ST JOE Co - Annual Report: 2019 (Form 10-K)

 

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-K

(Mark One)

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019

 

For the transition period from                      to                     .

Commission file number: 1‑10466

The St. Joe Company

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

(850) 231‑6400

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. YES ☐  NO  ☑

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.   YES ☐  NO ☑

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.

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not 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  ☑

The aggregate market value of the registrant’s Common Stock held by non-affiliates based on the closing price on June 30, 2019, was approximately $349.7 million.

As of February 24, 2020, there were 59,414,583 shares of common stock, no par value, issued of which 59,414,583 were outstanding.

Documents Incorporated By Reference

Portions of the Registrant’s definitive proxy statement for its 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which proxy statement will be filed no later than 120 days after the close of the Registrant’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, are hereby incorporated by reference in Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10‑K.

 

 

 

 

 

THE ST. JOE COMPANY

INDEX

 

PART I

Item 1.    Business

As used throughout this Annual Report on Form 10‑K, the terms “St. Joe,” the “Company,” “we,” “our,” or “us” include The St. Joe Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless the context indicates otherwise.

General

St. Joe was incorporated in the State of Florida in 1936. We are a Florida real estate development, asset management and operating company with real estate assets and operations in Northwest Florida, which we predominantly use, or intend to use, for or in connection with, our various residential real estate developments, hospitality operations, commercial developments and leasing operations and our forestry operations.

A significant portion of our 175,000 acres of land is entitled for future development. The Bay-Walton Sector Plan is a long term master plan that originally included 110,500 acres of our land with entitlements, or legal rights, to develop over 170,000 residential dwelling units, over 22 million square feet of commercial space, and over 3,000 hotel rooms. We anticipate a wide range of residential, commercial, and hospitality uses on these land holdings. We also have additional entitlements, or legal rights, to develop properties we own outside of this sector plan. We may explore the sale of some of our assets opportunistically or when we believe that we or others can better deploy those resources.

We seek to enhance the value of our real estate assets by developing residential, commercial, multi-family, and hospitality projects to meet market demand. Approximately 90% of our real estate land holdings are located within fifteen miles of the Gulf of Mexico. Our land also surrounds the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP), located in Bay County, Florida, which grew in annual passenger traffic from approximately 300,000 in 2009 to approximately 1.3 million in 2019. We have a large amount of land to meet future market demand as Northwest Florida grows. In 2019 the majority of our revenue was generated from sales, activities and operations on approximately 2% of our land holdings.

Business Strategy

We believe that our present liquidity position and our land holdings can provide us with numerous opportunities to continue to increase recurring revenue and create long-term value for our shareholders by allowing us to focus on our core business activity of real estate development and asset management near the Gulf of Mexico, Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport, the Pier Park area and the Scenic Highway 30A corridor.

In 2018, we began the development or construction of 9 new residential, hospitality, multi-family or commercial projects or phases. By contrast, in 2019, we began the development or construction of 27 new residential, hospitality, multi-family or commercial projects or phases. Several of these projects were completed as of December 31, 2019. In addition, we continue to develop residential homesites in several communities to deliver on the 930 homesites we have under contract to builders or retail consumers.

As of the end of 2019, we had a total of 468 apartment or assisted living units, 597 hotel rooms and 130,785 square feet of commercial and hospitality space under development or construction. We anticipate the completion of construction and placement of these new assets into operations at various times in 2020 and 2021.

In addition to the projects we began in 2018 and 2019, we also began planning, designing and permitting other projects that are expected to move into construction or development in 2020 and beyond. Some of the projects will be constructed through third party joint venture partners. While we expect to commence development and construction of a number of projects in 2020 and beyond, timing of some projects may be delayed due to factors beyond our control.

During the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, we repurchased 1,263,159 and 5,238,566 shares, respectively, of our common stock. We have a total of $86.2 million available for the repurchase of shares pursuant to our Stock Repurchase Program (the “Stock Repurchase Program”). See Item 5. Market for the Registrant’s Common Equity,

Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities and Note 16. Stockholders’ Equity included in Item 15 of this Form 10-K.

Our 2020 capital expenditures budget exceeds our actual 2019 expenditures, as projects move into development or construction and we begin to fund new opportunities to develop, improve or acquire a broad range of asset types that we believe can generate recurring revenue and provide acceptable rates of return, including but not limited to retail, office, hospitality, entertainment, assisted living, industrial, hotel and multi-family properties. We anticipate these future capital commitments will be funded through new financing arrangements, cash on hand, cash equivalents and cash generated from operations. We expect to make these expenditures throughout the coming fiscal year and beyond, but do not anticipate that we will see the full benefit of these investments in 2020.

We have residential communities at different stages of planning or development, including four new residential communities that we commenced development of in 2019. In 2019, we sold 379 homesites, compared with 202 homesites in 2018 and 177 homesites in 2017. We plan to continue to focus on investing in communities that have the potential for long term and scalable revenue. We expect to continue to be a developer of completed residential homesites for sale to builders and to consumers in our communities. In addition, one of our unconsolidated joint ventures has initiated a 55+ active adult community in Bay County, Florida. We are working with our joint venture partner to develop the first phase of the community planned for approximately 3,500 residential homes.

We presently own and/or operate a wide range of hospitality assets, which already generate significant recurring revenue for us. We are expanding the scope and scale of our hospitality assets and services to enable us to enhance the value and revenue those assets provide.

We presently own a wide range of income producing commercial assets. We intend to explore opportunities to increase the size and scope of our assets in ways that can increase recurring revenue while supporting the growth of our residential and hospitality assets.

We expect to continue our cost and investment discipline to ensure low fixed expenses and bottom line performance in all environments.

We plan to continue to maintain a high degree of liquidity while seeking opportunities to invest our cash in ways that we believe can increase shareholder value, including share repurchases, real estate and other strategic investments.

Our Business

We operate our business in four reportable operating segments: (1) residential real estate, (2) hospitality, (3) commercial leasing and sales and (4) forestry. For financial information about our operating segments, please see Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, as well as Note 21. Segment Information included in Item 15 of this Form 10‑K.

Seasonality and Market Variability

Our business may be affected by seasonal fluctuations. Revenue from our hospitality operations are typically higher in the second and third quarters, but can vary depending on the timing of holidays and school breaks, including spring break. Our residential real estate business is predominantly composed of sales to homebuilders, who tend to buy multiple homesites in sporadic transactions, which impacts the variability in our results of operations. The revenue resulting from our residential real estate operations may vary from period to period depending on the communities where homesites are sold, as prices vary significantly by community. Our commercial real estate projects are subject to current demand. These variables may cause our operating results to vary significantly from period to period.

Competition

Real estate development, sales and leasing are highly competitive and fragmented. We compete with local, regional and national real estate leasing and development companies, some of which may have greater financial, marketing, sales

and other resources than us. Competition from real estate leasing and development companies may adversely affect our ability to attract tenants to lease our commercial and multi-family properties or to attract purchasers of our residential and commercial real estate.

Highly competitive companies participate in the hospitality business. Our ability to remain competitive and to attract new and repeat guests, customers and club members depends on our success in distinguishing the quality and value of our products and services from those offered by others. We compete based on location, price and amenities.

Our forestry business competes with numerous public and privately held timber companies in our region. The principal methods of competition are price and quality.

Labor markets in the industries in which we operate are competitive. We must attract, train and retain a large number of qualified employees while controlling related labor costs. We face significant competition for these employees from the industries in which we operate as well as from other industries.

There can be no assurance we will be able to compete successfully against current or future competitors or that competitive pressures we face in the markets in which we operate will not have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.

Governmental Regulation

Our operations are subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations that affect every aspect of our business, including environmental and land use laws relating to, among other things, water, air, solid waste, hazardous substances, zoning, construction permits or entitlements, building codes and the requirements of the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Act and comparable state statutes relating to the health and safety of our employees. Although we believe that we are in material compliance with these requirements, there can be no assurance that we will not incur significant costs, civil and criminal penalties, and liabilities, including those relating to claims for damages to property or natural resources, resulting from our operations. We maintain environmental and safety compliance programs for our facilities and timberlands to monitor compliance with these laws and regulations. Enactment of new laws or regulations, or changes in existing laws or regulations or the interpretation and enforcement of these laws or regulations, might require significant expenditures.

Employees

As of February 24, 2020, we had 55 full-time employees. Most persons employed in the day-to-day operations of our hospitality segment are employed by a third party management company engaged pursuant to an employment services agreement. In addition, we utilize part-time employees and independent contractors during the year based on seasonal needs.

Available Information

Our most recent Annual Report on Form 10‑K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10‑Q, Current Reports on Form 8‑K, and amendments to those reports may be viewed or downloaded electronically, free of charge, from our website: www.joe.com as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). In addition, you may review any materials we file with the SEC on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. To obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference room, you may call the SEC at 1‑800‑SEC‑0330. Our recent press releases are also available to be viewed or downloaded electronically from the Investor Relations section of our website at www.joe.com.

We will also provide electronic copies of our SEC filings free of charge upon request. Any information posted on or linked from our website is not incorporated by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10‑K.

Item 1A.    Risk Factors

You should carefully consider the risks described below, together with all of the other information in this Annual Report on Form 10‑K. The risks described below are not the only risks facing us. Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risk factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible for us to predict all such risk factors, nor can we assess the impact of all such risk factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may affect our business. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us, or that we currently deem to be immaterial, may also materially and adversely affect our business. If any of these risks actually occur, our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, strategies and prospects may be materially adversely affected.

Risks Related to Our Current Business Strategy

We may not be able to successfully implement our business strategy, which would adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and financial performance.

Our current business strategy is the development of our real estate, expanding our portfolio of income producing commercial and residential properties and expanding the scope of our hospitality assets and services, while always maintaining more than sufficient enterprise liquidity. If we are not successful in achieving our objectives, our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition may be negatively affected.

Our investments in new business opportunities are inherently risky and may disrupt our ongoing business and adversely affect our operations.

We invest in new business opportunities, which may involve significant risks and uncertainties, including distraction of management from current operations, insufficient revenue to offset liabilities incurred and expenses associated with these new investments, including development costs, inadequate return of capital on our investments, and unidentified issues not discovered in our due diligence of such opportunities. Because these ventures are inherently risky, no assurance can be given that such strategies and offerings will be successful and will not adversely affect our reputation, financial condition and operating results.

Management has discretion as to the investments we make and may not use these funds effectively.

As of December 31, 2019, we had $185.7 million of cash and cash equivalents. Management has discretion in the selection of these investments and may make investments that do not improve our results of operations, cash flows and financial condition or enhance the value of our common stock or which result in financial losses that may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition and stock price.

We intend to invest our assets in ways such that we will not have to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940. As a result, we may be unable to make some potentially profitable investments.

