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International Paper Reports First Quarter 2023 Results

Published: 2023-04-27 11:00:00 ET
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MEMPHIS, Tenn., April 27, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- International Paper (NYSE: IP) today reported first quarter 2023 financial results.

International Paper Logo (PRNewsfoto/International Paper)

FIRST QUARTER 2023 HIGHLIGHTS

  • Firstquarter net earnings (loss) of $172 million ($0.49 per diluted share); First quarter adjusted operating earnings* (non-GAAP) of $185 million ($0.53 per diluted share)
  • Building a Better IP initiatives delivered $65 million of incremental year-over-year earnings benefit in the first quarter 2023
  • Firstquarter cash provided by operations of $345 million; First quarter free cash flow of $4 million included a $193 million final payment to the IRS for the timber monetization restructuring settlement
  • Returned $319 million to shareholders through $157 million share repurchases and $162 million in dividends in the first quarter 2023

"International Paper operated well in the first quarter, while navigating a challenging and dynamic macro environment," said Mark Sutton, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. "We successfully executed our highest maintenance outage quarter and realized additional benefits from our Building a Better IP initiatives and lower input costs. We also returned $319 million to shareowners."

"Looking ahead," Sutton added, "we expect the demand environment to improve throughout the year as customer inventory destocking runs its course.  We remain focused on serving our customers' needs, while optimizing our system to drive out high marginal costs and maximizing value for our stakeholders."

Diluted Net EPS and Adjusted Operating EPS

FirstQuarter2023

FourthQuarter2022

FirstQuarter2022

Net Earnings (Loss)

$           0.49

$       (0.90)

$           0.95

Less – Discontinued Operations (Gain) Loss, Net of Taxes

1.38

(0.25)

Net Earnings (Loss) from Continuing Operations

0.49

0.48

0.70

Add Back – Non-Operating Pension Expense (Income)

0.04

(0.13)

(0.13)

Add Back – Net Special Items Expense (Income)

0.01

0.41

(0.12)

Income Tax Effect - Non-Operating Pension and Net Special Items Expense

(0.01)

0.11

0.06

Adjusted Operating Earnings*

$           0.53

$         0.87

$           0.51

*

Adjusted operating earnings (non-GAAP) is defined as net earnings (GAAP) excluding discontinued operations, net special items and non-operating pension expense (income). Management uses this measure to focus on on-going operations, and believes that it is useful to investors because it enables them to perform meaningful comparisons of past and present consolidated operating results. For discussion of discontinued operations, net special items and non-operating pension expense (income), see the disclosure under Effects of Net Special Items, Discontinued Operations and Consolidated Statement of Operations and related notes included later in this release.

 

Select Financial Measures

(In millions)

FirstQuarter2023

FourthQuarter2022

FirstQuarter2022

Net Sales

$            5,020

$            5,133

$           5,237

Net Earnings (Loss)

172

(318)

360

Business Segment Operating Profit

306

451

348

Adjusted Operating Earnings

185

309

195

Cash Provided By (Used For) Operations

345

761

588

Free Cash Flow**

4

439

403

**

Free cash flow is a non-GAAP financial measure. A reconciliation of free cash flow to the most comparable GAAP measure, cash provided by (used for) operations, and disclosure regarding why we believe that free cash flow provides useful information to investors, is included later in this release.

SEGMENT INFORMATIONBusiness segment operating profits are used by International Paper's management to measure the earnings performance of its businesses and is calculated as set forth in footnote (e) below under "Sales and Earnings by Business Segment". First quarter 2023 net sales by business segment and operating profit (loss) by business segment compared with the fourth quarter of 2022 and the first quarter of 2022 are as follows:

Business Segment Results

(In millions)

FirstQuarter2023

FourthQuarter2022

FirstQuarter2022

Net Sales by Business Segment

Industrial Packaging

$         4,083

$         4,169

$         4,406

Global Cellulose Fibers

811

842

710

Corporate and Inter-segment Sales

126

122

121

Net Sales

$         5,020

$         5,133

$         5,237

Operating Profit (Loss) by Business Segment

Industrial Packaging

$            322

$            416

$            397

Global Cellulose Fibers

(16)

35

(49)

Total Business Segment Operating Profit

$            306

$            451

$            348

Industrial Packaging operating profits (losses) in the first quarter of 2023 were $322 million compared with $416 million in the fourth quarter of 2022. In North America, earnings decreased as lower input costs, primarily for recovered fiber and energy, were more than offset by lower revenue and higher planned maintenance outage expenses. Sequentially, revenue decreased as a result of lower sales prices for corrugated boxes and containerboard offset by some additional volume benefit from four more shipping days. Operating costs were higher in the first quarter of 2023 due to the non-repeat of favorable one-time items for employee benefit costs and medical claims. In EMEA, earnings improved driven by lower energy and containerboard costs.

