58
Repurchases of common stock
(20,000)
(198)
Balance at November 30, 2023
24,066,720
Three Months Ended November 30, 2022
Balance at August 31, 2022
23,980,645
174,150
(61,234)
112,996
6,000
15
78
Balance at November 30, 2022
23,986,645
174,243
(61,075)
113,248
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
Cash flows from operating activities:
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used by operating activities:
Depreciation and depletion
486
493
Trade accounts receivable
(3,686)
1,185
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
12
(904)
Other assets and liabilities
(149)
Share-based compensation expense
81
93
Deferred income taxes
166
Prepaid expenses
97
153
Amortized discount on U.S. Treasury Bills
(113)
Net activity for notes receivable - related party, other
(30)
(122)
Deferred water sales revenue
(19)
(18)
(1,562)
2,130
(386)
Taxes payable / receivable
751
(36)
Net activity on note receivable - related party, reimbursable public improvements
(1,579)
(1,279)
Net cash used by operating activities
(1,228)
(758)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment
-
(76)
Investments in future development phases at Sky Ranch
(1,225)
(514)
Construction costs of single-family rentals
(176)
(1,026)
Investments in water and water systems
(821)
(563)
Purchase of held-to-maturity investments in U.S. Treasury Bills
(167)
(15,000)
Net cash used in investing activities
(2,389)
(17,179)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payments on notes payable
(8)
(3)
Payments to contingent liability holders
(111)
Net cash used in financing activities
(206)
(114)
Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
(3,823)
(18,051)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash – beginning of period
28,487
37,222
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash – end of period
24,664
19,171
16,843
2,328
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION
Cash paid for income taxes
947
Cash paid for interest
105
48
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Change in reimbursable public improvements included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities
275
104
Change in investments in water and water systems included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities
71
120
Issuance of stock for compensation
16
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOVEMBER 30, 2023
NOTE 1 – PRESENTATION OF INTERIM INFORMATION
The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared by Pure Cycle Corporation (Company or Pure Cycle) and include all adjustments that are of a normal recurring nature and are in the opinion of management, necessary to present fairly the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the Company as of and for the three months ended November 30, 2023 and 2022. The August 31, 2023 balance sheet was derived from the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements.
Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) have been condensed or omitted. It is suggested the accompanying consolidated financial statements and notes be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2023 (2023 Annual Report) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on November 15, 2023. The results of operations for interim periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the operating results expected for the full fiscal year.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Estimates are used to account for certain items such as revenue recognition, dollar amount of reimbursable costs and collectability of reimbursable costs, costs of revenue for lot sales, share-based compensation, and the useful lives and recoverability of long-lived assets. Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions due to risks and uncertainties, including uncertainty in the current economic environment.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments — Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which changes the impairment model for most financial assets. The ASU introduces a new credit loss methodology, Current Expected Credit Losses (“CECL”), which requires earlier recognition of credit losses, while also providing additional transparency about credit risk. Since its original issuance in 2016, the FASB has issued several updates to the original ASU. The CECL framework utilizes a lifetime expected credit loss measurement objective for the recognition of credit losses for loans, held-to-maturity securities and other receivables at the time the financial asset is originated or acquired. The expected credit losses are adjusted each period for changes in expected lifetime credit losses. The methodology replaces the multiple existing impairment methods, which generally require that a loss be incurred before it is recognized.
On September 1, 2023, the Company adopted the guidance on a modified retrospective basis. The Company has not restated comparative information for the three months ended November 30, 2022, and, therefore, the comparative information for the three months ended November 30, 2022, is reported under previous guidance and is not comparable to the information presented for the year ended November 30, 2023. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
NOTE 2 – REIMBURSABLE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS AND NOTE RECEIVABLE FROM THE SKY RANCH CAB
The Sky Ranch Community Authority Board (Sky Ranch CAB) and the Company’s agreements with the Sky Ranch CAB are described in greater detail in Notes 5 and 15 to the 2023 Annual Report.
The notes receivable – related party, reimbursable public improvements and project management fees are due to the Company from the Sky Ranch CAB and reports the balances owed by the Sky Ranch CAB to Pure Cycle for public improvements paid for by Pure Cycle which are reimbursable from the Sky Ranch CAB, project management fees related to the Company’s management of the construction of the public improvements, and interest accrued on the unpaid balances related to the ongoing development of the Sky Ranch master planned community (Sky Ranch). Pure Cycle has advanced funds to the Sky Ranch CAB for the cost of public improvements at Sky
Ranch which are the ultimate responsibility of the Sky Ranch CAB. During the three months ended November 30, 2023, Pure Cycle spent $2.5 million on public improvements which are payable by the Sky Ranch CAB to Pure Cycle. Since Pure Cycle believes the amounts are probable of collection, they have been added to the note receivable from the Sky Ranch CAB. Additionally, for the three months ended November 30, 2023, project management fees of less than $0.1 million and interest income on the outstanding note receivable of $0.7 million were also added to the note receivable. No payments were made on the note receivable during the three months ended November 30, 2023 and 2022. Pursuant to the agreements with the Sky Ranch CAB, any payments received are initially applied to interest.
The following table summarizes the activity and balances associated with the note receivable from the Sky Ranch CAB:
Beginning balance
17,208
Additions
3,271
1,279
Payments received
Ending balance
18,487
The note receivable from the Sky Ranch CAB accrues interest at 6% per annum. Public improvements which are not probable of reimbursement at the time of being incurred are considered contract fulfillment costs and are recorded as land development construction costs as incurred. If public improvement costs are deemed probable of collection, the costs are recognized as notes receivable - related party. The Company assesses the collectability of the note receivable from the Sky Ranch CAB, which includes reimbursable public improvements, project management fees and the related interest income, at each reporting period. The Sky Ranch CAB has an obligation to repay the Company, but the ability of the Sky Ranch CAB to do so before the contractual termination dates is dependent upon the establishment of a tax base or other fee generating activities sufficient to fund reimbursable costs incurred.
NOTE 3 – REVENUES, FEES AND OTHER INCOME ITEMS
Water and wastewater tap fees, metered water usage and wastewater treatment fees, lot sales, and project management revenue
The Company’s revenue is primarily generated from sales of water and wastewater taps, metered water and wastewater usage, and the sale of lots to homebuilders. Detailed descriptions of the policies related to revenue recognition are included in Note 2 to the 2023 Annual Report.
The following describes significant components of revenue for the three months ended November 30, 2023 and 2022.
Water and wastewater tap fees – During the three months ended November 30, 2023 and 2022, the Company sold a total of 15 and 4 water and wastewater taps generating $0.6 million and $0.2 million in tap fee revenues. These taps were all sold at Sky Ranch.
