Sylvamo First Quarter Results Meet Expectations, Strong Second Quarter Outlook Reflects Improving Conditions

Sylvamo (NYSE: SLVM), the world’s paper company, is releasing first quarter 2024 earnings.

Financial Highlights - First Quarter vs. Fourth Quarter

  • Net income of $43 million ($1.02 per diluted share) vs. $49 million ($1.16 per diluted share)
  • Adjusted operating earnings1 of $45 million ($1.07 per diluted share) vs. $49 million ($1.16 per diluted share)
  • Adjusted EBITDA2 of $118 million (13% margin) vs. $117 million (12% margin)
  • Cash provided by operating activities of $27 million vs. $167 million
  • Free cash flow3 of $(33) million vs. $104 million

Commercial and Operational Highlights – First Quarter vs. Fourth Quarter

  • Price and mix were stable
  • Volume decreased by $12 million due to expected seasonally weaker industry demand in Latin America
  • Operations and other costs improved by $19 million due primarily to lower economic downtime
  • Planned maintenance outage expenses decreased by $3 million
  • Input and transportation costs increased by $9 million, driven primarily by transportation costs in North America

Second Quarter Outlook

  • Adjusted EBITDA of $145 million to $160 million
  • Compared to the first quarter:
    • Price and mix are expected to increase by $15 million to $20 million, primarily reflecting prior price increases across all regions and a better mix in Latin America
    • Volume is projected to increase by $5 million to $10 million, with seasonally stronger demand in Latin America and continued momentum in Europe and North America
    • Operations and other costs are expected to improve by $5 million to $10 million due primarily to lower costs in Europe and North America
    • Input and transportation costs are projected to be stable to improving up to $5 million due to better transportation and energy costs in North America partially offset by unfavorable fiber costs in Latin America
    • Total planned maintenance outage expenses are expected to increase by $3 million

Management Summary from Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jean-Michel Ribiéras

As uncoated freesheet conditions improved in the first quarter, we experienced strengthening order books, resulting in less economic downtime. Price and mix were better than expected while input costs stabilized. That momentum is expected to continue in 2024, and we are well positioned to capitalize on the opportunities that lie ahead.

We are making good progress with Project Horizon, our structural cost reduction program to streamline overhead, manufacturing and supply chain costs. Before inflation, we are on target to meet run rate savings of $110 million by the end of 2024.

This year, we repurchased $20 million of shares, including $15 million in April, and have $130 million remaining on our $150 million share repurchase authorization from September 2023. Our board of directors declared a second quarter dividend of $0.30 per share, which we paid April 29.

Since the spinoff, we have repurchased $170 million in shares or 8% of our initial shares outstanding. This use of cash resulted in a 35% return on investment based on a $65.00 share price.

We continue to allocate capital to generate long-term shareowner value. Since our inception, we have reduced gross debt significantly and will maintain a strong financial position to operate and invest throughout industry cycles. We remain committed to reinvesting in our business. We have identified a pipeline of more than $200 million of high-return capital projects, which will allow us to grow our earnings and cash flows as we invest in these projects in the future. We also plan to continue returning substantial amounts of cash to shareowners through dividends and share repurchases at attractive prices.

1 Adjusted Operating Earnings (non-GAAP) are net income (GAAP), net of tax and net special items. Management uses this measure to focus on ongoing operations and believes it is useful to investors because it enables them to perform meaningful comparisons of past and present combined operating results. The Company believes that using this information, along with net income, provides for a more complete analysis of the results of operations. Net income is the most directly comparable GAAP measure. For more information regarding net special items, see the information under the heading Effects of Net Special Items and the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations and related notes included later in this release.

 

2 Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) is net income (GAAP), net of tax, plus the sum of income taxes, net interest expense (income), depreciation, amortization and cost of timber harvested, stock-based compensation, and, when applicable for the periods reported, net special items. Management uses this measure in managing the operating performance of our business and believes that Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin provide investors and analysts meaningful insights into our operating performance and Adjusted EBITDA is a relevant metric for the third-party debt. The Company believes that using this information, along with net income, provides for a more complete analysis of the results of its operations. Net income is the most directly comparable GAAP measure. For more information regarding net special items, see the information under the heading Effects of Net Special Items and the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations and related notes included later in this release.

 

3 Free Cash Flow is a non-GAAP measure and the most directly comparable GAAP measure is cash provided by operating activities. Management utilizes this measure in connection with managing our business and believes that Free Cash Flow is useful to investors as a liquidity measure because it measures the amount of cash generated that is available, after reinvesting in the business, to maintain a strong balance sheet and service debt, and return cash to shareowners. It should not be inferred that the entire Free Cash Flow amount is available for discretionary expenditures. Free Cash Flow also enables investors to perform meaningful comparisons between past and present periods.

