May 2, 2017   SOURCE: BusinessWire

Glatfelter Reports First Quarter 2017 Earnings

Glatfelter (NYSE: GLT) today reported first quarter of 2017 net income of $11.6 million, or $0.26 per diluted share compared with $16.2 million, or $0.37 per diluted share in the first quarter of 2016. Adjusted earnings for the first quarter of 2017 were $17.2 million, or $0.39 per diluted share compared with $16.3 million, or $0.37 per diluted share, for the same period a year ago. Adjusted earnings is a non-GAAP measure for which a reconciliation is provided within this release.

Consolidated net sales totaled $390.7 million and $402.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Lower selling prices and foreign currency translation unfavorably impacted the quarter-over-quarter comparison by $6.8 million each.

“Glatfelter’s overall results for the first quarter were in line with expectations,” said Dante C. Parrini, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Our engineered materials businesses reported a strong opening to 2017. Composite Fibers returned to growth after a challenging 2016, as demand improved in all market segments, including tea, single-serve coffee and wall covering products. This improved demand, when combined with our cost optimization program, drove a 29% increase in Composite Fibers’ operating income over the prior-year period. Advanced Airlaid Materials continued to show healthy margin expansion as volumes improved over the previous year and further production efficiencies from continuous improvement initiatives resulted in an 8% increase in operating income. The Specialty Papers business unit’s performance continues to be challenged by highly competitive market conditions, despite improved productivity and cost reduction actions.”

Mr. Parrini continued, “We are making significant progress in our initiatives to manage costs and drive continuous improvement throughout our organization. Specifically, our Composite Fibers business is on track to deliver $10 million in savings this year through the cost optimization program we began in the fourth quarter of 2016. We also remain committed to investing in our growth platforms. The build-out of our new facility in Fort Smith, Arkansas, is proceeding as expected and is positioned to support the growth opportunities for our Advanced Airlaid Materials business, with start-up expected late this year.”

The following table sets forth a reconciliation of net income on a GAAP basis to adjusted earnings, a non-GAAP measure:

    Three months ended March 31
2017       2016
In thousands, except per share Amount    

Diluted
EPS

Amount    

Diluted
EPS

 
Net income $ 11,603 $ 0.26 $ 16,168 $ 0.37
Adjustments (pre-tax)
Specialty Papers' environmental compliance 2,264 37
Airlaid capacity expansion costs 1,958 56
Cost optimization actions   2,013   88
Total adjustments (pre-tax) 6,235 181
Income taxes (1)   (682 )   (56 )
Total after-tax adjustments   5,553   0.12   125   -
Adjusted earnings $ 17,156 $ 0.39 $ 16,293 $ 0.37

(1)

 

Tax effect on adjustments calculated based on the incremental effective tax rate of the jurisdiction in which each adjustment originated and the related impact of valuation allowances.

 
The sum of individual per share amounts set forth above may not agree to adjusted earnings per share due to rounding.
 
A description of each of the adjustments presented above is included later in this release.
 

First Quarter Business Unit Results

 

Composite Fibers

   
Three months ended March 31
Dollars in thousands 2017     2016     Change
     
Tons shipped 38,787 36,912 1,875 5.1 %
Net sales $ 125,104 $ 123,542 $ 1,562 1.3 %
Operating income 14,438 11,187 3,251 29.1 %
Operating margin 11.5 % 9.1 %

Composite Fibers’ net sales increased $1.6 million, or 1.3%, primarily due to a 5.1% increase in shipping volumes partially offset by a $5.7 million unfavorable impact from currency translation and $1.9 million from lower selling prices.

Composite Fibers’ first quarter of 2017 operating income totaled $14.4 million, an increase of $3.3 million compared to the year-ago period primarily due to higher volumes and a $4.1 million benefit from improved operating efficiencies including the impact of the Company’s cost optimization program. These favorable factors were partially offset by higher raw material and energy costs and foreign currency translation.

Advanced Airlaid Materials

   
Three months ended March 31
Dollars in thousands 2017     2016     Change
   
Tons shipped 24,826 24,543 283 1.2 %
Net sales $ 59,838 $ 60,790 $ (952 ) (1.6 )%
Operating income 7,092 6,552 540 8.2 %
Operating margin 11.9 % 10.8 %

Advanced Airlaid Materials’ net sales decreased $1.0 million in the year-over-year comparison primarily due to a $1.1 million unfavorable impact from currency translation and $0.4 million of lower selling prices reflecting the impact of cost pass-through arrangements. Shipping volumes increased 1.2%, primarily due to continued growth of wipes and personal hygiene products.