Metered water and wastewater usage fees – During the three months ended November 30, 2023 and 2022, the Company sold a total of 623 and 207 acre-feet of water generating $2.4 million and $0.6 million in metered water and wastewater treatment fees revenue. The Company provides water and wastewater services to customers, for which the customers are charged monthly usage fees. Water usage fees are assessed to customers based on actual metered usage each month plus a base monthly service fee assessed per single family equivalent (SFE) unit served. One SFE is a customer, whether residential, commercial or industrial, that imparts a demand on the Company’s water or wastewater systems similar to the demand of a family of four persons living in a single-family house on a standard-sized lot. Water usage pricing is based on a tiered pricing structure, and certain usage revenues are subject to royalties as described in the 2023 Annual Report. The Company also sells water for industrial uses, mainly to oil and gas companies for use in the drilling processes.
Sale of finished lots – For the three months ended November 30, 2023 and 2022, the Company recognized $1.9 million and $0.5 million of lot sale revenue, which was recognized using the percent-of-completion method for the Company’s land development activities at the Sky Ranch master planned community. As of November 30, 2023, the first development phase (509 lots) is complete and the second development phase (850 lots) is being developed in four subphases, referred to as Phase 2A (229 lots), Phase 2B (211 lots), Phase 2C (204 lots) and Phase 2D (206 lots). As of November 30, 2023, Phase 2A is approximately 95% complete and Phase 2B is approximately
9
43% complete. Phase 2A is substantially completed with some landscaping items remaining, and Phase 2B is expected to be complete by the end of Pure Cycle’s fiscal 2024. Phase 2C is scheduled to begin during Pure Cycle’s fiscal 2024 second quarter.
Project management services – During each of the three-month periods ended November 30, 2023 and 2022, the Company recognized less than $0.1 million of project management revenue from the Sky Ranch CAB, a related party, for managing the Sky Ranch development project.
Single-family rental revenue
In November 2021, Pure Cycle began renting single-family homes on lots it retained at Sky Ranch. Pure Cycle began recognizing lease income related to these rental units in November 2021. Pure Cycle generally rents its single-family properties under non-cancelable lease agreements with a term of one year. As of November 30, 2023, Pure Cycle has 14 single-family detached homes rented under separate lease agreements. For each of the three-month periods ended November 30, 2023 and 2022, the Company reported $0.1 million and less than $0.1 million of rental property revenues.
Pure Cycle will begin construction on 17 additional rental homes in Phase 2B, all of which the Company believes will be available for rent before December 31, 2024. As of November 30, 2023, the Company had reserved 81 lots in Phases 2B, 2C and 2D of Sky Ranch for future rental units. When combined with the 14 units already built and rented, these additions will bring the total single-family rentals to 95. The Company expects to take three to five years to build and rent all these units. Based on these projections, the Company believes this could become a reportable operating segment in the future once its operations become material.
Special facility projects and other revenue
Pure Cycle receives fees from customers including municipalities and area water providers for contract operations services. These fees are recognized as earned, typically monthly, plus charges for additional work performed. Additionally, the Company performs certain construction activities at Sky Ranch. The activities performed include construction and maintenance services. The revenue for both types of services are invoiced and recognized as special facility projects revenue. For each of the three-month periods ended November 30, 2023 and 2022, the Company recognized $0.3 million and less than $0.1 million of special facility projects and other revenue, an immaterial amount of which is from work performed for the Sky Ranch CAB, a related party.
Deferred revenue
Changes and balances of the Company’s deferred revenue accounts by segment are as follows:
Water and Wastewater Resource Development
Land Development
1,730
Revenue recognized
(127)
(1,963)
(2,090)
Revenue deferred
108
4,093
4,201
3,841
570
4,275
4,845
(513)
(531)
127
552
3,889
4,441
The Company receives deposits or pre-payments from oil and gas operators to reserve water for use in future well drilling operations. When the operators use the water, the Company recognizes the revenue for these payments in the metered water usage from the commercial customers line on the statement of income.
The Company recognizes lot sales over time as construction activities progress and not necessarily when payment is received. For example, the Company may receive milestone payments before revenue can be recognized (i.e., prior to the Company completing cumulative progress which faithfully represents the transfer of goods and services to the customer) which results in the Company recording deferred revenue. The Company recognizes this revenue into income as construction activities progress, measured based on costs incurred compared to total estimated costs of the project, which management believes is a faithful representation of the transfer of goods and services to the customer.
Revenue allocated to remaining performance obligations such as described above represents contracted revenue that has not yet been recognized, which includes unearned revenue and amounts that will be invoiced and recognized as revenue in future periods.
NOTE 4 – FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
Fair value accounting guidance includes a hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 inputs) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 inputs).
The carrying value for certain of the Company’s financial instruments (i.e., cash, restricted cash, short term investments, accounts receivable, accounts payable, accrued liabilities, the SFR Notes and the Lost Creek Note, each as defined in Note 6 below) materially approximate their fair value because of their short-term nature and generally negligible credit losses.
As of November 30, 2023 and August 31, 2023, the Company had no assets or liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis. As of August 31, 2023, the Company had one Level 3 liability, which was the contingent portion of the CAA.
There were no transfers between Level 1, 2 or 3 categories during the three months ended November 30, 2023 or 2022.
NOTE 5 – WATER, LAND AND OTHER FIXED ASSETS
The Company’s water rights and current water and wastewater service agreements, including capitalized terms not defined herein, are more fully described in Note 4 to the 2023 Annual Report.
Investment in Water and Water Systems
The Company’s Investments in water and water systems consist of the following costs and accumulated depreciation and depletion:
Costs
and Depletion
Rangeview water system
20,149
(2,996)
20,020
(2,813)
Rangeview water supply
15,192
15,084
Water supply – Other
7,588
(2,110)
7,612
(2,064)
Sky Ranch water rights and other costs
7,764
(1,529)
(1,487)
Sky Ranch pipeline
5,740
(1,223)
(1,175)
Lost Creek water supply
7,357
7,328
Fairgrounds water and water system
2,900
(1,525)
(1,503)
Wild Pointe service rights
1,632
(1,222)
Totals
68,322
(10,624)
68,080
(10,282)
Net investments in water and water systems
Construction in Progress
The construction in progress account represents costs incurred on various construction projects currently underway that as of the balance sheet date have not been completed and placed into service. The construction in progress account consists primarily of costs incurred relating to water facilities being constructed, which Pure Cycle anticipates will be placed in service during the next 12 months. During the three months ended November 30, 2023, the Company incurred $1.7 million of costs related to construction in Sky Ranch and water
11
and wastewater construction projects. The Company capitalized $1.3 million of costs as projects were completed and placed into service during the three months ended November 30, 2023.
