How Do Exchange Rates Affect US Forest Products and Timberland Investments?

| no comments in Forest Finance & Economics, Timber Market Analysis, Timberlands

When studying exchange rates and currency markets, I sometimes think of the old joke “the quickest way to double your money is to fold it in half and stick it back in your pocket.”   Currency markets shake more than more…

Forecasting Stumpage Prices and Timberland Investment Performance Requires Local Knowledge of Wood Demand

| no comments in Forest Finance & Economics, Forisk, Stumpage Forecasting, Timber Market Analysis, Wood Demand & Procurement

Last week, I met with the CEO of one of world’s largest forest management and consulting firms.  We ended up discussing a mutually perplexing question, “why do some timberland investors prioritize macro issues like housing at the expense of understanding more…

Timberland & Timber REITs: Credit Suisse Analysis Lacks Rigor and Logic

| no comments in Forest Finance & Economics, Timber REITs, Timberlands

An interesting report landed on our desk a few weeks ago, further reinforcing the sorry state of timberland market analysis available to timber REIT investors. The report, from Credit Suisse, makes assertions based on a careless and faulty application of more…

Timber REITs and Timberlands: Wall Street Excitement versus Institutional Indifference

| no comments in Forest Finance & Economics, Timber REITs, Timberlands

Last week, I spoke at the Global Real Assets Investment Forum in New York as part of the panel on “Timber in Institutional Portfolios.”  My takeaway from participating in this event:  institutional investors seem bored with timberlands.  They showed more more…

Timber REIT Comparative Analysis: Who Wins as Housing Markets Return?

| no comments in Timber REITs, Timberlands

Forisk Equity Research completed a comparative analysis of timber REIT forest harvesting activities to address the question, “who wins as housing markets return?”  The Executive Summary is below.  The complete Technical Note (January 2011) is available here. Executive Summary While more…

Forisk interviewed on NPR regarding outlook for the timber industry

| no comments in Stumpage Forecasting, Timber Market Analysis

ATLANTA, GA (WABE) – In recent years, Georgia’s timber producers have fallen on tough times. But a new forecast shows the worst could be behind them. WABE’s Jim Burress reports. The South’s demand for timber between 2006 and 2009 fell by nearly a more…