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     117  0 Kommentare Sylvamo Generates Strong Operating Cash Flow, Returns $127 Million in Cash to Shareowners in 2023

    Sylvamo (NYSE: SLVM), the world’s paper company, is releasing fourth quarter 2023 earnings.

    Financial Highlights – 2023 Full Year

    • Net income from continuing operations of $253 million ($5.93 per diluted share)
    • Adjusted operating earnings1 of $278 million ($6.51 per diluted share)
    • Adjusted EBITDA2 of $607 million (16% margin)
    • Cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations of $504 million
    • Free cash flow3 of $294 million
    • Paid regular and special dividends totaling $57 million
    • Repurchased 1,574,133 shares of our common stock for approximately $70 million, resulting in 41.2 million shares outstanding as of Dec. 31
    • Ended the year with net debt of $730 million ($950 million of gross debt and $220 million cash on hand)

    Financial Highlights - Fourth Quarter vs. Third Quarter

    • Net sales of $964 million vs. $897 million (7.5% increase)
    • Net income from continuing operations of $49 million ($1.16 per diluted share) vs. $58 million ($1.37 per diluted share)
    • Adjusted operating earnings1 of $49 million ($1.16 per diluted share) vs. $72 million ($1.70 per diluted share)
    • Adjusted EBITDA2 of $117 million (12% margin) vs. $158 million (18% margin)
    • Cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations of $167 million vs. $197 million
    • Free cash flow3 of $104 million vs. $155 million

    Commercial and Operational Highlights – Fourth Quarter vs. Third Quarter

    • Price and mix decreased by $25 million due primarily to prior paper price decreases as well as unfavorable mix in Latin America and North America
    • Volume increased by $20 million due to seasonally stronger sales volume in Latin America and positive trends in Europe and North America
    • Operations and other costs increased by $12 million due to seasonally higher costs in Europe and North America, including $5 million for an unexpected reliability issue with a third-party energy provider at our Saillat, France, mill and unfavorable foreign exchange variances. These costs were partially offset by lower economic downtime costs versus the prior quarter.
    • Planned maintenance outage expenses increased by $25 million due to planned outages in all regions
    • Input costs improved by $1 million, driven primarily by favorable chemical costs, more than offsetting seasonally high energy costs

    First Quarter Outlook

    • Adjusted EBITDA of $105 million to $125 million
    • Compared to the fourth quarter:
      • Price and mix are expected to decrease slightly by $5 million to $10 million, primarily reflecting a seasonal, geographic mix shift in Latin America
      • Volume is projected to decrease by $10 million to $15 million, with seasonally weaker industry demand in Latin America
      • Operations and other costs are expected to improve by $20 million to $25 million due primarily to lower economic downtime
      • Input and transportation costs are projected to increase by $5 million to $10 million due to increased transportation costs, mainly in North America and higher fiber costs in Latin America
      • Total planned maintenance outage expenses are expected to decrease by $3 million

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

    In 2023, we earned $607 million in adjusted EBITDA, generated $294 million of free cash flow and returned $127 million in cash to shareowners. We are proud of the way our teams adapted when challenged by uncoated freesheet market conditions that were significantly less favorable than expected. We continued to deliver on our promises to customers and shareowners.

    Lesen Sie auch

    We remain focused on allocating capital to drive long-term shareowner value. Last year, we invested $210 million to strengthen our low-cost assets and acquired a 500,000-ton uncoated freesheet mill in Nymolla, Sweden, for $167 million. In 2023, this mill generated strong cash flow, benefiting from the $40 million pulp mill modernization project completed just before the acquisition. We are also on track to deliver $20 million annual run rate synergies by the end of 2024. The Nymolla mill is strengthening our performance while enabling us to serve customers across Europe and around the world more effectively.

    By the end of 2023, we exhausted our initial $150 million share repurchase program authorization and have approximately $150 million remaining on our September 2023 authorization. We will continue to return substantial amounts of cash to shareowners and look for opportunities to repurchase shares at attractive prices. Our board of directors declared a first quarter dividend of $0.30 per share, which we paid Jan. 25th.