Single-Family Rental Homes
During the year ended August 31, 2023, the Company completed 11 additional rental homes to be used in the rental business. The Company began construction on one single-family detached unit in March 2022 which was completed in December 2022 and rented effective December 15, 2022. For the remaining 10 units, comprised of single-family detached houses and paired homes, construction began in the summer of 2022 and was completed during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023.
At November 30, 2023, the Company has reserved a total of 91 lots in Phase 2 of Sky Ranch (10 of which are in Phase 2A and completed) to build additional rental units.
NOTE 6 – DEBT AND OTHER LONG-TERM OBLIGATIONS
As of November 30, 2023, the outstanding principal and deferred financing costs of the Company’s loans are as follows:
Single-Family Rental Home Note Payable
3,974
Lost Creek Note Payable
3,000
Total outstanding principal
6,974
Deferred financing costs
(66)
Less current maturities, net of current deferred financing costs
(34)
As of November 30, 2023, the scheduled maturities (i.e. principal payments) of the Company’s loans are as follows:
Scheduled principal payments
Within 1 year
42
Year 2
196
Year 3
424
Year 4
1,312
Year 5
3,146
Thereafter
1,854
Total principal payments
SFR Note 1
On November 29, 2021, PCY Holdings, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, entered a Promissory Note (SFR Note 1) with its primary bank to reimburse amounts expended for the construction of the first three single-family rental units. The SFR Note 1 has the following terms:
SFR Note 2
On August 30, 2023, PCY Holdings, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, entered a Promissory Note (SFR Note 2) with its primary bank to reimburse amounts expended for the construction of the next 11 single-family rental homes. The SFR Note 2 has the following terms:
Lost Creek Note
On June 28, 2022, the Company entered a loan with its primary bank to fund the acquisition of 370 acre-feet of water rights the Company acquired on June 27, 2022, in the Lost Creek Designated Groundwater Basin area of Colorado (Lost Creek Note). The Lost Creek Note has an original principal balance of $3.0 million, a ten-year maturity, monthly interest only payments averaging $12,000 per month for thirty-six months which began on July 28, 2022, twenty-four monthly principal and interest payments of $42,000 beginning on July 28, 2025, fifty-nine monthly principal and interest payments of $32,000 beginning on July 28, 2027, and a balloon payment of less than $0.8 million plus unpaid and accrued interest due on June 28, 2032. The Lost Creek Note has a thirty-year amortization period and a fixed per annum interest rate equal to 4.90%. The Lost Creek Note is secured by the Lost Creek Water rights acquired with the note and any fees derived from the use of the Lost Creek Water rights. The Lost Creek Note does not contain any financial covenants.
Working Capital Line of Credit
On January 31, 2022, the Company entered a Business Loan Agreement (Working Capital LOC) with its primary bank to provide a $5.0 million operating line of credit. The Working Capital LOC has a two-year maturity, monthly interest only payments if the line is drawn upon with unpaid principal and interest due at maturity, and a floating per annum interest rate equal to the Wall Street Journal Prime Rate plus 0.5% (9.0% as of November 30, 2023), which has a floor of 3.75%. In the event of default, the interest rate on the Working Capital LOC would be increased by an additional 2.0%. As of November 30, 2023, the Company has not drawn on the Working Capital LOC.
Letters of Credit
At November 30, 2023, the Company has seven Irrevocable Letters of Credit (LOCs) outstanding. The LOCs are to guarantee the Company’s performance related to certain construction projects at Sky Ranch. The Company has the full intent and ability to perform on the contracts, after which, the LOC’s will expire at various dates from June 2024 through November 2024. As of November 30, 2023, the LOCs totaled $2.9 million, which are secured by cash balances maintained in restricted cash accounts at the Company’s bank, renew annually at various dates and have a 1% annual fee.
NOTE 7 – EMPLOYEE STOCK PLANS
The Company reserved 1.6 million shares of common stock for issuance to employees and directors pursuant to the Company’s 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (2014 Equity Plan). As of November 30, 2023 and August 31, 2023, there were 956,378 shares and 964,378 shares available for grant under the 2014 Equity Plan.
13
The following table summarizes the combined stock option activity for the 2014 Equity Plan for the periods noted:
Number of Options
Weighted Average Exercise Price
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term
Approximate Aggregate Intrinsic Value (in thousands)
Outstanding at August 31, 2023
563,000
9.15
5.5
1,221
Granted
Exercised
Forfeited / Expired
Outstanding at November 30, 2023
5.2
Options exercisable at November 30, 2023
504,000
8.95
5.1
1,100
Outstanding at August 31, 2022
712,500
8.75
5.7
1,489
Net settlement exercised
Outstanding at November 30, 2022
1,640
There were no options exercised or issued during the three months ended November 30, 2023.
The following table summarizes the activity and value of non-vested options under the 2014 Incentive Plan for the periods presented:
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Non-vested options outstanding at August 31, 2023
111,000
4.47
Vested
(52,000)
4.41
Non-vested options outstanding at November 30, 2023
59,000
4.45
Non-vested options outstanding at August 31, 2022
232,998
(101,998)
4.40
Forfeited
Non-vested options outstanding at November 30, 2022
131,000
4.54
All non-vested options are expected to vest.
On September 19, 2023, the Company issued certain employees 8,000 shares of restricted stock. These shares vested 20% at the September 19, 2023 grant date, and 20% vest each anniversary of the grant date for four years. The shares are eligible to vote and participate in any dividend or stock splits approved by the Company.
On January 11, 2023, the Company’s six non-employee Board members were each granted 3,033 shares of unrestricted stock. The fair market value of the unrestricted shares for share-based compensation expense is equal to the closing price of the Company's common stock on the date of grant of $9.89. There is no vesting requirement for the unrestricted stock grants. Additionally, on January 11, 2023, the Company’s board awarded an executive officer 50,000 shares of restricted stock. Of which 10,000 shares fully vested in fiscal 2023 and the remaining 40,000 restricted stock unit awards were forfeited upon the executive officer’s departure. The shares are eligible to vote and participate in any dividend or stock splits approved by the Company.
On September 14, 2022, the Company issued certain employees 6,000 shares of restricted stock. These shares vested 20% at the September 14, 2022 grant date, and 20% vest each anniversary of the grant date for four years. The shares are eligible to vote and participate in any dividend or stock splits approved by the Company.
For the three months ended November 30, 2023 and 2022, the Company recognized $0.1 million of stock-based compensation expense.
