Company Website: https://www.sylvamo.com
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- (Business Wire)

Sylvamo (NYSE: SLVM), the world’s paper company, is releasing fourth quarter and full year 2025 earnings. The company will host an audio webcast at 10 a.m. EST at investors.sylvamo.com.

Management Summary from Chief Executive Officer John Sims

As Sylvamo’s CEO, my vision is that Sylvamo will be legendary for the way we relentlessly pursue and achieve world-class excellence in all that we do. This will create substantial and lasting value for our employees, customers and shareowners and will enable us to be the employer, supplier and investment of choice.

I am committed to allocating capital wisely to create long-term value, communicating transparently, upholding our values and driving smart, data-driven decisions while operating safely with a focus on our customers and cost. We seek high-quality, long-term shareowners who share our vision of disciplined capital allocation and sustainable value-creation.

In 2025, we operated in a challenging environment, but our strategy did not change. We continued to deploy capital with discipline and take actions to strengthen Sylvamo’s competitive position as we invest in our lowest‑cost, most advantaged assets. At the same time, we maintained a strong balance sheet and returned cash to shareowners.

-Financial Results

In the fourth quarter, Sylvamo generated net income of $33 million and adjusted EBITDA^* of $125 million, representing a 14% margin. Cash provided by operating activities was $94 million, and free cash flow^* was $38 million.

For the full year 2025, Sylvamo generated net income of $132 million and adjusted EBITDA of $448 million, representing a 13% margin. Cash provided by operating activities was $268 million, and free cash flow was $44 million. Despite the challenging environment, we generated 12% return on invested capital^* for the year.

-Capital Allocation

Keeping a strong financial position is the cornerstone of our capital allocation framework. This allows us to reinvest in our business, strengthen our competitive advantage through the cycle and increase future earnings and cash flow. In 2025, we maintained our strong financial position and balance sheet, achieving a net debt-to-adjusted EBITDA^* of 1.6x.

We reinvested $224 million across our manufacturing network and forestlands in Brazil to strengthen our low-cost position, while accelerating development of high-return capital investments.

Throughout 2025, we returned $155 million to shareowners through $82 million in share repurchases and $73 million in dividends. Our board of directors declared a $0.45 dividend for the first quarter, which we paid Jan. 23. As of Jan. 30, we still have the full $150 million remaining under our current share repurchase authorization.

-Regional Business Conditions

Looking at our regional industry conditions, North America and Brazil remain positive, while Europe and other Latin American countries are challenged. In the first quarter compared to the fourth quarter, our regional businesses will be impacted by lower volumes, higher energy costs and the non-repeat of favorable one-time items.

• In Europe, industry supply and demand conditions continue to be challenging, but market conditions have started to show signs of improvement as pulp prices began to rebound in the fourth quarter and improvement continues into the first quarter. Reflecting the challenging industry dynamics in Europe, our cutsize paper prices exited the year 100 euros per tonne below where we exited 2024. We have communicated paper price increases to our customers and expect the realization to begin in the second quarter.

• In Latin America, we are moving from the fourth quarter where paper demand is seasonally the strongest to the first quarter where demand is seasonally the weakest. This also negatively impacts our geographic mix in the first quarter. In Brazil, we communicated paper price increases to our customers both domestically and for exports. We have started to see realization for Brazil in January and are starting to see some realization in our export regions in February.

• In North America, we are seeing improvements in industry supply and demand. Imports have declined significantly since the summer. We communicated paper price increases to our customers and expect the realization to begin in the second quarter. 2026 will be a transition year in North America as we work through some short-term capacity constraints due to the termination of the Riverdale supply agreement with International Paper (NYSE: IP) and an upcoming extended outage at our Eastover, South Carolina, mill as we execute our strategic investments. To serve our most valuable customers, we will import from our mills in Europe, convert product using third-party vendors and build inventory to transition from the Riverdale volume exit to the completion of our Eastover strategic investments. As we build inventory for this transition, our sales volume in North America will be most impacted in the first quarter.

-Looking Ahead

Our capital spending will peak in 2026 as we execute the majority of our $145 million high-return strategic investments at our Eastover mill, including a paper machine optimization project, a new, state-of-the-art cutsize sheeter and a woodyard modernization project.

2025 and 2026 will be low points in free cash flow as we work through industry headwinds, particularly in Europe, and complete high‑return investments. As these conditions normalize and our investments begin to deliver, Sylvamo is well positioned to generate stronger, more sustainable results with the potential to generate annually:

• > $300 million in free cash flow

• > 15% return on invested capital

Our priorities remain unchanged: maintaining a strong financial position, reinvesting with discipline and returning cash to shareowners over time.

Earnings Webcast

The company will host an audio webcast at 10 a.m. EST at investors.sylvamo.com.

Those who want to participate should call 800-715-9871 (U.S.) or +1-646-307-1963 (international) and use access code 4562356.

Replays are available at investors.sylvamo.com for one year and by phone for one week. To listen by phone, call 800-770-2030 (U.S.) or +1-609-800-9909 (international) and use access code 4562356.

