Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Adjusted EBITDA for Q3 2025 was $18 million, at the high end of the guidance range of $10 to $20 million, with year-to-date adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations at $87 million, up from $26 million in the same period last year [4][14] - Net sales reached $399 million, a 1% increase year-over-year, driven by a 3% increase in paperboard shipment volumes, partially offset by lower market pricing [13][14] - Net loss from continuing operations was $54 million, or $3.34 per diluted share, primarily due to a $48 million non-cash goodwill impairment [13][14] - The company generated $34 million in cash from operations and approximately $3.5 million in free cash flows during the quarter [15] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company successfully completed all three planned major maintenance outages for 2025, with costs of $24 million for the Lewiston outage and $16 million for the Augusta outage [4][5] - Fixed cost reduction initiatives are tracking to around $50 million in savings for the year, exceeding the original estimate of $30 to $40 million [5] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company noted that a competitor is ramping up new SBS capacity, potentially adding up to 10% additional supply to the industry, which could lead to utilization rates dropping to the low 80% range by year-end [6][7] - Current industry oversupply is primarily limited to SBS, but it is impacting other paperboard substrates, with pricing correlations historically observed between SBS, CUK, and CRB [9][10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is exploring adding CUK swing capability to one of its SBS machines, with an estimated capital requirement of approximately $50 million and a projected return of over 20% [11][12] - The company remains focused on defending its SBS market share and maintaining a strong balance sheet, with a target leverage ratio in the 1 to 2 times range and cross-cycle EBITDA margins of 13 to 14% [19] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the long-term fundamentals of the paperboard market, emphasizing the demand for sustainable and renewable packaging solutions [19] - The company expects adjusted EBITDA for Q4 2025 to be between $13 to $23 million, anticipating slightly lower paperboard shipments due to seasonality [16][18] Other Important Information - The company repurchased $2 million of shares, bringing the total to $20 million against a $100 million authorization [15] - Initial assumptions for 2026 include revenue of around $1.45 to $1.55 billion and a capacity utilization rate in the mid-80% range [17] Q&A Session Summary Question: Decision to hold the CUK swing capacity project - The decision to hold the project is due to prioritizing a strong balance sheet and focusing on running SBS mills, with a target leverage ratio in the 1 to 2 times range [23] Question: Market outlook for SBS and import relief - Management is hopeful for a net capacity reduction of 350,000 tons in the first half of 2026, with some signs of reduced European imports [25] Question: Maintenance schedule for 2026 - The cost for maintenance in 2026 is expected to be similar to 2025 levels, with specific schedules to be finalized and communicated in February [27] Question: Incremental strength in shipments and product categories - The company saw strength in food service sales, with optimism from customers and potential import relief contributing to stronger demand [33] Question: Working capital improvements for 2026 - The target for working capital improvements of $20 million will primarily focus on inventory reductions, expected to be achieved in the second half of the year [39]