Packaging
MWV Reports Second Quarter Sales and Earnings Growth
Wednesday 25. July 2012 - Second Quarter Highlights: Earnings from continuing operations of $0.44 per share (ex-items $0.46 per share)
Sales growth of 3.5%, including higher volumes and better pricing in targeted packaging and specialty chemicals markets
Income from continuing operations grew 13%
MeadWestvaco Corporation (NYSE: MWV), a global leader in packaging and packaging solutions, reported a 3.5 percent sales increase for the second quarter of 2012, reflecting increased volumes of higher value products in targeted packaging and specialty chemical end markets, as well as increased land sales.
“In many cases we are outperforming the broader market with our strategy targeting end markets and geographies with our differentiated solutions.”
Income from continuing operations of $78 million, or $0.44 per share ($82 million or $0.46 per share ex-items) was up 13 percent versus the prior year. The company’s profit improvement was driven primarily by higher volumes, pricing and product mix improvement, productivity gains, and higher earnings from land sales.
“We continue to successfully execute our profitable growth strategy and navigate through a difficult economic environment,” said John A. Luke, Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of MWV. “In many cases we are outperforming the broader market with our strategy targeting end markets and geographies with our differentiated solutions.”
Luke continued, “Our steady progress can be traced directly to our focus on four strategic pillars – commercial excellence, insights-driven innovation, emerging markets growth, and expanded participation with new technologies. We did well in each of these areas during the second quarter, and continue to believe that it is the right strategy for long-term profitable growth.”
“We are financially strong, generating positive cash flow, returning value to shareholders, and investing in our profitable growth initiatives – all while steering through a number of challenging factors in the external environment. Though we expect a continued slowdown in economic activity through the second half of the year, we are confident that success with our profitable growth strategy, coupled with disciplined execution on the controllable elements of our business, will enable us to continue to make steady progress,” Luke concluded.
Quarterly Comparison
Sales from continuing operations in the second quarter of 2012 were $1.42 billion compared to $1.38 billion in the second quarter of 2011. Income from continuing operations in the second quarter of 2012 was $78 million, or $0.44 per share, and included after-tax restructuring charges of $4 million, or $0.02 per share. Income from continuing operations in the second quarter of 2011 was $69 million, or $0.40 per share, and included after-tax restructuring charges of $5 million, or $0.03 per share. The effect of after-tax restructuring charges on earnings per share from continuing operations is as follows:
Second
Quarter
2012 Second
Quarter
2011
Earnings per share from continuing operations, as reported $ 0.44 $ 0.40
Restructuring charges 0.02 0.03
Earnings per share from continuing operations, as adjusted 1 $ 0.46 $ 0.43
1Refer to “Use of Non-GAAP Measures” section of this document.
Second Quarter Segment Results
Following is a summary of second quarter 2012 results by business segment. All comparisons of the results for the second quarter of 2012 are with the second quarter of 2011 on a continuing operations basis. As previously announced, effective January 1, 2012, the company changed its segment reporting of its packaging businesses.
Food & Beverage
1% sales growth
5% profit decline
In the Food & Beverage segment, sales grew to $808 million in the second quarter of 2012 compared to $802 million in the second quarter of 2011. Profit declined to $100 million in the second quarter of 2012 compared to $105 million in the second quarter of 2011.
Sales growth was led by improved pricing and product mix and by sales volumes from the new caps and closures business (Polytop) acquired in the fourth quarter of 2011. Overall food and beverage packaging volumes declined; however, volumes increased in tobacco packaging due to gains with global strategic customers in Asia. Beverage packaging continues to be impacted by the ongoing global economic climate, particularly in Europe; however, volumes outperformed industry trends driven by growth in North America and Asia. In food packaging, strong volumes in differentiated frozen food and liquid packaging were more than offset by volume declines in more standard food packaging. Sales in all food and beverage packaging markets were negatively impacted by unfavorable foreign currency exchange compared to 2011.
Profit performance primarily reflects the benefit of pricing and product mix improvement and solid productivity gains. These benefits were more than offset by higher costs for certain raw materials and freight, unfavorable foreign currency exchange and lower overall volume.
Home, Health & Beauty
2% sales growth
38% profit growth
In the Home, Health & Beauty segment, sales increased to $203 million in the second quarter of 2012 compared to $199 million in the second quarter of 2011. Profit increased to $11 million in the second quarter of 2012 compared to $8 million in the second quarter of 2011.
Sales growth was led by volume gains in home and garden and healthcare packaging and also by the addition of new business in caps and closures. The segment also benefited from improved pricing and product mix. These benefits were partially offset by lower European folding carton sales in beauty and personal care packaging and unfavorable foreign currency exchange. In home and garden packaging, the segment’s volumes outpaced underlying industry trends with continued gains in key trigger and aerosol product lines with global customers. In healthcare packaging, volume growth was driven by strong demand for the segment’s preservative-free medical pumps and standard folding cartons. Adherence-enhancing packaging volume was down slightly as the segment’s key retail partners transition to Shellpak Renew, a new paperboard-based, adherence-enhancing solution introduced in the second quarter.
Profit performance reflects lower costs for certain raw materials, productivity gains, increased volume, pricing and product mix improvements, and earnings from the new caps and closure business.
