International Paper 4Q Loss Narrows on Reduced Costs, But Sales Slip
From news reports
January 23, 2025
International Paper's fourth-quarter loss narrowed as the company cut costs, but lower sales volumes in many categories of paper and packaging and the shutdown of a U.S. mill weighed on its results.
The Memphis-based paper maker posted a fourth-quarter loss of $147 million, or 42 cents a share, compared with a loss of $284 million, or 82 cents a share, a year earlier.
Excluding a charge related to the closure of a Georgetown, S.C., pulp mill and other one-off items, International Paper logged an adjusted loss of 2 cents a share, short of the average analyst estimate of 43 cents a share in profit, according to FactSet.
Revenue ticked down 0.4% to $4.58 billion, short of the mean analyst target of $4.73 billion, as per FactSet.
In North American industrial packaging sales fell as lower volume of boxes and containerboard more than offset higher prices. In Europe, the Middle East and Africa, packaging sales volumes rose. Overall industrial packaging sales inched up to $3.87 billion.
In the cellulose fibers unit, sales prices and volumes of raw pulp and fluff pulp fell. Overall sales rose slightly to $662 million at the unit, but higher outage costs and the closure of the South Carolina mill dragged the unit into the red.
"2025 will be a transformational year with disciplined execution to further reduce costs and balance our capacity to our demand," Chairman and Chief Executive Andy Silvernail said in a statement.