Operating income for the first quarter of 2017 totaled $7.1 million, or 8.2% higher than the comparable period a year ago. Results benefited by $1.2 million from higher volumes and improved productivity required to meet growing demand. Foreign currency translation reduced operating income by $0.3 million.

Specialty Papers

   

 

Three months ended March 31
Dollars in thousands 2017     2016     Change
     
Tons shipped 197,223 205,783 (8,560 ) (4.2 )%
Net sales $ 205,772 $ 217,887 $ (12,115 ) (5.6 )%
Energy and related sales, net 1,129 666 463 69.5 %
Operating income 13,249 14,975 (1,726 ) (11.5 )%
Operating margin 6.4 % 6.9 %

Specialty Papers’ net sales decreased $12.1 million, or 5.6%, due to a 4.2% decrease in shipping volumes and a $4.5 million impact from lower selling prices.

Specialty Papers’ operating income totaled $13.2 million in the first quarter of 2017, a decrease of $1.7 million compared with the same period a year ago. A $3.6 million benefit from improved operations and cost control initiatives was more than offset by the adverse impact of lower selling prices and $1.2 million of higher raw material and energy costs.

Other Financial Information

In the first quarter of 2017, the Company recorded a provision for income taxes of $6.0 million on pre-tax income of $17.6 million. On adjusted earnings, the provision for income taxes totaled $6.7 million on adjusted pre-tax earnings of $23.9 million. The effective tax rate on adjusted earnings was 28.1% in the first quarter of 2017 compared to 23.9% in the same quarter a year ago. The higher effective tax rate reflects the adverse impact of an increase in unrecognized tax benefits and valuation allowances for deferred tax assets.

Balance Sheet and Other Information

Cash and cash equivalents totaled $57.2 million as of March 31, 2017, and net debt was $352.7 million compared with $317.2 million at the end of 2016. (Refer to the calculation of this measure provided in the tables at the end of this release.)

Capital expenditures during 2017 and 2016 are summarized below:

    Three months ended
Capital Expenditures March 31
In thousands 2017       2016
 
Specialty Papers' environmental compliance projects $ 7,694 $ 14,393
Airlaid capacity expansion 9,550 13,686
Other capital expenditures   19,539   15,215
Total capital expenditures $ 36,783 $ 43,294

Specialty Papers’ environmental compliance projects were completed during the first quarter of 2017.

Adjusted free cash flow for the first three months of 2017, was $(12.0) million compared with $(8.1) million in 2016. (Refer to the calculation of these measures provided in this release.)

Outlook

Composite Fibers’ shipping volumes in the second quarter of 2017 are expected to be approximately 5% higher than the first quarter.  Selling prices are expected to be in-line with the first quarter and raw material and energy prices are expected to increase slightly.

Advanced Airlaid Materials’ shipping volumes are expected to be slightly higher than the 2017 first quarter. Selling prices and raw material and energy prices are expected to be in-line with the first quarter.

Specialty Papers’ shipping volumes in the second quarter are expected to be slightly below the first quarter of 2017. Selling prices are expected to decline slightly. We anticipate raw material and energy prices to increase slightly. The Company also plans to complete the annual maintenance outages at its U.S. facilities in the second quarter of 2017, which are expected to adversely impact operating income by approximately $22.0 million to $24.0 million compared with $26.3 million in the second quarter of 2016. In addition, to manage inventory levels, the Company expects to incur approximately $3 million of costs due to market related downtime in excess of the first quarter of 2017.

Consolidated capital expenditures are expected to total between $125 million and $140 million for 2017.

The effective tax rate on adjusted earnings is expected to be approximately 28% in 2017 compared with 16.5% for 2016.

