Stora Enso’s new guidance reveals weaker 2023 earnings due to worsening market outlook

Stora Enso’s new guidance reveals weaker 2023 earnings due to worsening market outlook

(IN BRIEF) Stora Enso, in its financial statement release for 2022, had indicated that its full-year 2023 operational EBIT would be lower than the previous year. However, the company’s new guidance reveals that the 2023 operational EBIT is expected to be significantly lower than the previous year, owing to cost pressures and market uncertainties that are expected to be much more challenging in 2023. The whole packaging market is currently weakening, with containerboard demand expected to remain weak. Furthermore, the construction sector remains challenging, with a lower number of issued building permits and new housing starts, which is expected to have a temporary impact on demand for the Wood Products division this year. The company is taking measures such as pricing, flexibility in product mix, capacity, and inventory management to manage volatility, reinforce cost control actions, and secure a solid balance sheet.

(PRESS RELEASE) HELSINKI, 21-Apr-2023 — /EuropaWire/ — Stora Enso provided guidance in connection with its financial statement release 2022, published on 31 January 2023, that its full-year 2023 operational EBIT was expected to be lower than for the full-year 2022 (EUR 1,891 million).

Due to materially lower earnings forecasts for the full year results 2023, Stora Enso’s new guidance is that the full-year 2023 operational EBIT is expected to be significantly lower than for the full-year 2022 (EUR 1,891 million).

The change in earnings expectations for the full year 2023 is a result of the worsening market outlook which accelerated towards the latter part of the first quarter. Cost pressures and market uncertainties are expected to be significantly more challenging in 2023 than in 2022, weighing on our results and lowering the short-term visibility this year. This market situation will continue to weaken consumer confidence resulting in lower private consumption impacting all our divisions. Compared to 2022, Group margins are expected to be adversely impacted by increasing costs, particularly in relation to energy, wood, and chemicals.

The whole packaging market is currently weakening. Especially containerboard demand is expected to remain weak but also consumer board is showing signs of weakening, with the exception for liquid packaging board.

The construction sector remains challenging with a lower number of issued building permits and new housing starts. This is expected to have a temporary impact on demand for the Wood Products division this year. In addition to higher pulpwood cost, a weakening global pulp market is expected to weigh on the Biomaterials division. Availability for pulpwood remains tight.

To manage volatility, variable costs are continually reviewed, and preparatory actions are taken to respond to fluctuations in demand with reinforced cost control actions. Other measures such as pricing, flexibility in product mix, capacity and inventory management, and sourcing and logistics have been put in place. In Finland, Stora Enso has completed negotiations on potential furloughs at its divisions’ production sites. Capacity adjustment activities are in place to respond to fluctuations in demand.

Operationally, the focus on decentralisation continues together with reduction of overhead costs. Restrictive capital expenditure and working capital management to safeguard cash flow and to secure a solid balance sheet are in place. The guidance ranges are shown in the table below:

Guidance range full year

Stora Enso will publish its January–March 2023 Interim Report on Tuesday 25 April 2023 at approximately 8:30 EEST (7:30 CEST).

Part of the global bioeconomy, Stora Enso is a leading provider of renewable products in packaging, biomaterials and wooden construction, and one of the largest private forest owners in the world. We believe that everything that is made from fossil-based materials today can be made from a tree tomorrow. Stora Enso has approximately 21,000 employees and our sales in 2022 were EUR 11.7 billion. Stora Enso shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki Oy (STEAV, STERV) and Nasdaq Stockholm AB (STE A, STE R). In addition, the shares are traded in the USA as ADRs (SEOAY). storaenso.com/investors

Media Contact:

Carl Norell
Press officer
tel. +46 72 241 0349

Investor enquiries:
Anna-Lena Åström
SVP Investor Relations
tel. +46 70 210 7691

SOURCE: Stora Enso