Clearwater Paper Reports Fourth Quarter and Year End 2023 Results; Strategic Update

"We had a great year, driven by a significant improvement in our tissue margins and strong operational execution across both businesses." – Arsen Kitch, President and CEO, Clearwater Paper.

Feb. 21, 2024 - Clearwater Paper Corporation on Feb. 20 reported financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2023.

2023 FOURTH QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS

• Strong performance driven by solid operational results and continued strength in tissue
• Natural gas disruption impacted Lewiston mill operations in November
• Net income of $18 million, or $1.04 per diluted share and Adjusted EBITDA of $63 million
• Net sales of $513 million, down 3% compared to the fourth quarter of 2022
• Reduced net debt by $32 million, repurchased $3 million of outstanding shares, with $7 million remaining under program

2023 FULL YEAR HIGHLIGHTS

• Outstanding year driven by performance improvement in tissue
• Net income of $108 million, or $6.30 per diluted share and Adjusted EBITDA of $281 million, up $54 million versus 2022
• Net sales of $2.1 billion, flat compared with 2022, strong tissue demand offset softness in paperboard
• Net debt reduction of $89 million, more than $450 million since 2020; completed refinancing of 2014 Notes
• Repurchased $18 million of outstanding shares

STRATEGIC UPDATES

Clearwater Paper announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire from Graphic Packaging its Augusta, Georgia bleached paperboard manufacturing facility for $700 million, subject to customary adjustments. The facility is a well-invested site with approximately 600 thousand tons of bleached paperboard annual capacity. Clearwater Paper expects this acquisition to contribute $140-150 million in Adjusted EBITDA annually by the end of 2026, including through volume and cost synergies. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary conditions and is currently expected to close in the second quarter of 2024.

“After a thorough strategic review, we’ve determined that the Augusta acquisition will be a great fit for Clearwater Paper, as it will add scale and growth capacity to improve our position as a premier, independent supplier of paperboard to North American converters,” said Arsen Kitch, president and chief executive officer. “We remain optimistic about the long-term prospects for paperboard as consumers look for sustainable solutions in packaging and food service. With this acquisition, Clearwater Paper will be well positioned to service customers with high quality paperboard capacity and a great manufacturing footprint across North America,” concluded Kitch.

The company will explore strategic options for its tissue business as it intends to focus on growth in paperboard.

FOURTH QUARTER AND FULL YEAR RESULTS

“We had a great year, driven by a significant improvement in our tissue margins and strong operational execution across both businesses. Tissue demand remained strong, and we benefited from favorable input costs. Paperboard demand was soft, but our team did a great job of balancing supply with demand to manage inventories," said Arsen Kitch, president and chief executive officer. “We maintained our focus on cash flow generation, and have reduced our net debt by more than $450 million since 2020.”

For the fourth quarter of 2023, Clearwater Paper reported net sales of $513 million, a 3% decrease compared to net sales of $527 million reported in the fourth quarter of 2022. Net income for the fourth quarter of 2023 was $18 million, or $1.04 per diluted share, compared to a net loss in the fourth quarter of 2022 of $6 million, or $0.34 per diluted share. On a non-GAAP basis, Clearwater Paper reported adjusted net income in the fourth quarter of 2023 of $23 million, or $1.35 per diluted share, compared to fourth quarter 2022 adjusted net loss of $5 million, or $0.30 per diluted share. Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $63 million compared to the fourth quarter of 2022 Adjusted EBITDA of $28 million.

For the full year 2023, Clearwater Paper reported net sales of $2.1 billion, flat as compared to net sales of $2.1 billion for 2022. Net income for the full year was $108 million or $6.30 per diluted share, compared to net income for 2022 of $46 million or $2.68 per diluted share. On a non-GAAP basis, Clearwater Paper reported adjusted net income for 2023 of $114 million, or $6.69 per diluted share, compared to 2022 adjusted net income of $62 million, or $3.63 per diluted share. Adjusted EBITDA for 2023 was $281 million, compared to 2022 Adjusted EBITDA of $227 million.