We are not registered as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Investment Company Act”) and we intend to invest our assets in a manner such that we are not required to register as an investment company. This plan will require monitoring our portfolio so that (a) on an unconsolidated basis we will not have more than 40% of total assets (excluding United States (“U.S.”) government securities and cash items) in investment securities or (b) we will meet and maintain another exemption from registration. As a result, we may be (1) unable to make some potentially profitable investments, (2) unable to sell assets we would otherwise want to sell or (3) forced to sell investments in investment securities before we would otherwise want to do so.

If Fairholme controls us within the meaning of the Investment Company Act, we may be unable to engage in transactions with potential strategic partners, which may adversely affect our business.

Mr. Bruce R. Berkowitz is the Chairman of our Board of Directors (the “Board”). He is the Manager of, and controls entities that own and control, Fairholme Holdings, LLC (“Fairholme”), which wholly owns Fairholme Capital

Management, L.L.C. (“FCM”, an investment advisor registered with the SEC). Mr. Berkowitz is the Chief Investment Officer of FCM, which has provided investment advisory services to us since April 2013. FCM does not receive any compensation for services as our investment advisor. As of December 31, 2019, clients of FCM, including Mr. Berkowitz, beneficially owned approximately 44.30% of our common stock. FCM and its client, The Fairholme Fund, a series of the Fairholme Funds, Inc., may be deemed affiliates of ours.

Under the Investment Company Act, “control” means the power to exercise a controlling influence over the management or policies of a company, unless such power is solely the result of an official position with such company. Any person who owns beneficially, either directly or through one or more controlled companies, more than 25% of the outstanding voting securities of a company is presumed to control such company. The SEC has considered factors other than ownership of voting securities in determining control, including an official position with the company when such was obtained as a result of the influence over the company. Accordingly, even if Fairholme’s beneficial ownership in us is below 25% of our outstanding voting securities, Fairholme may nevertheless be deemed to control us. The Investment Company Act generally prohibits a company controlled by an investment company from engaging in certain transactions with any affiliate of the investment company or affiliates of the affiliate, subject to limited exceptions. An affiliate of an investment company is defined in the Investment Company Act as, among other things, any company 5% or more of whose outstanding voting securities are directly or indirectly owned, controlled, or held with power to vote, by the investment company, a company directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with, the investment company or a company directly or indirectly owning, controlling, or holding with power to vote, 5% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the investment company.

This may adversely affect our ability to enter into transactions freely and compete in the marketplace. In addition, significant penalties and other consequences may arise as a result of a violation for companies found to be in violation of the Investment Company Act.

If the SEC were to disagree with our Investment Company Act determinations, our business may be adversely affected.

We have not requested approval or guidance from the SEC with respect to our Investment Company Act determinations, including, in particular: our treatment of any subsidiary as majority-owned; the compliance of any subsidiary with any exemption under the Investment Company Act, including any subsidiary’s determinations with respect to the consistency of its assets or operations with the requirements thereof or whether our interests in one or more subsidiaries constitute investment securities for purposes of the 40% test. If the SEC were to disagree with our treatment of one or more subsidiaries as being majority-owned, exempted from the Investment Company Act, with our determination that one or more of our other holdings do not constitute investment securities for purposes of the 40% test, or with our determinations as to the nature of the business in which we engage or the manner in which we hold ourselves out, we and/or one or more of our subsidiaries would need to adjust our operating strategies or assets in order for us to continue to pass the 40% test or register as an investment company, either of which may have a material adverse effect on us. Moreover, we may be required to adjust our operating strategy and holdings, or to effect sales of our assets in a manner that, or at a time or price at which, we would not otherwise choose, if there are changes in the laws or rules governing our Investment Company Act status or that of our subsidiaries, or if the SEC or its staff provides more specific or different guidance regarding the application of relevant provisions of, and rules under, the Investment Company Act.

If the SEC or a court of competent jurisdiction were to find that we were required, but failed, to register as an investment company in violation of the Investment Company Act, we would have to cease business activities, we would breach representations and warranties and/or be in default as to certain of our contracts and obligations, civil or criminal actions may be brought against us, our contracts would be unenforceable unless a court were to require enforcement and a court may appoint a receiver to take control of us and liquidate our business, any or all of which would have a material adverse effect on our business.

Returns on our investments may be limited by our investment guidelines and restrictions.

On August 23, 2019, we entered into a new Investment Management Agreement (the “Investment Management Agreement”) with FCM, which contains investment guidelines and restrictions approved by the Company. The investment guidelines set forth in the Investment Management Agreement require that, as of the date of any investment: (i) no more than 15% of the investment account may be invested in securities of any one issuer (excluding the U.S. Government), (ii) any investment in any one issuer (excluding the U.S. Government) that exceeds 10% of the investment account, but not 15%, requires the consent of at least two members of the Investment Committee, (iii) 25% of the investment account must be held in cash and cash equivalents, (iv) the investment account is permitted to be invested in common equity securities; however, common stock investments shall be limited to exchange-traded common equities, shall not exceed 5% ownership of a single issuer and, cumulatively, the common stock held in our investment portfolio shall not exceed $100.0 million market value and (v) the aggregate market value of investments in common stock, preferred stock or other equity investments cannot exceed 25% of the market value of our investment portfolio at the time of purchase.

Investment limitations may negatively impact the return that we may otherwise receive from our investment accounts. This may adversely affect our cash flows and results of operations.

We face risks stemming from our strategic partnerships.

We currently maintain, and in the future may seek additional strategic partnerships, including the formation of joint ventures (“JVs”), to develop real estate, capitalize on the potential of our residential, commercial and industrial opportunities and maximize the value of our assets. These strategic partnerships, JVs and other ongoing strategic real estate investments may bring development experience, industry expertise, financial resources, financing capabilities, brand recognition and credibility or other competitive assets, but also involve risks not present where a third party is not involved. These risks include:

In addition, we may not have sufficient resources, experience and/or skills to manage our existing strategic partnerships or locate additional desirable partners. We also may not be able to attract partners who want to conduct business in desirable geographic locations and who have the assets, reputation or other characteristics that would

optimize our development and asset management opportunities. If we cannot successfully execute transactions with strategic partners, our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition may be adversely affected.

Losses in the fair value of Securities, and the concentration of our investment portfolio in any particular issuer, industry, group of related industries or geographic sector, may have an adverse impact on our results of operations, cash flows and financial condition. In addition, our equity investments may fail to appreciate and may decline in value or become worthless.

As of December 31, 2019, we had $176.1 million in our investment accounts. Of this amount, we hold $166.3 million in cash equivalents, $0.1 million in corporate debt securities and $9.7 million in preferred stock investments. The market value of these investments is subject to change from period to period. Our investments-debt securities and investments-equity securities (“Securities”) currently include investments in non-investment grade corporate debt securities and preferred stock of five issuers and one issuer of preferred stock that is investment grade. Pursuant to our Investment Management Agreement with FCM, we may invest up to a total of 15% of the investment account in any one issuer as of the date of purchase.

We have exposure to credit risk associated with our Securities and these instruments are subject to price fluctuations as a result of changes in the financial market’s assessment of issuer credit quality, increases in delinquency and default rates, changes in prevailing interest rates and other economic factors. A downgrade of the U.S. government’s credit rating may also decrease the value of our Securities.

Losses in the fair value of our Securities can negatively affect earnings if management determines that such Securities are other-than-temporary impaired. The evaluation of other-than-temporary impairment is based on various factors, including the financial condition, business prospects, industry and creditworthiness of the issuer, severity and length of time the securities were in a loss position, our ability and intent to hold investments until unrealized losses are recovered or until maturity. If a decline in fair value is considered other-than-temporary, the carrying amount of the security is written down and the amount of the credit-related component is recognized in earnings. The unrealized loss related to our investments - debt securities of $0.1 million was determined to be temporary at December 31, 2019.

The Company’s real estate investments are generally illiquid.

 

Real estate investments and timber holdings, are relatively illiquid; therefore, it may be difficult for us to sell such assets if the need or desire arises, which may limit our ability to make rapid adjustments in the size and content of our income property portfolio or other real estate or timber assets in response to economic or other conditions. Illiquid assets typically experience greater price volatility, as a ready market does not exist and therefore can be more difficult to value. In addition, validating third party pricing for illiquid assets may be more subjective than more liquid assets. As a result, if we are required to liquidate all or a portion of our real estate or timber assets quickly, we may realize significantly less than the value at which we have previously recorded our assets.

We face risks associated with short-term liquid investments.

We continue to have significant cash balances that are invested in a variety of short-term investments that are intended to preserve principal value and maintain a high degree of liquidity while providing income. From time to time, these investments may include (either directly or indirectly):

Investments in these securities and funds are not insured against loss of principal. Under certain circumstances we may be required to redeem all or part of our investment, and our right to redeem some or all of our investment may be delayed or suspended. In addition, there is no guarantee that our investments in these securities or funds will be redeemable at par value. A decline in the value of our investment or a delay or suspension of our right to redeem may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition.

We may not be able to fully realize the benefits of the federal “qualified opportunity zone” program, which may adversely affect our financial performance.

As part of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”), Congress established the Qualified Opportunity Zone program (the “QOZ Program”), which provides preferential tax treatment to taxpayers who invest eligible capital gains into qualified opportunity funds (“QOFs”). QOFs are self-certifying entities that invest their capital in economically distressed communities that have been designated as qualified opportunity zones (“QOZs”) by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) and Treasury. We have positioned ourselves to take advantage of the tax benefits offered by the QOZ Program. While the IRS has recently issued final regulations which address some of the uncertainties under the QOZ Program, because the QOZ Program is relatively new, a number of open questions remain. To the extent the IRS issues additional interpretive guidance that renders ineligible certain categories of projects that are currently expected to qualify, we may be unable to fully realize the benefits of the QOZ Program as anticipated, which may impact our investment strategy.

The loss of the services of our key management, personnel or our ability to recruit staff may adversely affect our business.

Our ability to successfully implement our business strategy will depend on our ability to attract and retain experienced and knowledgeable management and other professional staff. One of our objectives is to develop and maintain a strong management group at all levels. At any given time, we may lose the services of key executives and other employees. The loss of services of any of our key employees may have an adverse effect upon our results of operations, financial condition, and our ability to execute our business strategy. In addition, we cannot assure that we will be successful in attracting and retaining key management personnel.

Risks Related to our Current Business

Our results of operations may vary significantly from period to period, which may adversely impact our stock price, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.

Residential real estate sales tend to vary from period to period, particularly sales to homebuilders, who tend to buy multiple homesites in sporadic transactions. Commercial real estate projects are likewise subject to one-off sales and the timing of development of specific projects depends on demand. Therefore, there may be reporting periods in which we have no, or significantly less, revenue from residential or commercial real estate sales.

In addition, hospitality operations are affected by seasonal fluctuations. Revenue from our hospitality operations are typically higher in the second and third quarters; however, they can vary depending on the timing of holidays and school breaks, including spring break. This seasonality causes periodic fluctuations in room revenues, occupancy levels, room rates and operating expenses in particular hotels.

These variables have caused, and may continue to cause, our operating results to vary significantly from period to period, which may have an adverse impact on our stock price, cash flows, results of operations and financial condition.

