Weyerhaeuser Company reported 4Q 2017 net earnings of $271 million or 36 cents per diluted share, on net sales of $1.8 billion. This compares with net earnings from continuing operations of $62 million, or 8 cents per diluted share, on net sales of $1.6 billion for the same period last year, as the company says in the press release received by Lesprom Network.
Excluding a net after-tax benefit of $37 million from special items, the company reported net earnings of $234 million or 31 cents per diluted share. This compares with net earnings from continuing operations before special items of $106 million for the same period last year and $259 million for third quarter 2017.
For the full year 2017, Weyerhaeuser reported net earnings of $582 million, or 77 cents per diluted share, on net sales of $7.2 billion. This compares with net earnings from continuing operations of $415 million on net sales of $6.4 billion for the same period last year.
Full year 2017 includes net after-tax charges of $290 million from special items. Excluding these items, the company reported net earnings from continuing operations before special items of $872 million, or $1.15 per diluted share. This compares with net earnings from continuing operations before special items of $534 million for the full year 2016.
"2017 was a year of strong financial and operational performance for Weyerhaeuser. We increased Adjusted EBITDA by over 30 percent to $2.1 billion, generated over $1 billion of EBITDA from Wood Products, achieved all targets for operational excellence, merger cost synergies and overhead cost reduction, and raised our dividend," said Doyle R. Simons, president and CEO. "We also further simplified and optimized our portfolio by divesting our Uruguay operations, exiting the Twin Creeks joint venture and selling 100,000 acres of Southern timberland for collective proceeds of over $700 million. Going forward, we expect continued growth in the U.S. housing market and we remain relentlessly focused on improving performance through operational excellence, fully capitalizing on strengthening market conditions, and driving value for shareholders through disciplined capital allocation."
Weyerhaeuser Company, one of the world's largest private owners of timberlands, began operations in 1900. The company owns or controls 12.4 million acres of timberlands in the U.S., and manages additional timberlands under long-term licenses in Canada.
