Sylvamo Quarterly Results Exceed Outlook, Generates Strong Free Cash Flow

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

Financial Highlights – Third Quarter vs. Second Quarter

Net income of $95 million ($2.27 per diluted share) vs. $83 million ($1.98 per diluted share)
Adjusted operating earnings1 of $102 million ($2.44 per diluted share) vs. $83 million ($1.98 per diluted share)
Adjusted EBITDA2 of $193 million (20% margin) vs. $164 million (18% margin)
Cash provided by operating activities of $163 million vs. $115 million
Free cash flow3 of $119 million vs. $62 million

Commercial and Operational Highlights – Third Quarter vs. Second Quarter

Price and mix decreased by $4 million due to mix in North America
Volume improved by $10 million due to higher shipments in North America
Operations and other costs increased slightly by $1 million
Planned maintenance outage expenses decreased by $28 million due to no major annual outages
Input and transportation costs increased by $4 million, primarily driven by higher fiber costs in Latin America

Fourth Quarter Outlook

Adjusted EBITDA of $150 million to $165 million
Compared to the third quarter:
- Price and mix are expected to be unfavorable $20 million to $25 million due to pulp and paper price decreases in Europe, higher export mix in Latin America and customer mix in North America
- Volume is projected to improve by $15 million to $20 million, with seasonally stronger volume in Latin America
- Operations and other costs are expected to increase up to $5 million due to an $8 million operating expense for a planned ten-year turbine generator maintenance event at our Eastover, South Carolina, mill, which is partially offset by better fixed cost absorption from less economic downtime in North America
- Input and transportation costs are projected to increase by $5 million to $10 million, mainly due to transportation and seasonally higher energy
- Total planned maintenance outage expenses are expected to increase by $17 million

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

We delivered strong earnings with a 20% adjusted EBITDA margin and outstanding free cash flow in the third quarter, driven by solid operational performance, good commercial execution and stable input costs. The quarter also had no planned maintenance outages.

On Oct. 31, we announced we are mutually terminating a supply agreement for uncoated freesheet, bristols and specialty papers from International Paper’s Georgetown, South Carolina, mill, effective Dec. 31, 2024. We will continue to optimize our North America region by leveraging strategic initiatives to simplify the business, unlock efficiencies and drive earnings growth.

We have seen encouraging increases in industry demand across our regions and expect recent capacity reduction announcements to lead to more favorable supply and demand balance trends in 2025. We are confident in our strategy to grow earnings and cash flow by continuing to invest in high-return projects in our mills and processes.

We continue to allocate capital to generate long-term shareowner value. So far this year, we repurchased $30 million of our shares and have $120 million remaining on our $150 million share repurchase authorization from September 2023. Our board of directors declared a $0.45 per share dividend in the fourth quarter, which we paid Oct. 17. As of today, we have distributed $62 million through four quarterly dividends in 2024. We are committed to return at least 40% of our free cash flow to shareowners this year through share repurchases and dividends.

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 exceed our $110 million run rate savings goal by up to $10 million by the end of 2024.

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)

Third Quarter 2024

Second Quarter 2024

Third Quarter 2023

Net Sales

965

933

897

Net Income

Business Segment Operating Profit

150

122

116

Adjusted Operating Earnings

102

Adjusted EBITDA

193

164

158

Cash Provided By Operating Activities

163

115

197

Free Cash Flow

119

155

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 8). Third quarter 2024 net sales by business segment and operating profit by business segment compared with the second quarter of 2024 and the third quarter of 2023 are as follows:

Business Segment Results

(In millions)

Third Quarter 2024

Second Quarter 2024

Third Quarter 2023

Net Sales by Business Segment

Europe

194

206

184

Latin America

247

245

246

North America

532

493

476

Inter-segment Sales

)

(11

)

Net Sales

965

933

897

Operating Profit by Business Segment

Europe

(14

)

Latin America

North America

Business Segment Operating Profit

150

122

116

Operating profits in the third quarter of 2024:

Europe - $3 million compared with $8 million in the second quarter of 2024. Earnings were lower mostly due to higher unabsorbed costs from economic downtime and slightly unfavorable price and mix, which more than offset lower operating costs.