Our business is subject to extensive regulation and growth management initiatives that may restrict, make more costly or otherwise adversely impact our ability to develop our real estate investments or otherwise conduct our operations.

A large part of our current business and business strategy is dependent on our ability to develop and manage real estate in Northwest Florida. Approval to develop real property in Florida entails an extensive entitlements process involving multiple and overlapping regulatory jurisdictions and often requiring discretionary action by local government.

This process is often political, uncertain and may require significant exactions in order to secure approvals. Real estate projects in Florida must generally comply with the provisions of the Local Government Comprehensive Planning and Land Development Regulation Act (the “Growth Management Act”) and local land development regulations. Compliance with the Growth Management Act and local land development regulations is usually lengthy and costly and can be expected to materially affect our real estate development activities.

The Growth Management Act requires local governments to adopt comprehensive plans guiding and controlling future real property development in their respective jurisdictions and to evaluate, assess and keep those plans current. Included in all comprehensive plans is a future land use map, which sets forth allowable land use development rights. Some of our land has an “agricultural” or “silviculture” future land use designation and we are required to seek an amendment to the future land use map to develop real estate projects. Approval of these comprehensive plan map amendments is highly discretionary.

All development orders and permits must be consistent with the comprehensive plan. Each plan must address such topics as future land use and capital improvements and make adequate provision for a multitude of public services including transportation, schools, solid waste disposal, sewerage, potable water supply, drainage, affordable housing, open space, parks and others. The local governments’ comprehensive plans must also establish “levels of service” with respect to certain specified public facilities, including roads, schools and services to residents. In many areas, infrastructure funding has not kept pace with growth, causing facilities to operate below established levels of service. Local governments are prohibited from issuing development orders or permits if the development will reduce the level of service for public facilities below the level of service established in the local government’s comprehensive plan, unless the developer either sufficiently improves the services up front to meet the required level of service or provides financial assurances that the additional services will be provided as the project progresses. In addition, local governments that fail to keep their plans current may be prohibited by law from amending their plans to allow for new development.

If any one or more of these factors were to occur, we may be unable to develop our real estate projects successfully or within the expected timeframes. Changes in the Growth Management Act or the interpretation thereof, new enforcement of these laws or the enactment of new laws regarding the development of real property may lead to a decline in our ability to develop and market our communities successfully and to generate positive cash flow from these operations in a timely manner, which may have a materially adverse effect on our ability to service our demand and negatively impact our business, results of operations, cash flows or financial condition.

Our existing real estate investments are concentrated in Northwest Florida; therefore our long-term financial results are largely dependent on the economic growth of Northwest Florida.

The economic growth of Northwest Florida, where our land is located, is an important factor in creating demand for our products and services. We believe that the future economic growth of Northwest Florida will largely depend on the ability and willingness of state and local governments, in combination with the private sector, (1) to plan and complete significant infrastructure improvements in the region, such as new transportation hubs, roads, rail, pipeline, medical facilities and schools and (2) to attract companies offering high-quality, high salary jobs to large numbers of new employees. If new businesses and new employees in Northwest Florida do not grow as anticipated, demand for residential and commercial real estate, as well as hospitality and related communities may be adversely affected.

Changes to the population growth rate or other unfavorable demographic changes in Florida, particularly Northwest Florida, may adversely affect our business.

The success of our communities will be dependent on strong migration and population expansion in our regions of development, primarily Northwest Florida. We also believe that individuals seeking retirement or vacation homes in Florida will remain important target customers for our real estate products in the future. Florida’s population growth may be negatively affected in the future by factors such as adverse economic conditions, changes in state income tax laws, the occurrence of natural or manmade disasters and the high cost of real estate, insurance and property taxes. Furthermore, those persons considering moving to Florida may not view Northwest Florida as an attractive place to live or own a second home and may choose to live in another region. If Florida, especially Northwest Florida, experiences an extended

period of slow growth, or even net out-migration, our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition may suffer.

Significant competition may have an adverse effect on our business.

Our business is highly competitive and fragmented. We compete with local, regional and national real estate leasing and development companies, some of which may have greater financial, marketing, sales and other resources than we do. Competition from real estate leasing and development companies may adversely affect our ability to attract tenants and lease our commercial and multi-family properties, attract purchasers and sell residential and commercial real estate and attract and retain experienced real estate leasing and development personnel. In addition, we face competition for tenants from other retail shopping centers and commercial facilities, as well as for our assisted living communities.

A number of highly competitive companies participate in the hospitality industry. Our ability to remain competitive and to attract and retain guests, customers and club members depends on our success in distinguishing the quality and value of our products and services from those offered by others.

The forestry business is also highly competitive in terms of price and quality. Wood products are subject to increasing competition from a variety of substitute products, including non-wood and engineered wood products.

There can be no assurance we will be able to compete successfully against current or future competitors or that competitive pressures we face in the markets in which we operate will not have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.

Mortgage financing issues, including lack of supply of mortgage loans, tightened lending requirements and possible future increases in interest rates, may reduce demand for our products.

Many purchasers of our real estate products obtain mortgage loans to finance a substantial portion of the purchase price or they may need to obtain mortgage loans to finance the construction costs of homes to be built on homesites purchased from us. Also, our homebuilder customers depend on retail purchasers who rely on mortgage financing. The availability of mortgage financing is significantly influenced by governmental entities such as the Federal Housing Administration, Veteran’s Administration and Government National Mortgage Association and government-sponsored enterprises known as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. If these or other lenders’ borrowing standards are tightened and/or the federal government were to reduce or eliminate these mortgage loan programs (including due to any failure of lawmakers to agree on a budget or appropriation legislation to fund relevant programs or operations), it would likely make it more difficult for potential purchasers of our products, including our homebuilder customers to obtain acceptable financing, which may have a negative effect on demand in our communities.

Increases in interest rates increase the costs of owning a home and may adversely affect the purchasing power of consumers and lower demand for residential real estate. In addition to residential real estate, increased interest rates and restrictions in the availability of credit may also negatively impact sales or development of our commercial properties or other land we offer for sale. If interest rates increase and the ability or willingness of prospective buyers to finance real estate purchases is adversely affected, our sales, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition may be negatively affected.

We have significant operations and properties in Northwest Florida that may be materially affected by natural disasters, manmade disasters, severe weather conditions or other significant disruptions.

Our corporate headquarters and properties are located in Northwest Florida. Because of its location between the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean, Florida is particularly susceptible to the occurrence of hurricanes. Depending on where any particular hurricane makes landfall, our developments in Northwest Florida, especially our coastal properties, may experience catastrophic damage. Such damage may materially delay sales or lessen demand for our residential or commercial real estate and lessen demand for our hospitality operations and leasing operations. If our corporate headquarters facility is damaged or destroyed, we may have difficulty performing certain corporate and operational functions.

On October 10, 2018, Hurricane Michael made landfall in the Florida Panhandle, which resulted in widespread damage to the area. The majority of our properties incurred minimal or no damage; however our Bay Point Marina in Bay County and Port St. Joe Marina in Gulf County, as well as certain timber, commercial and multi-family leasing assets were impacted. The marinas suffered significant damage requiring long-term restoration and will remain closed during the reconstruction of significant portions of these assets, which is currently underway. We maintain property and business interruption insurance, subject to certain deductibles, and are continuing to assess claims under such policies; however, the timing and amount of additional insurance proceeds are uncertain and may not be sufficient to cover all losses. See Note 7. Hurricane Michael included in Item 15 of this Form 10-K for additional information.

The occurrence of other natural disasters and climate conditions in Florida, such as tornadoes, floods, fires, unusually heavy or prolonged rain, droughts, extreme heat, or other adverse weather events may have a material adverse effect on our ability to develop and sell properties or realize income from our projects. In addition, our timber assets are subject to damage by fire, insect infestation, disease, prolonged drought, flooding, hurricane and natural disasters, which may adversely affect our timber inventory and forestry business. Furthermore, sea level rise due to climate change may have a material adverse effect on our coastal properties.

The occurrence of natural disasters and the threat of adverse climate changes may also have a long-term negative effect on the attractiveness of Florida as a location for residences and as a location for new employers that can create high-quality jobs needed to support growth in Northwest Florida. Manmade disasters or disruptions, such as oil spills, acts of terrorism, power outages and communications failures may cause disruption to our properties, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.

Furthermore, any adverse change in the economic, political or regulatory climate of Florida, or the counties where our land is located, may adversely affect our real estate development activities. Ultimately, our ability to execute our business strategy may decline as a result of weak economic conditions or restrictive regulations.

Our insurance coverage on our properties may be inadequate to cover any losses we may incur.

We maintain insurance on our properties, including property, liability, fire, flood and extended coverage. However, we do not insure our timber assets and we self-insure home warranty claims. Additionally, our insurance for hurricanes is capped at $50.0 million per named storm and is subject to deductibles. We use our discretion when determining amounts, coverage limits and deductibles for insurance. These terms are determined based on retaining an acceptable level of risk at a reasonable cost. This may result in insurance coverage that in the event of a substantial loss would not be sufficient to pay the full current market value or current replacement cost of our lost investment. Inflation, changes in building codes and ordinances, environmental considerations and other factors also may make it unfeasible to use insurance proceeds to replace a facility after it has been damaged or destroyed. Under such circumstances, we may not receive insurance proceeds or the insurance proceeds we receive may not fully cover business interruptions or losses and our earnings, liquidity, or capital resources may be adversely affected.

Increases in property insurance premiums and decreases in availability of homeowner property insurance in Florida may reduce customer demand for homes and homesites in our developments.

Homeowner property insurance companies doing business in Florida have reacted to previous hurricanes by increasing premiums, requiring higher deductibles, reducing limits, restricting coverage, imposing exclusions, refusing to insure certain property owners, and in some instances, ceasing insurance operations in the state. It is uncertain what effect these actions may have on future property insurance availability and rates in the state.

Furthermore, Florida’s state-owned property insurance company, Citizens Property Insurance Corp., underwrites homeowner property insurance. If there were to be a catastrophic hurricane or series of hurricanes to hit Florida, the exposure of the state government to property insurance claims may place extreme stress on state finances.

The high costs of property insurance premiums in Florida may deter potential customers from purchasing a homesite in one of our developments or make Northwest Florida less attractive to new employers that can create high quality jobs

needed to increase growth in the region, either of which may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.

A decline in consumers’ discretionary spending or a change in consumer preferences may reduce our sales and harm our business.

Our real estate and hospitality segments’ revenue ultimately depends on consumer discretionary spending, which is influenced by factors beyond our control, including general economic conditions, the availability of discretionary income and credit, weather, consumer confidence and unemployment levels. Any material decline in the amount of consumer discretionary spending may reduce our revenue and harm our business. These economic and market conditions, combined with continuing difficulties in the credit markets and the resulting pressures on liquidity, may also place a number of our key customers under financial stress, which may adversely affect our occupancy rates and our profitability, which, in turn, may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.

Downturns of the real estate market in Northwest Florida may adversely affect our operations.