14
At November 30, 2023, the Company had unrecognized compensation expenses totaling $0.3 million relating to non-vested options and restricted stock that are expected to vest. The weighted-average period over which these options are expected to vest is approximately two years.
NOTE 8 – RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
The Rangeview Metropolitan District
The Rangeview Metropolitan District (Rangeview District) and the Company’s agreements with the Rangeview District are described in greater detail in Note 15 to the 2023 Annual Report.
The Rangeview District and the Company have entered into two loan agreements. In 1995, the Company extended a loan to the Rangeview District for borrowings of up to $0.25 million, which is unsecured, and bears interest based on the prevailing prime rate plus 2% (10.5% at November 30, 2023). The maturity date of the loan is December 31, 2023, at which time it automatically renews through December 31, 2024. Beginning in January 2014, the Rangeview District and the Company entered into a funding agreement that allows the Company to continue to provide funding to the Rangeview District for day-to-day operations and accrue the funding into a note that bears interest at a rate of 8% per annum and remains in full force and effect for so long as the 2014 Amended and Restated Lease Agreement among the Rangeview District, the Company, and the State Board of Land Commissioners remains in effect. The November 30, 2023, balance in notes receivable - related parties, other totaled $1.5 million, which included borrowings of $1.4 million and accrued interest of $0.1 million. As of August 31, 2023, the principal and interest on both loan agreements totaled $1.5 million, which included $1.4 million of borrowings and less than $0.1 million of accrued interest. During the three months ended November 30, 2023 and 2022, the Company did not receive any interest or principal payments from the Rangeview District.
Additionally, the Company provides funding to the Rangeview District for the Rangeview District’s participation in the “Wise Partnership.” The WISE Partnership and capitalized terms related to WISE not defined herein are defined in Note 8 to the 2023 Annual Report. During the three months ended November 2023 and 2022, the Company, through the Rangeview District, received metered water deliveries of 65 acre-feet and 55 acre-feet of WISE water, paying $0.1 million and $0.1 million for this water. The cost of WISE water to the members is based on the water rates charged by Aurora Water and can be adjusted each January 1. As of January 1, 2023, WISE water was approximately $6.48 per thousand gallons and such rate will remain in effect through calendar 2023.
Sky Ranch Community Authority Board
The Sky Ranch CAB and the Company’s agreements with the Sky Ranch CAB are described in greater detail in Note 15 to the 2023 Annual Report.
The Sky Ranch Districts and the Sky Ranch CAB are quasi-municipal corporations and political subdivisions of Colorado formed for the purpose of providing service to Sky Ranch. The Sky Ranch CAB was formed to, among other things, design, construct, finance, operate and maintain certain public improvements for the benefit of the property within the boundaries and/or service area of the Sky Ranch Districts. For the public improvements to be constructed and/or acquired, it is necessary for each Sky Ranch District, directly or through the Sky Ranch CAB, to be able to fund the improvements and pay its ongoing operations and maintenance expenses related to the provision of services that benefit the property. To fund these improvements, the Company and the Sky Ranch CAB entered into various funding agreements obligating the Company to advance funds to the Sky Ranch CAB for specified public improvements constructed from 2018 to 2023. All amounts owed under the agreements bear interest at a rate of 6% per annum. Any advances not paid or reimbursed by the Sky Ranch CAB by December 31, 2058 for the first phase and December 31, 2060 for the second phase shall be deemed forever discharged and satisfied in full. The Company has received cumulative, project-to-date payments of $35.5 million from the Sky Ranch CAB for payments on the note receivable including both principal and interest payments.
As of November 30, 2023, the balance of the Company’s advances to the Sky Ranch CAB for improvements, including interest, net of reimbursements from the Sky Ranch CAB total $28.3 million. The advances have been used by the Sky Ranch CAB to pay for construction of public improvements. The Company submits specific costs for reimbursement to the Sky Ranch CAB that have been certified by an independent third-party. The Company anticipates providing additional funding of approximately $15.5 million for construction of public improvements to the Sky Ranch CAB during the remainder of fiscal 2024 related to Phase 2A, Phase 2B and Phase 2C of the Sky Ranch development. Payments from Sky Ranch CAB are made based on available cashflow from operations or from proceeds from the issuance of bonds.
In fiscal 2022, through a competitive bidding process, the Sky Ranch CAB awarded the Company a contract to construct fencing around Phase 2A of the Sky Ranch Master Planned Community. The contracted bid price is $0.4 million, which is being recognized as revenue as the construction of the fence progresses. During the three months ended November 30, 2023 and 2022, the Company recognized less than $0.1 million of revenue related to this contract.
Nelson Pipeline Constructors LLC
Through a competitive bidding process, the Sky Ranch CAB awarded Nelson Pipeline Constructors, LLC (Nelson), a contract to construct the wet utility pipelines in Phase 2A of Sky Ranch. During the three months ended November 30, 2023 and 2022, the Sky Ranch CAB paid Nelson $0.1 million and $0.2 million related to this contract. Nelson is majority owned by the chair of the Company’s board of directors.
NOTE 9 – SIGNIFICANT CUSTOMERS
The Company has significant customers in its operations. The table below presents the percentage of total revenue for the reported customers for the three months ended November 30, 2023 and 2022. For water and wastewater customers, the Company provides services on behalf of the Rangeview District for which the significant end users include Sky Ranch CAB and two oil & gas operators. The home builders at Sky Ranch account for lot purchase revenue but also for water and wastewater tap fee revenues.
% of Total Revenue Generated From:
Two oil & gas operators
37
%
Lennar
Melody (DR Horton)
Challenger
KB Home
Sky Ranch CAB
As of November 30, 2023, 71% of the reported trade accounts receivable balance is owed to Pure Cycle by the Rangeview District for tap fees, water usage and wastewater treatment fees.
NOTE 10 – ACCRUED LIABILITIES
Accrued compensation
438
985
Other operating payables
294
406
Property taxes
175
Operating lease obligation, current
118
Professional fees
Rental deposits
40
Total accrued liabilities
Land development costs due to the Sky Ranch CAB
610
727
Due to Rangeview Metropolitan District
296
Total accrued liabilities - related parties
NOTE 11 – SEGMENT INFORMATION
The Company reports two operating segments which meet segment disclosure requirements, the water and wastewater resource development segment and the land development segment. The single-family rentals, although not currently material to operations and not a required segment disclosure, is presented within the operating segment information below for informational purposes.
