Packaging Corp of America 10-Q 2024-03-31

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2024

or

For the transition period from to

Commission file number 1-15399

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code

(847) 482-3000

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒

As of May 3, 2024, the Registrant had outstanding 89,797,979 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share.

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act:

Table of Contents

All reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) are available free of charge via the Electronic Data Gathering Analysis and Retrieval (EDGAR) System on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. We also provide copies of our SEC filings at no charge upon request and make electronic copies of our reports available through our website at www.packagingcorp.com as soon as reasonably practicable after filing such material with the SEC.

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PART I

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Packaging Corporation of America

Consolidated Statements of In****come and Comprehensive Income

(unaudited, dollars in millions, except per-share data)

See accompanying condensed notes to unaudited quarterly consolidated financial statements.

Packaging Corporation of America

Consolidated B****alance Sheets

(unaudited, dollars and shares in millions, except per-share data)

See accompanying condensed notes to unaudited quarterly consolidated financial statements.

Packaging Corporation of America

Consolidated Statem****ents of Cash Flows

(unaudited, dollars in millions)

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This management’s discussion and analysis includes statements regarding our expectations with respect to our future performance, expected business conditions, liquidity, and capital resources. Such statements, along with any other statements that are not historical in nature, are forward-looking. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the risks and uncertainties described in our 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as those factors listed in other documents we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statement. Our actual results may differ materially from those contained in or implied by any of the forward-looking statements in this Form 10-Q. Please see “Forward Looking Statements” elsewhere in this Item 2.

Overview

PCA is the third largest producer of containerboard products and a leading producer of UFS paper in North America. We operate eight mills and 86 corrugated products manufacturing plants. Our containerboard mills produce linerboard and corrugating medium, which are papers primarily used in the production of corrugated products. Our corrugated products manufacturing plants produce a wide variety of corrugated packaging products, including conventional shipping containers used to protect and transport manufactured goods, multi-color boxes and displays with strong visual appeal that help to merchandise the packaged product in retail locations, and honeycomb protective packaging. In addition, we are a large producer of packaging for meat, fresh fruit and vegetables, processed food, beverages, and other industrial and consumer products. We also manufacture and sell UFS papers, including both commodity and specialty papers, which may have custom or specialized features such as colors, coatings, high brightness, and recycled content. We are headquartered in Lake Forest, Illinois and operate primarily in the United States.

This Item 2 is intended to supplement, and should be read in conjunction with, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included in our 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Executive Summary

First quarter net sales were $2.0 billion in both 2024 and 2023. We reported $147 million of net income, or $1.63 per diluted share, during the first quarter of 2024, compared to $190 million, or $2.11 per diluted share, during the same period in 2023. Net income included $8 million of expense for special items in both the first quarter of 2024 and the first quarter of 2023 (discussed below). Excluding special items, net income was $155 million, or $1.72 per diluted share, during the first quarter of 2024, compared to $198 million, or $2.20 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2023. The decrease in net income was driven primarily by lower prices and mix in the Packaging and Paper segments, higher scheduled mill outage expenses, higher depreciation, higher expenses related to corrugated plant capital projects, and other expenses. These items were partially offset by higher volume in the Packaging and Paper segments, lower operating and converting costs, lower freight and logistics expenses, lower interest expense, and a lower tax rate. For additional detail on special items included in reported GAAP results, as well as segment income (loss) excluding special items, earnings before non-operating pension income (expense), interest, income taxes, and depreciation, amortization, and depletion ("EBITDA"), and EBITDA excluding special items, see “Item 2. Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Financial Measures to Reported Amounts.”

Packaging segment income from operations was $204 million in the first quarter of 2024, compared to $268 million in the first quarter of 2023. Packaging segment EBITDA excluding special items was $326 million in the first quarter of 2024 compared to $392 million in the first quarter of 2023. The decrease was due to lower prices and mix, higher scheduled mill outage expenses, higher expenses related to corrugated plant capital projects, and other expenses, partially offset by higher sales and production volumes, lower operating and converting costs, and lower freight and logistics expense. Our demand remained strong as corrugated products shipments increased 11.0% per workday compared to the first quarter of 2023. We began to implement price increases on our containerboard and corrugated products during the quarter. Throughout our mills and corrugated products facilities, operational benefits were achieved through emphasis on cost management and process efficiencies.

Paper segment income from operations was $30 million in the first quarter of 2024, compared to $34 million in the first quarter of 2023. Paper segment EBITDA excluding special items was $41 million in the first quarter of 2024 and in the first quarter of 2023. Higher sales volumes, lower operating costs, and lower freight and logistics expense were offset by lower prices and mix. We experienced increased demand from both existing customers as well as incremental volume from some new customers acquired towards the end of 2023.

Special Items and Earnings per Diluted Share, Excluding Special Items

A reconciliation of reported earnings per diluted share to earnings per diluted share, excluding special items, for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 is as follows:

(a)

For the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, includes $10.4 million and $1.2 million, respectively, of charges related to the announced discontinuation of production of UFS paper grades on the No. 3 machine at the Jackson, Alabama mill associated with the permanent conversion of the machine to produce linerboard and other paper-to-containerboard conversion related activities.

