MeadWestvaco
Corporation
(
MWV
) has reported adjusted earnings of 34 cents per share compared
with 43 cents in the year-ago quarter. Adjusted earnings were ahead
of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 24 cents.
Adjusted earnings exclude restructuring charges of 4 cents and
charges related to the pending spin-off of Consumer & Office
Products in 2012. Including these items, earnings were 28 cents per
share in the reported quarter compared with 41 cents in the
year-ago quarter.
Total revenues in the reported quarter increased 4% year over
year to $1.42 billion. Revenue also surpassed the Zacks Consensus
Estimate of $1.38 billion.
Cost of sales increased 6.1% year over year in the quarter to
$1,113 million. Selling, general and administrative expenses also
increased 7.1% year over year to $197 million.
Segmental Performance
The
Food & Beverage
segment reported total revenues of $747 million in the first
quarter, up 4.6% year over year. Revenue growth was driven by
improved pricing and product mix and volume growth in both the
beverage packaging and food packaging segments. Operating profit,
however, dropped 30.2% to $63 million in the first quarter
Home, Health & Beauty
segment's total revenues increased 2% to $200 million. Improved
volume in healthcare, home, and garden packaging and the favorable
impact from the Polytop acquisition were partially offset by volume
declines in the beauty and personal care packaging segments.
Operating profit jumped 50% to $12 million in the quarter.
Total revenues in the
Industrial
segment declined 7.1% year over year to $113 million. Increased
demand for entry level solutions had an unfavorable impact on
product mix. Moreover, currency exchange also had an unfavorable
effect on the revenues. Operating profit declined 5.3% to $19
million in the quarter.
Total revenues in
Specialty Chemical
increased 16.9% to $207 million. Sales growth was fueled by
continuous success in penetrating higher value markets for pine
chemicals, asphalt additives and carbon technologies. Volume
improvement in oilfield and automotive carbon solutions as well as
better pricing and product mix offset the negative impact of input
cost. Operating profit in this segment increased 18.4% to $58
million in the quarter.
In the
Consumer and Office Products
segment, total revenues declined 7.4% to $108 million in the
reported quarter. Revenues fell due to volume declines offsetting
the favorable impact of product mix. Sales in the U.S. remained
flat with the year-ago quarter while sales in Brazil were low due
to general economic slowdown. Operating profit increased 33% to $8
million in the quarter.
Community Development and Land Management
segment's total revenues increased 7% to $46 million in the first
quarter. Operating profit plunged 114.3% to $14 million in the
quarter.
Financial
Position
Cash and cash equivalents decreased to $483 million as of March
31, 2012, from $656 million as of March 31, 2011. Long-term debt
amounted to $1,879 million as of March 31, 2012, versus $1,880
million as of March 31, 2011.
Cash flow from continuing operations was approximately $20
million in the reported quarter. Capital expenditure from
continuing operations was approximately $150 million in the first
quarter compared with $113 million a year ago.
Outlook
The company has not provided any estimates for 2012. It is
hopeful about achieving annual sales growth of more than 5% and
earnings growth in the range of 7%-10% over the next 3 to 5 years.
The company expects capital expenditure in the range of $650-$700
million for 2012.
Our View
MeadWestvaco decided to spin-off its Consumer and Office
Products business segment into a new entity and merge it with
ACCO Brands Corporation
(
ABD
). The company's plan is to concentrate more on the profitable
packaging solutions business instead.
It has recently acquired Polytop Corporation to increase
capabilities in the targeted packaging end markets. The company
expects that commercial excellence and opportunities of packaging
business will help it generate more than $1 million of additional
revenues over the next three to five years.
MeadWestvaco faces competition from companies like
Bemis Company, Inc.
(
BMS
) and
Sealed Air Corporation
(
SEE
)
.
Currently, we have a Neutral recommendation for MeadWestvaco
over the long term. The stock maintains a Zacks #3 Rank (Hold) over
the short term.
ACCO BRANDS CP (
ABD
): Free Stock Analysis Report
BEMIS (
BMS
): Free Stock Analysis Report
MEADWESTVACO CP (
MWV
): Free Stock Analysis Report
SEALED AIR CORP (
SEE
): Free Stock Analysis Report
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