Select Financial Measures

 

(In millions)

First
Quarter
2024

 

Fourth
Quarter
2023

 

First
Quarter
2023

Net Sales

$

905

 

 

$

964

 

$

941

Net Income

 

43

 

 

 

49

 

 

97

Business Segment Operating Profit

 

72

 

 

 

77

 

 

166

Adjusted Operating Earnings

 

45

 

 

 

49

 

 

108

Adjusted EBITDA

 

118

 

 

 

117

 

 

208

Cash Provided By Operating Activities

 

27

 

 

 

167

 

 

63

Free Cash Flow

 

(33

)

 

 

104

 

 

2

Segment Information

Sylvamo uses business segment operating profit to measure the earnings performance of its businesses and is calculated as set forth in footnote (f) under the "Sales and Earnings by Business Segment" table (page 7). First quarter 2024 net sales by business segment and operating profit by business segment compared with the fourth quarter of 2023 and the first quarter of 2023 are as follows:

Business Segment Results

 

(In millions)

First
Quarter
2024

 

Fourth
Quarter
2023

 

First
Quarter
2023

Net Sales by Business Segment

 

 

 

 

 

Europe

$

207

 

 

$

197

 

 

$

230

 

Latin America

 

216

 

 

 

288

 

 

 

222

 

North America

 

490

 

 

 

496

 

 

 

505

 

Inter-segment Sales

 

(8

)

 

 

(17

)

 

 

(16

)

Net Sales

$

905

 

 

$

964

 

 

$

941

 

Operating Profit by Business Segment

 

 

 

 

 

Europe

$

(4

)

 

$

(23

)

 

$

23

 

Latin America

 

14

 

 

 

48

 

 

 

46

 

North America

 

62

 

 

 

52

 

 

 

97

 

Business Segment Operating Profit

$

72

 

 

$

77

 

 

$

166

 

Operating profits in the first quarter of 2024:

Europe - $(4) million compared with $(23) million in the fourth quarter of 2023. Earnings were higher due to higher price and mix, slightly higher volumes, lower planned maintenance outages, lower operating costs and lower economic downtime.

Latin America - $14 million compared with $48 million in the fourth quarter of 2023. Earnings were lower due to lower volumes, lower price and mix, higher operating and input costs and higher planned maintenance outages.

North America - $62 million compared with $52 million in the fourth quarter of 2023. Earnings were higher as higher volumes, lower economic downtime and lower planned maintenance outages more than offset lower price and mix and lower operating and input costs.

Effective Tax Rate

The reported effective tax rate for the first quarter of 2024 was 28%, compared to 27% for the fourth quarter of 2023. The higher rate for the first quarter was due to the mix of earnings in our regions.

Excluding net special items, the effective tax rate for the first quarter of 2024 was 28%, compared with 27% for the fourth quarter of 2023.

The effective tax rate excluding net special items is a non-GAAP financial measure and is calculated by adjusting the income tax provision and rate to exclude the tax effect at the applicable statutory rate of net special items. Management believes that this presentation provides useful information to investors by providing a more meaningful comparison of the income tax rate between past and present periods.

Effects of Net Special Items

Net special items in the first quarter of 2024 amounted to a net after-tax charge of $2 million ($0.05 per diluted share), compared with a net after-tax charge of $0 million ($0.00 per diluted share) in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Earnings Webcast

The company will host an audio webcast at 10 a.m. EST / 9 a.m. CDT. All interested parties are invited to listen at investors.sylvamo.com.

Parties who wish to participate should call +1-877-336-4440 (U.S.) or +1-409-207-6984 (international) and use access code 763504. Participants should call in no later than 9:45 a.m. EST / 8:45 a.m. CDT.

Replays are available at investors.sylvamo.com for one year and by phone for 90 days, beginning at approximately 2 p.m. EST / 1 p.m. CDT the day of the call. To listen to the replay by phone, call +1-866-207-1041 (U.S.) or +1-402-970-0847 (international) and use access code 2604061.

About Sylvamo

Sylvamo Corporation (NYSE: SLVM) is the world's paper company with mills in Europe, Latin America and North America. Our vision is to be the employer, supplier and investment of choice. We transform renewable resources into papers that people depend on for education, communication and entertainment. Headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, we employ more than 6,500 colleagues. Net sales for 2023 were $3.7 billion. For more information, please visit Sylvamo.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including the information under the headings "Second Quarter Outlook" and "Management Summary from Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jean-Michel Ribiéras." Any or all forward-looking statements may turn out to be incorrect, and our actual actions and results could differ materially from what they express or imply, because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond our control. These risks, uncertainties, and other factors include those disclosed in the heading "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2023, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and in our subsequent filings with the SEC, available on our website, Sylvamo.com. These forward-looking statements reflect our current expectations, and we undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise.

