International Paper recently reported third quarter 2014 net earnings attributable to common shareholders totaling $355 million ($0.83 per share) compared with net earnings of $161 million ($0.37 per share) in the second quarter of 2014 and net earnings of $382 million ($0.85 per share) in the third quarter of 2013. Amounts in all periods include the impact of special items, non-operating pension expense and discontinued operations.
Operating Earnings were $409 million ($0.95 per share) in the third quarter of 2014, compared with $400 million ($0.93 per share) in the second quarter of 2014 and $455 million ($1.01 per share) in the third quarter of 2013.
Quarterly net sales were $6.1 billion compared with $5.9 billion in the second quarter of 2014 and $6.0 billion in the third quarter of 2013.
Business segment operating profits before special items in the third quarter of 2014 were $840 million, compared with $686 million in the second quarter of 2014.
"International Paper delivered strong results in the quarter with record performance from our North America Industrial Packaging group and solid performance in other key businesses that resulted in records for both EBITDA and free cash flow," said Mark Sutton, Chief Executive Officer. "IP continues to focus on growing free cash flow, increasing our return on capital and returning cash to our shareholders."
