Industria
International Paper Reports First Quarter 2025 Results
"Reflecting on my first year, I am proud of the International Paper team for embracing transformational change and achieving tremendous progress together," said Andy Silvernail , Chief Executive Officer. "We deployed 80/20, focusing on our most valuable customers and aligning our resources accordingly. We launched key initiatives to drive step-change improvement in our performance, and invested to grow in the most attractive markets. Most recently, we welcomed our DS Smith colleagues and outlined our strategic direction at our Investor Day."
"This year's first quarter results reflect higher sales and earnings, primarily driven by the DS Smith acquisition, sales price increases, and cost out," Silvernail added. "We also made good progress on growing our market position in our North American packaging business. Overall market demand, however, was softer than anticipated in both of our regions. As expected, our free cash flow was temporarily impacted by transformation costs and incentive compensation payout. In this uncertain macroeconomic environment, we are focusing on actions within our control as we accelerate our 80/20 execution to drive commercial excellence and cost out across the company."
As a result of the completed acquisition of DS Smith on January 31, 2025 , the Chief Operating Decision Maker (CODM) now reviews and manages the financial results and operations of the following segments on the basis of the new organizational structure, Packaging Solutions North America, Packaging Solutions EMEA and Global Cellulose Fibers. The Packaging Solutions EMEA segment includes the Company's legacy EMEA Industrial Packaging business and the newly acquired EMEA DS Smith business. As such, amounts related to the Company's legacy EMEA Industrial Packaging business have been recast out of the previously reported Industrial Packaging business segment into the new Packaging Solutions EMEA business segment for all prior periods. The newly acquired North America DS Smith business has been included in the Packaging Solutions North America segment. Amounts related to the Company's legacy North America Industrial Packaging business have been reported in the Packaging Solutions North America business segment for all prior periods.
The following table presents net sales and business segment operating profit (loss), which is the Company's measure of segment profitability. Business segment operating profit (loss) 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 - "Segment Reporting".First quarter 2025 net sales by business segment and operating profit (loss) by business segment compared with the fourth quarter of 2024 and the first quarter of 2024 are as follows:
business segment operating profit (loss) in the first quarter of 2025 was $142 million compared with $228 million in the fourth quarter of 2024. The first quarter of 2025 includes net sales of $127 million and business segment operating profit (loss) of $(9) million for the DS Smith North America business. For legacy IP North America Packaging, net sales were higher driven by higher sales prices for boxes partially offset by seasonally lower volumes. Cost of products sold was impacted by higher energy costs, lower recovered fiber costs and higher costs for goods and services. Selling and administrative expense was impacted by lower employee incentive compensation and medical benefit costs. Depreciation and amortization expense includes $193 million of accelerated depreciation associated with the previously announced closure of our Red River containerboard mill in Campti, Louisiana . Business segment operating profit (loss) includes an insurance reimbursement related to the Ixtac, Mexico box plant fire of $30 million in the first quarter of 2025 and $13 million in the fourth quarter of 2024.
business segment operating profit (loss) in the first quarter of 2025 was $46 million compared with $19 million in the fourth quarter of 2024. The first quarter of 2025 includes net sales of $1.2 billion and business segment operating profit (loss) of $13 million for the DS Smith EMEA business. For legacy IP EMEA Packaging, net sales were lower driven by lower sales prices. Cost of products sold was impacted by higher energy costs offset by a one-time energy credit received in the first quarter of 2025. Selling and administrative expense was impacted by lower overhead costs.
business segment operating profit (loss) in the first quarter of 2025 was $17 million compared with $(250) million in the fourth quarter of 2024. Net sales were lower, reflecting lower average sales prices for fluff pulp and lower volumes for commodity pulp, partially offset by higher average sales prices for commodity pulp. Cost of products sold was impacted by lower operating costs driven by improved mill reliability, higher planned outage costs and higher energy costs. Selling and administrative expense was impacted by lower employee incentive compensation and medical benefit costs. Business segment operating profit was impacted by $215 million of accelerated depreciation expense in the fourth quarter of 2024 associated with the previously announced closure of the Georgetown, South Carolina pulp mill.
during the first quarter of 2025 primarily reflects the timing of our annual incentive compensation payout and the payment of transaction costs associated with the closing of the DS Smith acquisition and other transformation related costs for a total impact of approximately $670 million . Additionally, first quarter of 2025 free cash flow reflects increased capital spending in line with our capital spending plan for 2025. The Company generated meaningful cash receipts outside of free cash flow through the sale of certain assets along with the receipt of insurance recoveries related to the Ixtac, Mexico box plant fire.