Demand for real estate is sensitive to changes in economic conditions over which we have no control, including the level of employment, consumer confidence, consumer income, the availability of financing and interest rate levels. In addition, the real estate market is subject to downturns, and our business is especially sensitive to economic conditions in Northwest Florida, where our developments are located, and, more broadly, the Southeast region of the U.S., which in the past has produced a high percentage of customers for the hospitality and seasonal vacation products in our Northwest Florida communities. If market conditions experience volatility or worsen, the demand for our hospitality and real estate products may decline, negatively impacting our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.

Recent tax law changes may make home ownership more expensive or less attractive.

In December 2017, the Tax Act established new limits on the federal tax deductions individual taxpayers may take on mortgage loan interest payments and on state and local taxes, including real estate taxes; the new Tax Act also raised the standard deduction. These changes may reduce the perceived affordability of homeownership, and therefore the demand for homes, and/or have a moderating impact on home sales prices. These changes may increase the after-tax cost of owning a home, which is likely to adversely impact the demand for homes and may reduce the prices for which we can sell homesites, particularly in higher priced communities.

Our ability to attract homebuilder customers and their ability or willingness to satisfy their purchase commitments may be uncertain.

We are highly dependent upon our relationships with homebuilders to be the primary customers for our homesites and to provide construction services in our residential developments. The homebuilder customers that have already committed to purchase homesites from us may decide to reduce, delay or cancel their existing commitments to purchase homesites in our developments. From time to time we finance real estate sales with mortgage note receivables. If these homebuilders fail to pay their debts to us or delay paying us, it would reduce our anticipated cash flows. Homebuilders also may not view our developments as desirable locations for homebuilding operations or they may choose to purchase land from other sellers. Any of these events may have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.

We are exposed to risks associated with real estate development that may adversely impact our results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.

Our real estate development activities entail risks that may adversely impact our results of operations, cash flows and financial condition, including:

As certain approvals are subject to third party responses, it is not uncommon for delays to occur, which affect the timing of transaction closings and may also impact the terms and conditions of the transaction. Delays related to regulatory approvals may be due to the applicable governmental entity not being open due to the government being shut down or staffed sufficiently due to the government’s budgetary issues. These timing issues have caused, and may continue to cause, our operating results, particularly relating to the impact of our land sales, to vary significantly from quarter to quarter and year to year.

Our leasing projects may not yield anticipated returns, which may harm our operating results, reduce cash flow, or the ability to sell commercial assets.

Our business strategy includes the development and leasing of commercial and multi-family properties, management of commercial properties and commercial assets for sale. These commercial developments may not be as successful as expected due to leasing related risks, including the risk that we may not be able to lease new properties to an appropriate mix of tenants or obtain lease rates that are consistent with our projections, as well as the risks generally associated with real estate development. Additionally, development of leasing projects involves the risk associated with the significant time lag between commencement and completion of the project. This time lag subjects us to greater risks relating to fluctuations in the general economy, our ability to obtain construction or permanent financing on favorable terms, if at all, our ability to achieve projected rental rates, the pace that we will be able to lease to new tenants, higher than estimated construction costs (including labor and material costs), and delays in the completion of projects because of, among other factors, inclement weather, labor disruptions, construction delays or delays in receiving zoning or other regulatory approvals, or man-made or natural disasters. If any one of these factors negatively impacts our leasing projects we may not yield anticipated returns, which may have a material adverse effect on our operating results, cash flows and ability to sell commercial assets.

We face potential adverse effects from the loss of commercial tenants.

The default, financial distress, or bankruptcy of a major tenant may adversely affect the income produced by our commercial properties. If one or more of our tenants, particularly an anchor tenant, declares bankruptcy, defaults or voluntarily vacates from the leased premises, we may be unable to re-lease such space or to re-lease it on comparable or more favorable terms. Additionally, the loss of an anchor tenant may make it more difficult to lease the remainder of the affected properties, which may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, cash flows and financial condition. This may adversely affect our properties and growth.

We are exposed to operational risks with respect to our assisted living communities that may adversely affect our revenue and operations.

 

We are exposed to various operational risks with respect to our assisted living communities that may increase our costs or adversely affect our ability to generate revenues. These risks include:

 

Any one or a combination of these factors may adversely affect our results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.

We are subject to various risks inherent to the hospitality industry beyond our control, any of which may adversely affect our business, results of operations and value of our hospitality assets.

Our business is subject to a number of business, financial and operating risks inherent to the hospitality industry and the agreements under which we operate, including, but not limited to:

Any of the these factors may increase our costs or limit or reduce the prices we are able to charge for our hospitality products or services, or otherwise affect our ability to maintain existing properties, develop new properties or add amenities to our existing properties. As a result, any of these factors may reduce our revenues and limit opportunities for growth.

If labor costs increase or we fail to attract and retain qualified employees, our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition may be adversely affected.

 

The labor markets in the industries in which we operate are competitive. We must attract, train and retain a large number of qualified employees while controlling related labor costs. We face significant competition for these employees from the industries in which we operate as well as from other industries. Tighter labor markets may make it even more difficult for us to hire and retain qualified employees and control labor costs. Our ability to attract qualified employees and control labor costs is subject to numerous external factors, including prevailing wage rates, employee preferences, employment law and regulation, labor relations and immigration policy. A significant increase in competition or costs increasing arising from any of the aforementioned factors may have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.

In addition, our hospitality operations are highly dependent on a large seasonal workforce. We have historically relied on the H-2B visa program to bring workers to the United States to fill seasonal staffing needs and ensure that we have the appropriate workforce in place. If we are unable to obtain sufficient numbers of seasonal workers, through the H-2B program or otherwise, we may not be able to recruit and hire adequate personnel as the required, and material increases in the cost of securing our workforce may be possible in the future. Increased seasonal wages or an inadequate workforce may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.

The profitability of our hotels will depend on the performance of hotel management.

The profitability of our hotels and hospitality investments will depend largely upon the ability of management that we employ to generate revenues that exceed operating expenses. The failure of hotel management to manage the hotels effectively would adversely affect the cash flow received from hotel and hospitality operations.

We provide a guarantee of the debt for several of our JVs, and may in the future enter into similar agreements, which may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.

 

We have provided a guarantee of the debt in connection with several of our JVs, and may in the future agree to similar agreements. In certain instances, these guarantees provide for the full payment and performance of the borrower. See Note 12. Debt, Net and Note 22. Commitments and Contingencies included in Item 15 of this Form 10-K for additional information. If we were to become obligated to perform on any of these guarantees our results of operations, cash flows and financial condition may be adversely affected.

Environmental and other regulations may have an adverse effect on our business.

Our properties are subject to federal, state and local environmental regulations and restrictions that may impose significant limitations on our development ability. In most cases, approval to develop requires multiple permits, which involve a long, uncertain and costly regulatory process. Our land holdings contain jurisdictional wetlands, some of which may be unsuitable for development or prohibited from development by law. Development approval most often requires mitigation for impacts to wetlands that require land to be conserved at a disproportionate ratio versus the actual wetlands impacted and approved for development. Some of our property is undeveloped land located in areas where development may have to avoid, minimize or mitigate for impacts to the natural habitats of various protected wildlife or plant species. Additionally, much of our property is in coastal areas that usually have a more restrictive permitting burden or must address issues such as coastal high hazard, hurricane evacuation, floodplains and dune protection.

In addition, our current or past ownership, operation and leasing of real property, and our current or past transportation and other operations, are subject to extensive and evolving federal, state and local environmental laws and other regulations. The provisions and enforcement of these environmental laws and regulations may become more stringent in the future. Violations of these laws and regulations can result in, among other things, the following:

In addition, some of these environmental laws impose strict liability, which means that we may be held liable for any environmental damage on our property regardless of fault.

Some of our past and present real property, particularly properties used in connection with our previous transportation and papermill operations, were involved in the storage, use or disposal of hazardous substances that have contaminated and may in the future contaminate the environment. We may bear liability for this contamination and for the costs of cleaning up a site at which we have disposed of, or to which we have transported, hazardous substances. The presence of hazardous substances on a property may also adversely affect our ability to sell or develop the property or to borrow funds using the property as collateral.

Additionally, in recent years, assessments of the potential impacts of climate change have begun to influence governmental authorities, consumer behavior patterns and the general business environment of the U.S., including, but not limited to, energy-efficiency measures, water use measures and land-use practices. The implementation of these polices may require us to invest additional capital in our properties or it may restrict the availability of land we are able to develop. These changes, or changes in other environmental laws or their interpretation thereof, new enforcement of laws, the identification of new facts or the failure of other parties to perform remediation at our current or former facilities may lead to new or greater liabilities that may materially adversely affect our business, results of operations, cash flows or financial condition.

From time to time, we may be subject to periodic litigation and other regulatory proceedings, which may impair our financial results of operations.

From time to time, we may be involved in lawsuits and regulatory actions relating to our business, our operations and our position as an owner and operator of real estate and related ventures. An adverse outcome in any of these matters may adversely affect our financial condition, our results of operations or impose additional restrictions or limitations on us. In addition, regardless of the outcome of any litigation or regulatory proceedings, these proceedings may result in substantial costs and may require that we devote substantial resources to defend our Company.

In addition, the land use approval processes we must follow to ultimately develop our projects have become increasingly complex. Moreover, the statutes, regulations and ordinances governing the approval processes provide third parties the opportunity to challenge the proposed plans and approvals. As a result, the prospect of third-party challenges to planned real estate developments provides additional uncertainties in real estate development planning and entitlements. Third-party challenges in the form of litigation may result in denial of the right to develop, or would, by their nature, adversely affect the length of time and the cost required to obtain the necessary approvals. In addition, adverse decisions arising from any litigation would increase the costs and length of time to obtain ultimate approval of a project and may adversely affect the design, scope, plans and profitability of a project.

Limitations on the access to the airport runway at the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport may have an adverse effect on the demand for our VentureCrossings land adjacent to the airport.

Our land donation agreement with the Panama City-Bay County Airport and Industrial District (the “Airport Authority”) and the deed for the airport land provide access rights to the airport runway from our adjacent lands. We subsequently entered into an access agreement with the Airport Authority that provides access to the airport runway. Under the terms of the access agreement, we are subject to certain requirements of the Airport Authority, including but not limited to the laws administered by the Federal Aviation Administration (the “FAA”), the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (the “FDEP”), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (the “Corps of Engineers”), and Bay County. Should security measures at airports become more restrictive in the future due to circumstances beyond our control, FAA regulations governing these access rights may impose additional limitations that may significantly impair or restrict access rights.

In addition, we are required to obtain environmental permits from each of the Corps of Engineers and the FDEP in order to develop the land necessary for access from our planned areas of commercial development to the airport runway. Such permits are often subject to a lengthy agency administrative approval process, and there can be no assurance that such permits will be issued, or that they will be issued in a timely manner.

We believe that runway access is a valuable attribute of some of our VentureCrossings land adjacent to the airport, and the failure to maintain such access, the imposition of significant restrictions on such access, or any associated permitting delays or issues, may adversely affect the demand for such lands and our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.

