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Sep 30, 2023

PCA Q3 2023 Earnings Report

Net income and EPS decreased due to lower price and mix, and volume in the Packaging segment, higher depreciation expense, and lower volume in the Paper segment, but was partially offset by lower operating costs.

Key Takeaways

Packaging Corporation of America reported third quarter 2023 net income of $183 million, or $2.03 per share. Third quarter net sales were $1.9 billion.

Net income was $183 million, or $2.03 per share.

Net income excluding special items was $185 million, or $2.05 per share.

Net sales were $1.9 billion.

Corrugated products shipments per day were up 1.9%.

Total Revenue
$1.94B
Previous year: $2.13B
-8.9%
EPS
$2.05
Previous year: $2.83
-27.6%
Containerboard Production
1.12M
Previous year: 1.12M
+0.2%
Gross Profit
$413M
Previous year: $518M
-20.4%
Cash and Equivalents
$727M
Previous year: $794M
-8.4%
Free Cash Flow
$250M
Previous year: $251M
-0.5%
Total Assets
$8.18B
Previous year: $8.34B
-2.0%

PCA

PCA

PCA Revenue by Segment

Forward Guidance

Fourth quarter earnings are expected to be $1.76 per share.

Positive Outlook

  • Less market-related downtime as inventories build back to appropriate levels.
  • Higher shipments per day in corrugated products facilities.
  • Lower scheduled maintenance outage expenses.

Challenges Ahead

  • One less shipping day compared to the third quarter.
  • Lower average prices due to the majority of the May decrease in the published benchmark index grades being realized throughout the third quarter as well as a seasonally less rich mix.
  • Lower Paper segment volume compared to the seasonally stronger third quarter.
  • Prices and mix are assumed to trend lower with declines in the index prices in the Paper segment.
  • Operating and converting costs will increase driven by higher recycled fiber prices, seasonal energy costs, and the re-start of the Wallula mill.

Revenue & Expenses

Visualization of income flow from segment revenue to net income