Clearwater Paper Reports Second Quarter 2024 Results

Clearwater Paper Corporation (NYSE:CLW), a premier supplier of bleached paperboard and quality consumer tissue today reported financial results for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2024.

SECOND QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS

• Continued strong demand in tissue, improved demand in paperboard
• Completed acquisition of Augusta paperboard manufacturing facility
• Net sales of $586 million, up 12% from the second quarter of last year, primarily driven by incremental sales volume from Augusta
• Net loss of $26 million, or $1.55 per diluted share compared to $30 million income, or $1.75 per diluted share in the second quarter of last year
• Adjusted EBITDA of $35 million, $36 million less than second quarter of last year, driven by the $32 million impact from the planned major maintenance at the Lewiston, Idaho facility

"We completed the acquisition of the Augusta facility in May and our integration is on track. We are pleased with the quality of the assets and are committed to achieving our targeted synergies by the end of 2026,” said Arsen Kitch, president and chief executive officer. “Our tissue business continues to deliver outstanding performance, and we are expecting a gradual recovery in paperboard market demand in the coming quarters.”

STRATEGIC UPDATES

On July 22, 2024, the company announced that it has signed definitive agreements to sell its consumer products division (tissue business) to Sofidel America Corp. for $1.06 billion, subject to customary adjustments. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval other customary closing conditions and is currently expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2024.

“We thoroughly explored strategic options for our tissue business and believe that Sofidel will be well positioned to continue investing in these assets for long-term growth,” said Kitch. "This is a transformational time for Clearwater paper, and we are looking forward to the next chapter of value creation as we continue our strategy to scale and grow our paperboard business.”

OVERALL RESULTS

For the second quarter of 2024, Clearwater Paper reported net sales of $586 million compared to net sales of $525 million for the second quarter of 2023. Clearwater Paper reported a net loss for the second quarter of 2024 of $26 million, or $1.55 per diluted share, compared to net income for the second quarter of 2023 of $30 million, or $1.75 per diluted share. Adjusted EBITDA for the second quarter of 2024 was $35 million, compared to the second quarter of 2023 Adjusted EBITDA of $71 million.

For the first six months of 2024, Clearwater Paper reported net sales of $1.1 billion, a 3% increase compared to net sales of $1 billion for the first six months of 2023. Clearwater Paper reported a net loss for the first six months of 2024 of $9 million, or $0.52 per diluted share, compared to net income for the first six months of 2023 of $54 million, or $3.15 per diluted share. Adjusted EBITDA for the first six months of 2024 was $97 million, compared to the first six months of 2023 Adjusted EBITDA of $137 million.

Pulp and Paperboard Segment

Net sales in the Pulp and Paperboard segment were $334 million for the second quarter of 2024, up 23% compared to second quarter 2023 net sales of $272 million. Segment operating loss for the second quarter of 2024 was $12 million, compared to operating income of $42 million for the second quarter of 2023. Adjusted EBITDA for the segment was $11 million in the second quarter of 2024, compared to $51 million in the second quarter of 2023. The decrease in operating income and Adjusted EBITDA was driven by lower sales prices and the impacts of the company's planned major maintenance outage at its Lewiston, Idaho facility, partially offset by lower wood costs and an insurance recovery realized in the second quarter of 2024 related to a significant weather event at its Lewiston, Idaho facility which occurred in the first quarter of 2024.

Net sales in the Pulp and Paperboard segment were $578 million for the first six months of 2024, up 5% compared to net sales of $551 million in the first six months of 2023. Segment operating income for the first six months of 2024 was $13 million, compared to $99 million for the first six months of 2023. Adjusted EBITDA for the segment was $45 million in the first six months of 2024, compared to $118 million in the first six months of 2023. The decrease in operating income and Adjusted EBITDA was primarily driven by lower sales prices and the impacts of the company's planned major maintenance outage at its Lewiston Idaho facility, partially offset by lower wood costs.

Pulp and Paperboard Sales Volumes and Prices:

• Paperboard sales volumes were 272,585 tons in the second quarter of 2024, an increase of 46% compared to 186,160 tons in the second quarter of 2023. Paperboard sales volumes were 459,888 tons in the first six months of 2024, an increase of 22.5% compared to 375,558 tons in the first six months of 2023.
• Paperboard average net selling price decreased 14% to $1,216 per ton for the second quarter of 2024, compared to $1,413 per ton in the second quarter of 2023. Paperboard average net selling price decreased 13% to $1,244 per ton for the first six months of 2024, compared to $1,428 per ton in the first six months of 2023.

Consumer Products Segment

Net sales in the Consumer Products segment were $253 million for the second quarter of 2024, flat compared to second quarter 2023 net sales of $254 million. Segment operating income for the second quarter of 2024 was $27 million compared to operating income of $25 million in the second quarter of 2023. Adjusted EBITDA for the segment was $41 million in the second quarter of 2024, compared to $40 million in the second quarter of 2023. The increases in operating income and Adjusted EBITDA were driven by higher volumes and lower input costs partially offset by lower sales prices.

Net sales in the Consumer Products segment were $506 million for the first six months of 2024, up 1% compared to net sales of $502 million in the first six months of 2023. Segment operating income for the first six months of 2024 was $59 million compared to operating income of $29 million in the first six months of 2023. Adjusted EBITDA for the segment was $87 million in the first six months of 2024, compared to $59 million in the first six months of 2023. The increase in operating income and Adjusted EBITDA was driven by higher volumes and lower input costs offset by lower sales prices.