SYLVAMO CORPORATION

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations

Preliminary and Unaudited

(In millions, except per share amounts)

 

 

Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

Three Months Ended
December 31,
2023

 

 

2024

 

2023

 

 

Net Sales

$

905

 

$

941

 

$

964

 

Costs and Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of products sold

 

716

(a)

 

670

(c)

 

762

(f)

Selling and administrative expenses

 

74

(b)

 

82

(d)

 

87

(g)

Depreciation, amortization and cost of timber harvested

 

39

 

 

35

 

 

38

 

Taxes other than payroll and income taxes

 

7

 

 

6

 

 

4

 

Interest expense (income), net

 

9

 

 

7

(e)

 

6

(h)

Income Before Income Taxes

 

60

 

 

141

 

 

67

 

Income tax provision

 

17

 

 

44

 

 

18

 

Net Income

$

43

 

$

97

 

$

49

 

Earnings Per Share

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

$

1.04

 

$

2.28

 

$

1.18

 

Diluted

$

1.02

 

$

2.25

 

$

1.16

 

Average Shares of Common Stock Outstanding - Diluted

 

42

 

 

43

 

 

42

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of this condensed consolidated statement of operations.

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2024

 

(a)

Includes pre-tax loss of $1 million ($1 million after taxes) for other charges.

 

(b)

Includes pre-tax loss of $2 million ($1 million after taxes) for integration costs related to the Nymölla acquisition.

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2023

 

(c)

Includes incremental expense of $9 million ($7 million after taxes) related to the impact of the step-up of acquired Nymölla inventory sold during the quarter.

 

(d)

Includes pre-tax loss of $4 million ($3 million after taxes) for transaction and integration costs related to the Nymölla acquisition and pre-tax loss of $4 million ($3 million after taxes) for professional and legal fees related to negotiations resulting in a shareholder cooperation agreement.

 

(e)

Includes $9 million ($6 million after taxes) of interest income related to tax settlements and a pre-tax loss of $5 million ($4 million after taxes) related to debt extinguishment costs.

 

Three Months Ended December 31, 2023

 

(f)

Includes a pre-tax gain of $5 million ($4 million after taxes) to adjust the recognition of a foreign value-added tax refund in Brazil.

 

(g)

Includes pre-tax loss of $9 million ($7 million after taxes) for transaction and integration costs related to the Nymölla acquisition.

 

(h)

Includes a pretax gain of $4 million ($4 million after taxes) to adjust interest income associated with the recognition of a foreign value-added tax refund in Brazil.

SYLVAMO CORPORATION

Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted Operating Earnings

Preliminary and Unaudited

(In millions, except per share amounts)

 

 

Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

Three Months
Ended
December 31,
2023

 

2024

 

2023

 

Net Income

$

43

 

$

97

 

$

49

Add back: Net special items expense (income)

 

2

 

 

11

 

 

Adjusted Operating Earnings

$

45

 

$

108

 

$

49

Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

Three Months
Ended
December 31,
2023

 

2024

 

2023

 

Diluted Earnings Per Common Share as Reported

$

1.02

 

$

2.25

 

$

1.16

Add back: Net special items expense (income)

 

0.05

 

 

0.26

 

 

Adjusted Operating Earnings Per Share

$

1.07

 

$

2.51

 

$

1.16

SYLVAMO CORPORATION

Sales and Earnings by Business Segment

Preliminary and Unaudited

(In millions)

 

Net Sales by Business Segment

 

 

Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

Three Months
Ended
December 31,
2023

 

2024

 

2023

 

Europe

$

207

 

 

$

230

 

 

$

197

 

Latin America

 

216

 

 

 

222

 

 

 

288

 

North America

 

490

 

 

 

505

 

 

 

496

 

Inter-segment Sales

 

(8

)

 

 

(16

)

 

 

(17

)

Net Sales

$

905

 

 

$

941

 

 

$

964

 

Operating Profit by Business Segment

 

 

Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

Three Months
Ended
December 31,
2023

 

 

2024

 

2023

 

 

Europe

$

(4

)

 

$

23

 

$

(23

)

 

Latin America

 

14

 

 

 

46

 

 

48

 

 

North America

 

62

 

 

 

97

 

 

52

 

 

Business Segment Operating Profit

$

72

 

 

$

166

 

$

77

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income Before Income Taxes

$

60

 

 

$

141

 

$

67

 

 

Interest expense (income), net

 

9

 

 

 

7

(b)

 

6

 

(d)

Net special items expense (income)

 

3

 

(a)

 

18

(c)

 

4

 

(e)

Business Segment Operating Profit (f)

$

72

 

 

$

166

 

$

77

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2024

 

(a)

Includes pre-tax loss of $2 million ($1 million after taxes) for integration costs related to the Nymölla acquisition and pre-tax loss of $1 million ($1 million after taxes) for other charges.