Latin America - $49 million compared with $37 million in the second quarter of 2024. Earnings were higher due to favorable price and mix, lower operating costs and lower planned maintenance outages which more than offset higher input costs.

North America - $98 million compared with $77 million in the second quarter of 2024. Earnings were higher due to higher volumes, lower planned maintenance outages and lower input costs which more than offset unfavorable mix and higher unabsorbed costs due to economic downtime.

Effective Tax Rate

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

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

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 third quarter of 2024 amounted to a net after-tax charge of $7 million ($0.17 per diluted share), compared with a net after-tax charge of $0 million ($0.00 per diluted share) in the second quarter of 2024.

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 800-715-9871 (U.S.) or +1-646-307-1963 (international) and use access code 2975749. 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 one week. To listen by phone, call 800-770-2030 (U.S.) or +1-609-800-9909 (international) and use access code 2975749.

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 "Fourth 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 September 30,

Three Months Ended June 30, 2024

Nine Months Ended September 30,

2024

2023

2024

2023

Net Sales

965

897

933

2,803

2,757

Costs and Expenses

Cost of products sold

700

665

(g)

684

(e)

2,100

(d)

2,055

(g)

Selling and administrative expenses

(a)

(h)

(f)

230

(a)

248

(h)

Depreciation, amortization and cost of timber harvested

(b)

115

(b)

105

Taxes other than payroll and income taxes

Interest expense (income), net

(c)

(j)

Income Before Income Taxes

132

113

305

302

Income tax provision

(i)

Net Income

221

204

Earnings Per Share

Basic

2.32

1.39

2.02

5.37

4.83

Diluted

2.27

1.37

1.98

5.26

4.77

Average Shares of Common Stock Outstanding - Diluted

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

Three Months and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024

(a)

Includes pre-tax loss of $2 million ($1 million after taxes) for legal fees related to the Brazil Tax Dispute for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024. Also includes pre-tax loss of $1 million ($1 million after taxes) and $2 million ($2 million after taxes) for certain severance costs related to our salaried workforce for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively. Finally, includes pre-tax loss of $2 million ($1 million after taxes) for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, for integration costs related to the Nym�lla acquisition.

(b)

Includes pre-tax loss of $1 million ($1 million after taxes) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, related to forest fires in Brazil.

(c)

Includes pre-tax loss of $5 million ($4 million after taxes) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, related to debt extinguishment costs.

(d)

Includes pre-tax gain of $1 million ($1 million after taxes) for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, to adjust the recognition of a foreign value-added tax refund in Brazil. Also includes pre-tax loss of $1 million ($1 million after taxes) for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, for other charges.

Three Months Ended June 30, 2024

(e)

Includes pre-tax gain of $1 million ($1 million after taxes) to adjust the recognition of a foreign value-added tax refund in Brazil.

(f)

Includes pre-tax loss of $1 million ($1 million after taxes) for certain severance costs related to our salaried workforce.

Three Months and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023

(g)

Includes pre-tax loss of $3 million ($2 million after taxes) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, for certain severance costs related to our salaried workforce and incremental expense of $9 million ($7 million after taxes) for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, related to the impact of the step-up of acquired Nym�lla inventory sold during the first quarter.

(h)

Includes a pre-tax loss of $10 million ($8 million after taxes) for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2023, for certain severance costs related to our salaried workforce. Also includes pre-tax loss of $3 million ($2 million after taxes) for the three months ended September 30, 2023, and a pre-tax loss of $8 million ($6 million after taxes) for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, for transaction costs related to the Nym�lla acquisition. Finally, includes a pre-tax loss of $4 million ($3 million after taxes) for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 for professional and legal fees related to negotiations resulting in a shareholder cooperation agreement.

(i)

Includes a $2 million tax expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 related to the write-off of certain deferred tax assets.

(j)

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 nine months ended September 30, 2023.