Industrial
15% sales decline
36% profit decline
In the Industrial segment, sales declined to $111 million in the second quarter of 2012 compared to $130 million in the second quarter of 2011. Profit declined to $14 million in the second quarter of 2012 compared to $22 million in the second quarter of 2011.
Overall sales volumes were strong, as the segment continued to increase its share of corrugated packaging for targeted meat, produce, raw materials and consumer products end markets. Despite lower overall growth in Brazil, the segment’s volumes strongly outpaced the growth rate of the corrugated industry from its strategy of delivering innovative, high-quality solutions to the fastest growing end markets. These gains were more than offset by unfavorable foreign currency exchange from the significant depreciation of the Real versus the Dollar and, to a lesser extent, by the negative mix impact from initial volumes, which consist of more standard solutions, from the segment’s new box plant in Araçatuba.
Profit performance primarily reflects unfavorable foreign currency exchange and product mix, as well as higher labor costs. These impacts were partially offset by strong volume growth in corrugated packaging.
The segment will start-up its new paperboard machine in Tres Barras at the end of July 2012 and expects significant earnings and cash flow contribution from the Brazil expansion project in 2013.
Specialty Chemicals
14% sales growth
11% profit growth
In the Specialty Chemicals segment, sales increased to $246 million in the second quarter of 2012 compared to $216 million in the second quarter of 2011. Profit increased to $62 million in the second quarter of 2012 compared to $56 million in the second quarter of 2011.
Sales growth was led by solid volume growth in targeted pine chemicals and carbon technology markets. Penetration of higher value pine chemicals end markets of adhesives, asphalt and oilfield services drove pricing and product mix improvement. These gains were slightly offset by unfavorable foreign currency exchange.
Profit performance reflects volume growth and product pricing and mix improvement across targeted higher value pine chemicals and carbon technology solutions. Favorable productivity also contributed to results. These benefits were partially offset by inflation in certain raw materials and freight, and unfavorable foreign currency exchange.
Community Development and Land Management
Sales for the Community Development and Land Management segment were $56 million in the second quarter of 2012 compared to $30 million in the second quarter of 2011. Profit was $27 million in the second quarter of 2012 compared to $6 million in the second quarter of 2011. Profit from real estate activities was $25 million in the second quarter of 2012 compared to $5 million in the second quarter of 2011. The segment sold approximately 15,300 acres for gross proceeds of $34 million in the second quarter of 2012 compared to approximately 4,700 acres for gross proceeds of $11 million in the second quarter of 2011. Profit from forestry operations and leasing activities was $2 million in the second quarter of 2012 compared to $1 million in the second quarter of 2011.
Other Items
On May 1, 2012, the company completed the spinoff of its Consumer & Office Products business and subsequent merger of that business with ACCO Brands Corporation. MeadWestvaco shareholders received approximately one share of ACCO Brands Corporation stock for every three shares of MeadWestvaco stock they owned of record as of April 24, 2012. In accordance with terms of the transaction, MeadWestvaco received cash totaling $460 million on a tax-free basis during the second quarter of 2012. The spin-off of the net assets of the Consumer & Office Products business included cash totaling $59 million pursuant to MeadWestvaco satisfying a working capital requirement, subject to certain post-closing adjustments.
In the second quarter of 2012, total pre-tax input costs of energy, raw materials and freight increased $15 million over the second quarter of 2011 on a continuing operations basis.
In the second quarter of 2012, the pre-tax impact from foreign currency exchange was $21 million unfavorable compared to the second quarter of 2011 on a continuing operations basis.
Cash flow provided by operating activities was about $110 million in the first half of 2012 compared to $137 million in the first half of 2011.
Capital spending from continuing operations increased to $323 million in the first half of 2012 compared to $258 million in the first half of 2011 primarily driven by the expansion of the industrial packaging business in Brazil, as well as from the construction of a biomass boiler at the Covington facility.
The company’s U.S. qualified retirement plans remain over funded and management does not anticipate any required regulatory funding contributions to such plans in the foreseeable future.
The effective tax rate attributable to continuing operations, including the effects of discrete tax items, was 32 percent in the second quarter of 2012 compared to 31 percent in the second quarter of 2011. The annual effective tax rate attributable to continuing operations in 2012, excluding the effects of discrete tax items, is expected to be about 34 percent.
MWV paid a regular quarterly dividend of $0.25 per share during the second quarter of 2012. On June 26, 2012, MWV declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.25 per common share. The payment of the dividend will be made on September 3, 2012 to shareholders of record at the close of business on August 1, 2012.
Outlook
In the third quarter of 2012, MWV expects earnings to be lower compared to year-ago levels on a continuing operations basis due to weakening global demand, unfavorable foreign currency and lower land sales. Start-up expenses related to the new paperboard machine in Brazil will also significantly impact Industrial segment third quarter earnings. The new machine will begin operating at the end of July 2012 and is expected to contribute significant earnings and cash flow in 2013. This, along with sustained momentum with its profitable growth strategy that includes commercial excellence, innovation, emerging markets, and expanded participation with new technologies, gives MWV confidence in achieving its 3 to 5 year performance goals of 5 percent-plus annual sales growth and 7 to 10 percent annual earnings growth.