Although we don't believe in timing the market or panicking over market movements, we do like to keep an eye on big changes -- just in case they're material to our investing thesis.
What: Shares of Rayonier (RYN -0.56%) jumped 10% today after the company announced earnings and said that it would split into two businesses.
So what: First, fourth-quarter earnings showed a 35% rise in revenue to $520.2 million and a profit of $80 million, or $0.62 per share, $0.03 better than a year ago. Results topped expectations, but the bigger news was the spin-off.
The performance fibers business will be spun off into a new publicly trading company, and Rayonier will focus on forest resources and real estate. The deal is expected to be completed mid-year.
Now what: Spin-offs are often done when companies think they can get higher valuations as stand-alone companies than they can together. That's the driver of the split, as management sees bullish trends in both cellulose fibers and the housing market -- and with different capital needs, now was the time to split. I don't think this fundamentally changes either company, but the market sees more value with them separate, and new investors will be able to bet on more specific parts of the market.