The water and wastewater resource development segment includes providing water and wastewater services to customers, which water is provided by the Company using water rights owned or controlled by the Company, and developing, operating, and maintaining
infrastructure to divert, treat and distribute that water and collect, treat and reuse reclaimed wastewater. The land development segment includes all activities necessary to develop and sell finished lots, which for the three months ended November 30, 2023 and 2022, was done exclusively at the Company’s Sky Ranch Master Planned Community. The single-family rental business includes the monthly rental fees received from the renters under the non-cancellable annual leases.
The tables below present the measure of profit and assets used to assess the performance of the two required segments and the single-family rentals that the Company believes will become a segment for the periods presented:
Water and wastewater resource development
Land development
Single-family rental
Total revenue
3,281
1,996
Cost of revenue
858
767
1,682
Total cost of revenue
1,220
Segment (loss) profit
2,061
1,229
52
3,342
794
521
723
215
948
1,101
Segment profit
(307)
306
The following table summarizes the Company’s total assets by segment. The assets consist of water rights and water and wastewater systems in the Company’s water and wastewater resource development segment; land, land development costs and deposits in the Company’s land development segment; and the cost of the homes in the single-family rental line. The Company’s other assets (Corporate) primarily consist of cash, short term investments, restricted cash, equipment, and related party notes receivable. Related party notes receivable were not previously presented as Corporate assets and the totals listed as of August 31, 2023 have been updated to reflect the Company’s new presentation.
65,803
63,129
10,359
7,710
5,251
5,128
Corporate
55,916
57,249
17
NOTE 12 – EARNINGS PER SHARE
Earnings per share (EPS) is calculated by dividing net income attributable to common shareholders by the weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Certain outstanding options are excluded from the diluted EPS calculation because they are anti-dilutive (i.e., their assumed conversion into common stock would increase rather than decrease EPS). For the three months ended November 30, 2023 and 2022, the Company excluded 487,882 options and 610,395 options because their impact was anti-dilutive.
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
Basic weighted average common shares
Effect of dilutive securities
75,118
102,105
Weighted average shares applicable to diluted earnings per share
Earnings per share - basic
Earnings per share - diluted
NOTE 13 – INCOME TAXES
The income tax provision for interim periods is determined using an estimate of the annual effective tax rate, adjusted for discrete items. As of November 30, 2023, the Company is estimating an annual effective tax rate of approximately 25%. Each quarter, the estimate of the annual effective tax rate is updated, and if the estimated effective tax rate changes, a cumulative adjustment is made. There is a potential for volatility of the effective tax rate due to various factors.
The provision for income taxes is recorded at the end of each interim period based on the Company’s best estimate of its effective income tax rate expected to be applicable for the full fiscal year considering any items requiring discrete recognition.
The effective income tax rate for the three months ended November 30, 2023, was impacted by adjustments related to reconciling items between the Company’s books and tax returns.
In Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (MD&A), “we,” “us,” “our” and "Pure Cycle" refer to Pure Cycle Corporation and all entities owned or controlled by Pure Cycle Corporation. You should read the following discussion in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes, related MD&A and discussion of our business included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2023 (2023 Annual Report) filed with the United States (U.S.) Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the unaudited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in this Form 10-Q. The results of operations reported and summarized below are not necessarily indicative of future operating results, and future results could differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements (refer to “Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in this Form 10-Q; and Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in our 2023 Annual Report for further discussion).
We are a diversified water and land resource development company. At our core, we are a wholesale water and wastewater service provider, and we develop land we own into master planned communities, reserving certain lots on which we build homes for our single-family rental business. Both the land development and single-family home rental lines of business generate customers and usage fees for our water and wastewater resource development business.
Recent Developments and Economic Conditions
The housing market experienced tremendous growth for several years through 2022. In the third quarter of calendar 2022, the housing market experienced increased challenges, which have continued through the date of this filing and show signs of continuing in 2024. These challenges were caused by multiple factors including rising mortgage interest rates; the war in Ukraine, which has impacted supplies of energy, food, fertilizer, and fuel; increasing inflation; disruptions in supply chains, distribution networks and consumer behavior; and the collapse of three large banks, which may impact the availability of lending and deposit rates. The U.S. Federal Reserve Board (Federal Reserve) remains aggressive in its actions to combat inflation, which has resulted in mortgage rates rising, which hit their highest levels in over 15 years during 2023, further challenging the housing market.
Despite this, we believe several long-term land development and housing market fundamental factors remain positive. For example, available lots and housing supply-demand remain imbalanced due to a decade-plus of underproduction of new homes in relation to population growth and low resale home inventory. While we remain confident in the long-term growth prospects for the industry given these and other factors, our future performance and strategies will depend significantly on the housing market which is impacted by the factors noted in the paragraph above. Like many other businesses, our contractors have experienced delays in receiving materials and parts, rising costs, and labor shortages. However, we have adjusted our purchases and operations in ways that we believe will reduce the impact these factors have on our construction and other activities. Specifically, we delayed the start of construction on Phase 2B to avoid incurring development costs when market demand declined and to give our home builder partners additional time to absorb lots from Phase 2A. We believe our reasonably priced lots and the low inventory of entry level housing in the Denver market will help Sky Ranch navigate the changing market better than other surrounding and significantly higher priced communities. We continue to work closely with our home builder partners to provide affordable lots for entry level homes and to deliver those lots incrementally to minimize inventories for both the Company’s construction of lots and our home builders’ ownership of finished lots.
The Federal Reserve’s aggressive raising of the federal funds interest rate and other measures during calendar 2022 and 2023 sought to moderate persistent U.S. inflation, and the further actions it has stated it intends to take, are expected to be an ongoing headwind for the housing market in 2024 as they have elevated mortgage loan interest rates and created macroeconomic uncertainty and volatility across financial markets. In addition, consumer demand for our homes and our ability to grow our scale, revenues, and returns in fiscal 2024 could be materially and negatively affected by the above-described monetary policy impacts or other factors that curtail mortgage loan availability, employment or income growth or consumer confidence in the U.S. and Colorado markets. We continue to work proactively to mitigate these impacts working with our home builder partners on timing of investment and delivery of lots; however, the potential extent and effect of these factors on our business is uncertain, unpredictable, and outside our control, and our past performance should not be considered indicative of our future results.
Our Business Strategy
For more than three decades we have accumulated a large portfolio of valuable water rights and land interests in Colorado. We have added an extensive network of wholesale water production, storage, treatment and distribution systems, and wastewater collection and treatment systems that we use to serve domestic, commercial, and industrial water demands in the eastern Denver metropolitan region. Our primary land asset, Sky Ranch, is in one of the most active development areas in the Denver metropolitan region along the rapidly developing I-70 corridor, and we are developing lots at Sky Ranch for residential, commercial, retail, and light industrial uses. We also have launched a single-family rental business where we rent homes in Sky Ranch under annual lease agreements. We plan to expand this new line of business to more than 200 rental units over the next several years.