    In the second half of last year, we reduced overhead expenses by $15 million from budgeted levels in response to industry conditions. We also announced a structural cost reduction program, Project Horizon, to streamline our overhead, manufacturing and supply chain costs. Before inflation, we are targeting run rate savings of at least $110 million by the end of 2024.

    Our Brazil forestlands are a significant competitive advantage. These eucalyptus plantations provide a material cost advantage relative to most other global competitors. In 2023, we invested $34 million, and this year, we will invest $35 million in our forestlands to increase our wood self-sufficiency and reduce wood costs.

    In addition, we are investing $20 million this year and $12 million in 2025 for a three-year, third-party wood supply agreement to ensure adequate wood supply from 2024 through 2026.

    Our forestlands have significantly increased in value. In December, a third party appraisal valued these assets at 4.8 billion reais (approximately $1 billion), an increase of 3 billion reais (roughly $600 million) from a 2021 appraisal. Increasing demand for land and wood in Brazil has driven this increase in valuation. Our forestlands are a significant global competitive advantage and an enduring repository of shareowner value.

    1 Adjusted Operating Earnings (non-GAAP) are net income (loss) (GAAP) excluding discontinued operations, 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 (loss), provides for a more complete analysis of the results of operations. Net income (loss) 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 Consolidated Statement of Operations and related notes included later in this release.

     

    2 Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) is net income (loss) (GAAP) excluding discontinued operations, net of tax, plus the sum of income taxes, net interest expense (income), depreciation, amortization and cost of timber harvested, transition service agreement expense, 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 (loss), provides for a more complete analysis of the results of its operations. Net income (loss) 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 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 from continuing operations. 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)

    Fourth Quarter 2023

     

    Third Quarter 2023

     

    Fourth Quarter 2022

    Net Sales

    $

    964

     

    $

    897

     

    $

    927

    Net Income from Continuing Operations

     

    49

     

     

    58

     

     

    88

    Net Income

     

    49

     

     

    58

     

     

    94

    Business Segment Operating Profit

     

    77

     

     

    116

     

     

    133

    Adjusted Operating Earnings

     

    49

     

     

    72

     

     

    87

    Adjusted EBITDA

     

    117

     

     

    158

     

     

    170

    Cash Provided By Operating Activities From Continuing Operations

     

    167

     

     

    197

     

     

    142

    Free Cash Flow

     

    104

     

     

    155

     

     

    84

    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 9). Fourth quarter 2023 net sales by business segment and operating profit by business segment compared with the third quarter of 2023 and the fourth quarter of 2022 are as follows:

     

    Business Segment Results

     

    (In millions)

    Fourth Quarter 2023

     

    Third Quarter 2023

     

    Fourth Quarter 2022

    Net Sales by Business Segment

     

     

     

     

     

    Europe

    $

    197

     

     

    $

    184

     

     

    $

    119

     

    Latin America

     

    288

     

     

     

    246

     

     

     

    289

     

    North America

     

    496

     

     

     

    476

     

     

     

    527

     

    Inter-segment Sales

     

    (17

    )

     

     

    (9

    )

     

     

    (8

    )

    Net Sales

    $

    964

     

     

    $

    897

     

     

    $

    927

     

    Operating Profit by Business Segment

     

     

     

     

     

    Europe

    $

    (23

    )

     

    $

    (14

    )

     

    $

    12

     

    Latin America

     

    48

     

     

     

    55

     

     

     

    56

     

    North America

     

    52

     

     

     

    75

     

     

     

    65

     

    Business Segment Operating Profit

    $

    77

     

     

    $

    116

     

     

    $

    133

     

    Operating profits in the fourth quarter of 2023:

    Europe - $(23) million compared with $(14) million in the third quarter of 2023. Earnings were lower as slightly higher volumes, lower input costs and lower economic downtime were more than offset by higher operating costs, lower price and mix and higher planned maintenance outages.

    Latin America - $48 million compared with $55 million in the third quarter of 2023. Earnings were lower as higher volumes were more than offset by lower price and mix, higher operating and input costs and higher planned maintenance outages.

    North America - $52 million compared with $75 million in the third quarter of 2023. Earnings were lower as higher volumes, lower economic downtime and slightly lower input costs were more than offset by higher planned maintenance outages, higher operating costs and lower price and mix.