About Sylvamo

Sylvamo Corporation (NYSE: SLVM) is the world's paper company with mills in Europe, Latin America and North America. Our vision is to be the employer, supplier and investment of choice. We transform renewable resources into papers that people depend on for education, communication and entertainment. Headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, we employ more than 6,500 colleagues. Net sales for 2025 were $3.4 billion. For more information, please visit Sylvamo.com.

Segment Information

Sylvamo uses business segment operating profit to measure the earnings performance of its businesses and is calculated as set forth in footnote (f) under the "Sales and Earnings by Business Segment" table (page 9). Fourth quarter 2025 net sales by business segment and operating profit by business segment compared with the third quarter of 2025 and the fourth quarter of 2024 are as follows:

Operating profits in the fourth quarter of 2025:

Europe- $(29) million compared with $(21) million in the third quarter of 2025. Losses were higher due to lower price and mix and higher operating and input costs which more than offset higher volumes.

Latin America - $37 million compared with $35 million in the third quarter of 2025. Earnings were higher due to higher volumes which more than offset lower price and mix in our export regions and higher operating costs.

North America- $71 million compared with $84 million in the third quarter of 2025. Earnings were lower due to higher planned maintenance outages, and lower mix which more than offset higher volumes and lower operating costs.

Effective Tax Rate

The reported effective tax rate for the fourth quarter of 2025 was 43%, compared to 35% for the third quarter of 2025. The higher rate for the fourth quarter was due to the mix of earnings in our regions.

Excluding net special items, the effective tax rate for the fourth quarter of 2025 was 36%, compared with 35% for the third quarter of 2025.

The effective tax rate excluding net special items is a non-GAAP financial measure and is calculated by adjusting the income tax provision and rate to exclude the tax effect at the applicable statutory rate of net special items. Management believes that this presentation provides useful information to investors by providing a more meaningful comparison of the income tax rate between past and present periods.

Effects of Net Special Items

Net special items in the fourth quarter of 2025 amounted to a net after-tax charge of $11 million ($0.27 per diluted share), compared with a net after-tax charge of $1 million ($0.03 per diluted share) in the third quarter of 2025.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Adjusted Operating Earnings (non-GAAP) are net income (GAAP), net of tax, foreign exchange on a note receivable from our Brazilian subsidiary and net special items. Management uses this measure to focus on ongoing operations and believes it is useful to investors because it enables them to perform meaningful comparisons of past and present operating results. The Company believes that using this information, along with net income, provides for a more complete analysis of the results of operations. Net income is the most directly comparable GAAP measure. For more information regarding net special items, see the information under the heading Effects of Net Special Items and the Consolidated Statement of Operations and related notes included later in this release.

Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) is net income (GAAP), net of tax, plus the sum of income taxes, net interest expense (income), depreciation, amortization and cost of timber harvested, stock-based compensation, foreign exchange on a note receivable from our Brazilian subsidiary, and, when applicable for the periods reported, net special items. Management uses this measure in managing the operating performance of our business and believes that Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin provide investors and analysts meaningful insights into our operating performance and Adjusted EBITDA is a relevant metric for the third-party debt. The Company believes that using this information, along with net income, provides for a more complete analysis of the results of its operations. Net income is the most directly comparable GAAP measure. For more information regarding net special items, see the information under the heading Effects of Net Special Items and the Consolidated Statement of Operations and related notes included later in this release.

Free Cash Flow is a non-GAAP measure and the most directly comparable GAAP measure is cash provided by operating activities. Management utilizes this measure in connection with managing our business and believes that Free Cash Flow is useful to investors as a liquidity measure because it measures the amount of cash generated that is available, after reinvesting in the business, to maintain a strong balance sheet and service debt, and return cash to shareowners. It should not be inferred that the entire Free Cash Flow amount is available for discretionary expenditures. Free Cash Flow also enables investors to perform meaningful comparisons between past and present periods.

Return on Invested Capital (“ROIC”) is a non-GAAP measure presented as a supplemental measure of our performance. Management believes that ROIC is useful because it measures how effectively and efficiently we use the capital invested in our business. ROIC = Adjusted Operating Earnings Before Interest / Average Invested Capital. Invested Capital = Equity plus total debt minus cash and temporary investments. The Average Invested Capital is calculated as a simple average for the two most recent fiscal years.

Net Debt is a non‑GAAP measure defined as outstanding principal balance of current and long-term debt, less cash and temporary investments. Management uses Net Debt as an indicator of the Company’s overall leverage and liquidity position, and believes it is useful to investors as it reflects the strength of our financial position.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including the information under the heading "Management Summary from Chief Executive Officer John Sims." Any or all forward-looking statements may turn out to be incorrect, and our actual actions and results could differ materially from what they express or imply, because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond our control. These risks, uncertainties, and other factors include those disclosed in the heading "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2024, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and in our subsequent filings with the SEC, available on our website, Sylvamo.com. These forward-looking statements reflect our current expectations, and we undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260212739061/en/

Contacts:

Investor Contact: Hans Bjorkman, 901-519-8030, hans.bjorkman@sylvamo.com
Media Contact: Adam Ghassemi, 901-519-8115, adam.ghassemi@sylvamo.com

Source: Sylvamo