Pulp and Paperboard Segment

Net sales in the Pulp and Paperboard segment were $251 million for the fourth quarter of 2023, down 8% compared to fourth quarter 2022 net sales of $274 million. Segment operating income for the fourth quarter of 2023 was $27 million compared to $18 million for the fourth quarter of 2022. Adjusted EBITDA for the segment was $37 million in the fourth quarter of 2023, compared to $27 million in the fourth quarter of 2022. The increase in operating income and Adjusted EBITDA was driven by the absence of planned major maintenance at our Lewiston, Idaho facility and a weather event at our Cypress Bend, Arkansas facility that occurred in the fourth quarter of 2022, offset by lower sales prices.

Net sales in the Pulp and Paperboard segment were $1.1 billion for 2023, a decrease of 6% compared to 2022 net sales of $1.1 billion. Segment operating income for 2023 was $169 million compared to $183 million for 2022. Adjusted EBITDA for the segment was $206 million for 2023, compared to $220 million for 2022. The decrease in operating income and Adjusted EBITDA was driven by lower sales volumes and planned production downtime to manage inventory partially offset by lower input costs due to deflation and absence of planned major maintenance.

Pulp and Paperboard Sales Volumes and Prices:

Paperboard sales volumes were 188,018 tons in the fourth quarter of 2023, a decrease of 1% compared to 188,999 tons in the fourth quarter of 2022. Paperboard sales volumes were 751,520 tons for the year ended 2023 compared to 814,556 tons for the year ended 2022.

Paperboard average net selling price decreased 9% to $1,297 per ton for the fourth quarter of 2023, compared to $1,429 per ton in the fourth quarter of 2022. Paperboard average net selling price increased 1% to $1,375 per ton for the year ended 2023, compared to $1,356 per ton for the year ended 2022.

Consumer Products Segment

Net sales in the Consumer Products segment were $262 million for the fourth quarter of 2023, up 3% compared to the fourth quarter 2022 net sales of $254 million. In the fourth quarter of 2023, retail converted case shipments were 13.5 million cases, an increase of 4% compared to the 13.0 million cases shipped in the fourth quarter of 2022. Segment operating income for the fourth quarter of 2023 was $31 million compared to operating income of $2 million in the fourth quarter of 2022. Adjusted EBITDA for the segment was $46 million in the fourth quarter of 2023, up from $18 million in the fourth quarter of 2022. The increase in operating income and Adjusted EBITDA was driven by higher sales prices, sales volume and lower input costs, specifically pulp, energy and freight, partially offset by higher chemical costs.

Net sales in the Consumer Products segment were $1.0 billion for the full year 2023, up 8% compared to 2022 net sales of $950 million. For 2023, retail converted case shipments were 52 million cases, a increase of 4% compared to 50 million cases shipped for 2022. Segment operating income for 2023 was $92 million, compared to operating income of $11 million for 2022. Adjusted EBITDA for the segment was $150 million for 2023, an increase from $74 million for 2022. The increase in operating income and Adjusted EBITDA was driven by higher sales prices and volume and lower input costs, specifically freight.

Retail Tissue Sales Volumes and Prices:

Retail tissue volumes sold were 81,475 tons in the fourth quarter of 2023, an increase of 1% compared to 80,766 tons in the fourth quarter of 2022. Retail tissue volumes sold were 317,582 tons for the year ended of 2023, an increase of 3% compared to 309,735 tons for 2022.

Retail tissue average net selling prices increased 3% to $3,187 per ton in the fourth quarter of 2023, compared to $3,095 per ton in the fourth quarter of 2022. Retail tissue average net selling prices increased 6% to $3,200 per ton for 2023, compared to $3,010 per ton for 2022.

COMPANY OUTLOOK

“We anticipate continued strength in our tissue business in 2024 and believe that paperboard demand will recover in the second half of the year. We also look forward to completing the Augusta acquisition in the second quarter of this year and welcoming the Augusta team to Clearwater Paper. Together we will be well positioned to grow with our customers by offering outstanding service, quality, and product innovation,” concluded Kitch.

Clearwater Paper (NYSE:CLW) is a premier supplier of private brand tissue to major retailers, including grocery, club, mass merchants, and discount stores. In addition, the company produces bleached paperboard used by quality-conscious printers and packaging converters, and offers services that include custom sheeting, slitting, and cutting.

SOURCE: Clearwater Paper Corporation