Global Cellulose Fibers operating profits (losses) in the first quarter of 2023 were $(16) million compared with $35 million in the fourth quarter of 2022. Higher sales prices for fluff pulp was more than offset by overall lower sales volumes and a less favorable mix of lower fluff volumes and higher commodity volumes. Lower input costs, primarily for energy, were offset by higher planned maintenance outage expenses. Operating costs in the first quarter of 2023 were higher reflecting the impact of increased economic downtime and inflation and the non-repeat of favorable one-time items for employee benefit costs and medical claims in the fourth quarter of 2022.

EQUITY METHOD INVESTMENT - ILIM JOINT VENTUREOn January 24, 2023, the Company announced an agreement to sell its investment in the Ilim joint venture, subject to regulatory approvals. The Company recognized a $533 million impairment charge including $375 million of foreign currency cumulative translation adjustment loss in the fourth quarter of 2022. In the first quarter of 2023, the Company recognized an additional $43 million impairment charge including approximately $43 million of foreign currency translation adjustment loss. Equity earnings (losses), excluding impairment, were $43 million in the first quarter of 2023 compared with $44 million in the fourth quarter of 2022. The current period and historical results have been adjusted to reflect Ilim as a discontinued operation and our investment balance, following the adjustment to fair value and resulting impairment charges, is included in Assets Held for Sale.

CORPORATE EXPENSESCorporate expenses, net was an expense of $8 million for the first quarter of 2023, compared with a benefit of $(20) million in the fourth quarter of 2022.

EFFECTIVE TAX RATEThe reported effective tax rate for the first quarter of 2023 was 22%, compared to a fourth quarter of 2022 reported effective tax rate of 46%. The higher tax rate in the fourth quarter reflects tax expense related to increases in foreign and state deferred taxes as well as the non-deductible goodwill impairment charge recognized in the fourth quarter of 2022 as set forth in the special items table below.

Excluding special items and non-operating pension expense, the operational effective tax rate for the first quarter of 2023 was 22%, compared with 25% for the fourth quarter of 2022. The higher operational effective tax rate in the fourth quarter was primarily due to an increase in state deferred taxes.

EFFECTS OF SPECIAL ITEMSNet special items in the first quarter of 2023 amount to a net after-tax charge of $2 million ($0.01 per diluted share) compared with a charge of $174 million ($0.49 per diluted share) in the fourth quarter of 2022 and a gain of $35 million ($0.09 per diluted share) in the first quarter of 2022. Net special items in all periods include the following charges (gains):

First Quarter 2023

Fourth Quarter 2022

First Quarter 2022

(In millions)

Before Tax

After Tax

Before Tax

After Tax

Before Tax

After Tax

Restructuring and other charges, net:

Other

$             —

$             —

$             (4)

$             (3)

$             —

$             —

Total restructuring and other charges, net

(4)

(3)

EMEA Packaging goodwill impairment

76

76

Environmental remediation reserve adjustment

48

36

Legal reserve adjustments

11

8

Foreign currency cumulative translation loss related tosale of equity method investment

10

10

Sylvamo investment (a)

(46)

(35)

Interest related to the timber monetization settlement (b)

3

2

3

2

Foreign deferred tax valuation allowance

45

Total special items, net

$               3

$               2

$           144

$           174

$           (46)

$           (35)

(a)

See note (c) on the Consolidated Statement of Operations included later in this release.

(b)

See note (a) on the Consolidated Statement of Operations included later in this release.

DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, NET OF TAXESDiscontinued operations, net of taxes include the equity earnings associated with our Ilim joint venture. Discontinued operations, net of taxes also includes the following special items charges (gains):

First Quarter 2023

Fourth Quarter 2022

(In millions)

Before Tax

After Tax

Before Tax

After Tax

Ilim equity method investment impairment

$                       43

$                       43

$                     533

$                     533

Total

$                       43

$                       43

$                     533

$                     533

EARNINGS WEBCASTThe company will host a webcast today to discuss earnings and current market conditions, beginning at 10 a.m. ET (9 a.m. CT). All interested parties are invited to listen to the webcast via the company's website at internationalpaper.com by clicking on the Investors tab and going to the Events and Presentations page. A replay of the webcast will also be on the website beginning approximately two hours after the call. Parties who wish to participate in the webcast via teleconference may dial +1 (409) 207-6975 or, within the U.S. only, (844) 867-6169, and ask to be connected to the International Paper first quarter earnings call. The conference ID number is 4937949. Participants should call in no later than 9:45 a.m. ET (8:45 a.m. CT). An audio-only replay will be available for ninety days following the call. To access the replay, dial +1 (402) 970-0847 or, within the U.S. only, (866) 207-1041 and when prompted for the conference ID, enter 7537161.

About International PaperInternational Paper (NYSE: IP) is a global producer of planet-friendly packaging, pulp and other fiber-based products, and one of North America's largest recyclers. Headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., we employ approximately 39,000 colleagues globally who are committed to creating what's next. We serve customers worldwide, with manufacturing operations in North America, Latin America, North Africa and Europe. Net sales for 2022 were $21.2 billion. Additional information can be found by visiting internationalpaper.com.

Certain statements in this press release that are not historical in nature may be considered "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "expects," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and reflect management's current views and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. Factors which could cause actual results to differ include but are not limited to: (i) risks with respect to climate change and global, regional, and local weather conditions, as well as risks related to our ability to meet targets and goals with respect to climate change and the emission of GHGs and other environmental, social and governance matters; (ii) the level of our indebtedness and changes in interest rates (including the impact of current elevated interest rate levels); (iii) the impact of global and domestic economic conditions and industry conditions, including with respect to current negative macroeconomic conditions, inflationary pressures and changes in the cost or availability of raw materials, energy sources and transportation sources, supply chain shortages and disruptions, competition we face, cyclicality and changes in consumer preferences, demand and pricing for our products, and conditions impacting the credit, capital and financial markets, including possible instability in such markets and/or disruptions to the banking system due to potential or actual bank failures; (iv) domestic and global geopolitical conditions, changes in currency exchange rates, trade protectionist policies, downgrades in our credit ratings, and/or the credit ratings of banks issuing certain letters of credit, issued by recognized credit rating organizations; (v) the amount of our future pension funding obligations, and pension and healthcare costs; (vi) unanticipated expenditures or other adverse developments related to compliance with existing and new environmental, tax, labor and employment, privacy, anti-bribery and anti-corruption, and other U.S. and non-U.S. governmental laws and regulations; (vii) any material disruption at any of our manufacturing facilities or other adverse impact on our operations due to severe weather, natural disasters, climate change or other causes; (viii) the impact of the conflict involving Russia and Ukraine, including in connection with related escalated sanctions imposed by the United States, the European Union, G7 and other countries and possible actions by the Russian government, and the impact of such developments on domestic and global economic and geopolitical conditions in general and on us and our Ilim joint venture, which could be materially and adversely affected by such developments, and our inability to predict the full impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, current or future sanctions, current or future actions  by the Russian government, geopolitical instability and the possibility of broadened military conflict on our Ilim joint venture, on our receipt of dividends from our Ilim joint venture and on our ability to complete the sale of our interest in the Ilim joint venture under the terms of the agreement with our joint venture partners to purchase our interest (and, if we are unable to complete such a sale, on the value of and our ability to sell our interest to another purchaser); (ix) risks inherent in conducting business through joint ventures; (x) our ability to achieve the benefits expected from, and other risks associated with, acquisitions, joint ventures, divestitures, spinoffs and other corporate transactions, (xi) cybersecurity and information technology risks; (xii) loss contingencies and pending, threatened or future litigation, including with respect to environmental related matters; (xiii) our exposure to claims under our agreements with Sylvamo Corporation; (xiv) our failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the spin-off of Sylvamo Corporation and the qualification of such spin-off as a tax-free transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes; and (xv) our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel, particularly in light of current labor market conditions. These and other factors that could cause or contribute to actual results differing materially from such forward-looking statements can be found in our press releases and SEC filings. In addition, other risks and uncertainties not presently known to the Company or that we currently believe to be immaterial could affect the accuracy of any forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANYConsolidated Statement of OperationsPreliminary and Unaudited(In millions, except per share amounts)