    Effective Tax Rate

    The reported effective tax rate for continuing operations for the fourth quarter of 2023 was 27%, compared to 36% for the third quarter of 2023. The higher rate for the third quarter was due to a change in estimated Annual Effective Tax Rate (AETR) to reduce the expected benefit of foreign tax attributes and also a mix of earnings in our regions.

    Excluding net special items, the effective tax rate for the fourth quarter of 2023 was 25%, compared with 33% for the third 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 from continuing operations 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 related to continuing operations in the fourth quarter of 2023 amounted to a net after-tax charge of $0 million ($0.00 per diluted share) compared with a net after-tax charge of $14 million ($0.33 per diluted share) in the third quarter of 2023.

    Earnings Webcast

    The company will host an audio webcast at 10 a.m. EST / 9 a.m. CST. 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. CST.

    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. CST 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 3732910.

    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 "First 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, 2022, 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 as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

     

    SYLVAMO CORPORATION

    Consolidated Statement of Operations

    Preliminary and Unaudited

    (In millions, except per share amounts)

     

     

    Three Months Ended

    December 31,

     

    Three Months Ended

    September 30,

    2023

     

    Twelve Months Ended

    December 31,

     

     

     

    2023

     

     

    2022

     

     

     

    2023

     

     

    2022

     

     

    Net Sales

    $

    964

     

    $

    927

     

    $

    897

     

    $

    3,721

     

    $

    3,628

     

     

    Costs and Expenses

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Cost of products sold

     

    762

    (a)

     

    654

    (h)

     

    665

    (e)

     

    2,809

    (a)

     

    2,619

     

    (h)

    Selling and administrative expenses

     

    87

    (b)

     

    97

    (i)

     

    89

    (f)

     

    343

    (b)

     

    325

     

    (i)

    Depreciation, amortization and cost of timber harvested

     

    38

     

     

    32

     

     

    36

     

     

    143

     

     

    125

     

     

    Taxes other than payroll and income taxes

     

    4

     

     

    5

     

     

    7

     

     

    23

     

     

    23

     

     

    Interest expense (income), net

     

    6

    (c)

     

    17

    (j)

     

    9

     

     

    34

    (c)

     

    69

     

    (j)

    Income From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes

     

    67

     

     

    122

     

     

    91

     

     

    369

     

     

    467

     

     

    Income tax provision

     

    18

     

     

    34

     

     

    33

    (g)

     

    116

    (d)

     

    131

     

    (l)

    Net Income From Continuing Operations

     

    49

     

     

    88

     

     

    58

     

     

    253

     

     

    336

     

     

    Discontinued operations, net of tax

     

     

     

    6

    (k)

     

     

     

     

     

    (218

    )

    (m)

    Net Income (Loss)

    $

    49

     

    $

    94

     

    $

    58

     

    $

    253

     

    $

    118

     

     

    Basic Earnings Per Share

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Income from continuing operations

    $

    1.18

     

    $

    2.02

     

    $

    1.39

     

    $

    6.02

     

    $

    7.65

     

     

    Discontinued operations, net of taxes

     

     

     

    0.14

     

     

     

     

     

     

    (4.97

    )

     

    Net earnings (loss)

    $

    1.18

     

    $

    2.16

     

    $

    1.39

     

    $

    6.02

     

    $

    2.68

     

     

    Diluted Earnings Per Share

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Income from continuing operations

    $

    1.16

     

    $

    1.99

     

    $

    1.37

     

    $

    5.93

     

    $

    7.57

     

     

    Discontinued operations, net of taxes

     

     

     

    0.14

     

     

     

     

     

     

    (4.91

    )

     

    Net earnings (loss)

    $

    1.16

     

    $

    2.13

     

    $

    1.37

     

    $

    5.93

     

    $

    2.66

     

     

    Average Shares of Common Stock Outstanding - Diluted

     

    42

     

     

    44

     

     

    42

     

     

    42

     

     

    44

     

     

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

     
    Three Months and Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2023
     

     

    (a)

    Includes a pre-tax gain of $5 million ($4 million after taxes) for the three months and twelve months ended December 31, 2023, to adjust the recognition of a foreign value-added tax refund in Brazil, a pre-tax loss of $3 million ($2 million after taxes) for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, for certain severance costs related to our salaried workforce and incremental expense of $9 million ($7 million after taxes) for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, related to the impact of the step-up of acquired Nymölla inventory sold during the first quarter.

