Packaging Corporation of America Reports Third Quarter 2012 Results

Packaging Corporation of America Reports Third Quarter 2012 Results

LAKE FOREST, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Packaging Corporation of America (NYS: PKG) today reported third quarter 2012 net income of $40 million, or $0.41 per share, which included after-tax charges of $13 million, or $0.14 per share, from debt refinancing charges. Net income, excluding these charges, was $53 million, or $0.55 per share, compared to third quarter 2011 net income of $43 million, or $0.43 per share, which excludes energy project asset disposal charges.

The $0.12 per share earnings increase, excluding special items, was driven by higher containerboard and corrugated products volume ($0.07), and lower costs for energy ($0.05), recycled fiber ($0.04) and chemicals ($0.02). These items were partially offset by higher costs for labor and benefits ($0.03), interest ($0.02) and depreciation ($0.02).

Excluding special items, net income for the first nine months of 2012 was a record $142 million, or $1.45 per share, compared to $122 million, or $1.21 per share, in 2011. This earnings increase of $0.24 per share was driven by higher containerboard and corrugated products volume ($0.23), lower costs for energy ($0.14), recycled fiber ($0.08) and chemicals ($0.05) and a lower share count from share repurchases ($0.04). These items were partially offset by higher costs for labor and benefits ($0.09), depreciation ($0.07), interest ($0.06) and transportation ($0.04), and lower export pricing ($0.05).

Net sales were a record $723 million, up 8% compared to the third quarter of 2011, and year-to-date net sales were a record $2.1 billion, up 7% over 2011.

Corrugated products shipments per workday were up 5.7%, including 3.1% from acquisitions, and were up 4.0% in total with one less shipping day this year. Outside sales of containerboard were up 8,000 tons over last year's third quarter. Containerboard production was 670,000 tons, up 20,000 tons over the third quarter of 2011. Containerboard inventories at the end of September were 9,000 tons below second quarter levels.

Commenting on results, Mark W. Kowlzan, Chief Executive Officer of PCA, said, "We had a very strong quarter in all aspects of our operations. Our mills ran extremely well setting an all-time production record, and both our containerboard and corrugated products demand remained strong. We implemented a $50 per ton domestic containerboard price increase during the third quarter and are now in the process of implementing a corresponding price increase for corrugated products, which we expect to essentially complete in the fourth quarter."

"Looking ahead," Mr. Kowlzan added, "we expect higher earnings from our announced price increases, but an entire quarter's earnings benefit from these price increases will not be fully realized until the first quarter of 2013. The earnings improvement from higher prices in the fourth quarter is expected to be partially offset by seasonally higher costs due, in part, to colder weather. Considering these items, we expect fourth quarter earnings of about $0.61 per share."

PCA is the fourth largest producer of containerboard and corrugated packaging products in the United States with sales of $2.6 billion in 2011. PCA operates four paper mills and 71 corrugated products plants in 26 states across the country.

Conference Call Information:

Some of the statements in this press release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements about our future earnings and financial condition, our industry and our business strategy. Statements that contain words such as " will", "should", "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "hope" or similar expressions, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on the current expectations of PCA. Because forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, the plans, actions and actual results of PCA could differ materially. Among the factors that could cause plans, actions and results to differ materially from PCA's current expectations include the following: the impact of general economic conditions; containerboard and corrugated products general industry conditions, including competition, product demand and product pricing; fluctuations in wood fiber and recycled fiber costs; fluctuations in purchased energy costs; the possibility of unplanned outages or interruptions at our principal facilities; and legislative or regulatory requirements, particularly concerning environmental matters, as well as those identified under Item 1A. Risk Factors in PCA's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available at the SEC's website at "www.sec.gov".