Stora Enso: Sustainable profitable growth continues despite temporary headwinds – half-year financial report January–June 2018 Q2/2018 (year-on-year). Sales increased 5.4% to EUR 2 664 (2 528) million, despite wood shortage, primarily due to favourable prices and active product mix management. Operational EBIT increased 49.4% to EUR 327 (219) million, despite temporary headwinds in wood sourcing and Consumer Board production.
The increase was due to favourable prices and active product mix management. Balance sheet strengthened further despite increased dividend payout, and net debt was reduced by 10%. The net debt to operational EBITDA ratio improved to 1.3 (1.9). Operational ROCE was 15.5% (10.3%), above the strategic target of 13% for the fourth consecutive quarter. Stora Enso announced today new target levels for Net Debt / Operational EBITDA (< 2.0) and Debt/equity Ratio (< 0.6).
Q1–Q2/2018 (year-on-year)
Sales of EUR 5 243 million increased by 4.3%. Excluding the divested Puumerkki, sales increased 5.8%. Operational EBIT of EUR 696 million increased 60.4%, mainly due to favourable prices and active product mix management.
Outlook
Q3/2018 sales are estimated to be similar to the amount of EUR 2 664 million recorded in the second quarter of 2018, and operational EBIT is expected to be in line with the EUR 327 million recorded in the second quarter of 2018.
The impact of annual maintenance shutdowns is expected to be approximately EUR 5 million lower than in the second quarter of 2018. The second quarter maintenance impact was EUR 15 million higher than initially forecast. The Nordic wood supply situation is expected to continue tight, due to the risk of forest fires affecting harvesting conditions. The wood supply impact is expected to be approximately EUR 10 million negative in the third quarter of 2018. These impacts are included in the above outlook.
Stora Enso’s CEO Karl-Henrik Sundström comments
Stora Enso’s CEO Karl-Henrik Sundström comments on the second quarter 2018 results: “Six consecutive quarters of sales growth prove that we have reached a level of sustainable profitable growth. Sales increased by more than 5% during the quarter and if we exclude the divested Puumerkki, the increase was 7%. This is primarily due to favourable prices and our management of the product mix.
I am proud of the strong increase in operational EBIT of 50% to EUR 327 million, despite the temporary headwinds that we have had during the quarter. Production related issues, higher maintenance and tight wood supply had negative impacts. If we look specifically at Consumer Board, even with headwinds in production effecting volumes substantially, the division reached all-time high in sales. All in all, we still have untapped potential to grab!
The Packaging Solutions division showed continued strong performance, Biomaterials delivered all-time high sales and profitability, Wood Products return on capital was at record level and the Paper division presented significant profitability improvements. I see great performance across the board.
Furthermore, I am pleased that our operational ROCE, close to 16%, was above our strategic target for the fourth consecutive quarter. Moreover, we continue to strengthen our balance sheet and net debt was reduced by more than 10%. All in all, we have delivered records or solid performance in all our divisions.
Our transformation projects are progressing well. The ramp-up of the LVL production at Varkaus Mill was completed during the quarter and the investment to a new cross laminated timber unit at Gruvön sawmill is proceeding as planned. Moreover, production is now up and running at the new fluff pulp line at Skutskär Mill.
The consumer board and packaging solutions businesses are growing and we have initiated a feasibility study to evaluate a potential conversion of Oulu paper mill into packaging board production. A potential conversion would enable us to take another step in our transformation journey. The other option is to continue the current fine paper production.
I am very pleased with our new, more ambitious, financial targets regarding net debt to EBITDA and debt to equity ratio. These are signalling our aim to reach an investment grade credit rating.
Our Accelerator programme is paying off. We have signed a joint development agreement with one of the programme participants, the Finnish start-up Sulapac. Together we contribute to combat the global problem of plastic waste by accelerating the use of fully renewable, recyclable and biodegradable materials in packaging.
In May, we gathered 150 guests to celebrate the launch of our wood fibre-based biocomposite plant. It is Europe’s largest and its products will contribute to gradually replace fossil-based materials.
As always, I would like to thank our customers for their business, our employees for their dedication, and our investors for their trust.”
[Text/Logo: Stora Enso]
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