Conference Call

As previously announced, the Company will hold a conference call at 11:00 a.m. (Eastern) today to discuss its first quarter results. The Company’s earnings release and an accompanying financial supplement, which includes significant financial information to be discussed on the conference call, will be available on Glatfelter’s Investor Relations website at the address indicated below. Information related to the conference call is as follows:

        What:    

Glatfelter’s 1st Quarter 2017 Earnings Release Conference Call

 
When: Tuesday, May 2, 2017, 11:00 a.m. (ET)
 
Number: US dial 888.335.5539
 
International dial 973.582.2857
 
Conference ID: 7452452
 
Webcast:

http://www.glatfelter.com/about_us/investor_relations/default.aspx

 
Rebroadcast Dates: May 2, 2017, 2:00 p.m. through May 16, 2017, 11:59 p.m.
 
Rebroadcast Number: Within US dial 855.859.2056
 
International dial 404.537.3406
 
Conference ID: 7452542

Interested persons who wish to hear the live webcast should go to the website prior to the starting time to register, download and install any necessary audio software.

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Any statements included in this press release which pertain to future financial and business matters are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company uses words such as “anticipates”, “believes”, “expects”, “future”, “intends”, “plans”, and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. Any such statements are based on the Company’s current expectations and are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and other unpredictable or uncontrollable factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements including, but not limited to: changes in industry, business, market, political and economic conditions in the U.S. and other countries in which the Company does business, demand for or pricing of its products, changes in the cost to construct the new airlaid facility and the availability and costs of a qualified workforce, changes in tax legislation, governmental laws, regulations and policies, initiatives of regulatory authorities, technological changes and innovations, and market growth rates. In light of these risks, uncertainties and other factors, the forward-looking matters discussed in this press release may not occur and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and Glatfelter undertakes no obligation, and does not intend, to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this press release. More information about these factors is contained in Glatfelter’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available at www.glatfelter.com.

About Glatfelter

Glatfelter is a global supplier of specialty papers and engineered materials, offering innovation, world-class service and over a century and a half of technical expertise. Headquartered in York, PA, the company employs over 4,300 people and serves customers in over 100 countries. U.S. operations include facilities in Pennsylvania and Ohio. International operations include facilities in Canada, Germany, France, the United Kingdom and the Philippines, and sales and distribution offices in China and Russia. Glatfelter’s sales approximate $1.6 billion annually and its common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol GLT. Additional information may be found at www.glatfelter.com.

P. H. Glatfelter Company and subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Income

(unaudited)

     
Three months ended
March 31

In thousands, except per share

2017     2016
Net sales $ 390,713 $ 402,218
Energy and related sales, net   1,129   666
Total revenues 391,842 402,884
Costs of products sold   334,913   345,041
Gross profit 56,929 57,843
Selling, general and administrative expenses 35,086 31,858

Losses on dispositions of plant, equipment and timberlands, net

  32   24
Operating income 21,811 25,961
Non-operating income (expense)
Interest expense (4,008 ) (4,116 )
Interest income 113 91
Other, net   (279 )   (700 )
Total other expense   (4,174 )   (4,725 )
Income before income taxes 17,637 21,236
Income tax provision   6,034   5,068
Net income $ 11,603 $ 16,168
Earnings per share
Basic $ 0.27 $ 0.37
Diluted 0.26 0.37

Cash dividends declared per common share

$ 0.13 $ 0.125
Weighted average shares outstanding
Basic 43,583 43,521
Diluted 44,493 43,871

Business Unit Financial Information

(unaudited)

                                                     
Three months ended March 31
Dollars in millions Composite Fibers Advanced Airlaid Materials Specialty Papers Other and Unallocated Total
2017 2016 2017 2016 2017 2016 2017 2016 2017 2016
Net sales $ 125.1 $ 123.5 $ 59.8 $ 60.8 $ 205.8 $ 217.9 $ — $ — $ 390.7 $ 402.2
Energy and related sales, net   —   —   —   —   1.1   0.7   —   —   1.1   0.7
Total revenue 125.1 123.5 59.8 60.8 206.9 218.6 — — 391.8 402.9
Costs of products sold   99.6   101.2   50.5   52.2   180.1   191.1   4.7   0.5   334.9   345.0
Gross profit (loss) 25.5 22.3 9.3 8.6 26.8 27.5 (4.7 ) (0.5 ) 56.9 57.8
SG&A 11.1 11.1 2.2 2.0 13.6 12.5 8.2 6.3 35.1 31.9