     

     

    (b)

    Includes a pre-tax loss of $10 million ($8 million after taxes) for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, for certain severance costs related to our salaried workforce. Also includes pre-tax loss of $9 million ($7 million after taxes) for the three months ended December 31, 2023, and a pre-tax loss of $17 million ($13 million after taxes) for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, for transaction and integration costs related to the Nymölla acquisition. Finally, includes a pre-tax loss of $4 million ($3 million after taxes) for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023 for professional and legal fees related to negotiations resulting in a shareholder cooperation agreement.

     

     

    (c)

    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. Also 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 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023.

     

     

    (d)

    Includes a $2 million tax expense for the twelve  months ended December 31, 2023 related to a change in valuation allowances for certain deferred tax assets.

     

    Three Months Ended September 30, 2023

     

     

    (e)

    Includes pre-tax loss of $3 million ($2 million after taxes) for certain severance costs related to our salaried workforce.

     

     

    (f)

    Includes a pre-tax loss of $10 million ($8 million after taxes) for certain severance costs related to our salaried workforce and a pre-tax loss of $3 million ($2 million after taxes) for transaction and integration costs related to the Nymölla acquisition.

     

     

    (g)

    Includes a $2 million tax expense related to a change in valuation allowances for certain deferred tax assets.

     

     

    Three Months and Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2022

     

     

    (h)

    Includes a pre-tax gain of $10 million ($8 million after taxes) for the three months and twelve months ended December 31, 2022, related to hedging the foreign exchange exposure of the Nymolla mill purchase price and a pre-tax loss of $4 million ($3 million after taxes) for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, for one-time costs associated with the spinoff.

     

     

    (i)

    Includes a pre-tax loss of $3 million ($2 million after taxes) for the three months ended December 31, 2022, and a pre-tax loss of $20 million ($15 million after taxes) for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, for one-time costs associated with the spinoff from International Paper. Also includes a pre-tax loss of $1 million ($1 million after taxes) for the three months ended December 31, 2022, and a pre-tax loss of $2 million ($2 million after taxes) for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022 for transaction costs related to the Nymolla acquisition.

     

     

    (j)

    Includes a pre-tax loss of $5 million ($4 million after taxes) for the three months and twelve months ended December 31, 2022 related to debt extinguishment costs.

     

     

    (k)

    Includes a pre-tax income of $6 million ($6 million after taxes) for the final gain on the disposal of our Russian operations.

     

     

    (l)

    Includes a $4 million tax benefit related to a change in valuation allowances for certain deferred tax assets.

     

     

    (m)

    Includes a pre-tax charge of $228 million ($228 million after taxes) to reserve for the elimination of the cumulative foreign currency translation loss related to our Russian operations and a pre-tax charge of $68 million ($57 million after taxes) related to the impairment of our Russian fixed assets.

     

    SYLVAMO CORPORATION

    Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted Operating Earnings

    Preliminary and Unaudited

    (In millions, except per share amounts)

     

     

    Three Months Ended

    December 31,

     

    Three Months Ended

    September 30,

    2023

     

    Twelve Months Ended

    December 31,

     

     

    2023

     

     

    2022

     

     

     

     

    2023

     

     

    2022

     

    Net Income (Loss)

    $

    49

     

    $

    94

     

     

    $

    58

     

    $

    253

     

    $

    118

     

    Less: Discontinued operations, net of tax

     

     

     

    6

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    (218

    )

    Net income From Continuing Operations

     

    49

     

     

    88

     

     

     

    58

     

     

    253

     

     

    336

     

    Add back: Net special items expense (income)

     

     

     

    (1

    )

     

     

    14

     

     

    25

     

     

    12

     

    Adjusted Operating Earnings

    $

    49

     

    $

    87

     

     

    $

    72

     

    $

    278

     

    $

    348

     

     

    Three Months Ended

    December 31,

     