Although we report our results of operations through our water and wastewater resource development segment and our land development segment, we operate these segments as a cohesive business designed to provide a cost effective, sustainable, and value-added business enterprise.
Water and Wastewater
Water resources throughout the western U.S., and particularly in Colorado, are a scarce and valuable resource. Our owned and/or controlled portfolio of approximately 30,000 acre-feet of water is comprised of groundwater, designated basin groundwater, and surface water supplies. Our other significant water assets include 26,000 acre-feet of adjudicated reservoir sites, two wastewater reclamation facilities, water treatment facilities, potable and raw water storage facilities, wells and water production facilities, and roughly 50 miles of water distribution and wastewater collection lines. Our water supplies and wholesale facilities are primarily located in southeast Denver, an area which is limited in both water availability and infrastructure to produce, treat, store, and distribute water and wastewater. We believe this provides us with a unique competitive advantage in offering these services.
We provide wholesale water and wastewater service to local governments for both residential and commercial customers. The local governments we serve include the Rangeview Metropolitan District (Rangeview District), Arapahoe County, the Sky Ranch Community Authority Board and related metropolitan districts (Sky Ranch CAB), and the Elbert and Highway 86 Commercial Metropolitan District (Elbert 86 District). Our mission is to provide sustainable, reliable, high-quality water to our customers and collect, treat, and reuse wastewater using advance water treatment systems, which produce high quality reclaimed water we can reuse for outdoor irrigation and industrial demands. By using and reusing our water supplies, we proactively manage our valuable water rights in the water-scarce Denver, Colorado region which dramatically reduces the environmental impact of our water resource operations. We design, permit, construct, operate and maintain wholesale water and wastewater systems that we own or operate on behalf of governmental entities. We also design, permit, construct, operate, and maintain retail distribution and collection systems that we own or exclusively operate on behalf of our governmental customers. Additionally, we handle administrative functions, including meter reading, billing and collection of monthly water and wastewater revenues, regulatory water quality monitoring, sampling, testing, and reporting requirements to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
Revenues for our water operations are dependent on us growing the number of customers we serve. If we are unable to add customers to our systems and sell taps to builders, our revenues could be negatively impacted. We currently are the developer of the Sky Ranch Master Planned Community, which is the main driver of our tap sales. Prolonged periods of hot and dry weather generally cause increased water usage for watering lawns, washing cars, and keeping parks irrigated. Additionally, prolonged periods of dry weather could lead to drought restrictions and limited water availability. Despite our substantial water supply, customers may be required to conserve water usage under such drought restrictions which would negatively impact metered usage revenues. We have addressed some of this vulnerability by instituting minimum customer charges which are intended to cover fixed costs of operations under all likely weather conditions.
20
Our Land Development segment is primarily focused on developing the Sky Ranch Master Planned Community located along the booming I-70 corridor. We develop and sell residential, commercial, retail, and light industrial lots. Sky Ranch is zoned to include up to 3,200 single-family and multifamily homes, parks, open spaces, trails, recreational centers, and schools. Additionally, Sky Ranch is zoned to include over two million square feet of retail, commercial, and light industrial space, which is the equivalent of approximately 1,800 residential units, meaning the Sky Ranch community at build-out will include a total of roughly 5,000 residential and equivalent units. Our land development activities include the design, permitting, and construction of all the horizontal infrastructure, including, storm water, drainage, roads, curbs, sidewalks, parks, open space, trails, and other infrastructure to deliver “ready to build” finished lots to home builders and commercial customers. Our land development activities generate revenue from the sale of finished lots as well as construction revenues from activities where we construct infrastructure on behalf of others. Land development revenues come from our home builder customers under specific agreements for the delivery of finished lots. Additionally, pursuant to certain agreements with the Sky Ranch CAB and its related metropolitan districts, on their behalf we construct public infrastructure such as roads, curbs, storm water, drainage, sidewalks, parks, open space, trails etc., the costs of which are reimbursed to us by the Sky Ranch CAB through funds generated from property taxes, fees or the issuance of municipal bonds.
Our land development activities provide a strategic complement to our water and wastewater activities because a significant component of any master planned community is providing high quality domestic water, irrigation water, and wastewater to the community. Having control over land and the water and wastewater services enables us to build infrastructure for potable water and irrigation distribution, wastewater and storm water collection, roads, parks, open spaces, and other investments efficiently and to manage delivery of these investments to match take-down commitments from our home builder customers without significant excess capacity in any of these investments.
We have been developing the Sky Ranch community since 2017, which we are developing in phases. We believe it will take approximately eight to ten more years to fully develop Sky Ranch. In 2017, we began the initial development phase of Sky Ranch when we entered separate contracts with Richmond American Homes, Taylor Morrison, and KB Home, pursuant to which we sold a total of 505 single-family, detached residential lots at Sky Ranch. Pursuant to these agreements, we were obligated to construct infrastructure and other public improvements as well as wholesale infrastructure improvements (i.e., a wastewater reclamation facility and wholesale water facilities). As of November 30, 2023, Phase 1 of the Sky Ranch development is complete, and all revenue and costs have been recognized.
During our fiscal 2021, we began construction on the second development phase at Sky Ranch. For this phase, we entered separate contracts with KB Home, Lennar Colorado, Melody (a DR Horton Company), and Challenger Homes to sell 804 single-family attached and detached residential lots at Sky Ranch, and we retained 65 lots (through such contracts and subsequent amendments) for use in our single-family home rental business. The second development phase is approximately 250 acres and is being completed in four sub-phases (referred to as Phase 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D). Due to our strong performance in the first phase of the Sky Ranch project, we were able to realize an approximate 40% increase in our average lot prices. For example, we increased our sales price for a 50’ foot lot from $75,000 to $108,000 and added an escalation clause that increases the prices depending on timing of payments. The timing of cash flows includes certain milestone deliveries such as the completion of governmental approvals for final plats, installation of wet utilities, and final completion of lot deliveries.
In February 2021, we began construction activities in Phase 2A at Sky Ranch, which has 229 residential lots, 10 of which we have retained for use in our single-family rental business. As of November 30, 2023, we have received plats and substantially completed wet and dry utilities, roads, and sidewalks for Phase 2A and are actively working on landscaping and fencing for the neighborhood. Contracts with three of the four homebuilders include milestone payments as construction progresses, with the fourth homebuilder contract having one payment due at delivery of the finished lot (i.e. the transfer of the title). As of November 30, 2023, Phase 2A of the Sky Ranch development is approximately 95% complete, and we have received all $18.4 million of payments related to the sale of the 219 lots in Phase 2A.