Three Months EndedMarch 31,

Three Months EndedDecember 31,

2023

2022

2022

Net Sales

$   5,020

$   5,237

$                                5,133

Costs and Expenses

Cost of products sold

3,642

3,839

3,668

(d)

Selling and administrative expenses

381

341

315

Depreciation, amortization and cost of timber harvested    

241

261

251

Distribution expenses

422

424

446

Taxes other than payroll and income taxes

36

36

38

Restructuring and other charges, net

(4)

(e)

Net (gains) losses on sales and impairments of businesses

76

(f)

Net (gains) losses on sales of equity method investments

10

(g)

Net (gains) losses on mark to market investments

(46)

(c)

Interest expense, net

62

(a)

69

59

(a)

Non-operating pension expense (income)

15

(49)

(48)

Earnings (Loss) From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes and Equity Earnings

221

362

322

Income tax provision (benefit)

48

95

148

(h)

Equity earnings (loss), net of taxes

(1)

(3)

Earnings (Loss) From Continuing Operations

172

267

171

Discontinued operations, net of taxes

(b)

93

(489)

(b)

Net Earnings (Loss)

$       172

$      360

$                                  (318)

Basic Earnings Per Common Share

Earnings (loss) from continuing operations

$      0.49

$     0.71

$                                  0.48

Discontinued operations

0.25

(1.38)

Net earnings (loss)

$      0.49

$     0.96

$                                 (0.90)

Diluted Earnings Per Common Share

Earnings (loss) from continuing operations

$      0.49

$     0.70

$                                  0.48

Discontinued operations

0.25

(1.38)

Net earnings (loss)

$      0.49

$     0.95

$                                 (0.90)

Average Shares of Common Stock Outstanding - Diluted

353.3

379.2

353.7

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

(a)

Includes pre-tax charges of $3 million ($2 million after taxes) for both of the three months ended March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 related to the previously announced settlement of the timber monetization restructuring tax matter.

(b)

Includes charges of $43 million (before and after taxes), including a charge of approximately $43 million for foreign currency cumulative translation adjustment loss, and $533 million (before and after taxes), including a charge of $375 million for foreign currency cumulative translation adjustment loss, for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively, for the impairment of our equity method investment in connection with our announced plan to sell our interest in the Ilim joint venture.

(c)

Includes a pre-tax charge of $46 million ($35 million after taxes) for the three months ended March 31, 2022 related to the fair value adjustment of our investment in Sylvamo Corporation.

(d)

Includes pre-tax charges of $48 million ($36 million after taxes) for the three months ended December 31, 2022 for environmental remediation reserve adjustments and a pre-tax charge of $11 million ($8 million after taxes) for the three months ended December 31, 2022 for a litigation reserve.

(e)

Includes other pre-tax income of $4 million ($3 million after taxes) for the three months ended December 31, 2022.

(f)

Includes a charge of $76 million (before and after taxes) for the three months ended December 31, 2022 related to the impairment of goodwill in our EMEA Packaging business. 

(g)

Includes a loss of $10 million (before and after taxes) for the three months ended December 31, 2022 for the foreign currency cumulative translation adjustment related to the sale of an equity method investment.

(h)

Includes tax expense of $45 million for the three months ended December 31, 2022 related to a foreign deferred tax valuation allowance.

 

INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANYReconciliation of Net Earnings (Loss) to Adjusted Operating EarningsPreliminary and Unaudited(In millions, except per share amounts)

Three Months EndedMarch 31,

Three Months EndedDecember 31,

2023

2022

2022

Net Earnings (Loss)

$           172

$           360

$                              (318)

Less: Discontinued operations, net of taxes (gain) loss

(93)

489

Earnings (Loss) from Continuing Operations

172

267

171

Add back: Non-operating pension expense (income)

15

(49)

(48)

Add back: Net special items expense (income)

3

(46)

144

Income tax effect - Non-operating pension and net special items expense

(5)

23

42

Adjusted Operating Earnings

$           185

$           195

$                               309

Three Months EndedMarch 31,

Three Months EndedDecember 31,

2023

2022

2022

Diluted Earnings per Common Share as Reported

$          0.49

$          0.95

$                             (0.90)

Less: Discontinued operations, net of taxes (gain) loss

(0.25)

1.38

Continuing Operations

0.49

0.70

0.48

Add back: Non-operating pension expense (income)

0.04

(0.13)

