Sylvamo Reports Fourth Quarter/Full Year 2024 Results

"In 2024, we earned $632 million in adjusted EBITDA, a 17% margin, and generated $248 million of free cash flow." – Jean-Michel Ribiéras, Chairman and CEO of Sylvamo.

Feb. 12, 2025 - Sylvamo (NYSE: SLVM) is releasing fourth quarter 2024 earnings.

Financial Highlights - 2024 Full Year vs. 2023 Full Year

• Net income of $302 million ($7.18 per diluted share) vs. $253 million ($5.93 per diluted share)
• Adjusted operating earnings of $312 million ($7.42 per diluted share) vs. $278 million ($6.51 per diluted share)
• Adjusted EBITDA of $632 million (17% margin) vs. $607 million (16% margin)
• Cash provided by operating activities of $469 million vs. $504 million
• Free cash flow of $248 million vs. $294 million

Financial Highlights - Fourth Quarter vs. Third Quarter

• Net income of $81 million ($1.94 per diluted share) vs. $95 million ($2.27 per diluted share)
• Adjusted operating earnings of $82 million ($1.96 per diluted share) vs. $102 million ($2.44 per diluted share)
• Adjusted EBITDA of $157 million (16% margin) vs. $193 million (20% margin)
• Cash provided by operating activities of $164 million vs. $163 million
• Free cash flow of $100 million vs. $119 million

Commercial and Operational Highlights - Fourth Quarter vs. Third Quarter

• Price and mix was unfavorable by $18 million driven by pulp and paper price decreases in Europe (40% of the variance) and mix in North America (30% of the variance)
• Volume improved by $6 million due to seasonality in Latin America
• Operations and other costs improved by $2 million
• Planned maintenance outage expenses increased by $17 million
• Input and transportation costs increased by $9 million, primarily driven by higher transportation and seasonally higher energy prices

First Quarter Outlook

Adjusted EBITDA of $85 million to $105 million.

Compared to the fourth quarter:

• Price and mix are expected to decrease by $10 million to $15 million due to paper price decreases in Europe and in our Brazilian export regions, as well as seasonally unfavorable mix in Latin America. These decreases are projected to be partially offset by the realization of paper price increases communicated to customers in North America and Brazil in the fourth quarter
• Volume is projected to decrease by $20 million to $25 million, driven by the seasonally weakest demand quarter in Latin America and lower volume in North America from the Georgetown mill exit
• Operations and other costs are expected to be stable to increasing up to $5 million
• Input and transportation costs are projected to increase by $5 million to $10 million primarily due to seasonally higher energy prices in North America
• Total planned maintenance outage expenses are expected to increase by $15 million

We expect quarterly earnings to improve throughout the year as we benefit from seasonally stronger volume and realize the price increases we are currently implementing. We also have less maintenance outage expenses in the second half of the year, with about 80% of our planned maintenance outages in the first half of the year.

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

"In 2024, we earned $632 million in adjusted EBITDA, a 17% margin, and generated $248 million of free cash flow. We returned $130 million in cash to shareowners, representing 52% of free cash flow, exceeding our 40% commitment.

"We have $82 million remaining on our $150 million share repurchase authorization from September 2023. Our board of directors also declared a first quarter dividend of $0.45 per share, which we paid Jan. 24th.

"Our strong cash flow and $60 million received from escrow allowed us to pay down $154 million in debt in 2024, ending the year with $591 million in net debt.

"Our structural cost reduction program, Project Horizon, made significant progress streamlining manufacturing, supply chain and overhead costs throughout 2024. Before inflation, we exceeded our $110 million year end run rate savings goal by $34 million, achieving $144 million in run rate savings.

"On Dec. 31, we mutually terminated a supply agreement for uncoated freesheet, bristols and specialty papers from International Paper's Georgetown, South Carolina, mill. We will continue to optimize by leveraging strategic initiatives to simplify the business, unlock efficiencies and drive earnings growth.

"In 2024, we invested $221 million in our low-cost assets. We will continue executing our strategy by focusing on uncoated freesheet and investing to strengthen our competitive advantages, which will grow earnings and cash flow.

"We plan to invest approximately $145 million in high-return capital projects to reduce costs and significantly enhance the capabilities of our most competitive mill in North America, located in Eastover, South Carolina. These investments will occur over the next three years, starting this year, with most of the capital spending in 2026. They will improve our uncoated freesheet mix and processes from the woodyard to our finished products.

"Once completed, the combined projects should have an internal rate of return greater than 30% and increase adjusted EBITDA by more than $50 million annually, resulting in additional cash flow.

"We plan to invest approximately $100 million to speed up one of our paper machines by the end of 2026, modernizing it to the same world class level as the mill's other machine. The investment will allow us to produce approximately 60,000 additional short tons of uncoated freesheet annually.

"We also plan to invest roughly $45 million for a new replacement sheeter. The state-of-the-art cutsize sheeter will be online by late 2026, lowering costs and adding flexibility to service customers.

"We are also entering a 20-year partnership to outsource our Eastover woodyard operations. The external provider will invest capital to install, operate and maintain the woodyard. This will enable more efficient, reliable, cost-effective wood processing and additional flexibility. It will also allow us to avoid approximately $75 million in capital spending over the next five years."

Segment Information

Operating profits in the fourth quarter of 2024:

Europe - $3 million compared with $3 million in the third quarter of 2024. Earnings were flat due to lower operating costs, lower unabsorbed costs from economic downtime and lower planned maintenance outages which offset unfavorable price and mix and higher input costs.

Latin America - $50 million compared with $49 million in the third quarter of 2024. Earnings were slightly higher due to higher volumes which offset higher operating costs, unfavorable price and mix and higher input costs.

North America - $56 million compared with $98 million in the third quarter of 2024. Earnings were lower due to higher planned maintenance outages, unfavorable price and mix, lower volumes and higher operating and input costs partially offset by lower unabsorbed costs due to economic downtime.

Sylvamo Corporation (NYSE: SLVM) is the world's paper company with mills in Europe, Latin America and North America. Headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, Sylvamo employs more than 6,500 colleagues. Net sales for 2024 were $3.8 billion.

SOURCE: Sylvamo