    Three Months Ended

    September 30,

    2023

     

    Twelve Months Ended

    December 31,

     

     

    2023

     

     

    2022

     

     

     

     

    2023

     

     

    2022

     

    Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share as Reported

    $

    1.16

     

    $

    2.13

     

     

    $

    1.37

     

    $

    5.93

     

    $

    2.66

     

    Less: Discontinued operations, net of tax

     

     

     

    0.14

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    (4.91

    )

    Continuing Operations

     

    1.16

     

     

    1.99

     

     

     

    1.37

     

     

    5.93

     

     

    7.57

     

    Add back: Net special items expense (income)

     

     

     

    (0.02

    )

     

     

    0.33

     

     

    0.58

     

     

    0.27

     

    Adjusted Operating Earnings Per Share

    $

    1.16

     

    $

    1.97

     

     

    $

    1.70

     

    $

    6.51

     

    $

    7.84

     

     

    SYLVAMO CORPORATION

    Sales and Earnings by Business Segment

    Preliminary and Unaudited

    (In millions)

     

    Net Sales by Business Segment

     

     

    Three Months Ended

    December 31,

     

    Three Months Ended

    September 30,

    2023

     

    Twelve Months Ended

    December 31,

     

     

     

    2023

     

     

     

    2022

     

     

     

     

    2023

     

     

     

    2022

     

     

    Europe

    $

    197

     

     

    $

    119

     

     

    $

    184

     

     

    $

    821

     

     

    $

    501

     

     

    Latin America

     

    288

     

     

     

    289

     

     

     

    246

     

     

     

    1,006

     

     

     

    1,023

     

     

    North America

     

    496

     

     

     

    527

     

     

     

    476

     

     

     

    1,951

     

     

     

    2,173

     

     

    Inter-segment Sales

     

    (17

    )

     

     

    (8

    )

     

     

    (9

    )

     

     

    (57

    )

     

     

    (69

    )

     

    Net Sales

    $

    964

     

     

    $

    927

     

     

    $

    897

     

     

    $

    3,721

     

     

    $

    3,628

     

     

    Operating Profit by Business Segment

     

     

    Three Months Ended

    December 31,

     

    Three Months Ended

    September 30,

    2023

     

    Twelve Months Ended

    December 31,

     

     

     

    2023

     

     

     

    2022

     

     

     

     

    2023

     

     

     

    2022

     

    Europe

    $

    (23

    )

     

    $

    12

     

     

    $

    (14

    )

     

    $

    (25

    )

     

    $

    50

     

    Latin America

     

    48

     

     

     

    56

     

     

     

    55

     

     

     

    197

     

     

     

    212

     

    North America

     

    52

     

     

     

    65

     

     

     

    75

     

     

     

    269

     

     

     

    291

     

    Business Segment Operating Profit

    $

    77

     

     

    $

    133

     

     

    $

    116

     

     

    $

    441

     

     

    $

    553

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Income from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes

    $

    67

     

     

    $

    122

     

     

    $

    91

     

     

    $

    369

     

     

    $

    467

     

    Interest expense (income), net

     

    6

     

    (a)

     

    17

     

    (d)

     

    9

     

     

     

    34

     

    (a)

     

    69

    (d)

    Net special items expense (income)

     

    4

     

    (b)

     

    (6

    )

    (e)

     

    16

     

    (c)

     

    38

     

    (b)

     

    17

    (e)

    Business Segment Operating Profit (f)

    $

    77

     

     

    $

    133

     

     

    $

    116

     

     

    $

    441

     

     

    $

    553

     

    Three Months and Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2023
     

     

    (a)

    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. Also 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 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023.

     

     

    (b)

    Includes a pre-tax gain of $5 million ($4 million after taxes) for the three months and twelve months ended December 31, 2023, 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 the three months ended December 31, 2023, and a pre-tax loss of $17 million ($13 million after taxes) for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, for transaction and integration costs related to the Nymölla acquisition. Also includes pre-tax loss of $13 million ($10 million after taxes) for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, for certain severance costs related to our salaried workforce. Finally, includes 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 first quarter for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023.