SYLVAMO CORPORATION

Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted Operating Earnings

Preliminary and Unaudited

(In millions, except per share amounts)

Three Months Ended September 30,

Three Months Ended June 30, 2024

Nine Months Ended September 30,

2024

2023

2024

2023

Net Income

221

204

Add back: Net special items expense (income)

—

Adjusted Operating Earnings

102

230

229

Three Months Ended September 30,

Three Months Ended June 30, 2024

Nine Months Ended September 30,

2024

2023

2024

2023

Diluted Earnings Per Common Share as Reported

2.27

1.37

1.98

5.26

4.77

Add back: Net special items expense (income)

0.17

0.33

—

0.22

0.58

Adjusted Operating Earnings Per Share

2.44

1.70

1.98

5.48

5.35

SYLVAMO CORPORATION

Sales and Earnings by Business Segment

Preliminary and Unaudited

(In millions)

Net Sales by Business Segment

Three Months Ended September 30,

Three Months Ended June 30, 2024

Nine Months Ended September 30,

2024

2023

2024

2023

Europe

194

184

206

607

624

Latin America

247

246

245

708

718

North America

532

476

493

1,515

1,455

Inter-segment Sales

)

(11

)

(27

)

(40

)

Net Sales

965

897

933

2,803

2,757

Operating Profit by Business Segment

Three Months Ended September 30,

Three Months Ended June 30, 2024

Nine Months Ended September 30,

2024

2023

2024

2023

Europe

(14

)

Latin America

100

149

North America

237

217

Business Segment Operating Profit

150

116

122

344

364

Income Before Income Taxes

132

113

305

302

Interest expense (income), net

(a)

(e)

Net special items expense (income)

(b)

(d)

—

(c)

(b)

(d)

Business Segment Operating Profit (f)

150

116

122

344

364

Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024

(a)

Includes pre-tax loss of $5 million ($4 million after taxes) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, related to debt extinguishment costs.

(b)

Includes pre-tax loss of $2 million ($1 million after taxes) for legal fees related to the Brazil Tax Dispute for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and a pre-tax loss of $1 million ($1 million after taxes) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, related to forest fires in Brazil. Also includes pre-tax loss of $1 million ($1 million after taxes) and $2 million ($2 million after taxes) for certain severance costs related to our salaried workforce for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively. Finally, includes pre-tax loss of $2 million ($1 million after taxes) for integration costs related to the Nym�lla acquisition, a pre-tax gain of $1 million ($1 million after taxes) to adjust the recognition of a foreign value-added tax refund in Brazil and a pre-tax loss of $1 million ($1 million after taxes) for other charges, all for the nine months ended September 30, 2024.

Three Months Ended June 30, 2024

(c)

Includes pre-tax loss of $1 million ($1 million after taxes) for certain severance costs related to our salaried workforce. Also includes pre-tax gain of $1 million ($1 million after taxes) to adjust the recognition of a foreign value-added tax refund in Brazil.

Three Months and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023

(d)

Includes pre-tax loss of $13 million ($10 million after taxes) for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2023 for certain severance costs related to our salaried workforce. Also includes a pre-tax loss of $3 million ($2 million after taxes) for the three months ended September 30, 2023, and a pre-tax loss of $8 million ($6 million after taxes) for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, for transaction costs related to the Nym�lla acquisition. 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 Nym�lla inventory sold during the first quarter for the nine months ended September 30, 2023.

(e)

(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 September 30,

Three Months Ended June 30, 2024

Nine Months Ended September 30,

2024

2023

2024

2023

Net Income

221

204

Adjustments:

Income tax provision

Interest expense (income), net

Depreciation, amortization and cost of timber harvested

115

105

Stock-based compensation

Net special items expense (income)

—

Adjusted EBITDA

193

158

164

475

490

Net Sales

965

897

933

2,803

2,757

Adjusted EBITDA Margin

20.0

17.6

16.9

17.8

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin by Business Segment

Three Months Ended September 30,

Three Months Ended June 30, 2024

Nine Months Ended September 30,

2024

2023

2024

2023

Adjusted EBITDA

Europe

)