Net special items include items considered by management to not be reflective of the Company's underlying operations. Net special items in the first quarter of 2025 amount to a net after-tax charge of $204 million ( $0.46 per diluted share) compared with a charge of $146 million ( $0.42 per diluted share) in the fourth quarter of 2024 and a charge of
$14 million ( $0.04 per diluted share) in the first quarter of 2024. Net special items in all periods include the following charges (benefits):
The 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 by clicking on the Investors tab and going to the Events & Presentations page at https://www.internationalpaper.com/investors/events-presentations. 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 (646) 307-1963 or, within the U.S. only, (800) 715-9871, and ask to be connected to the International Paper first quarter earnings call. The conference ID number is 6499444. 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 (609) 800-9909 or, within the U.S. only, (800) 770-2030 and when prompted for the conference ID, enter 6499444.
International Paper (NYSE: IP; LSE: IPC) is the global leader in sustainable packaging solutions. With company headquarters in Memphis, Tennessee , USA, and EMEA ( Europe , Middle East and Africa ) headquarters in London, UK , we employ more than 65,000 team members and serve customers around the world with operations in more than 30 countries. Together with our customers, we make the world safer and more productive, one sustainable packaging solution at a time. Net sales for 2024 were $18.6 billion . In 2025, International Paper acquired DS Smith creating an industry leader focused on the attractive and growing North American and EMEA regions. 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, as amended. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking or conditional words such as "expects," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "could," "should," "can," "forecast," "intend," "look," "may," "will," "remain," "confident," "commit" and "plan" or similar expressions. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and reflect management's current views and speak only as to the dates the statements are made and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements regarding anticipated financial results, economic conditions, industry trends, future prospects and the anticipated benefits, execution and consummation of corporate transactions or contemplated acquisitions, including our acquisition of DS Smith Plc, subsequently re-registered as DS Smith Limited ("DS Smith"). Factors which could cause actual results to differ include but are not limited to: (i) our ability to consummate and achieve the benefits expected from, and other risks associated with, acquisitions, joint ventures, divestitures, spinoffs, capital investments and other corporate transactions, including, but not limited to, our business combination with DS Smith; (ii) our ability to integrate and implement our plans, forecasts, and other expectations with respect to the combined company, including in light of our increased scale and global presence; (iii) risks associated with our planned divestiture of five wholly-owned European subsidiaries required as a condition precedent to closing the DS Smith acquisition including achievement of negotiations, closing conditions and regulatory approvals and our failure to comply with the obligations associated therewith; (iv) risks with respect to climate change and global, regional, and local weather conditions, as well as risks related to our targets and goals with respect to climate change and the emission of greenhouse gases and other environmental, social and governance matters, including our ability to meet such targets and goals; (v) loss contingencies and pending, threatened or future litigation, including with respect to environmental related matters; (vi) the level of our indebtedness, including our obligations related to becoming the guarantor of the Euro Medium Term Notes (the "DSS EMTN Notes") as as result of our acquisition of DS Smith, risks associated with our variable rate debt, and changes in interest rates (including the impact of current elevated interest rate levels); (vii) the impact of global and domestic economic conditions and industry conditions, including with respect to current challenging 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; (viii) risks arising from conducting business internationally, domestic and global geopolitical conditions, military conflict (including the Russia / Ukraine conflict, the conflict in the Middle East , the further expansion of such conflicts, and the geopolitical and economic consequences associated therewith), changes in currency exchange rates, including in light of our increased proportion of assets, liabilities and earnings denominated in foreign currencies as a result of our business combination with DS Smith, trade policies (including but not limited to protectionist measures and the imposition of new or increased tariffs as well as the potential impact of retaliatory tariffs and other penalties including retaliatory policies against the United States ) and global trade tensions, downgrades in our credit ratings, and/or the credit ratings of banks issuing certain letters of credit, issued by recognized credit rating organizations; (ix) the amount of our future pension funding obligations, and pension and healthcare costs; (x) the costs of compliance, or the failure to comply with, existing, evolving or new environmental (including with respect to climate change and greenhouse gas emissions), tax, trade, labor and employment, privacy, anti-bribery and anti-corruption, and other U.S. and non-U.S. governmental laws, regulations and policies (including but not limited to those in the United Kingdom and European Union); (xi) 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; (xii) our ability to realize expected benefits and cost savings associated with restructuring initiatives; (xiii) cybersecurity and information technology risks, including as a result of security breaches and cybersecurity incidents; (xiv) our exposure to claims under our agreements with the Sylvamo Corporation; (xv) the qualification of the Sylvamo Corporation spin-off as a tax-free transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes; (xvi) risks associated with our review of strategic options for our Global Cellulose Fibers business; (xvii) our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel and maintain good employee or labor relations; (xviii) our ability to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting; and (xix) our ability to adequately secure and protect our intellectual property rights. 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 reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. 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.
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