We face risks associated with third-party service providers, which may negatively impact our profitability.

We currently rely on various third-parties to conduct the day-to-day operations of our hospitality operations, our multi-family properties and some of our commercial properties. Failure of such third parties to adequately perform their contracted services may negatively impact our ability to retain customers. As a result, any such failure may negatively impact our results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.

Risks Related to Our Company or Common Stock

The market price of our common stock has been, and may continue to be, highly volatile.

The market price of our common stock on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) has been volatile. We may continue to experience significant volatility in the market price of our common stock. Numerous factors may have a significant effect on the price of our common stock, including:

In addition, the stock market in general has experienced significant price and volume fluctuations in recent years, which have sometimes been unrelated or disproportionate to operating performance. Continued volatility in the market price of our common stock may cause shareholders to lose some or all of their investment in our common stock.

Our common stock has low trading volume.

Although our common stock trades on the NYSE, it is thinly traded and our daily trading volume is low compared to the number of share of common stock we have outstanding. The low trading volume of our common stock can cause our stock price to fluctuate significantly as well as make it difficult for a stockholder to sell their common stock quickly. As a result of our stock being thinly traded, institutional investors might not be interested in owning our common stock.

Fairholme has the ability to influence major corporate decisions, including decisions that require the approval of stockholders, and its interest in our business may conflict with yours.

Mr. Bruce R. Berkowitz is the Chairman of our Board. He is the Manager of, and controls entities that own and control, Fairholme, which wholly owns FCM. Mr. Berkowitz is the Chief Investment Officer of FCM. As of December 31, 2019, clients of FCM, including Mr. Berkowitz, beneficially owned approximately 44.30% of our common stock. FCM and its client, The Fairholme Fund, a series of the Fairholme Funds, Inc., may be deemed affiliates of ours. Accordingly, Fairholme is in a position to influence:

These factors may discourage, delay or prevent a takeover attempt that shareholders might consider in their best interests or that might result in shareholders receiving a premium for their common stock. Our articles of incorporation and certain provisions of Florida law contain anti-takeover provisions that may make it more difficult to effect a change in our control.

In addition, Fairholme is in the business of making or advising on investments in companies and may hold, and may, from time to time in the future, acquire interests in or provide advice to businesses that directly or indirectly compete with certain portions of our business. Fairholme may also pursue acquisitions that may be complementary to our business, and, as a result, those acquisition opportunities may not be available to us.

Furthermore, future sales of our common stock by Fairholme, or the perception in the public markets that these sales may occur, may depress our stock price.

Changes in our income tax estimates may materially impact our results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.

In preparing our consolidated financial statements, significant management judgment is required to estimate our income taxes. Our estimates are based on our interpretation of federal and state tax laws. We estimate our actual current tax due and assess temporary differences resulting from differing treatment of items for tax and accounting purposes. The temporary differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities, which are included in our consolidated balance sheets. Adjustments may be required by a change in assessment of our deferred tax assets and liabilities, changes due to audit adjustments by federal and state tax authorities, and changes in tax laws and rates, including the Tax Act. To the extent adjustments are required in any given period, we include the adjustments in the deferred tax assets and liabilities in our consolidated financial statements. These adjustments may materially impact our results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.

Changes to U.S. federal and state income tax laws may materially affect us and our stockholders.

The recently enacted Tax Act made substantial changes to the Internal Revenue Code. Among those changes are a significant permanent reduction in the generally applicable corporate tax rate, changes in the taxation of individuals and other non-corporate taxpayers that generally but not universally reduce their taxes on a temporary basis subject to ‘‘sunset’’ provisions, the elimination or modification of various currently allowed deductions (including substantial limitations on the deductibility of interest and, in the case of individuals, the deduction for personal state and local

taxes), certain additional limitations on the deduction of net operating losses, and certain business income derived by non-corporate taxpayers in comparison to other ordinary income recognized by such taxpayers. The effect of these, and the many other, changes made in the Tax Act is highly uncertain, both in terms of their direct effect on the taxation of an investment in our common equity and their indirect effect on the value of our assets or market conditions generally. Furthermore, many of the provisions of the Tax Act will require guidance through the issuance of Treasury regulations in order to assess their effect. There may be a substantial delay before such regulations are promulgated, increasing the uncertainty as to the ultimate effect of the statutory amendments on us. There may also be technical corrections legislation proposed with respect to the Tax Act, the effect and timing of which cannot be predicted and may be adverse to us or our stockholders.

We may not be able to utilize our net state operating loss carryforwards.

We have suffered losses, for tax and financial statement purposes, which generated significant state net operating loss carryforwards. These state net operating loss carryforwards may be used against taxable income in future periods; however, we will not receive any tax benefits with regard to tax losses incurred except to the extent we have taxable income in the remaining net operating loss carryforward period.

We utilize derivative financial instruments to reduce our exposure to market risks from changes in interest rates on our variable rate indebtedness and we will be exposed to risks related to counterparty credit worthiness or non-performance of these instruments.

 

We have entered into an interest rate swap instrument and may enter into others to limit our exposure to changes in variable interest rates. While our hedging strategy is designed to minimize the impact of increases in interest rates applicable to our variable rate debt, there can be no guarantee that our hedging strategy will be effective, and we may experience credit-related losses in some circumstances. See Note 6. Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements included in Item 15 of this Form 10-K for additional information.

A decline in real estate values or continuing operating losses in our operating properties may result in impairments, which would have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

As of December 31, 2019, we had approximately $430.8 million of real estate investments and $5.1 million of investment in unconsolidated joint ventures recorded on our books that may be subject to impairment. If market conditions were to deteriorate, our estimate of undiscounted future cash flows may fall below their carrying value and we may be required to take impairments, which would have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

Changes in accounting pronouncements may adversely affect our reported operating results, in addition to the reported financial performance of our tenants.

Accounting policies and methods are fundamental to how we record and report our financial condition and results of operations. Uncertainties posed by various initiatives of accounting standard-setting by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) and the SEC, which create and interpret applicable accounting standards for U.S. companies, may change the financial accounting and reporting standards or their interpretation and application of these standards that govern the preparation of our financial statements. These changes and others may have a material impact on our reported financial condition and results of operations. In some cases, we may be required to apply a new or revised standard retroactively, resulting in potentially material restatements of prior period financial statements.

Failure to maintain the integrity of internal or customer data may result in faulty business decisions, damage of reputation and/or subject us to costs, fines or lawsuits.

We face risks associated with security breaches or disruptions, whether through cyber-attacks or cyber intrusions over the Internet, malware, computer viruses, attachments to emails, persons inside our organization or persons with access to systems, energy blackouts, natural disasters, terrorism, war, and other significant disruptions of our networks and related systems. For a number of years, we have been increasing our reliance on computers and digital technology.

While all of our business and internal employment records require the collection of digital information, our hospitality segment, in particular, requires the collection and retention of large volumes of internal and customer data, including credit card numbers and other personally identifiable information of our customers, as such information is entered into, processed, summarized, and reported by the various information systems we use. All of these activities give rise to material cyber risks and potential costs and consequences that cannot be estimated or predicted with any certainty. The integrity and protection of our customer, employee and other company data, is critical to us. Although we make efforts to maintain the security and integrity of these networks and related systems, we have implemented various measures to manage the risk of a security breach or disruption, and to date, have not had a significant cyber breach or attack that has had a material impact on our business, there can be no assurance that our security efforts and measures will be effective or that attempted security breaches or disruptions would not be successful or damaging.

The risk of a security breach or disruption, particularly through cyber-attacks or cyber-intrusion, including by computer hackers, foreign governments, and cyber terrorists, has generally increased as the number, intensity and sophistication of attempted attacks and intrusions from around the world have increased.

Even the most well protected information, networks, systems and facilities remain potentially vulnerable because the techniques used in such attempted security breaches evolve and generally are not recognized until launched against a target, and in some cases are designed not to be detected and, in fact, may not be detected. Accordingly, we and our service providers may be unable to anticipate these techniques or to implement adequate security barriers or other preventative measures, and thus it is impossible for us and our service providers to entirely mitigate this risk. Our failure to maintain the security of the data, which we are required to protect, including via the penetration of our network security and the misappropriation of confidential and personal information, may result in business disruption, damage to our reputation, fines, penalties, regulatory proceedings and other severe financial and business implications.

Our business may be adversely impacted if we have deficiencies in our disclosure controls and procedures or internal control over financial reporting.

The design and effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting may not prevent all errors, misstatements, or misrepresentations. While management will continue to review the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting, there can be no guarantee that our internal control over financial reporting will be effective in accomplishing all control objectives at all times. Deficiencies, including any material weakness, in our internal control over financial reporting, which may occur in the future, may result in misstatements of our results of operations, restatements of our financial statements, a decline in our stock price, or otherwise materially adversely affect our business, reputation, results of operations, financial condition, or liquidity.

Uncertainty about the future of the London Interbank Offer Rate ("LIBOR") may adversely affect our business and financial results.

Many of our current debt agreements have an interest rate tied to LIBOR. In July 2017, the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority, which regulates LIBOR, announced its intent to phase out LIBOR by the end of 2021. It is not possible to predict the effect of this announcement, including whether LIBOR will continue in place, and if so what changes will be made to it, what alternative reference rates may replace LIBOR in use going forward, and how LIBOR will be determined for purposes of loans, securities and derivative instruments currently referencing it if it ceases to exist. If the method for calculation of LIBOR changes, if LIBOR is no longer available or if lenders have increased costs due to changes in LIBOR, we may suffer from potential increases in interest rates on our debt agreements. These uncertainties or their resolution also may negatively impact our borrowing costs and other aspects of our business and financial results.

Our financing arrangements contain restrictions and limitations that could impact our ability to operate our business.

 

Our financing arrangements contain customary representations and warranties and customary affirmative and negative covenants that restrict some of our activities. See Note 12. Debt, Net included in Item 15 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information. Our ability to comply with the covenants and restrictions contained in our

financing arrangements may be affected by economic, financial and industry conditions beyond our control, including credit or capital market disruptions. The breach of any of these covenants or restrictions could result in a default that would permit the applicable lenders to declare all amounts outstanding thereunder to be due and payable, together with accrued and unpaid interest. In any such case, we may be unable to repay the amounts due under such financing arrangements, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.

The obligations associated with being a public company require significant resources and management attention.

As a public company, we are subject to laws, regulations and requirements, including the requirements of the Exchange Act, certain corporate governance provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), related regulations of the SEC and requirements of the NYSE. The Exchange Act requires, among other things, that we file annual, quarterly and current reports and proxy statements with respect to our business and financial condition. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires, among other things, that we establish and maintain effective internal controls and procedures for financial reporting. Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires our management and independent registered public accounting firm to attest annually on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. These reporting and other obligations place significant demands on our management, administrative, operational and accounting resources and may cause us to incur significant expenses. We may need to upgrade our systems or create new systems, implement additional financial and management controls, reporting systems and procedures, create or outsource an internal audit function and hire additional legal, accounting and finance staff. If we are unable to accomplish these objectives in a timely and effective fashion, our ability to comply with the financial reporting requirements and other rules that apply to reporting companies may be impaired. Any failure to operate successfully as a public company may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

Item 1B.    Unresolved Staff Comments

None.

