Smurfit-Stone reports results

Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation reported net income of $54 million, or $0.54 per diluted share, for the first quarter ended March 31, 2011, compared with net income of $49 million, or $0.49 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2010, and a net loss attributable to common stockholders of ($91) million, or ($0.35) per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2010.

Smurfit-Stone’s first quarter 2011 adjusted net income was $43 million, or $0.43 per diluted share, compared to adjusted net income of $62 million, or $0.62 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2010, and an adjusted net loss of ($59) million, or ($0.23) per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2010. The primary adjustment in the first quarter of 2011 was the exclusion of the cellulosic biofuel production income tax credit recognized in the quarter. The major adjustments in the first and fourth quarters of 2010 were the exclusion of costs or income related to reorganization and restructuring. The first quarter of 2010 was also adjusted to exclude the alternative fuel mixture tax credit recognized in that quarter.

The company reported operating income of $92 million for the first quarter of 2011, compared to operating income of $103 million in the fourth quarter of 2010, and an operating loss of $31 million in the first quarter of 2010. Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter of 2011 was $179 million, down from $205 million in the fourth quarter of 2010, and up from $46 million in the first quarter of 2010.

Net sales for the first quarter of 2011 were $1.58 billion, down slightly from $1.63 billion in the fourth quarter of 2010 and up 8 percent compared with sales of $1.46 billion in the first quarter of 2010. The sequential decline in sales in first quarter 2011 reflects modestly higher selling prices, offset by seasonally lower volumes.