Nov 05, 2009. /Lesprom Network/. Rock-Tenn had net income of $67.3 million and earnings of $1.72 a share in the 4Q. This compares with net income of $28.4 million and earnings of 74 cents a share in the 4Q 2008. 4Q sales were down 7% to $729 million, as The Business Journal of the Greater Triad Area reported. “Rock-Tenn delivered another quarter of strong earnings growth over the prior year quarter as adjusted earnings increased 34%,” said Rock-Tenn Chairman and CEO James A. Rubright, in an earnings release. “Our free cash flow continued to be strong, and our net debt repayment and dividends totaled $7.81 per share in fiscal 2009 as we capitalized on the low cost positions we have developed in all of our businesses. We expect to continue to generate strong cash flow in fiscal 2010 as we expect input costs to remain relatively stable, and demand for containerboard and bleached paperboard to improve.” For fiscal 2009, the company had net income of $222.3 million and earnings of $5.75 a share, compared with net income of $81.8 million and earnings of $2.14 a share in 2008. Annual sales were down 1% to $2.81 billion. Rock-Tenn has its Alliance Display operations in Winston-Salem and also has packaging or cardboard operations eslewhere in North Carolina in Claremont, Conover, Marion and Mooresville.