In March 2023, we began construction activities in Phase 2B at Sky Ranch, which is platted for 211 residential lots, 17 of which we have retained for use in our single-family rental business. Contracts with three of the four homebuilders in Phase 2B include milestone payments as construction progresses, with the fourth homebuilder having one payment due at the transfer of title of the finished lots. As of November 30, 2023, Phase 2B of the Sky Ranch development is approximately 43% complete. During the three months ended
21
November 30, 2023, we received $2.9 million which consists of the second milestone payments from two of the three builders with milestone payment contracts. The last second milestone payment of $1.2 million was received in December 2023. We expect the finished lot payment for Phase 2B, which total $8.9 million, to be received over the next 12 months.
We recognize revenue earned under these contracts over time using the percentage of completion method which aligns the recognition of revenue with the requisite progress made on construction activities. During the three months ended November 30, 2023 and 2022, due to the construction progress in Phase 2A and 2B, we recognized $1.9 million and $0.5 million of lot sale revenue related to construction at Sky Ranch. Due to construction progress, we have recognized a total of $17.5 million of lot sales revenue since construction began on Phase 2A and $5.3 million of lot sale revenue since construction began on Phase 2B. We expect to recognize the majority of the remaining $0.9 million of revenue for Phase 2A before the end of our fiscal 2024, and the remaining $11.8 million of revenue for Phase 2B over the next 12 months.
Payments for lot sales and the related revenue for Phases 2C and 2D will occur as construction of those phases occurs. We believe it will take approximately three more years to complete construction and sell the finished lots in all four subphases depending on the market conditions and permitting process.
In addition to the lot sales described above, from the start of development at Sky Ranch through November 30, 2023, we have received $21.6 million of water and wastewater tap fees from the homebuilders, which is for all 509 taps sold in Phase 1 (with four being allocated to our single-family rentals) and 228 of 229 taps sold in Phase 2A (with 10 being allocated to our single-family rentals). The timing of tap sales is dependent on when homebuilders request building permits. Fees charged per water tap are dependent on lot sizes and average water usage across a broad range of housing product types including duplexes and townhomes. For Phase 2 in total, we estimate water and wastewater tap fees will exceed $20.0 million.
Single-Family Rentals
During our fiscal 2021, we launched a new line of business we are referring to as our single-family rental business. During Phase 1 of Sky Ranch, we retained ownership of four residential lots for use in this business. As of November 30, 2023, we have completed 14 single-family homes on these lots which we own, maintain, and have leased to qualified renters under one-year lease terms. We have expanded our single-family rentals in our second development phase of Sky Ranch by building homes on lots we did not sell to our home builder partners, which we will rent out once completed. As of November 30, 2023, we reserved a total of 91 lots in Phase 2, 10 of which are in Phase 2A and are completed and rented as of November 30, 2023. Additionally, we have reserved 17 lots in Phase 2B, which we anticipate completed in calendar 2024.
We capitalize the costs of the homes and when applicable depreciate the costs over periods not exceeding thirty-years. Lease income is recorded monthly as earned. We began recognizing monthly lease income for the first three rental units on November 1, 2021.
Results of Operations
Executive Summary
For the three months ended November 30, 2023, we generated net income of $2.1 million compared to $0.2 million for the comparable period in fiscal 2022. The increase was primarily driven by significant water sales to oil and gas operators for drilling purposes and increased lot sale revenue being recognized using the percentage of completion method, which is based on progress of construction. Despite increased challenges on the housing market, our land development activities showed an increase in growth over last year as we began construction on Phase 2B at Sky Ranch, which we believe is due to our entry level pricing and affordable lot costs.
22
The tables below present our consolidated results of operations for the three months ended November 30, 2023 and 2022.
(In thousands, except for water deliveries and taps sold)
$ Change
% Change
Water and wastewater resource revenue
2,487
313
Land development revenue
1,383
270
92
1,150
84
336
4,046
302
Water and wastewater resource cost of revenue
119
Land development cost of revenue
257
Single-family rental cost of revenue
47
470
718
54
General and administrative expense and depreciation
1,586
1,503
83
Operating income
267
Other income, net
1,046
1,778
(732)
(41)
(737)
(130)
607
467
1,906
1,199
Basic EPS
0.08
800
Diluted EPS
Water delivered (acre-feet)
623
207
416
201
Water taps sold
Wastewater taps sold
Three Months Ended November 30, 2023 Results Compared to 2022
For the three months ended November 30, 2023, total revenue increased as compared to 2022, primarily due to a significant increase in oil and gas drilling operations in our service area resulting in a substantial increase in commercial water sales. We also experienced increased lot sale revenue from multiple on-going Phases in 2023. Phase 2A had more activity in 2023 and we began construction on Phase 2B in 2023, resulting in more revenue being recognized. Our water and wastewater tap sales increased period over period. Lot sales are recognized using the percentage of completion method and due to increased construction activity in 2023 despite the increased challenges on the housing market and severe weather in our market, construction activities increased to provide additional lots to builders.
For the three months ended November 30, 2023, total costs of revenue increased as compared to 2022, primarily due to higher costs in the land development segment as we continued developing Phases 2A and 2B of Sky Ranch, and higher costs related to the delivery of water to oil and gas operators. Costs of revenue for the water and wastewater segment did not increase in line with revenue because the water sold to oil and gas operators was lower cost water resulting in higher profits versus traditional domestic usage.
For the three months ended November 30, 2023, water deliveries increased as compared to 2022 primarily due to increased water sales to oil and gas operators.
Water and Wastewater Resource Development Results of Operations
(In thousands, except for water deliveries)
Municipal water usage
67
Commercial water usage
1,740
444
431
287
Other revenue
212
312
Total segment revenue
Water service costs
74
Wastewater service costs
(16)
(4)
38
Total expenses
Segment operating income
2,368
771
Water deliveries (acre-feet)
On Site
(5)
(70)
Commercial sales - export water and other
32
(94)
Sky Ranch
51
Wild Pointe
24
O&G operations
516
95
421
Total water deliveries
For the three months ended November 30, 2023, residential water usage revenue increased over 2022 mainly due to increased residential customers at Sky Ranch. Commercial water usage revenue increased for the three months ended November 30, 2023 compared to 2022 due to increased water sales to oil and gas operators.
For the three months ended November 30, 2023, wastewater treatment fees increased slightly as compared to 2022 primarily due to new Sky Ranch customers.
For the three months ended November 30, 2023, water and wastewater tap sales increased compared to 2022 due to timing of closings at Sky Ranch. Tap sales are driven by builders obtaining building permits in anticipation of home closings.