     

     

    Three Months Ended September 30, 2023
     

     

    (c)

    Includes pre-tax loss of $13 million ($10 million after taxes) for certain severance costs related to our salaried workforce and a pre-tax loss of $3 million ($2 million after taxes) for transaction and integration costs related to the Nymölla acquisition.

     
    Three Months and Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2022
     

     

    (d)

    Includes a pre-tax loss of $5 million ($4 million after taxes) for the three months and twelve months ended December 31, 2022 related to debt extinguishment costs.

     

     

    (e)

    Includes a pre-tax gain of $10 million ($8 million after taxes) for the three months and twelve months ended December 31, 2022, related to hedging the foreign exchange exposure of the Nymolla mill purchase price, a pre-tax loss of $3 million ($2 million after taxes) for the three months ended December 31, 2022, and a pre-tax loss of $24 million ($18 million after taxes) for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, for one-time costs associated with the spinoff from International Paper, and a pre-tax loss of $1 million ($1 million after taxes) for the three months ended December 31, 2022, and a pre-tax loss of $2 million ($2 million after taxes) for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022 for transaction costs related to the Nymolla acquisition. 

     

     

    (f)

    As set forth in the chart above, business segment operating profit is defined as income from continuing operations 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

    December 31,

     

    Three Months Ended

    September 30,

    2023

     

    Twelve Months Ended

    December 31,

     

     

    2023

     

     

     

    2022

     

     

     

     

    2023

     

     

     

    2022

     

    Net Income (Loss)

    $

    49

     

     

    $

    94

     

     

    $

    58

     

     

    $

    253

     

     

    $

    118

     

    Less: Discontinued operations, net of tax

     

     

     

     

    6

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    (218

    )

    Net Income From Continuing Operations

     

    49

     

     

     

    88

     

     

     

    58

     

     

     

    253

     

     

     

    336

     

    Adjustments:

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Income tax provision

     

    18

     

     

     

    34

     

     

     

    33

     

     

     

    116

     

     

     

    131

     

    Interest expense (income), net

     

    6

     

     

     

    17

     

     

     

    9

     

     

     

    34

     

     

     

    69

     

    Depreciation, amortization and cost of timber harvested

     

    38

     

     

     

    32

     

     

     

    36

     

     

     

    143

     

     

     

    125

     

    Stock-based compensation

     

    2

     

     

     

    4

     

     

     

    6

     

     

     

    23

     

     

     

    20

     

    Transition service agreement expense

     

     

     

     

    1

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    23

     

    Net special items expense (income)

     

    4

     

     

     

    (6

    )

     

     

    16

     

     

     

    38

     

     

     

    17

     

    Adjusted EBITDA

    $

    117

     

     

    $

    170

     

     

    $

    158

     

     

    $

    607

     

     

    $

    721

     

    Net Sales

    $

    964

     

     

    $

    927

     

     

    $

    897

     

     

    $

    3,721

     

     

    $

    3,628

     

    Adjusted EBITDA Margin

     

    12.1

    %

     

     

    18.3

    %

     

     

    17.6

    %

     

     

    16.3

    %

     

     

    19.9

    %

    Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin by Business Segment

     

     

    Three Months Ended

    December 31,

     

    Three Months Ended

    September 30,

    2023

     

    Twelve Months Ended

    December 31,

     

     

    2023

     

     

     

    2022

     

     

     

     

    2023

     

     

     

    2022

     

    Adjusted EBITDA

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Europe

    $

    (16

    )

     

    $

    16

     

     

    $

    (5

    )

     

    $

    7

     

     

    $

    70

     

    Latin America

     

    67

     

     

     

    72

     

     

     

    74

     

     

     

    271

     

     

     

    281

     

    North America

     

    66

     

     

     

    82

     

     

     

    89

     

     

     

    329

     

     

     

    370

     

    Total Business Segment Adjusted EBITDA

    $

    117

     

     

    $

    170

     

     

    $

    158

     

     

    $

    607

     

     

    $

    721

     

    Net Sales (excluding discontinued operations and inter-segment sales eliminations)

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Europe

    $

    197

     

     

    $

    119

     

     

    $

    184

     

     

    $

    821

     

     

    $

    501

     

    Latin America

     

    288

     

     

     

    289

     

     

     

    246

     

     

     

    1,006

     

     

     

    1,023

     

    North America

     

    496

     

     

     

    527

     

     

     

    476

     

     

     

    1,951

     

     

     

    2,173

     

    Total Business Segment Net Sales

    $

    981

     

     

    $

    935

     

     

    $

    906

     

     

    $

    3,778

     

     

    $

    3,697

     

    Adjusted EBITDA Margin

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Europe

     

    (8

    )%

     

     

    13

    %

     

     

    (3

    )%

     

     

    1

    %

     

     

    14

    %

    Latin America

     

    23

    %

     

     

    25

    %

     

     

    30

    %

     

     

    27

    %

     

     

    27

    %

    North America

     

    13

    %

     

     

    16

    %

     

     

    19

    %

     

     

    17

    %

     

     

    17

    %

    SYLVAMO CORPORATION

    Consolidated Balance Sheet

    Preliminary and Unaudited

    (In millions)

     

    December 31, 2023

     

    December 31, 2022

    Assets

     

     

     

    Current Assets

     

     

     

    Cash and temporary investments

    $

    220

     

     

    $

    360

     

    Restricted cash

     

    60

     

     

     

     

    Accounts and notes receivable, net

     

    428

     

     

     

    450

     

    Contract assets

     

    27

     

     

     

    30

     

    Inventories

     

    404

     

     

     

    364

     

    Other current assets

     

    54

     

     

     

    39

     

    Total Current Assets

     

    1,193

     

     

     

    1,243

     

    Plants, Properties and Equipment, Net

     

    1,002

     

     

     

    817

     

    Forestlands

     

    364

     

     

     

    322

     

    Goodwill

     

    139

     

     

     

    128

     

    Right of Use Assets

     

    58

     

     

     

    35

     

    Deferred Charges and Other Assets

     

    116

     

     

     

    165

     

    Total Assets

    $

    2,872

     

     

    $

    2,710

     

    Liabilities and Equity

     

     

     

    Current Liabilities

     

     

     

    Accounts payable

    $

    421

     

     

    $

    453

     

    Notes payable and current maturities of long-term debt

     

    28

     

     

     

    29

     

    Accrued payroll and benefits

     

    63

     

     

     

    81

     

    Other current liabilities

     

    183

     

     

     

    165

     

    Total Current Liabilities

     

    695

     

     

     

    728

     

    Long-Term Debt

     

    931

     

     

     

    1,003

     

    Deferred Income Taxes

     

    189

     

     

     

    183

     

    Other Liabilities

     

    156

     

     

     

    118

     

    Equity

     

     

     

    Common stock, $1 par value, 200.0 shares authorized, 44.5 shares and 42.6 shares issued and 41.2 shares and 42.6 shares outstanding at December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively

     

    45

     

     

     

    44

     

    Paid-In Capital

     

    48

     

     

     

    25

     

    Retained Earnings

     

    2,222

     

     

     

    2,029

     

    Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

     

    (1,256

    )

     

     

    (1,338

    )

     

     

    1,059

     

     

     

    760

     

    Less: Common stock held in treasury, at cost, 3.3 shares and 1.6 shares at December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively

     

    (158

    )

     

     

    (82

    )

    Total Equity

     

    901

     

     

     

    678

     

    Total Liabilities and Equity

    $

    2,872

     

     

    $

    2,710

     

     

    Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

    Preliminary and Unaudited

    (In millions)

     

     

    Twelve Months Ended
    December 31,

     

     

    2023

     

     

     

    2022

     

    Operating Activities

     

     

     

    Net income from continuing operations

    $

    253

     

     

    $

    336

     

    Depreciation, amortization, and cost of timber harvested

     

    143

     

     

     

    125

     

    Deferred income tax provision (benefit), net

     

     

     

     

    (7

    )

    Stock-based compensation

     

    23

     

     

     

    20

     

    Changes in operating assets and liabilities and other

     

     

     

    Accounts and notes receivable

     

    104

     

     

     

    (45

    )

    Inventories

     

    6

     

     

     

    (99

    )

    Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

     

    (73

    )

     

     

    48

     

    Other

     

    48

     