(0.13)

Add back: Net special items expense (income)

0.01

(0.12)

0.41

Income tax effect per share - Non-operating pension and net special items expense

(0.01)

0.06

0.11

Adjusted Operating Earnings per Share

$          0.53

$          0.51

$                              0.87

Notes:

The Company calculates Adjusted Operating Earnings (non-GAAP) by excluding the after-tax effect of discontinued operations, non-operating pension expense (income) and items considered by management to be unusual or otherwise not reflective of on-going operations (net special items) as reflected in the Consolidated Statement of Operations and related notes included in this release from the earnings reported under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). Management uses this measure to focus on on-going operations, and believes that it is useful to investors because it enables them to perform meaningful comparisons of past and present consolidated operating results. The Company believes that using this information, along with net earnings, provides for a more complete analysis of the results of operations by quarter. Net earnings (loss) is the most directly comparable GAAP measure.

 

INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANYSales and Earnings by Business SegmentPreliminary and Unaudited(In millions)

 Net Sales by Business Segment

Three Months EndedMarch 31,

Three Months EndedDecember 31,

2023

2022

2022

Industrial Packaging

$    4,083

$      4,406

$                           4,169

Global Cellulose Fibers

811

710

842

Corporate and Inter-segment Sales

126

121

122

Net Sales

$    5,020

$      5,237

$                           5,133

Operating Profit (Loss) by Business Segment

Three Months EndedMarch 31,

Three Months EndedDecember 31,

2023

2022

2022

Industrial Packaging

$       322

$         397

$                              416

Global Cellulose Fibers

(16)

(49)

35

Total Business Segment Operating Profit

$       306

$         348

$                              451

Earnings (Loss) Before Income Taxes and Equity Earnings

221

362

322

Interest expense, net

62

(a)

69

59

(a)

Adjustment for less than wholly owned subsidiaries (d)

(3)

Corporate expenses, net

8

12

(20)

Corporate net special items

(46)

(b)

65

(b)

Business net special items

76

(c)

Non-operating pension expense (income)

15

(49)

(48)

Business Segment Operating Profit (e)

$       306

$         348

$                              451

(a)

Includes charges of $3 million for both of the three months ended March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 related to the previously announced settlement of the timber monetization restructuring tax matter.

(b)

Includes a net gain of $46 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022 related to the monetization of our investment in Sylvamo Corporation, charges of $48 million for the three months ended December 31, 2022 for environmental remediation reserve adjustments, a charge of $11 million for the three months ended December 31, 2022 for a litigation reserve, a loss of $10 million for the three months ended December 31, 2022 for the foreign currency cumulative translation adjustment related to the sale of an equity method investment and other income of $4 million for the three months ended December 31, 2022.

(c)

Related to Industrial Packaging, includes a charge of $76 million for the three months ended December 31, 2022 related to the impairment of goodwill in our EMEA Packaging business.

(d)

Operating profits for business segments include each segment's percentage share of the profits of subsidiaries included in that segment that are less than wholly owned. The pre-tax earnings for these subsidiaries is adjusted here to present consolidated earnings before income taxes and equity earnings.

(e)

As set forth in the chart above, business segment operating profit is defined as earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity earnings, but including the impact of less than wholly owned subsidiaries, and excluding interest expense, net, corporate expenses, net, corporate net special items, business net special items and non-operating pension expense. 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 and is presented in our financial statement footnotes in accordance with ASC 280.

 

INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANYSales Volume by Product (a)Preliminary and Unaudited

International Paper Consolidated

Three Months EndedMarch 31,

Three Months EndedDecember 31,

2023

2022

2022

Industrial Packaging (In thousands of short tons)

Corrugated Packaging (b)

2,381

2,618

2,443

Containerboard

544

712

546

Recycling

560

564

545

Saturated Kraft

34

44

42

Gypsum /Release Kraft

60

54

67

EMEA Packaging (b)

335

368

342

Industrial Packaging

3,914

4,360

3,985

Global Cellulose Fibers (In thousands of metric tons) (c)

688

712

711

(a)

Sales volumes include third party and inter-segment sales and exclude sales of equity investees.

(b)

Volumes for corrugated box sales reflect consumed tons sold (CTS). Board sales by these businesses reflect invoiced tons.

(c)

Includes North American volumes and internal sales to mills.

