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Weyerhaeuser’s fourth quarter earnings rise: Report
Feb. 6, 2017 - Weyerhaeuser Company reported fourth quarter net earnings to common shareholders of $551 million, or 73 cents per diluted share, on net sales of $1.6 billion. This compares with net earnings of $59 million, or 11 cents per diluted share, on net sales of $1.3 billion for the same period last year.
Fourth quarter results include after-tax earnings of $489 million from discontinued operations, primarily consisting of gains from the divestiture of the Cellulose Fibers pulp mills and printing papers business, and net after-tax charges of $44 million for special items. Excluding discontinued operations and special items, the company reported net earnings of $106 million or 14 cents per diluted share. This compares with net earnings from continuing operations before special items of $81 million for the same period last year and $172 million for third quarter 2016.
For the full year 2016, Weyerhaeuser reported net earnings attributable to common shareholders of $1.005 billion, or $1.39 per diluted share, on net sales of $6.4 billion. This compares with net earnings of $462 million on net sales of $5.2 billion for the same period last year. 2016 results include after-tax earnings of $612 million from discontinued operations related to the divested Cellulose Fibers segment.
Full year 2016 includes net after-tax charges of $141 million from special items. Excluding these items, the company reported net earnings from continuing operations before special items of $534 million, or 75 cents per diluted share. This compares with net earnings from continuing operations before special items of $382 million for the full year 2015.
"2016 was a transformational year for Weyerhaeuser. Through our merger with Plum Creek and the $2.5 billion divestiture of our Cellulose Fibers business, we became a focused timber, land and forest products company and nearly doubled the size of our timberland holdings," said Doyle R. Simons, president and chief executive officer. "In addition to completing these significant portfolio changes, we increased Adjusted EBITDA by nearly 55 percent, delivered more than $100 million of operational excellence improvements, captured significant merger synergies, and achieved the highest annual Wood Products earnings in over a decade. Finally, we returned cash to shareholders through a $2 billion share repurchase. Entering 2017, we remain strongly committed to driving industry-leading performance, continuing to capture benefits of the merger, and demonstrating disciplined capital allocation to drive superior value for shareholders."
Weyerhaeuser Company, one of the world's largest private owners of timberlands, began operations in 1900. We own or control over 13 million acres of timberlands, primarily in the U.S., and manage additional timberlands under long-term licenses in Canada. We manage these timberlands on a sustainable basis in compliance with internationally recognized forestry standards. We are also one of the largest manufacturers of wood products. Our company is a real estate investment trust. In February 2016, we merged with Plum Creek Timber Company, Inc. In 2016, we generated $6.4 billion in net sales and employed approximately 10,400 people who serve customers worldwide. We are listed on the Dow Jones World Sustainability Index. Our common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol WY. Learn more at www.weyerhaeuser.com.
February 6, 2017 By Weyerhaeuser Company
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