Losses on dispositions of plant, equipment and timberlands, net

  —   —   —   —   —   —   —   —   —   —
Total operating income (loss) 14.4 11.2 7.1 6.6 13.2 15.0 (12.9 ) (6.8 ) 21.8 26.0
Non operating expense   —   —   —   —   —   —   (4.2 )   (4.7 )   (4.2 )   (4.7 )
Income (loss) before income taxes $ 14.4 $ 11.2 $ 7.1 $ 6.6 $ 13.2 $ 15.0 $ (17.1 ) $ (11.5 ) $ 17.6 $ 21.2
 
Supplementary Data
Net tons sold (thousands) 38.8 36.9 24.8 24.5 197.2 205.8 — — 260.8 267.2
Depreciation, depletion and amortization $ 6.8 $ 7.1 $ 2.3 $ 2.3 $ 7.2 $ 6.7 $ 1.0 $ 0.5 $ 17.3 $ 16.6
Capital expenditures   4.7   6.3   10.6   14.7   18.3   22.0   3.2   0.3   36.8   43.3
 
The sum of individual amounts set forth above may not agree to the consolidated financial statements included herein due to rounding.
 

Selected Financial Information

(unaudited)

 
    Three months ended March 31
In thousands 2017     2016
 
Cash Flow Data
Cash provided (used) by:
Operating activities $ 7,561 $ 11,441
Investing activities (36,783 ) (43,561 )
Financing activities 30,479 (4,098 )
 
Depreciation, depletion and amortization 17,282 16,646
Capital expenditures 36,783 43,294
 
    March 31       December 31
2017 2016
Balance Sheet Data
Cash and cash equivalents $ 57,227 $ 55,444
Total assets 1,574,766 1,521,259
Total debt 409,886 372,608
Shareholders’ equity 668,786 653,826
 

Reconciliation of GAAP Financial Information to Non-GAAP Financial Information

This press release includes a measure of earnings before the effects of certain specifically identified items, which is referred to as adjusted earnings, a non-GAAP measure. The Company uses non-GAAP adjusted earnings to supplement the understanding of its consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with GAAP. Non-GAAP adjusted earnings is meant to present the financial performance of the Company’s core operations, which consists of the production and sale of specialty papers, composite fibers papers and airlaid non-woven materials. Management and the Company’s Board of Directors use non-GAAP adjusted earnings to evaluate the performance of the Company’s fundamental business in relation to prior periods. For purposes of determining adjusted earnings, the following items are excluded:

  • Specialty Papers environmental compliance. These adjustments reflect non-capitalized, one-time costs incurred by the business unit directly related to the compliance with the U.S. EPA Best Available Retrofit Technology rule and the Boiler Maximum Achievable Control Technology rule. This adjustment includes costs incurred during the transition period in which the newly installed equipment was brought on-line.
  • Airlaid capacity expansion costs. These adjustments reflect non-capitalized, one-time costs incurred related to the start-up of a new airlaid production facility in Ft. Smith, Arkansas.
  • Cost optimization actions. This adjustment reflects charges incurred in connection with initiatives to optimize the cost structure of certain business units in response to changes in business conditions. The costs are primarily related to headcount reduction efforts, asset write-offs and certain contract termination costs.

Unlike net income determined in accordance with GAAP, non-GAAP adjusted earnings does not reflect all charges and gains recorded by the Company for the applicable period and, therefore, does not present a complete picture of the Company’s results of operations for the respective period. However, non-GAAP adjusted earnings provide a measure of how the Company’s core operations are performing, which management believes is useful to investors because it allows comparison of such operations from period to period. Non-GAAP adjusted earnings should not be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.

    Three months ended
Calculation of Adjusted Free Cash Flow March 31
In thousands 2017     2016
 
Cash from operations $ 7,561 $ 11,441
Less: Capital expenditures (36,783 ) (43,294 )
Add back: Airlaid capacity expansion 9,550 13,686
Add back: Specialty Papers' environmental compliance projects 7,694 14,393
Exclude: Cellulosic biofuel/Alternative fuel mixture credits   —   (4,277 )
Adjusted free cash flow $ (11,978 ) $ (8,051 )
 
Net Debt     March 31     December 31
In thousands 2017 2016
 
Current portion of long-term debt $ 9,416 $ 8,961
Long term debt   400,470   363,647
Total 409,886 372,608
Less: Cash   (57,227 )   (55,444 )
Net Debt $ 352,659 $ 317,164