 

INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANYConsolidated Balance SheetPreliminary and Unaudited(In millions)

March 31, 2023

December 31, 2022

Assets

Current Assets

Cash and Temporary Investments

$                          636

$                          804

Restricted Cash

72

Accounts and Notes Receivable, Net

3,196

3,284

Contract Assets

533

481

Inventories

1,939

1,942

Assets Held for Sale

90

133

Other

149

126

Total Current Assets

6,615

6,770

Plants, Properties and Equipment, Net

10,453

10,431

Investments

187

186

Long-Term Financial Assets of Variable Interest Entities

2,298

2,294

Goodwill

3,042

3,041

Overfunded Pension Plan Assets

305

297

Right of Use Assets

422

424

Deferred Charges and Other Assets

449

497

Total Assets

$                     23,771

$                     23,940

Liabilities and Equity

Current Liabilities

Notes Payable and Current Maturities of Long-Term Debt

$                          367

$                          763

Accounts Payable and Other Current Liabilities

3,899

4,237

Total Current Liabilities

4,266

5,000

Long-Term Debt

5,471

4,816

Long-Term Nonrecourse Financial Liabilities of Variable Interest Entities

2,108

2,106

Deferred Income Taxes

1,738

1,732

Underfunded Pension Benefit Obligation

283

281

Postretirement and Postemployment Benefit Obligation

145

150

Long-Term Lease Obligations

286

283

Other Liabilities

1,085

1,075

Equity

Common Stock

449

449

Paid-in Capital

4,699

4,725

Retained Earnings

9,866

9,855

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

(1,911)

(1,925)

13,103

13,104

Less: Common Stock Held in Treasury, at Cost

4,714

4,607

Total Equity

8,389

8,497

Total Liabilities and Equity

$                     23,771

$                     23,940

 

INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANYConsolidated Statement of Cash FlowsPreliminary and Unaudited(In millions)

Three Months Ended March 31,

2023

2022

Operating Activities

Net earnings (loss)

$                          172

$                           360

Depreciation, amortization and cost of timber harvested

241

261

Deferred income tax expense (benefit), net

(2)

30

Net (gains) losses on mark to market investments

(46)

Net (gains) losses on sales and impairments of equity method investments

43

Equity method dividends received

204

Equity (earnings) losses, net

(42)

(93)

Periodic pension (income) expense, net

26

(28)

Other, net

39

51

Changes in current assets and liabilities

Accounts and notes receivable

103

(146)

Contract assets

(52)

(114)

Inventories

52

31

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

(203)

89

Interest payable

(5)

25

Other

(27)

(36)

Cash Provided By (Used For) Operating Activities

345

588

Investment Activities

Invested in capital projects, net of insurance recoveries

(341)

(185)

Proceeds from sale of fixed assets

2

5

Cash Provided By (Used For) Investment Activities

(339)

(180)

Financing Activities

Repurchases of common stock and payments of restricted stock tax withholding

(177)

(428)

Issuance of debt

670

88

Reduction of debt

(413)

(3)

Change in book overdrafts

(26)

(66)

Dividends paid

(162)

(174)

Cash Provided By (Used for) Financing Activities

(108)

(583)

Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Temporary Investmentsand Restricted Cash

6

(1)

Change in Cash and Temporary Investmentsand Restricted Cash

(96)

(176)

Cash and Temporary Investmentsand Restricted Cash

Beginning of the period

804

1,295

End of the period

$                          708

$                        1,119

 

INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANYReconciliation of Cash Provided by Operations to Free Cash FlowPreliminary and Unaudited(In millions)

Three Months EndedMarch 31,

2023

2022

Cash Provided By (Used For) Operating Activities

$                345

$                    588

Adjustments:

Cash invested in capital projects, net of insurance recoveries

(341)

(185)

Free Cash Flow

$                     4

$                    403

Free cash flow is a non-GAAP measure and the most directly comparable GAAP measure is cash provided by operations. Management 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, pay dividends, repurchase stock, service debt and make investments for future growth. It should not be inferred that the entire free cash flow amount is available for discretionary expenditures. By adjusting for certain items that are not indicative of the Company's ongoing performance, free cash flow also enables investors to perform meaningful comparisons between past and present periods.

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 International Paper.

Management believes non-GAAP financial measures, when used in conjunction with information presented in accordance with 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-GAAP financial measures in making financial, operating and planning decisions and in evaluating the Company's performance.

 

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SOURCE International Paper