Stock Monitor: Ball Post Earnings Reporting

LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / May 18, 2018 / If you want access to our free earnings report on International Paper Co. (NYSE: IP) ("IP"), all you need to do is sign up now by clicking the following link www.active-investors.com/registration-sg/?symbol=IP. On April 26, 2018, IP reported financial results for the first quarter of 2018 ending March 31, 2018. The Company surpassed analysts' consensus estimates for earnings as well as revenue in Q1 FY18. Register today and get access to over 1,000 Free Research Reports by joining our site below:

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Active-Investors.com is currently working on the research report for Ball Corporation (NYSE: BLL), which also belongs to the Consumer Goods sector as the Company International Paper. Do not miss out and become a member today for free to access this upcoming report at:

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Active-Investors.com is focused on giving you timely information and the inside line on companies that matter to you. This morning, International Paper most recent news is on our radar and our team decided to put out a fantastic report on the company that is now available for free below:

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Earnings Highlights and Summary

IP's total revenues reached $5.62 billion for Q1 FY18, reflecting an increase of 9.53% from $5.13billion in Q1 FY17 due to a healthy global demand and the Company's solid fundamentals across global businesses. The reported total revenue number exceeded analysts' consensus estimates of $5.43 billion.

During Q1 FY18, IP's cost of products sold was $3.95 billion, 8.52% higher than the $3.64 billion reported in Q1 FY17. In the quarter under review, the Company's selling and administrative expenses jumped 7.12% to $421 million while depreciation, amortization, and cost of timber harvested increased 1.56% to $325 million on a y-o-y basis.

Net earnings attributable to IP for the quarter ending March 31, 2018, were $729 million, an increase of 248.80% from $209 million for the quarter ending March 31, 2017. The Company's diluted earnings per common share were $1.74 in Q1 FY18, up 248% from $0.50 in Q1 FY17.The reported earnings included gain from discontinued operations, non-operating pension expense, charges related to restructuring of Europe, Middle-East, and Africa (EMEA) packaging business, charges for removal of abandoned property and legal-settlement charges. IP's adjusted operating earnings for Q1 FY18 were $395 million, 70.26% higher than $232 million in Q1 FY17. The Company's adjusted operating earnings per share also advanced 67.86% to $0.94 in the reported quarter from $0.56 in the previous year's same quarter. This was higher than analysts' consensus estimates of $0.89 per share.

Segment Details

During Q1 FY18, IP's Industrial Packaging segment's net sales were $3.83billion, up 6.99%on y-o-y basis. This segment had an operating profit (before special items) of $464 million in Q1 FY18, as compared to $379 million in Q1 FY17, reflecting an increase of 22.43%.

The Global Cellulose Fibers segment reported revenues of $677 million in Q1 FY18, an increment of 20.04% from $564 million in Q1 FY17. This segment had an operating profit (before special items) of $15 million in the quarter under review, as compared to an operating loss of $51 million in the previous year quarter.

For Q1 FY18, IP's Printing Papers segment generated revenues of $1.05 billion, 5.83% higher than the prior year's comparable quarter. This segment had an operating profit (before special items) of $64 million in Q1 FY18 compared to $100 million in Q1 FY17; reflecting a decrease of 36%.

Cash Matters

IP had cash and temporary investments of $1.14 billion as on March 31, 2018, an increase of 12.08% from $1.02 billion as on December 31, 2017. The Company had a long-term debt of $10.76 billion as on March 31, 2018, a decrease of 0.08% from $10.85 billion as on December 31, 2017.

IP's net cash flow from operating activities was $663 million in Q1 FY18, same as in Q1 FY17. The Company had a free cash flow of $174 million in the quarter under review, 32.82% lower than $259 million in the previous year's same quarter.

IP invested $489 million in capital projects in Q1 FY18, which were 30.75% higher than the $374 million reported in Q1 FY17. The Company distributed dividends of $197 million in the reported quarter, up 3.14% from $191 million in the prior year's same quarter. Besides, the Company also spent $31 million on repurchases of common stock and payments of restricted stock tax withholding in Q1 FY18.

Outlook

On May 08, 2018, IP declared a quarterly dividend of $0.475 per share for the period from April 01, 2018, to June 30, 2018, on its common stock, par value $1.00. Besides, the Company also declared a regular quarterly dividend of $1.00 per share for the period from April 01, 2018, to June 30, 2018, on the cumulative $4.00 preferred stock. These dividends would also be payable on June 15, 2018, to holders of record at the close of business on May 25, 2018.

Stock Performance Snapshot

May 17, 2018 - At Thursday's closing bell, International Paper's stock was slightly up 0.05%, ending the trading session at $55.06.

Volume traded for the day: 2.25 million shares.

Stock performance in the last month - up 1.83%; previous six-month period - up 1.34%; past twelve-month period - up 6.58%

After yesterday's close, International Paper's market cap was at $22.77 billion.

Price to Earnings (P/E) ratio was at 21.81.

The stock has a dividend yield of 3.45%.

The stock is part of the Consumer Goods sector, categorized under the Packaging & Containers industry. This sector was flat at the end of the session.

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