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

Financial Highlights – Third Quarter vs. Second Quarter

• Net income from continuing operations of $58 million ($1.37 per diluted share) vs. $49 million ($1.14 per diluted share)
• Adjusted operating earnings¹ (non-GAAP) of $72 million ($1.70 per diluted share) vs. $49 million ($1.14 per diluted share)
• Adjusted EBITDA² (non-GAAP) of $158 million (18% margin) vs. $124 million (14% margin)
• Cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations of $197 million vs. $77 million
• Free cash flow³ (non-GAAP) of $155 million vs. $33 million

Commercial and Operational Highlights – Third Quarter vs. Second Quarter

• Price and mix decreased by $55 million due primarily to lower paper prices in Europe and on exports from Latin America, as well as lower global pulp prices
• Volume increased by $6 million due to increases in Latin America and North America
• Operations and other costs improved by $1 million due to better operating and supply chain results offset by $13 million in higher unabsorbed fixed costs from increased economic downtime
• Planned maintenance outage expenses decreased by $55 million
• Input costs improved by $27 million driven by favorable fiber, chemical and transportation costs

Fourth Quarter Outlook

• Adjusted EBITDA of $90 million to $110 million
• Compared to the third quarter:
  • Price and mix are expected to decrease by $20 million to $25 million, primarily reflecting prior paper price decreases in Europe and unfavorable geographic mix in Latin America and North America
  • Volume is projected to improve by $20 million to $25 million, with seasonally stronger volume in Latin America and positive trends in North America
  • Operations and other costs are expected to increase by $25 million to $30 million due primarily to seasonally higher costs in Europe and North America
  • Input and transportation costs are projected to increase by $5 million to $10 million, mainly due to seasonally higher energy
  • Total planned maintenance outage expenses are expected to increase by $25 million

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

Third quarter earnings were higher than our outlook. We took measures to maximize free cash flow, including selling and administrative cost reductions, shrinking working capital and adjusting the timing of capital spending. We now expect free cash flow for the year to be more than $270 million.

By the end of the third quarter, we returned $85 million to shareowners this year. In the third quarter, we also deposited $60 million in escrow to remove cash return limits in our credit agreement. As of Nov. 9, we have returned $110 million this year and plan to return a total of $125 million in 2023.

Our board of directors increased our regular dividend by 20%, declaring a fourth quarter $0.30 per share dividend and a special $0.30 per share dividend. We paid both, totaling $25 million, Oct. 17. The board also authorized an incremental $150 million share repurchase program. At the end of the third quarter, the May 2022 and September 2023 authorizations collectively had $167 million remaining. We will continue to look for opportunities to repurchase shares at attractive prices.

Sylvamo competes as a low-cost producer of commodity products sold in mature-demand, cyclical markets. In the spirit of continuous improvement, we initiated a cost reduction program called Project Horizon. The project will streamline our organization and cost structures and make us a leaner, stronger company.

Before inflation, we are targeting run rate savings of at least $110 million by the end of 2024. Approximately two-thirds of the target will come from operational improvements in our mills and supply chains. The balance will consist of selling and administrative cost reductions, including the elimination of approximately 150 positions, or nearly 7% of our global salaried workforce.

Since becoming an independent company just over two years ago, we note a few key milestones:

• Improved our financial position by reducing debt 35%
• Generated more than $1.3 billion in adjusted EBITDA (19% margin) and $568 million in free cash flow
• Returned $200 million in cash to our shareowners

We remain focused on uncoated freesheet and will create long-term value through our talented teams, iconic brands and low-cost mills in favorable locations. Sylvamo is a cash flow story. We will continue to leverage our strengths to drive high returns on invested capital, generate free cash flow and use that cash to increase shareowner value by maintaining a strong financial position, returning cash to shareowners and reinvesting in our business.

Segment Information

Sylvamo uses business segment operating profit to measure the earnings performance of its businesses and is calculated as set forth in footnote (d) under the "Sales and Earnings by Business Segment" table (page 8). Third quarter 2023 net sales by business segment and operating profit by business segment compared with the second quarter of 2023 and the third quarter of 2022 are as follows:

Operating profits in the third quarter of 2023:

Europe - $(14) million compared with $(11) million in the second quarter of 2023. Earnings were slightly lower as lower planned maintenance outages and lower input costs were more than offset by lower price and mix and higher unabsorbed costs due to economic downtime.

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

North America - $75 million compared with $45 million in the second quarter of 2023. Earnings were higher as lower operating and input costs, higher volumes and lower planned maintenance outages more than offset lower price and mix and higher unabsorbed costs due to economic downtime.

Effective Tax Rate

The reported effective tax rate for continuing operations for the third quarter of 2023 was 36%, compared to 30% for the second 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 third quarter of 2023 was 33%, compared with 30% for the second 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 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 third quarter of 2023 amounted to a net after-tax charge of $14 million ($0.33 per diluted share) compared with net after-tax income of $0 million ($0.00 per diluted share) in the second 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 7814753.

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 2022 were $3.6 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, 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.

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.

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