Item 2.     Properties

We own our principal executive offices located in Watersound, Florida. As of December 31, 2019, we owned approximately 175,000 acres located in Northwest Florida. Our raw land assets are managed by us as timberlands until designated for development. The Bay-Walton Sector Plan is a long term master plan that originally included 110,500 acres of our land with entitlements, or legal rights, to develop over 170,000 residential dwelling units, over 22 million square feet of retail, commercial, and industrial space and over 3,000 hotel rooms. We anticipate a wide range of residential, commercial and hospitality uses on these land holdings. As further described herein, we own and develop land in multiple residential communities. We currently have projects under development or construction in our residential, commercial leasing and sales and hospitality segments. In addition, our hospitality and commercial leasing and sales segments include the following properties:

Clubs. We own three golf courses and a beach club in Northwest Florida that are situated in or near our residential communities. Our golf course property primarily includes the golf course land, clubhouses, other buildings and equipment.

WaterColor Inn, WaterSound Inn and Other Properties. We own the WaterColor Inn, a boutique hotel, and the WaterSound Inn, along with nearby retail and commercial space. We own additional properties in Panama City Beach, Florida that we operate as rental property.

Marinas.  We own and operate two marinas in Northwest Florida. Our marina properties primarily include land and improvements, marina slips and equipment. Subsequent to the landfall of Hurricane Michael on October 10, 2018, the marinas remain closed due to significant damage requiring long-term restoration, which is currently underway. We maintain property and business interruption insurance on the impacted marina assets. See Note 7. Hurricane Michael included in Item 15 of this Form 10-K for additional information.

Leasing. We own the property included in our commercial leasing and sales segment, which includes multi-family, retail, office and commercial property, such as our Beckrich Office Park, property located in our consolidated Pier Park North JV (the “Pier Park North JV”) and Pier Park Crossings apartment JV (the “Pier Park Crossings JV”), WindMark Beach, VentureCrossings industrial park, commerce park buildings, retail shopping centers and other properties, as well as properties under development or construction.

For more information on our real estate assets, see “Item 1. Business” and “Schedule III (Consolidated) - Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation” included in Item 15 of this Form 10‑K for further information.

Item 3.    Legal Proceedings

We are subject to a variety of litigation, claims, other disputes and governmental proceedings that arise from time to time in the ordinary course of our business, none of which we believe will have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity.

In addition, we are subject to environmental laws and regulations, which include obligations to remove or limit the effects on the environment of the disposal or release of certain wastes or substances at various sites, including sites which have been previously sold. See Note 22. Commitments and Contingencies included in Item 15 of this Form 10‑K for further discussion.

Item 4.    Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

PART II

Item 5.    Market for the Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

On February 24, 2020 we had approximately 891 registered holders of record of our common stock. Our common stock is listed on the NYSE under the symbol “JOE.”

We did not pay cash dividends in 2019 or 2018. The declaration and payment of any future dividends will be at the discretion of our Board after taking into account various factors, including without limitation, our financial condition, earnings, capital requirements of our business, the terms of any credit agreements or indentures to which we may be party at the time, legal requirements, industry practice, and other factors that our Board deems relevant.

The following performance graph compares our cumulative shareholder returns for the period December 31, 2014, through December 31, 2019, assuming $100 was invested on December 31, 2014, in our common stock, in the S&P SmallCap 600 Index, and a custom real estate peer group (the “Custom Real Estate Peer Group”), which is composed of the following companies:

Alexander & Baldwin Inc. (ALEX)

Consolidated-Tomoka Land Co. (CTO)

Five Point Holdings, LLC (FPH)

The Howard Hughes Corporation (HHC)

Maui Land & Pineapple Company, Inc. (MLP)

Stratus Properties Inc. (STRS)

Tejon Ranch Co. (TRC)

The total returns shown assume that dividends are reinvested. The stock price performance shown below is not necessarily indicative of future price performance.

 

Stock Repurchase Program

Our Board has approved the Stock Repurchase Program pursuant to which we are authorized to repurchase shares of our common stock. The Stock Repurchase Program has no expiration date.

As of December 31, 2019, we had a total authority of $86.2 million available for purchase of shares of our common stock pursuant to the Stock Repurchase Program. We may repurchase our common stock in open market purchases from time to time, in privately negotiated transactions or otherwise, pursuant to Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act. The timing and amount of any additional shares to be repurchased will depend upon a variety of factors, including market and business conditions and is subject to the Company maintaining $100.0 million of cash and cash equivalents. Repurchases may be commenced or suspended at any time or from time to time without prior notice. The Stock Repurchase Program will continue until otherwise modified or terminated by our Board at any time in its sole discretion.

Execution of the Stock Repurchase Program will reduce our “public float”, and the beneficial ownership of common stock by our directors, executive officers and affiliates will proportionately increase as a percentage of our outstanding common stock. However, we do not believe that the execution of the Stock Repurchase Program will cause our common

stock to be delisted from NYSE or cause us to stop being subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act.

The following table provides information on our repurchases of common stock during the three months ended December 31, 2019:

 

 

 

Item 6.    Selected Financial Data

The following table sets forth our selected consolidated financial data on a historical basis for the five years ended December 31, 2019. This information should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements (including the related notes thereto) and management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations, each included elsewhere in this Form 10‑K. This historical selected consolidated financial data has been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements.

 

Item 7.    Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the accompanying audited consolidated financial statements and the related notes included in this annual report on Form 10-K. The statements in this discussion regarding industry outlook, our expectations regarding our future performance, liquidity and capital resources and other non-historical statements in this discussion are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including the risks and uncertainties described in “Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” in this annual report on Form 10-K. Our actual results may differ materially from those contained in or implied by any forward-looking statements. We assume no obligation to revise or publicly release any revision to any forward-looking statements contained in this annual report on Form 10-K, unless required by law.

Business Overview

St. Joe is a real estate development, asset management and operating company with real estate assets and operations in Northwest Florida, which we predominantly use, or intend to use, for or in connection with, our various residential, hospitality, commercial, leasing and forestry operations.

We have significant residential and commercial land-use entitlements. We actively seek higher and better uses for our real estate assets through a range of development activities. We may explore the sale of some of our assets opportunistically or when we believe that we or others can better deploy those resources.

As a real estate development company, we seek to enhance the value of our real estate assets by undertaking targeted types of residential and commercial real estate projects. Approximately 90% of our real estate land holdings are located within fifteen miles of the Gulf of Mexico.

We believe our present liquidity position and our land holdings provide us with numerous opportunities to increase recurring revenue and create long-term value for our shareholders by allowing us to focus on our core business activity of real estate development, asset management and operations.

Our strategic plan includes making investments we believe will contribute towards increasing our future profitability. Our 2020 capital expenditure budget exceeds our actual 2019 expenditures due to initiated projects moving into construction and the expected initiation of new projects. We anticipate that future capital commitments will be funded through new financing arrangements, cash on hand, cash equivalents and cash generated from operations. We do not anticipate that we will see the full benefit of these investments during 2020.

Our real estate investment strategy focuses on projects that meet our long-term investment return criteria. Our practice is to only incur such expenditures when our analysis indicates that a project will generate a return equal to or greater than the threshold return over its life.

Segments

As of December 31, 2019, we have the following four operating segments: 1) residential real estate, 2) hospitality 3) commercial leasing and sales and 4) forestry. Commencing in the fourth quarter of 2018, our previously titled “resorts and leisure” segment was retitled “hospitality,” with no effect on the consolidated balance sheets, statements of income, statements of comprehensive income or statements of cash flows for the periods presented.

The following table sets forth the relative contribution of these operating segments to our consolidated operating revenue:

For more information regarding our operating segments, see Note 21. Segment Information included in Item 15 of this Form 10‑K.

Residential Real Estate

Our residential real estate segment typically plans and develops residential communities of various sizes across a wide range of price points and sells homesites to builders or retail consumers. Our residential real estate segment also evaluates opportunities to enter into JV agreements for specific communities such as Latitude Margaritaville Watersound. Below is a description of some of our major residential development communities in Northwest Florida that we are in the process of planning or developing.

The Latitude Margaritaville Watersound community is a planned 55+ active adult residential community in Bay County, Florida. The community is located near the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway with convenient access to the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport. The community is being developed as a JV with our partner Minto Communities USA, a homebuilder and community developer. This JV is unconsolidated and is accounted for under the equity method of accounting. Phase one is estimated to include approximately 3,500 residential homes which will be developed in smaller increments of discrete neighborhoods. The sales center is currently under construction.

The WaterColor community is a residential community located in South Walton County, Florida. We are currently in the planning and engineering process for the final residential phase of this community.

The Camp Creek community is a proposed residential community located in Watersound, Florida. The community is adjacent to the Camp Creek Golf Club and is proposed to be developed in multiple phases. We are currently in the planning and engineering process for Phase one of this community.

The Watersound Origins community is a large scale, mixed use community in Watersound, Florida with direct access to Lake Powell. As of December 31, 2019, 676 homesites were fully developed, of which 500 have sold. Currently 465 homesites are under site development, which will be completed in phases. As of December 31, 2019, 539 homesites were under contract.

The Breakfast Point community is a residential community in Panama City Beach, Florida, and the Breakfast Point East community is a proposed residential community in Bay County, Florida, adjacent to and east of the Breakfast Point community. Combined, Breakfast Point has received governmental approvals for 2,129 single family homesites and 440 multi-family units. As of December 31, 2019, 369 homesites were fully developed and sold. Engineering is currently in process on a new phase of 80 homesites.

The Titus Park community is a new residential community located in north Bay County, Florida. The residential community is proposed to be developed in multiple phases. Currently site development is in process for 154 homesites. As of December 31, 2019, the 154 homesites were under contract.

The College Station community is a new residential community located in Bay County, Florida. The residential community is proposed to be developed in multiple phases. Currently site development is in process for 92 homesites. As of December 31, 2019, 41 homesites were under contract.

The Park Place community is a new residential community located in the City of Callaway in Bay County, Florida. This residential community is proposed to be developed in multiple phases. Currently site development is in process for 103 homesites in Phase one of the Park Place community. As of December 31, 2019, 51 homesites were under contract.

The Mexico Beach Village residential community is a proposed mixed use community located in the City of Mexico Beach in east Bay County, Florida. The residential component of this community is proposed to be developed in multiple phases. Planning and design are currently in process for this community.

The WindMark Beach community is a residential community in Port St. Joe, Florida. The community has received governmental approvals for 1,516 residential homesites. To date, 262 homesites were fully developed and sold. Currently, 56 homesites are under site development, all of which are under contract. Planning and engineering is in process for a new phase of homesites.

