Packaging Corp. reports Q1 EPS ex-items $2.31, consensus $2.21

Reports Q1 revenue $2.14B, consensus $2.12B. Commenting on reported results, Mark W. Kowlzan, Chairman and CEO, said, “A new first quarter revenue record was achieved to begin the new year. In the Packaging segment we had excellent implementation of our previously announced price increases and, although we began to see some pullback in the middle of the quarter related to the uncertainty created by global trade tensions, box demand was solid and exceeded a very strong comparative period in last year’s first quarter. Outstanding operational performance and scheduled outage execution at our mills delivered record first quarter containerboard production to meet this demand, and we ended the quarter at targeted inventory levels. Our Paper segment continued to achieve impressive margins with both volume and prices slightly above original estimates. Across the Company, continued emphasis on operational efficiency, cost reduction initiatives, and capital project execution helped minimize the persistent inflation we see throughout most of our cost structure.”