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2023

 

(b)

Includes $9 million ($6 million after taxes) of interest income related to tax settlements and a pre-tax loss of $5 million ($4 million after taxes) related to debt extinguishment costs.

 

(c)

Includes pre-tax loss of $4 million ($3 million after taxes) for integration costs related to the Nymölla acquisition, a pre-tax loss of $4 million ($3 million after taxes) for professional and legal fees related to negotiations resulting in a shareholder cooperation agreement and incremental expense of $9 million ($7 million after taxes) related to the impact of the step-up of acquired Nymölla inventory sold during the quarter.

 

Three Months December 31, 2023

 

(d)

Includes a pretax gain of $4 million ($4 million after taxes) for the three months and twelve months ended December 31, 2023, to adjust interest income associated with the recognition of a foreign value-added tax refund in Brazil.

 

(e)

Includes a pre-tax gain of $5 million ($4 million after taxes) to adjust the recognition of a foreign value-added tax refund in Brazil and a pre-tax loss of $9 million ($7 million after taxes) for transaction and integration costs related to the Nymölla acquisition.

 

(f)

As set forth in the chart above, business segment operating profit is defined as income before income taxes, but excluding net interest expense (income) and net special items. Business segment operating profit is a measure reported to our management for purposes of making decisions about allocating resources to our business segments and assessing the performance of our business segments.

Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin

Preliminary and Unaudited

(In millions)

 

 

Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

Three Months
Ended
December 31,
2023

 

2024

 

2023

 

Net Income

$

43

 

 

$

97

 

 

$

49

 

Adjustments:

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax provision

 

17

 

 

 

44

 

 

 

18

 

Interest expense (income), net

 

9

 

 

 

7

 

 

 

6

 

Depreciation, amortization and cost of timber harvested

 

39

 

 

 

35

 

 

 

38

 

Stock-based compensation

 

7

 

 

 

7

 

 

 

2

 

Net special items expense (income)

 

3

 

 

 

18

 

 

 

4

 

Adjusted EBITDA

$

118

 

 

$

208

 

 

$

117

 

Net Sales

$

905

 

 

$

941

 

 

$

964

 

Adjusted EBITDA Margin

 

13.0

%

 

 

22.1

%

 

 

12.1

%

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin by Business Segment

 

 

Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

Three Months
Ended
December 31,
2023

 

2024

 

2023

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

 

 

 

 

Europe

$

5

 

 

$

31

 

 

$

(16

)

Latin America

 

34

 

 

 

63

 

 

 

67

 

North America

 

79

 

 

 

114

 

 

 

66

 

Total Business Segment Adjusted EBITDA

$

118

 

 

$

208

 

 

$

117

 

Net Sales (excluding inter-segment sales eliminations)

 

 

 

 

 

Europe

$

207

 

 

$

230

 

 

$

197

 

Latin America

 

216

 

 

 

222

 

 

 

288

 

North America

 

490

 

 

 

505

 

 

 

496

 

Total Business Segment Net Sales

$

913

 

 

$

957

 

 

$

981

 

Adjusted EBITDA Margin

 

 

 

 

 

Europe

 

2

%

 

 

13

%

 

 

(8

)%

Latin America

 

16

%

 

 

28

%

 

 

23

%

North America

 

16

%

 

 

23

%

 

 

13

%

SYLVAMO CORPORATION

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet

Preliminary and Unaudited

(In millions)

 

 

March 31,
2024

 

December 31,
2023

Assets

 

 

 

Current Assets

 

 

 

Cash and temporary investments

$

149

 

 

$

220

 

Restricted cash

 

60

 

 

 

60

 

Accounts and notes receivable, net

 

413

 

 

 

428

 

Contract assets

 

35

 

 

 

27

 

Inventories

 

407

 

 

 

404

 

Other current assets

 

51

 

 

 

54

 

Total Current Assets

 

1,115

 

 

 

1,193

 

Plants, Properties and Equipment, Net

 

986

 

 

 

1,002

 

Forestlands

 

385

 

 

 

364

 

Goodwill

 

134

 

 

 

139

 