The SouthWood community is a large scale, mixed use community located in Tallahassee, Florida. The community has received governmental approvals for 4,770 residential homesites, which includes 2,074 single family and 2,696 multi-family. To date, 2,766 homesites have sold. Currently engineering is in process for 55 homesites and 20 homesites are under site development. As of December 31, 2019, 87 homesites were under contract.

We have other residential communities, such as SummerCamp Beach and RiverCamps that have homesites available for sale or lands for future development. In addition, we have residential communities, such as WaterSound Beach, WaterSound West Beach and Wild Heron that are substantially developed, with homesites in these communities available for sale.

The Bay-Walton Sector Plan is a long term master plan that originally included 110,500 acres of our land with entitlements, or legal rights, to develop over 170,000 residential dwelling units, over 22 million square feet of retail, commercial, and industrial space and over 3,000 hotel rooms. We anticipate a wide range of residential, commercial and hospitality uses on these land holdings. We are utilizing some of the entitlements from the Bay-Walton Sector Plan with the commencement of construction of the sales center for the Latitude Margaritaville Watersound community, engineering of the Camp Creek residential community and ongoing development of the Watersound Origins community.

As of December 31, 2019, we had 930 residential homesites under contract, which are expected to result in revenue of approximately $84.3 million at closing of the homesites, which are expected over the next several years. As of December 31, 2018 we had 684 residential homesites under contract, which are expected to result in revenue of approximately $67.9 million ($9.0 million has been realized through December 31, 2019). The increase in homesites under contract is due to the development of additional homesites and increased builder contracts for residential homesites. The number of homesites under contract are subject to change based on final platting of each community.

Hospitality

Our hospitality segment features a private membership club (“The Clubs by JOE”), hotel operations, food and beverage operations, golf courses, beach clubs, retail outlets, gulf-front vacation rentals, management services, marinas and other entertainment assets. The hospitality segment generates revenue and incurs costs from membership sales, membership reservations, golf courses, the WaterColor Inn and WaterSound Inn, short-term vacation rentals, management of The Pearl Hotel, food and beverage operations, merchandise sales, marina operations, other resort and entertainment activities and beach clubs, which includes operation of the WaterColor Beach Club. Hospitality revenue is generally recognized at the point in time services are provided and represent a single performance obligation with a fixed

transaction price. Hospitality revenue recognized over time includes non-refundable membership initiation fees and management fees.

The Clubs by JOE

The Clubs by JOE provides club members and guests in our hotels access to our member facilities, which include the Camp Creek Golf Club, Shark’s Tooth Golf Club, and the WaterSound Beach Club. The Clubs by JOE is focused on creating a world class membership experience combined with the luxurious aspects of a destination resort. Club operations include our golf courses, beach club and facilities that generate revenue from membership sales, membership reservations, daily play at the golf courses, merchandise sales and food and beverage sales and incur expenses from the services provided, maintenance of the golf courses, beach club and facilities and personnel costs. Below is a description of some of our club properties, which are located in Northwest Florida.

WaterSound Beach Club. The WaterSound Beach Club is The Clubs by JOE’s private beach club located in Watersound, Florida, which includes over one mile of Gulf of Mexico frontage, two resort-style pools, two restaurants, three bars, kid’s room and a recreation area.

Shark’s Tooth Golf Club. Shark’s Tooth includes an 18-hole golf course, a full club house, a pro shop, as well as two food and beverage operations. In addition to the golf course, a The Clubs by JOE tennis center is located in the Wild Heron community.

Camp Creek Golf Club. Camp Creek includes an 18-hole golf course and a pro shop with a snack bar. This championship course is located in Watersound, Florida. In the fourth quarter of 2019, we commenced construction on a new hotel and club amenities adjacent to the Camp Creek golf course. Plans include an upscale, 75-room boutique inn near the highly desirable Scenic Highway 30-A corridor that we will operate. Amenities will include a health and wellness center, two restaurants, a tennis center, pickle ball courts, a resort-style pool complex with separate adult pool, a golf teaching academy and multi-sports fields. Once complete, these amenities will be available to The Clubs by JOE members and guests at our hotels.

Watersound Origins. Watersound Origins includes a six-hole golf course, resort-style pool, fitness center, two tennis courts, private lake dock and a café located in the community. Access to amenities are reserved to Watersound Origins members consisting of the community residents. The golf course is available for public play.

 SouthWood Golf Club. During 2018, we sold the SouthWood Golf Club, as well as the SouthWood House and cottages.

Hotel Operations, Food and Beverage Operations, Short-Term Vacation Rentals and Other Management Services

We own and operate the award-winning WaterColor Inn, which includes the Fish Out of Water (“FOOW”) restaurant, the WaterSound Inn and two gulf-front vacation rental houses. We own and operate retail and commercial outlets near our hospitality facilities. We also operate the award-winning The Pearl Hotel and Havana Beach Bar & Grill restaurant and the WaterColor Beach Club, which includes food and beverage operations and other hospitality related activities, such as beach chair rentals.

Revenue is generated from (1) the WaterColor Inn, WaterSound Inn and operation of the WaterColor Beach Club, (2) management of The Pearl Hotel, (3) short-term vacation rentals and (4) food and beverage operations. The WaterColor Inn, WaterSound Inn and operation of the WaterColor Beach Club generate revenue from service and/or daily rental fees and incur expenses from the cost of services and goods provided, maintenance of the facilities and personnel costs. Revenue generated from our management services include management fees. Management services expenses consist primarily of internal administrative costs. In December 2017, we sold our vacation rental management business. Following the December 2017 sale, we no longer manage third party vacation rentals, but continue to manage rental properties we own. Hotel operations and short-term vacation rentals incur expenses from the holding cost of assets we own and standard lodging personnel, such as front desk, reservations and marketing personnel. Our food and beverage operations generate revenue from food and beverage sales and incur expenses from the cost of services and goods provided and standard personnel costs.

Embassy Suites hotel. In the third quarter of 2019 we, along with Key International, Inc., commenced construction of an Embassy Suites hotel in the Pier Park area of Panama City Beach, Florida. The hotel is planned to feature 255 guest suites, a pool, meeting space, a fitness center, an on-site restaurant and an upper-level, gulf-view social and event space with catering. Once complete, we will manage the day-to-day operations of this hotel.

Hilton Garden Inn. In the fourth quarter of 2019, we commenced construction of a Hilton Garden Inn brand hotel near the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport. This hotel is planned to feature 143 guest rooms, meeting space and a full-service restaurant.

Sky Zone. In November 2019, we entered into a franchise agreement to own, construct and operate an approximately 25,000 square feet Sky Zone trampoline park near the Pier Park lifestyle center in Panama City Beach, Florida. Planning is in process for this project.

The Powder Room. In the fourth quarter of 2019, we commenced construction of The Powder Room Shooting Range and Training Center (“The Powder Room”) in Panama City Beach, Florida. The facility is planned to be approximately 17,000 square feet and include 14 shooting lanes and a retail store, as well as training and educational space. Once complete, we will manage the day-to-day operations.

Retail Outlets

We own and operate retail outlets near our hospitality facilities that include the WaterColor store and four additional retail outlets. Our retail outlets generate revenue from merchandise sales, which are recognized at the point of sale and incur expenses from the cost of goods provided, personnel costs and facility costs.

Marinas

We own and operate two marinas in Northwest Florida consisting of the Bay Point Marina and Port St. Joe Marina. Our marinas generate revenue from boat slip rentals and fuel sales, and incur expenses from cost of services provided, maintenance of the marina facilities and personnel costs. Subsequent to the landfall of Hurricane Michael on October 10, 2018, the marinas remain closed due to significant damage requiring long-term restoration, which is currently underway. We maintain property and business interruption insurance on the impacted marina assets. See Note 7. Hurricane Michael included in Item 15 of this Form 10-K for additional information.

From time to time, we may explore the sale of certain hospitality properties, the development of new hospitality properties, as well as new entertainment and management opportunities.

Commercial Leasing and Sales

Our commercial leasing and sales segment includes construction and leasing of multi-family, retail, office and commercial property, cell towers and other assets, an assisted living community, as well as planning, development, entitlement, management and sale of our commercial land holdings for a variety of uses. These uses include a broad range of retail, office, hotel, assisted-living, multi-family and industrial properties. The commercial leasing and sales segment’s portfolio of leasable properties continues to expand and diversify. We are in the process of constructing 361 apartment units, in addition to the 216 that have recently been completed, and 107 assisted living/memory care units.  We provide development opportunities for national, regional and local retailers and other strategic partners in Northwest Florida. We own and manage retail shopping centers and develop commercial parcels. We have large land holdings near the Pier Park retail center, adjacent to the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport, near or within business districts in the region and along roadways.

Our commercial leasing and sales segment generates leasing revenue and incurs leasing expenses primarily from maintenance and management of our properties, personnel costs and asset holding costs. Our commercial leasing and sales segment also generates revenue from the sale of developed and undeveloped land or land with limited development and entitlements and the sale of commercial operating properties. Real estate sales in our commercial leasing and sales segment incur costs of revenue directly associated with the land, development, construction and selling costs. Some of

our JV and other assets incur interest and financing expenses related to the loans as described in Note 12. Debt, Net included in Item 15 of this Form 10-K.

Below is a listing of some of our commercial leasing and sales properties.

Pier Park North. Our Pier Park North JV owns a retail center of approximately 330,000 square feet in Panama City Beach, Florida, of which approximately 10,000 square feet remains to be constructed. As of December 31, 2019, Pier Park North JV had 320,310 leasable square feet, of which 95.4% were under lease.

Pier Park Crossings. Pier Park Crossings is being developed in two phases with a total of 360 apartment units in Panama City Beach, Florida. In April 2017, we formed the Pier Park Crossings JV to develop, manage and lease the initial 240-unit phase of apartments, which is nearing completion. As of December 31, 2019, we had completed 216 units, all of which were under lease. In October 2019, we formed the Pier Park Crossings Phase II apartments JV (“Pier Park Crossings Phase II JV”) to develop, manage and lease an additional 120-unit phase, which is currently under construction.

Pier Park Northwest. Pier Park Northwest is entitled for hospitality and commercial uses. In the fall of 2017, we entered into a JV (the “Pier Park TPS JV”) with InterMountain Management, LLC, to construct and manage a TownePlace Suites by Marriott. Construction began in the fourth quarter of 2018 on the 124 room TownePlace Suites and is now nearing completion. The Pier Park TPS JV is unconsolidated and is accounted for under the equity method of accounting. Additionally, we are designing a new multi-tenant commercial building to be constructed, owned and operated by us on a separate portion of this site.

Beckrich Office Park. Beckrich Office Park in Panama City Beach, Florida is being expanded to include a third office building that, combined with the two original office buildings, will offer over 100,000 square feet of leasable Class A office space. The two existing office buildings include over 67,000 leasable square feet, of which 100.0% were under lease as of December 31, 2019. In December 2019, we also completed construction of a building for a Starbucks at the Beckrich Office Park, for which we have a long term lease. A portion of the third office building will be occupied as our corporate headquarters.

