Sonoco Reports Third Quarter 2023 Results

HARTSVILLE, S.C., Oct. 31, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sonoco Products Company (“Sonoco” or the “Company”) (NYSE: SON), one of the largest sustainable global packaging companies, today reported financial results for its third quarter ended October 1, 2023.

Summary

• Sonoco achieved fully diluted earnings per share of $1.32 and Adjusted earnings per share (diluted) of $1.46
• Generated sequential growth in Sales, Net Income, and Adjusted EBITDA and improved Net Income Margin and Adjusted EBITDA Margin to 7.6% and 16.4%, respectively.
• Continued near record results in the flexible packaging and the rigid paper container businesses in the Consumer Packaging (“Consumer”) and Industrial Paper Packaging (“Industrial”) segments
• Inflationary pricing pressures continue to impact year-over-year demand in the Consumer segment
• Generated $617 million of operating cash flow in the first nine months of 2023 due to strong GAAP Net Income and disciplined working capital management
• Raised full-year Adjusted EPS and Adjusted EBITDA guidance based on improved productivity and cost controls
• Lowered full-year operating cash flow and free cash flow guidance based on lowered operating cash flow and lower capital expenses
• Closed the previously announced acquisitions of the remaining equity interest in RTS Packaging LLC (“RTS Packaging”) and a paper mill in Chattanooga, Tennessee and integration is well underway

⁽¹⁾ See the Company’s definitions of non-GAAP financial measures, explanations as to why they are used, and reconciliations to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures later in this release.

• Net sales decreased to $1.7 billion driven by lower volumes and average selling prices.  
• GAAP operating profit decreased to $163 million due to lower overall volume and mix and price/cost, partially offset by higher productivity.
• Achieved net income margin of 7.6% and Adjusted EBITDA margin of 16.4%.
• Effective tax rates on GAAP and Adjusted Earnings were 23.6% and 22.7%, respectively, compared with 23.7% and 23.1%, respectively, from the third quarter of the prior year.
• GAAP net income increased to $131 million for GAAP EPS (diluted) of $1.32.
• Adjusted Earnings decreased to $145 million for Adjusted EPS (diluted) of $1.46.
• Adjusted operating profit and Adjusted EBITDA declined to $213 million and $280 million, respectively, due to lower overall volume and mix and price/cost, partially offset by higher productivity.
  

“Our third-quarter results benefited from seasonally higher demand as well as better than expected productivity and cost management from our global team,” said Sonoco’s President and CEO, Howard Coker. “Consumer volumes were lower year over year, but were sequentially higher across the segment with the exception of metal aerosol cans, which were below our forecasts on persistent end market demand softness. In the Industrial segment, volumes were generally as expected. We closed the RTS Packaging and Chattanooga mill acquisitions, and integration has progressed to plan. Despite the continued weak macroeconomic backdrop, we achieved strong profit margin and operating cash flow in the quarter.”

Third Quarter 2023 Segment Results
(Dollars in millions except per share data)

Sonoco reports its financial results in two reportable segments: Consumer and Industrial, with all remaining businesses reported as All Other.

• Consumer net sales were $938 million as volumes were primarily impacted by inflationary pricing pressures within retail along with unfavorable pricing.
• Consumer results benefited from strong productivity and performance in the flexible packaging, rigid paper and metal packaging businesses, but this was more than offset by lower volumes and broadly negative price/cost.

• Industrial net sales decreased 12% to $580 million due to volume and mix weakness in global demand for paper and converted paper products as well as the absence of sales related to businesses divested earlier in the year, which was partially offset by the benefit related to the acquisition of RTS Packaging and the Chattanooga paper mill during the quarter.
• Strong execution in commercial and operational excellence resulted in operating profit margin of 13% and Adjusted EBITDA margin of 18%.

• Net sales declined 3% as strategic pricing actions were more than offset by volume and mix declines.
• Operating profit and Adjusted EBITDA improved by 66% and 47%, respectively, primarily due to positive strategic pricing and strong productivity more than offsetting lower volumes.

¹Segment and All Other Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin are non-GAAP financial measures. See the Company’s reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures later in this release.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Highlights

• Cash and cash equivalents were $258 million as of October 1, 2023, compared to $227 million as of December 31, 2022.
• Total debt was $3,255 million as of October 1, 2023, an increase of $33 million from December 31, 2022.
• On October 1, 2023, the Company had available liquidity of $1,158 million, including the undrawn availability under its revolving credit facilities.
• Cash flow from operating activities for the first nine months of 2023 was $617 million, compared to $322 million in the same period of 2022.
• Capital expenditures, net of proceeds from sales of fixed assets, for the first nine months of 2023 were $182 million, compared to $231 million in the same period last year. Capital expenditures were $255 million and net proceeds from the sale of our timberland properties were $73 million for the first nine months of 2023.
• Free cash flow for the first nine months of 2023 was $435 million. See the Company’s definition of free cash flow, the explanation as to why it is used, and the reconciliation to net cash provided by operating activities later in this release.
• Dividends paid during the nine months ended October 1, 2023 increased to $147 million compared to $139 million for the same period of the prior year.
  

Guidance⁽¹⁾         
Fourth Quarter 2023

• Adjusted EPS⁽²⁾: $1.01 to $1.16
  

Full Year 2023

• Adjusted EPS⁽²⁾: $5.25 to $5.40
• Cash flow from operating activities: $850 million to $900 million
• Free cash flow⁽³⁾: $600 million to $690 million
• Adjusted EBITDA: $1.05 billion to $1.08 billion

Sonoco’s President and CEO, Howard Coker, “For the fourth quarter, we expect seasonally lower demand volumes and unfavorable index-based pricing impacts. We are raising full year Adjusted EPS and Adjusted Earnings guidance based on year-to-date results and our fourth quarter guidance. Additionally, we are expecting full year operating cash flow to be $850 - $900 million and free cash flow to be $600 - $690 million based on lower operating cash flow and lower capital expenses. We remain focused on supporting our customers, managing expenses, and continuous improvement programs as we exit the year.”

⁽¹⁾ Although the Company believes the assumptions reflected in the range of guidance are reasonable, given the uncertainty regarding the future performance of the overall economy, the effects of inflation, the continued challenges in global supply chains, potential changes in raw material prices, other costs, and the Company’s effective tax rate, as well as other risks and uncertainties, including those described below, actual results could vary substantially. Further information can be found in the section entitled “Forward-looking Statements” in this release.

⁽²⁾ Fourth quarter and full-year 2023 GAAP guidance are not provided in this release due to the likely occurrence of one or more of the following, the timing and magnitude of which we are unable to reliably forecast without unreasonable efforts: restructuring costs and restructuring-related impairment charges, acquisition/divestiture-related costs, gains or losses on the sale of businesses or other, and the income tax effects of these items and/or other income tax-related events. These items could have a significant impact on the Company’s future GAAP financial results. Accordingly, a quantitative reconciliation of Adjusted EPS guidance has been omitted in reliance on the exception provided by Item 10 of Regulation S-K.

⁽³⁾ See reconciliation of projected cash flow from operating activities to projected free cash flow later in this release.

Conference Call Webcast
Management will host a conference call and webcast to further discuss these results beginning at 8:30 am EDT, Wednesday, November 1, 2023. The live conference call and a corresponding presentation can be accessed via the Company’s Investor Relations website at https://investor.sonoco.com. To listen via telephone, please register in advance at https://register.vevent.com/register/BIe853f98da6424ee88b9a95e5c4b84e7c. Upon registration, all telephone participants will receive the dial-in number along with a unique PIN number that can be used to access the call. A replay of the conference call and webcast will be archived on the Company’s Investor Relations website for at least 30 days.

Contact Information:
Lisa Weeks
Vice President of Investor Relations & Communications
lisa.weeks@sonoco.com
843-383-7524

About Sonoco
Founded in 1899, Sonoco (NYSE:SON) is a global provider of packaging products. With net sales of approximately $7.3 billion in 2022, the Company has approximately 22,000 employees working in more than 320 operations around the world, serving some of the world’s best-known brands. With our corporate purpose of Better Packaging. Better Life., Sonoco is committed to creating sustainable products, and a better world, for our customers, employees and communities. The Company ranked first in the Packaging sector on Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies for 2022 and was also included in Barron’s 100 Most Sustainable Companies for the fourth consecutive year. For more information on the Company, visit our website at www.sonoco.com.

Forward-looking Statements

Statements included herein that are not historical in nature, are intended to be, and are hereby identified as “forward-looking statements” for purposes of the safe harbor provided by Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. In addition, the Company and its representatives may from time to time make other oral or written statements that are also “forward-looking statements.” Words such as “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “committed,” “consider,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “future,” “goal,” “guidance,” “intend,” “likely,” “may,” “might,” “objective,” “outlook,” “plan,” “potential,” “project,” “seek,” “strategy,” “will,” or the negative thereof, and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements in this communication include statements regarding, but not limited to: the Company’s future operating and financial performance, including fourth quarter and full-year 2023 outlook; the Company’s ability to support its customers and manage expenses; opportunities for operational improvements; pricing, customer demand and volume outlook; expected benefits from and integration efforts related to acquisitions and divestitures; the effectiveness of the Company’s strategy; the effects of the macroeconomic environment and inflation on the Company and its customers; and outcomes of certain tax issues and tax rates.

Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about our industry, management’s beliefs and certain assumptions made by management. Such information includes, without limitation, discussions as to guidance and other estimates, perceived opportunities, expectations, beliefs, plans, strategies, goals and objectives concerning our future financial and operating performance. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict.

Therefore, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. The risks, uncertainties and assumptions include, without limitation, those related to: the Company’s ability to achieve the benefits it expects from acquisitions and divestitures; the Company’s ability to execute on its strategy, including with respect to acquisitions (and integrations thereof), divestitures, cost management, restructuring and capital expenditures, and achieve the benefits it expects therefrom; the operation of new manufacturing capabilities; the Company’s ability to achieve anticipated cost and energy savings; the availability and pricing of raw materials, energy and transportation, including the impact of potential changes in tariffs and escalating trade wars, and the Company’s ability to pass raw material, energy and transportation price increases and surcharges through to customers or otherwise manage these pricing risks; the costs of labor; the effects of inflation, fluctuations in consumer demand, volume softness, customer destocking and other macroeconomic factors on the Company and the industries in which it operates and that it serves; the Company’s ability to meet its goals relating to sustainability and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions; the Company’s ability to return cash to shareholders and create long-term value; and the other risks, uncertainties and assumptions discussed in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q, particularly under the heading “Risk Factors.” The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed herein might not occur.

References to our Website Address

References to our website address and domain names throughout this release are for informational purposes only, or to fulfill specific disclosure requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules or the New York Stock Exchange Listing Standards. These references are not intended to, and do not, incorporate the contents of our website by reference into this release.

Definition and Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company’s results determined in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) are referred to as “as reported” or “GAAP” results. The Company uses certain financial performance measures, both internally and externally, that are not in conformity with GAAP (“non-GAAP financial measures”) to assess and communicate the financial performance of the Company. These non-GAAP financial measures reflect the Company’s GAAP operating results adjusted to remove amounts (including the associated tax effects) relating to:

• restructuring/asset impairment charges¹;
• acquisition, integration, and divestiture-related costs;
• gains or losses from the divestiture of businesses and other assets;
• losses from the early extinguishment of debt;
• non-operating pension costs;
• amortization expense on acquisition intangibles;
• changes in last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) inventory reserves;
• certain income tax events and adjustments;
• derivative gains/losses;
• other non-operating income and losses; and
• certain other items, if any.
  

¹ Restructuring/asset impairment charges are a recurring item as Sonoco’s restructuring programs usually require several years to fully implement and the Company is continually seeking to take actions that could enhance its efficiency. Although recurring, these charges are subject to significant fluctuations from period to period due to the varying levels of restructuring activity, the inherent imprecision in the estimates used to recognize the impairment of assets, and the wide variety of costs and taxes associated with severance and termination benefits in the countries in which the restructuring actions occur.

The Company’s management believes the exclusion of these items improves the period-to-period comparability and analysis of the underlying financial performance of the business. Non-GAAP figures previously identified by the term “Base” are now identified using the term “Adjusted,” for example “Adjusted Operating Profit,” “Adjusted Net Income,” and “Adjusted EPS.”

In addition to the “Adjusted” results described above, the Company also uses Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income excluding the following: interest expense; interest income; provision for income taxes; depreciation, depletion and amortization expense; non-operating pension costs; net income attributable to noncontrolling interests; restructuring/asset impairment charges; changes in LIFO inventory reserves; gains/losses from the divestiture of businesses and other assets; acquisition, integration and divestiture-related costs; derivative gains/losses; and other non-GAAP adjustments, if any, that may arise from time to time. Adjusted EBITDA Margin is defined as Adjusted EBITDA divided by net sales.

The Company’s non-GAAP financial measures are not calculated in accordance with, nor are they an alternative for, measures conforming to generally accepted accounting principles, and they may be different from non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. In addition, these non-GAAP financial measures are not based on any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles.

The Company presents these non-GAAP financial measures to provide investors with information to evaluate Sonoco’s operating results in a manner similar to how management evaluates business performance. The Company consistently applies its non-GAAP financial measures presented herein and uses them for internal planning and forecasting purposes, to evaluate its ongoing operations, and to evaluate the ultimate performance of management and each business unit against plans/forecasts. In addition, these same non-GAAP financial measures are used in determining incentive compensation for the entire management team and in providing earnings guidance to the investing community.

Material limitations associated with the use of such measures include that they do not reflect all period costs included in operating expenses and may not be comparable with similarly named financial measures of other companies. Furthermore, the calculations of these non-GAAP financial measures are based on subjective determinations of management regarding the nature and classification of events and circumstances that the investor may find material and view differently.

To compensate for any limitations in such non-GAAP financial measures, management believes that it is useful in evaluating the Company’s results to review both GAAP information, which includes all of the items impacting financial results, and the related non-GAAP financial measures that exclude certain elements, as described above. Further, Sonoco management does not, nor does it suggest that investors should, consider any non-GAAP financial measures in isolation from, or as a substitute for, financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. Whenever reviewing a non-GAAP financial measure, investors are encouraged to review the related reconciliation to understand how it differs from the most directly comparable GAAP measure.

Whenever Sonoco uses a non-GAAP financial measure it provides a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. Investors are encouraged to review and consider these reconciliations. See “Guidance” above for more information regarding the Company’s guidance.   

Adjusted Operating Profit, Adjusted Income Before Income Taxes, Adjusted Provision for Income Taxes, Adjusted Net Income Attributable to Sonoco and Adjusted Diluted EPS

The following tables reconcile the Company’s non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures for each of the periods presented:

Segment results viewed by the Company’s management to evaluate segment performance do not include restructuring/asset impairment charges, amortization of acquisition intangibles, acquisition, integration, and divestiture-related costs, changes in LIFO inventory reserves, gains/losses from the sale of businesses and other assets, or certain other items, if any, the exclusion of which the Company believes improves the comparability and analysis of the ongoing operating performance of the business. Accordingly, the term “segment operating profit” is defined as the segment’s portion of “operating profit” excluding those items. All other general corporate expenses have been allocated as operating costs to each of the Company’s reportable segments and All Other.

The Company does not calculate net income by segment; therefore, Segment Adjusted EBITDA is reconciled to the closest GAAP measure of segment profitability, Segment Operating Profit, which is the measure of segment profit or loss in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification 280 - Segment Reporting, as prescribed by the Financial Accounting Standards Board.

¹ Included in Corporate is the amortization of acquisition intangibles associated with the Consumer segment of $14,197, the Industrial segment of $3,414, and All Other of $3,768.
² Included in Corporate are restructuring/asset impairment charges associated with the Consumer segment of $8,288, the Industrial segment of $6,430, and All Other of $1,766.
³ Included in Corporate are changes in LIFO inventory reserves associated with the Consumer segment of $(3,325) and the Industrial segment of $139.
⁴ Included in Corporate are acquisition, integration and divestiture-related costs associated with the Consumer segment of $410 and the Industrial segment of $5,046.
⁵ Included in Corporate are net gains on derivatives associated with the Consumer segment of $(468), the Industrial segment of $(2,178), and All Other of $(664).

¹ Included in Corporate is amortization of acquisition intangibles associated with the Consumer segment of $14,326, the Industrial segment of $1,973, and All Other of $4,392.
² Included in Corporate are restructuring/asset impairment charges associated with the Consumer segment of $4,350, the Industrial segment of $7,674, and All Other of $18.
³ Included in Corporate are changes in LIFO inventory reserves associated with the Consumer segment of $(1,653) and the Industrial segment of $1,351.
⁴ Included in Corporate are acquisition, integration and divestiture-related costs associated with the Consumer segment of $855 and the Industrial segment of $800.
⁵ Included in Corporate are net losses on derivatives associated with the Consumer segment of $203, the Industrial segment of $986, and All Other of $289.

The following tables reconcile Segment and Total Operating Profit, the closest GAAP measure of profitability, to Segment Adjusted EBITDA.

¹ Included in Corporate is the amortization of acquisition intangibles associated with the Consumer segment of $42,829, the Industrial segment of $8,913, and All Other of $11,340.
² Included in Corporate are restructuring/asset impairment charges associated with the Consumer segment of $11,792, the Industrial segment of $32,961, and All Other of $5,875.
³ Included in Corporate are changes in LIFO inventory reserves associated with the Consumer segment of $(9,428) and the Industrial segment of $(758).
⁴ Included in Corporate are acquisition, integration and divestiture-related costs associated with the Consumer segment of $1,302 and the Industrial segment of $5,394.
⁵ Included in Corporate are gains from the divestiture of business and other assets associated with the sale of the Company’s timberland properties in the amount of $(60,945), the sale of its S3 business of in the amount of $(11,065), and the sale of its U.S. BulkSak businesses of $(6,834).
⁶ Included in Corporate are gains on derivatives associated with the Consumer segment of $(194), the Industrial segment of $(1,045), and All Other of $(275).

¹ Included in Corporate is the amortization of acquisition intangibles associated with the Consumer segment of $40,938, the Industrial segment of $6,098, and All Other of $13,325.
² Included in Corporate are restructuring/asset impairment charges associated with the Consumer segment of $9,459, the Industrial segment of $19,194, and All Other of $(399).
³ Included in Corporate are changes in LIFO inventory reserves associated with the Consumer segment of $22,589 and the Industrial segment of $2,499.
⁴ Included in Corporate are acquisition, integration and divestiture-related costs associated with the Consumer segment of $38,039 and the Industrial segment of $1,866.
⁵ Included in Corporate are net gains on derivatives associated with the Consumer segment of $(347), the Industrial segment of $(1,477), and All Other of $(492).

Free Cash Flow

The Company uses the non-GAAP financial measure of “free cash flow,” which it defines as cash flow from operations minus net capital expenditures. Net capital expenditures are defined as capital expenditures minus proceeds from the disposition of capital assets. Free cash flow may not represent the amount of cash flow available for general discretionary use because it excludes non-discretionary expenditures, such as mandatory debt repayments and required settlements of recorded and/or contingent liabilities not reflected in cash flow from operations.