Packaging Corporation of America reported fourth quarter 2022 net income of $212 million, or $2.31 per share, and net income of $215 million, or $2.35 per share, excluding special items. Fourth quarter net sales were $1.98 billion in 2022 and $2.04 billion in 2021.
Full year 2022 net income was $1.03 billion, or $11.03 per share, and net income of $1.04 billion, or $11.14 per share, excluding special items. Full year net sales were $8.5 billion in 2022 and $7.7 billion in 2021.
Reported earnings in the fourth quarter and full year 2022 include special items primarily for certain costs at the Jackson, Alabama, mill for paper-to-containerboard conversion related activities.
Excluding special items, the $(.41) per share decrease in fourth quarter 2022 earnings compared to the fourth quarter of 2021 was driven primarily by lower volumes in the Packaging ($1.14) and Paper ($.02) segments, higher operating costs ($.48), higher freight and logistics expenses ($.13), higher depreciation expense ($.09), higher converting costs ($.06), and higher scheduled maintenance outage expenses ($.01). These items were partially offset by higher prices and mix in the Packaging $1.18 and Paper $.21 segments, a lower share count resulting from share repurchases $.08, lower interest expense $.04, and a lower tax rate $.01.
Results were $.13 above fourth quarter guidance of $2.22 per share primarily due to higher prices and mix in the Packaging segment, lower freight and logistics expenses, a lower share count resulting from share repurchases, and a lower tax rate.
In the Packaging segment, shipments per day were down (8.7%) and total corrugated products shipments, with one less shipping day, were down (10.2%) versus last year's fourth quarter.
Containerboard production was 961,000 tons, and containerboard inventory was down 66,000 tons from the third quarter of 2022 and down 46,000 tons compared to the fourth quarter of 2021.
In the Paper segment, sales volume was down 14,000 tons compared to the third quarter of 2022 and down 15,000 tons from the fourth quarter of 2021.
Commenting on reported results, Mark W. Kowlzan, Chairman and CEO, said, "Although demand in our Packaging segment was below our original expectations and we operated our system based on this lower demand, we were able to offset the negative impact through outstanding cost management and process optimization efforts at our mills and corrugated products plants. However, overall, our cost base continued to experience significant inflation compared to last year.
"Price and mix in our Packaging segment was better than expected, and in our Paper segment we had excellent realization from the price increase we announced in the third quarter.
"The scheduled annual maintenance outage and the first phase of the conversion project on the No. 3 machine at our Jackson, Alabama mill were executed extremely well. Also, during the quarter we re-purchased over 3 million shares of our stock at an average price of $126.70 per share."
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