VentureCrossings. VentureCrossings is a commercial and industrial development adjacent to the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport. We are soliciting global office, retail and industrial users for this prime development location where we own over 300,000 square feet of manufacturing and office space. Approximately 244,000 square feet of manufacturing and office space are currently under long-term leases. We completed construction of a new 60,000 square foot flex space building in December of 2019, which is available for lease.

Watersound Origins Crossings. In May 2019, we formed the Watersound Origins Crossings JV to develop, manage and lease apartments in Watersound, Florida, which is adjacent to the Watersound Origins Town Center. We are working together, with our JV partner, to develop a 217 unit apartment community, which is currently under construction.

Watersound Origins Town Center. The Watersound Origins Town Center is entitled for approximately 330,000 square feet of retail and entertainment space, as well as approximately 127,000 square feet of office space. In August 2018, we entered into an agreement with Sacred Heart Health Systems to construct and lease an approximately 6,500 square foot healthcare facility. The facility is currently under construction. Additionally, we have begun construction on a new multi-tenant commercial building and are in the early planning phases of other commercial buildings.

Topsail West. Topsail West is entitled for approximately 61,000 square feet of retail and entertainment space in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. In April 2019, we entered into an agreement to construct and lease a build-to-suit restaurant building for First Watch: The Daytime Café. The building is currently under construction.

Watercrest Santa Rosa Beach Assisted Living and Memory Care. In May 2019, we formed a JV (the “Watercrest JV”) to develop and operate a new assisted living and memory care community in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, which will

be located near Topsail West. The JV parties are working together to develop the 107-unit community, which is currently under construction.

Nautilus North. Nautilus North, located in Panama City Beach, Florida, is a commercial development which was platted into seven commercial parcels. In July 2019, we formed a JV (the “Busy Bee JV”) to develop and operate a Busy Bee branded fuel station and convenience store that is currently under construction on two parcels at Nautilus North. The Busy Bee JV is unconsolidated and is accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

North Glades/Breakfast Point Bank Building. In April 2019, we entered into an agreement with Capital City Bank to construct and lease a full-service banking location in Panama City Beach, Florida. The bank building is currently under construction.

Port St. Joe Bank Building. In December 2019, we entered into an agreement with Capital City Bank to construct and lease a full-service banking location in Port St. Joe, Florida. The bank building is currently under construction.

In addition to the properties listed above, a flex space building of approximately 19,000 square feet is under construction at Cedar Grove Commerce Park in Panama City, Florida and a flex space building of approximately 10,000 square feet is under construction at Beach Commerce Park in Panama City Beach, Florida. We also have a number of projects in various stages of planning, including additional commercial buildings, apartments, assisted living/memory care communities, a grocery store and a self-storage facility.

Forestry

Our forestry segment focuses on the management of our timber holdings in Northwest Florida and generates revenue primarily from open market sales of timber on site without the associated delivery costs. We grow and sell pulpwood, sawtimber and other forest products. As of December 31, 2019, we had approximately 113,000 acres in our forestry segment and expect to have the ability to consistently operate approximately 64,000 of those acres.

As of December 31, 2019, we had an estimated 2.6 million tons of marketable pulpwood and 3.3 million tons of marketable sawlogs on approximately 64,000 acres. Our ability to operate the remaining acreage is limited by geographic restrictions, (e.g., lakes and wetlands that do not yield enough timber to make it cost effective to operate in those areas, land set aside for mitigation banks and certain regulatory restrictions). Based on our annual harvest plan, we anticipate harvesting approximately 305,000 tons of pulpwood and sawlogs during 2020.

We may sell our timber holdings, undeveloped land or land with limited development and easements. Some parcels include the benefits of limited development activity including improved roads, ponds and fencing. We have traditionally sold parcels of varying sizes ranging from less than one acre to thousands of acres. The pricing of these parcels varies significantly based on size, location, terrain, timber quality and other local factors. Costs incurred as part of a sale of these lands may include the cost of timber, land, minimal development costs and selling costs. We also lease land within the forestry segment for hunting and other uses.

Results of Operations

Consolidated Results

Revenue and expenses. The following table sets forth a comparison of the results of our operations:

 

Results of operations in this Form 10-K generally discusses 2019 and 2018 items and comparisons. For a detailed discussion of results of operations and comparisons for 2018 and 2017, please see Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10‑K for the year ended December 31, 2018 filed with the SEC on February 27, 2019.

Real Estate Revenue and Gross Profit

The following table sets forth a comparison of our total real estate revenue and gross profit for the three years ended December 31, 2019:

Residential Real Estate Revenue and Gross Profit. During 2019, total residential real estate revenue decreased $1.7 million, or 4.0% to $41.1 million, as compared to $42.8 million during 2018 and total residential real estate gross profit decreased $11.9 million, to $21.1 million (or gross margin of 51.3%), as compared to $33.0 million, (or gross margin of 77.1%) during 2018. Included in residential real estate revenue for 2018 is $23.1 million for a one-time receipt of RiverTown impact fees related to the 2014 RiverTown transaction, resulting in a gross profit margin of 100.0%. See Note 19. RiverTown Impact Fees included in Item 15 of this Form 10‑K for further discussion. Excluding the one-time receipt of the RiverTown impact fees, 2019 residential real estate revenue would have increased $21.4 million, or 108.6%, to $41.1 million, as compared to $19.7 million during 2018, and residential real estate gross profit would have increased $11.2 million, or 113.1%, to $21.1 million, (or gross margin of 51.3%), as compared to $9.9 million, (or gross margin of 50.3%), during 2018. During 2019, we sold 379 homesites compared to 202 homesites during 2018.

The number of homesites sold varied each period due to the timing of builder contractual closing obligations and the timing of development of completed homesites in our residential communities. The revenue and gross profit for each period was impacted by the volume of sales within each of the communities, the difference in pricing among the communities and the difference in the cost of the homesite development.

Commercial Real Estate Revenue and Gross Profit. During 2019, we had eleven commercial real estate sales totaling approximately 107 acres for $7.8 million resulting in a gross profit margin of 50.0%, of this amount approximately 28 acres totaling $4.3 million in revenue were sold in the SouthWood community. During 2018, we had fourteen commercial real estate sales totaling approximately 330 acres for $4.8 million resulting in a gross profit margin of 35.4%. Commercial real estate revenue for 2018 included $2.6 million related to the sale of two hospitality properties located in the SouthWood community, including the golf course. Revenue from commercial real estate can vary significantly from period to period depending on the proximity to developed areas and mix of commercial real estate sold in each period, with varying compositions of retail, office, industrial and other commercial uses.

Rural Land and Other Revenue and Gross Profit. During 2019, we sold approximately 1,498 acres of rural and timber land for $11.7 million and mitigation bank credits for $0.9 million, resulting in a gross profit margin of approximately 96.8%. Rural land sales for 2019 included $9.9 million related to non-strategic land located in Leon County, Florida, with a gross profit of $9.7 million due to a low historical basis. During 2018, we sold approximately 181 acres of rural and timber land for $1.8 million and mitigation bank credits for $2.8 million, resulting in a gross profit margin of approximately 89.1%. Revenue from rural land can vary significantly from period to period.

Our gross margin can vary significantly from period to period depending on the characteristics of property sold. Sales of rural and timber land typically have a lower cost basis than residential and commercial real estate sales. In addition, our cost basis in residential and commercial real estate can vary depending on the amount of development or other costs spent on the property.

For additional information see the Segment Results sections for Residential Real Estate,  Commercial Leasing and Sales and Forestry.

Hospitality Revenue and Gross Profit

 

Hospitality revenue increased $7.3 million, or 18.8%, during 2019, as compared to 2018. During 2019 the increase in hospitality revenue is primarily due to an in increase in club membership revenue, the re-opening of the FOOW restaurant in June 2018, the opening of the WaterColor store in January 2019 as well as other new retail outlets during 2019, the opening of the Camp WaterColor food and beverage operation in March 2019 and the opening of an additional dining option at the Watersound Beach Club in May 2019. The increases were partially offset by decreases in room revenue for the WaterColor Inn from lower occupancy related to the WaterColor Beach Club being closed during a portion of 2019 for renovations, golf revenue primarily related to the sale of the SouthWood Golf Club in the third quarter of 2018 and the impact of Hurricane Michael on the marinas. We offer different types of club memberships, each with different access rights and associated fee structures. As of December 31, 2019, the Clubs by JOE had 1,274 members, compared with 988 members as of December 31, 2018. Hospitality had a gross margin during 2019 of 25.2% compared to 16.2% during 2018. The increase is primarily related to the increase in the number of members and membership revenue, business interruption insurance proceeds received for the marinas related to Hurricane Michael and changes in business strategy, such as new retail opportunities, additional food and beverage operations, concept changes to existing food and beverage operations and the sale of the SouthWood Gulf Club. Excluding the business interruption proceeds received for the marinas during 2019, our hospitality gross margin was 22.3% during 2019, as compared to 16.2% during 2018. The increase is primarily related to the increase in the number of members and membership revenue and the changes in business strategy as detailed above. In December 2017, we sold our short term vacation rental management business, which reduced our 2019 and 2018 revenue.

Leasing Revenue and Gross Profit

 

Leasing revenue increased $1.9 million, or 13.9%, during 2019, as compared to 2018. The increase is primarily due new leases at properties such as Beckrich Office Park, Pier Park Crossings apartments and WaterColor Crossings. The increase is partially offset by a decrease in leasing revenue related to the marinas which, subsequent to the landfall of

Hurricane Michael on October 10, 2018, remain closed. Cost of leasing revenue remained essentially flat for 2019 and 2018, which resulted in an increase to gross margin for the period.

Timber Revenue and Gross Profit

 

Timber revenue decreased $1.7 million, or 30.4%, during 2019, as compared to 2018. The decrease is primarily due to a decrease in the amount of tons sold, along with price decreases and product mix changes caused by Hurricane Michael’s significant market impact since landfall in October 2018. There were 220,000 tons sold during 2019, as compared to 328,000 tons sold during 2018. Gross margin decreased during 2019 to 84.6%, as compared to 87.5% during the same period in 2018, primarily due to decreases in sales price and volume changes in product mix.

Other Operating and Corporate Expenses

 

Other operating and corporate expenses increased $0.8 million during 2019, as compared to 2018. The increase in employee costs of $0.5 million was due to an average of 55 full-time employees during 2019, compared to an average of 47 full-time employees during 2018. The increase of $0.5 million in professional fees was due to increased operations and transactions during 2019.

Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization

Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense increased $1.3 million during 2019, as compared to 2018, primarily due to new assets construction and equipment placed in service.

Investment Income, Net

Investment income, net primarily includes (i) interest and dividends earned, (ii) accretion of the net discount, (iii) net realized gain or loss from the sale of our available-for-sale investments and equity securities, less other-than-temporary impairment loss, (iv) unrealized gain or loss related to investments – equity securities, (v) interest income earned on the time deposit held by a special purpose entity and (vi) interest earned on mortgage notes receivable and other receivables as detailed in the table below: