Clearwater Paper (CLW) Q1 2025 Earnings Call April 29, 2025 09:42 PM ET Speaker0 Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for standing by. My name is Carmen, and I will be your conference operator today. At this time, I would like to welcome everyone to the Clearwater Paper First Quarter twenty twenty five Earnings Call. All lines have been placed on mute to prevent any background noise. After the speakers' remarks, there will be a question and answer session. Thank you. Would now like to turn the call over to Sloan ...

First Quarter Earnings Release Materials April 29, 2025 ARSEN KITCH President, Chief Executive Officer and Director SHERRI BAKER Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Forward Looking Statements 2024 Was a Transformational Year For Clearwater Paper Completed acquisition of Augusta paperboard mill for $700M on May 1 Increased total SBS capacity to ~1.4M tons Balanced network to deliver lower landed costs and targeting synergies of $40-50M by end of 2026 Completed sale of tissue business for $1.06 ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported adjusted EBITDA of $30 million for Q1 2025, at the high end of guidance, driven by strong operational performance and increased production and sales volumes, primarily due to the Augusta acquisition [6][24] - Net sales increased by 46% to $378 million compared to Q1 2024, largely attributed to the Augusta acquisition [6][24] - The company incurred a consolidated net loss of approximately $6 million from continuing operations, equating to $0.36 per diluted share [23] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Augusta mill integration has been successful, with targeted volume and cost synergies expected by the end of 2026 [7] - Fixed cost structure was reduced by eliminating over 200 positions, representing around 10% of total roles, aiming for $30 to $40 million in savings for 2025 [7][18] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Industry shipments increased by 2% in Q1 2025 compared to Q1 2024, with demand projected to grow by 3% to 5% in 2025 [8][9] - Industry utilization rates improved to 88% in Q1 2025 from 84% in Q1 2024, but remain below the cross-cycle average of 90% to 95% [10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to strengthen its position as a premier independent supplier of paperboard packaging products, investing in product development across three categories: compostable food service products, lightweight folding carton products, and alternative poly-free barrier technologies [13][14][15] - The company is exploring expansion into additional paperboard substrates, which make up approximately 50% of the paperboard market outside of SBS [16] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management remains optimistic about medium to long-term industry prospects, expecting strong margins and cash flows through the cycle [34] - The company anticipates continued demand recovery, with internal utilization projected at around 85% and revenue expectations of approximately $1.5 to $1.6 billion for 2025 [29] Other Important Information - The company repurchased approximately $11 million of its shares in Q1 2025, totaling about $15 million since the new $100 million share buyback authorization [7][26] - The company is targeting a reduction in SG&A as a percentage of sales to 6% to 7% by year-end 2025 [25] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is the sense of what's happening with FPB imports recently? - Management noted that imports were up in 2024, with forecasts for a 5% decrease in imports and a 1% increase in exports for 2025 [38][39] Question: Can you clarify the geographic split of the $20 million to $25 million purchases from outside the US and Canada? - Approximately $80 million of imports are from Canada, with the remaining $20 million from other parts of the world, including potential exposure to China [40][41] Question: What are the criteria for evaluating M&A opportunities for expanding product offerings? - The company seeks strategic fit, quality assets, and a belief in the ability to win in the market when considering M&A [46][47] Question: What kind of costs are associated with the paper machine upgrades for lightweight folding carton products? - Upgrades will be on existing machines, with capital fitting within the previously stated capital range, focusing on mix shift rather than incremental revenue growth [48] Question: What is the expected impact of cost savings in Q2? - Management expects to see roughly double the amount of savings in Q2 compared to Q1, with incremental benefits ramping through the year [51]

Clearwater Paper (CLW) Q1 2025 Earnings Call April 29, 2025 05:00 PM ET Company Participants Sloan Bohlen - DirectorArsen Kitch - CEO, President & DirectorSherri Baker - Senior VP & CFOMatt McKellar - Vice President Operator Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for standing by. My name is Carmen, and I will be your conference operator today. At this time, I would like to welcome everyone to the Clearwater Paper First Quarter twenty twenty five Earnings Call. All lines have been placed on mute to prevent any back ...