Land Development Results of Operations
Project management revenue
1,475
283
Land development construction and project management costs
923
For the three months ended November 30, 2023, lot sales revenue increased as compared to 2022 due to timing of development activities and 2023 having two phases under construction (Phase 2A and 2B). Per lot revenue is expected to remain consistent for all four subphases of Phase 2. Revenue for builder contracts is recognized over time with progress measured under the percent of completion method; therefore, revenue will fluctuate due to timing of construction activities throughout Phase 2.
For the three months ended November 30, 2023, land development construction costs increased compared to 2022 due to increased construction activity and having two subphases under development in 2023.
Single-Family Rental Results of Operations
In fiscal 2021, we began construction on three homes that were completed and rented effective November 1, 2021. Each home was rented under a one-year non-cancellable lease agreement. The costs reflected as cost of sales for the rental units include a pro-rata share of the annual property taxes and insurance related specifically to the rental units as well as immaterial fees related to the operations and maintenance assessments from the Sky Ranch CAB that are assessed to every home in Sky Ranch. Our tenants are responsible for all other utilities including water and wastewater services that are paid to us. During Q1 2024, the Company had a total of 14 units rented.
Liquidity, Capital Resources and Financial Position
As of November 30, 2023, our working capital, defined as current assets less current liabilities, was $20.4 million, which included $22.0 million in cash and cash equivalents. All our cash is maintained at high-credit quality institutions and overnight investments are made into an insured cash sweep program which provides FDIC insurance for our entire cash balance through the banks in which our cash is being held. We believe that as of November 30, 2023 and as of the date of the filing of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, we have sufficient working capital to fund our operations for the next 12 months. Our expected obligations for the next 12 months are described below.
Sky Ranch Development
Phase 1 of the Sky Ranch development is complete, Phase 2 began in February 2021, which is being done in four subphases, of which Phase 2A and Phase 2B are the only two being actively developed as of November 30, 2023. We estimate total costs to complete the infrastructure (including public improvements) for all 850 lots in Phase 2 to total $74.6 million. Of this, we anticipate spending up to $15.5 million in the next 12 months, and we anticipate receiving approximately $19 million in milestone payments from our builder customers, completed lot payments, and tap fees from the home builders over the same period. The amounts we expect to spend and receive in the next 12 months are dependent on the pace of construction in Phase 2A, Phase 2B and Phase 2C. We believe water and wastewater tap fees as well as progress payments from our homebuilder customers and our existing cash balances will fund our obligations for the next 12 months.
Single-Family Rental Construction Contract
In calendar 2024 we anticipate entering into a contact with a national home builder to construct 17 rental units at Sky Ranch in Phase 2B to be used in our single-family rental business. The contracted construction costs for all 17 units will be approximately $6 million, as of November 30, 2023, we had incurred less than $0.1 million of these construction costs. We anticipate incurring the majority of the remaining cost in calendar 2024.
ECCV Capacity Operating System
The Rangeview District may purchase water produced from East Cherry Creek Valley Water and Sanitation District’s (ECCV) Land Board system, which we would pay for pursuant to our funding agreements with the Rangeview District. Our costs associated with the use of the ECCV system are a flat fee $3,000 per month through April 2032. Additionally, we pay a fee per 1,000 gallons of water produced from the ECCV system, which is included in the water usage fees charged to customers.
South Metropolitan Water Supply Authority (SMWSA) and the Water Infrastructure Supply Efficiency Partnership (WISE)
We have entered into a financing agreement that obligates us to fund the Rangeview District’s cost of participating in WISE. We anticipate investing up to $6.0 million in total through fiscal years 2025 to fund the Rangeview District’s obligation to purchase water and fund development of infrastructure for WISE, its obligations related to SMWSA, and the construction of a connection to the WISE system. In exchange for funding the Rangeview District’s obligations in WISE, we have the sole right to use and reuse the Rangeview District’s 9% share of the WISE water and infrastructure to provide water service to the Rangeview District’s customers and to receive the revenue from such service. Our current WISE subscription entitles us to approximately 3.0 million gallons per day of transmission pipeline capacity and up to 900 acre-feet per year of water.
Summary Cash Flows Table
Cash (used) provided by:
Operating activities
(1,440)
(682)
(90)
Investing activities
(2,177)
15,002
87
Financing activities
(92)
(81)
Net Change in cash
14,228
For the three months ended November 30, 2023, we used cash as follows:
Critical Accounting Policies and Use of Estimates
Our critical accounting policies and estimates are described in “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” within Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and Note 3 of our 2023 Annual Report. The accounting policies and estimates used in preparing our interim consolidated financial statements for the three months ended November 30, 2023 are the same as those described in our 2023 Annual Report. There have been no changes to our critical accounting policies during the three months ended November 30, 2023. Certain information and note disclosures normally included in our annual financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America have been condensed or omitted from the interim financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC, although we believe that the disclosures made are adequate to make the information not misleading. The unaudited consolidated financial statements and other information included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto in our 2023 Annual Report.
Not applicable.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted to the SEC under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified by the SEC’s rules and forms, and that information is accumulated and communicated to management, including the principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures. The President and the Chief Financial Officer evaluated the effectiveness of disclosure controls and procedures during our fiscal 2023, as well as of November 30, 2023, pursuant to Rule 13a-15(b) under the Exchange Act. Based on the fiscal 2023 evaluation, the President and the Chief Financial Officer each concluded that, during fiscal 2023 and as of November 30, 2023, our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) were effective.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
No changes were made to our internal control over financial reporting during our most recently completed fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
On November 2, 2022, our Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase program. The program is open-ended and authorizes repurchases of up to an aggregate of 200,000 shares of common stock in the open market. As of November 30, 2023, the Company had repurchased 20,000 under the repurchase program. The following table presents the number and average price of shares purchased in each month as of January 12, 2024:
Period
Total Number of Shares Purchased
Average Price Paid per Share
Total Number of Shares Purchase as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs
Maximum Number of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
September 2023
15,000
10.06
185,000
October 2023
5,000
9.49
180,000
January 2024
2,029
9.94
177,971
22,029
9.83
Exhibit Number
Description
31.1
Certification of principal executive officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. *
31.2
Certification of principal financial officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. *
32.1
Certification of principal executive officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. **
32.2
Certification of principal financial officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. **
101.INS
Inline XBRL Instance Document. *
101.SCH
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document. *
101.CAL
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document. *
101.DEF
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document. *
101.LAB
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document. *
101.PRE
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document. *
Cover page formatted as inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101
*
Filed herewith.
**
Furnished herewith.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
/s/ Marc S. Spezialy
Marc S. Spezialy
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
January 16, 2024