Right of Use Assets

 

64

 

 

 

58

 

Deferred Charges and Other Assets

 

113

 

 

 

116

 

Total Assets

$

2,797

 

 

$

2,872

 

Liabilities and Equity

 

 

 

Current Liabilities

 

 

 

Accounts payable

$

404

 

 

$

421

 

Notes payable and current maturities of long-term debt

 

28

 

 

 

28

 

Accrued payroll and benefits

 

52

 

 

 

63

 

Other current liabilities

 

165

 

 

 

183

 

Total Current Liabilities

 

649

 

 

 

695

 

Long-Term Debt

 

921

 

 

 

931

 

Deferred Income Taxes

 

180

 

 

 

189

 

Other Liabilities

 

158

 

 

 

156

 

Equity

 

 

 

Common stock, $1 par value, 200.0 shares authorized, 44.9 shares and 44.5 shares issued and 41.4 shares and 41.2 shares outstanding at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively

 

45

 

 

 

45

 

Paid-In Capital

 

54

 

 

 

48

 

Retained Earnings

 

2,253

 

 

 

2,222

 

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

 

(1,293

)

 

 

(1,256

)

 

 

1,059

 

 

 

1,059

 

Less: Common stock held in treasury, at cost, 3.5 shares and 3.3 shares at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively

 

(170

)

 

 

(158

)

Total Equity

 

889

 

 

 

901

 

Total Liabilities and Equity

$

2,797

 

 

$

2,872

 

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

Preliminary and Unaudited

(In millions)

 

 

Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

2024

 

2023

Operating Activities

 

 

 

Net income

$

43

 

 

$

97

 

Depreciation, amortization, and cost of timber harvested

 

39

 

 

 

35

 

Deferred income tax provision (benefit), net

 

2

 

 

 

5

 

Stock-based compensation

 

7

 

 

 

7

 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities and other

 

 

 

Accounts and notes receivable

 

8

 

 

 

82

 

Inventories

 

(5

)

 

 

(81

)

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

(45

)

 

 

(100

)

Other

 

(22

)

 

 

18

 

Cash Provided By Operating Activities

 

27

 

 

 

63

 

Investment Activities

 

 

 

Invested in capital projects

 

(60

)

 

 

(61

)

Acquisition of business, net of cash acquired

 

 

 

 

(167

)

Other

 

 

 

 

 

Cash Provided By (Used for) Investment Activities

 

(60

)

 

 

(228

)

Financing Activities

 

 

 

Dividends paid

 

(12

)

 

 

(10

)

Issuance of debt

 

6

 

 

 

427

 

Reduction of debt

 

(17

)

 

 

(407

)

Repurchases of common stock

 

(5

)

 

 

(10

)

Other

 

(7

)

 

 

(8

)

Cash Provided By (Used for) Financing Activities

 

(35

)

 

 

(8

)

Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash

 

(3

)

 

 

4

 

Change in Cash, Temporary Investments and Restricted Cash

 

(71

)

 

 

(169

)

Cash, Temporary Investments and Restricted Cash

 

 

 

Beginning of the period

 

280

 

 

 

360

 

End of the period

$

209

 

 

$

191

 

SYLVAMO CORPORATION

Reconciliation of Cash Provided by Operations to Free Cash Flow

Preliminary and Unaudited

(In millions)

 

 

Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

Three Months
Ended
December 31,
2023

 

2024

 

2023

 

Cash Provided By Operating Activities

$

27

 

 

$

63

 

 

$

167

 

Adjustments:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash invested in capital projects

 

(60

)

 

 

(61

)

 

 

(63

)

Free Cash Flow

$

(33

)

 

$

2

 

 

$

104

 

SYLVAMO CORPORATION

Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA - Second Quarter 2024 Outlook

Estimates

(In millions)

 

 

Three Months Ended
June 30,
2024

 

Net Income

$62 - $72

Adjustments:

 

Income tax provision

27 - 32

Interest expense (income), net

10

Depreciation, amortization and cost of timber harvested

38

Stock-based compensation

8

Adjusted EBITDA

$145 - $160

The non-GAAP financial measures presented in this release have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for an analysis of our results calculated in accordance with GAAP. In addition, because not all companies use identical calculations, the Company’s presentation of non-GAAP measures in this release may not be comparable to similarly titled measures disclosed by other companies, including companies in the same industry as Sylvamo.

Management believes certain non-U.S. GAAP financial measures, when used in conjunction with information presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP, can facilitate a better understanding of the impact of various factors and trends on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations. Management also uses these non-U.S. GAAP financial measures in making financial, operating and planning decisions and in evaluating the Company’s performance.