     

     

    40

     

    Cash Provided By Operating Activities from Continuing Operations

     

    504

     

     

     

    418

     

    Cash Provided By Operating Activities from Discontinued Operations, net

     

     

     

     

    20

     

    Cash Provided By Operating Activities

     

    504

     

     

     

    438

     

    Investment Activities

     

     

     

    Invested in capital projects

     

    (210

    )

     

     

    (149

    )

    Cash proceeds on disposal of business, net of cash divested

     

     

     

     

    324

     

    Acquisition of business

     

    (167

    )

     

     

     

    Other

     

     

     

     

    10

     

    Cash Provided By (Used for) Investment Activities from Continuing Operations

     

    (377

    )

     

     

    185

     

    Cash Provided By (Used for) Investment Activities from Discontinued Operations, net

     

     

     

     

    (5

    )

    Cash Provided By (Used for) Investment Activities

     

    (377

    )

     

     

    180

     

    Financing Activities

     

     

     

    Dividends paid

     

    (57

    )

     

     

    (10

    )

    Issuance of debt

     

    446

     

     

     

    75

     

    Reduction of debt

     

    (526

    )

     

     

    (450

    )

    Repurchases of common stock

     

    (70

    )

     

     

    (80

    )

    Other

     

    (12

    )

     

     

    (4

    )

    Cash Provided By (Used for) Financing Activities from Continuing Operations

     

    (219

    )

     

     

    (469

    )

    Cash Provided By (Used for) Financing Activities from Discontinued Operations, net

     

     

     

     

    (1

    )

    Cash Provided By (Used for) Financing Activities

     

    (219

    )

     

     

    (470

    )

    Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash

     

    12

     

     

     

    32

     

    Change in Cash Included in Assets Held for Sale

     

     

     

     

    (21

    )

    Change in Cash, Temporary Investments and Restricted Cash

     

    (80

    )

     

     

    201

     

    Cash, Temporary Investments and Restricted Cash

     

     

     

    Beginning of the period

     

    360

     

     

     

    159

     

    End of the period

    $

    280

     

     

    $

    360

     

     

    SYLVAMO CORPORATION

    Reconciliation of Cash Provided by Operations to Free Cash Flow

    Preliminary and Unaudited

    (In millions)

     

     

    Three Months Ended

    December 31,

     

    Three Months Ended

    September 30,

    2023

     

    Twelve Months Ended

    December 31,

     

     

    2023

     

     

     

    2022

     

     

     

     

    2023

     

     

     

    2022

     

    Cash Provided By Operating Activities From Continuing Operations

    $

    167

     

     

    $

    142

     

     

    $

    197

     

     

    $

    504

     

     

    $

    418

     

    Adjustments:

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Cash invested in capital projects

     

    (63

    )

     

     

    (58

    )

     

     

    (42

    )

     

     

    (210

    )

     

     

    (149

    )

    Free Cash Flow

    $

    104

     

     

    $

    84

     

     

    $

    155

     

     

    $

    294

     

     

    $

    269

     

     

    SYLVAMO CORPORATION

    Reconciliation of Net Income From Continuing Operations to Adjusted EBITDA - First Quarter 2024 Outlook

    Estimates

    (In millions)

     

     

    Three Months Ended

    March 31,

    2024

     

    Net Income From Continuing Operations

    $33 - $47

    Adjustments:

     

    Income tax provision

    15 - 21

    Interest expense (income), net

    10

    Depreciation, amortization and cost of timber harvested

    38

    Stock-based compensation

    6

    Net special items expense

    3

    Adjusted EBITDA

    $105 - $125

    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.


    The Sylvamo Corporation Stock at the time of publication of the news with a raise of +0,99 % to 42,82EUR on Tradegate stock exchange (15. Februar 2024, 09:30 Uhr).

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    Sylvamo Generates Strong Operating Cash Flow, Returns $127 Million in Cash to Shareowners in 2023 Sylvamo (NYSE: SLVM), the world’s paper company, is releasing fourth quarter 2023 earnings. Financial Highlights – 2023 Full Year Net income from continuing operations of $253 million ($5.93 per diluted share) Adjusted operating earnings1 of $278 …