Retail Tissue Sales Volumes and Prices:

• Retail tissue volumes sold were 81,196 tons in the second quarter of 2024, an increase of 3% compared to 78,672 tons in the second quarter of 2023. Retail tissue volumes sold were 161,125 tons in the first six months of 2024, an increase of 4% compared to 155,520 tons in the first six months of 2023.
• Retail tissue average net selling price decreased 3% to $3,104 per ton in the second quarter of 2024, compared to $3,214 per ton in the second quarter of 2023. Retail tissue average net selling price decreased 3% to 3,121 per ton in the first six months of 2024, compared to $3,207 per ton in the first six months of 2023.

COMPANY OUTLOOK

“We remain confident in the long-term fundamentals of the paperboard market and expect gradual demand recovery for the balance of 2024 and into 2025. We currently expect to close the sale of our tissue business in the fourth quarter of 2024, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approval. Our plan is to use the proceeds to de-lever our balance sheet and continue executing our strategy to grow and diversify our paperboard product portfolio,” continued Kitch.

WEBCAST INFORMATION

Clearwater Paper Corporation will discuss these results during an earnings conference call that begins at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time today. A live webcast and accompanying supplemental information will be available on the company's website. A replay of today's conference call will be available on the website beginning at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time today.

ABOUT CLEARWATER PAPER

Clearwater Paper is a premier supplier of paperboard and private brand tissue. The company’s paperboard operations serve quality-conscious printers and packaging converters, with services that include custom sheeting, slitting, and cutting. The company’s tissue operations serve private brand market retail customers including grocery, club, mass merchants, and discount stores. Clearwater Paper’s employees build shareholder value by developing strong relationships through quality and service. For more information on Clearwater Paper, please visit our website at www.clearwaterpaper.com.

USE OF NON-GAAP MEASURES

In this press release, the company presents certain non-GAAP financial information for the second quarter and first six months of 2024 and 2023, including Adjusted EBITDA. Because these amounts are not in accordance with GAAP, reconciliations to net income as determined in accordance with GAAP are included in the tables at the end of this press release. The company presents these non-GAAP metrics because management believes they assist investors and analysts in comparing the company's performance across reporting periods on a consistent basis by excluding items that the company does not believe are indicative of its core operating performance. In addition, the company uses Adjusted EBITDA: (i) as a factor in evaluating management’s performance when determining incentive compensation, (ii) to evaluate the effectiveness of the company's business strategies, and (iii) because the company's credit agreement and the indentures governing the company's outstanding notes use metrics similar to Adjusted EBITDA to measure the company's compliance with certain covenants.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains certain “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 as amended, including statements regarding: the acquisition of the paperboard manufacturing facility and associated business in Augusta, Georgia; our expectations regarding tissue performance and paperboard demand; the expected timing and structure of the pending consumer products division (tissue business) sale transaction; the ability of the parties to complete the pending tissue business sale transaction considering the various closing conditions; the company’s paperboard strategy, including its plans to further scale and increase capacity utilization; the company’s plans for the proceeds from the pending tissue business sale transaction, including its plan to meaningfully de-lever its balance sheet; and the company’s expectation that paperboard represents the best opportunity for steady and sustainable value creation. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations, estimates, assumptions and projections that are subject to change. Our actual results of operations may differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Factors that could cause or contribute to such material differences in actual results include, but are not limited to: one or more closing conditions to the pending tissue business sale transaction, including certain regulatory approvals, may not be satisfied or waived, on a timely basis or otherwise; the tissue business sale transaction may not be completed in the time frame expected by the parties, or at all; there may be unexpected costs, charges or expenses resulting from the pending tissue business sale transaction; there may be stockholder litigation in connection with the pending tissue business sale transaction or the acquisition of the Augusta, Georgia paperboard manufacturing facility or other settlements or investigations may affect the timing or occurrence of the pending tissue business sale transaction or result in significant costs of defense, indemnification and liability; our inability to realize the expected benefits of the Augusta, Georgia paperboard manufacturing facility acquisition because of integration difficulties or other challenges; risks relating to the integration of the Augusta, Georgia paperboard manufacturing facility and achievement of anticipated financial results and other benefits of the acquisition; competitive pricing pressures for our products, including as a result of capacity additions, demand reduction and the impact of foreign currency fluctuations on the pricing of products globally; changes in the U.S. and international economies and in general economic conditions in the regions and industries in which we operate; manufacturing or operating disruptions, including equipment malfunctions and damage to our manufacturing facilities; the loss of, changes in prices in regard to, or reduction in, orders from a significant customer; changes in the cost and availability of wood fiber and wood pulp; changes in energy, chemicals, packaging and transportation costs and disruptions in transportation services impacting our ability to receive inputs or ship products to customers; reliance on a limited number of third-party suppliers, vendors and service providers required for the production of our products and our operations; changes in customer product preferences and competitors’ product offerings; cyber-security risks; larger competitors having operational, financial and other advantages; consolidation and vertical integration of converting operations in the paperboard industry; our ability to successfully execute capital projects and other activities to operate our assets, including effective maintenance, implement our operational efficiencies and realize higher throughput or lower costs; IT system disruptions and IT system implementation failures; labor disruptions; cyclical industry conditions; changes in expenses, required contributions and potential withdrawal costs associated with our pension plans; environmental liabilities or expenditures and climate change; our ability to attract, motivate, train and retain qualified and key personnel; our ability to service our debt obligations and restrictions on our business from debt covenants and terms; changes in our banking relations, or in our customer supply chain financing; negative changes in our credit agency ratings; changes in laws, regulations or industry standards affecting our business; and other risks and uncertainties described from time to time in the company’s public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. The forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and the company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements based on new developments or changes in the company’s expectations after the date of this press release.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240806180761/en/