Latin America

158

204

North America

113

284

263

Total Business Segment Adjusted EBITDA

193

158

164

475

490

Net Sales (excluding inter-segment sales eliminations)

Europe

194

184

206

607

624

Latin America

247

246

245

708

718

North America

532

476

493

1,515

1,455

Total Business Segment Net Sales

973

906

944

2,830

2,797

Adjusted EBITDA Margin

Europe

Latin America

North America

SYLVAMO CORPORATION

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet

Preliminary and Unaudited

(In millions)

September 30, 2024

December 31, 2023

Assets

Current Assets

Cash and temporary investments

248

220

Restricted cash

Accounts and notes receivable, net

439

428

Contract assets

Inventories

421

404

Other current assets

Total Current Assets

1,229

1,193

Plants, Properties and Equipment, Net

970

1,002

Forestlands

361

364

Goodwill

125

139

Right of Use Assets

Deferred Charges and Other Assets

116

116

Total Assets

2,861

2,872

Liabilities and Equity

Current Liabilities

Accounts payable

381

421

Notes payable and current maturities of long-term debt

Accrued payroll and benefits

Other current liabilities

214

183

Total Current Liabilities

714

695

Long-Term Debt

883

931

Deferred Income Taxes

164

189

Other Liabilities

163

156

Equity

Common stock, $1 par value, 200.0 shares authorized, 44.9 shares and 44.5 shares issued and 41.0 shares and 41.2 shares outstanding at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively

Paid-In Capital

Retained Earnings

2,393

2,222

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

(1,371

)

(1,256

)

1,132

1,059

Less: Common stock held in treasury, at cost, 3.9 shares and 3.3 shares at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively

(195

)

(158

)

Total Equity

937

901

Total Liabilities and Equity

2,861

2,872

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

Preliminary and Unaudited

(In millions)

Nine Months Ended September 30,

2024

2023

Operating Activities

Net income

221

204

Depreciation, amortization, and cost of timber harvested

115

105

Deferred income tax provision (benefit), net

)

Stock-based compensation

Changes in operating assets and liabilities and other

Accounts and notes receivable

(28

)

Inventories

(21

)

(46

)

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

(122

)

Other

(11

)

Cash Provided By Operating Activities

305

337

Investment Activities

Invested in capital projects

(157

)

(147

)

Acquisition of business, net of cash acquired

—

(167

)

Cash Provided By (Used for) Investment Activities

(157

)

(314

)

Financing Activities

Dividends paid

(43

)

(32

)

Issuance of debt

250

443

Reduction of debt

(285

)

(482

)

Repurchases of common stock

(30

)

(53

)

Other

)

Cash Provided By (Used for) Financing Activities

(114

)

(131

)

Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash

)

Change in Cash, Temporary Investments and Restricted Cash

(106

)

Cash, Temporary Investments and Restricted Cash

Beginning of the period

280

360

End of the period

308

254

SYLVAMO CORPORATION

Reconciliation of Cash Provided by Operations to Free Cash Flow

Preliminary and Unaudited

(In millions)

Three Months Ended September 30,

Three Months Ended June 30, 2024

Nine Months Ended September 30,

2024

2023

2024

2023

Cash Provided By Operating Activities

163

197

115

305

337

Adjustments:

Cash invested in capital projects

(44

)

(42

)

(53

)

(157

)

(147

)

Free Cash Flow

119

155

148

190

SYLVAMO CORPORATION

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

Estimates

(In millions)

Three Months Ended December 31, 2024

Net Income

$66 - $77

Adjustments:

Income tax provision

27 - 31

Interest expense (income), net

Depreciation, amortization and cost of timber harvested

Stock-based compensation

Adjusted EBITDA

$150 - $165

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.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241112115812/en/

Investor Contact: Hans Bjorkman, 901-519-8030, hans.bjorkman@sylvamo.com Media Contact: Adam Ghassemi, 901-519-8115, adam.ghassemi@sylvamo.com

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