(b)

For the three months ended March 31, 2024, includes $0.1 million of income primarily related to a favorable lease buyout for a closed corrugated products facility, partially offset by closure costs related to corrugated products facilities and design centers. For the three months ended March 31, 2023, includes $9.7 million of closure costs related to corrugated products facilities and design centers.

Included in this Item 2 are various non-GAAP financial measures, including diluted EPS excluding special items, segment income excluding special items and EBITDA excluding special items. Management excludes special items as it believes these items are not necessarily reflective of the ongoing results of operations of our business. We present these measures because they provide a means to evaluate the performance of our segments and our Company on an ongoing basis using the same measures that are used by our management, because these measures assist in providing a meaningful comparison between periods presented and because these measures are frequently used by investors and other interested parties in the evaluation of companies and the performance of their segments. A reconciliation of diluted EPS to diluted EPS excluding special items is included above and the reconciliations of other non-GAAP measures used in this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, to the most comparable measure reported in accordance with GAAP, are included in Item 2 under “Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Financial Measures to Reported Amounts.” Any analysis of non-GAAP financial measures should be done in conjunction with results presented in accordance with GAAP. The non-GAAP measures are not intended to be substitutes for GAAP financial measures and should not be used as such.

Industry and Business Conditions

Trade publications reported North American industry-wide corrugated products shipments were down (1.1%) in total and up 0.5% per workday with one less shipping day during the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same quarter of 2023. Reported industry containerboard production increased 7.1% compared to the first quarter of 2023. Reported industry containerboard inventories at the end of the first quarter of 2024 were approximately 2.8 million tons, up 3.1% compared to the same period in 2023. Reported containerboard export shipments were up 38.7% compared to the first quarter of 2023. In February 2024, index prices increased $40 per ton for linerboard and $60 per ton for corrugating medium.

The market for communication papers competes heavily with electronic data transmission and document storage alternatives. Increasing shifts to these alternatives have reduced usage of traditional print media and communication papers. Trade publications reported North American UFS paper shipments were down (1.1%) in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same quarter of 2023. Average prices reported by a trade publication for cut size office papers were lower by $90 per ton, or (6.0%) in the first quarter of 2024, compared to the first quarter of 2023. In January 2024, index prices declined $40 per ton for cut size office papers and $20 per ton for offset printing papers.

Outlook

Looking ahead into the second quarter, in our Packaging segment we expect continued strong demand and higher corrugated products and containerboard shipments. Prices and mix will move higher due to our announced price increases and the increase in published domestic index prices, as well as higher export prices. Orders in our Paper segment are expected to remain strong however, volume will be lower due to a scheduled maintenance outage at our International Falls, MN mill during the quarter. Although we are implementing our recently announced paper price increases, average prices and mix are expected to be slightly lower due to the published decrease in index prices earlier this year and how that impacts contract triggers with certain customers. Operating and converting costs should be slightly lower primarily due to the sequential improvement in seasonal weather and wage and benefit timing expenses that we incurred in the first quarter, and scheduled maintenance outage expenses will be lower. Rail rate increases at six of our mills during the first and second quarters will result in higher freight and logistics expenses, and depreciation expense will be higher. Finally, our tax rate will be sequentially higher due to the tax-related benefit of share-based compensation vests in the first quarter. Considering these items, we expect second quarter earnings to be higher than the first quarter.

Results of Operations

Three Months Ended March 31, 2024, compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2023

The historical results of operations of PCA for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 are set forth below (dollars in millions):

(a)

See “Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Financial Measures to Reported Amounts” included in this Item 2 for a reconciliation of non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP measure.

Net Sales

Net sales increased $3 million, or 0.1%, to $1,979 million during the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to $1,976 million during the same period in 2023.

Packaging. Net sales decreased $10 million, or (0.5%), to $1,799 million, compared to $1,809 million in the first quarter of 2023 due to lower containerboard and corrugated products prices and mix ($168 million), partially offset by higher volume ($158 million). In the first quarter of 2024, export and domestic containerboard outside shipments increased 22.1% compared to the first quarter of 2023. Our total corrugated products shipments were up 9.2% in total and up 11.0% per workday, with one less shipping day, compared to the same period in 2023. In the first quarter of 2024, our domestic containerboard prices were (1.7%) lower, while export prices were (25.6%) lower, than the same period in 2023.

Paper. Net sales increased $13 million, or 8.5%, to $164 million, compared to $151 million in the first quarter of 2023, due to higher volume ($23 million), partially offset by lower prices and mix ($10 million).

Gross Profit

Gross profit decreased $61 million during the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023. The decrease was driven primarily by lower prices and mix in the Packaging and Paper segments, higher scheduled mill outage expenses, higher depreciation, higher expenses related to corrugated plant capital projects, and other expenses, partially offset by higher volume in the Packaging and Paper segments, lower operating and converting costs, and lower freight and logistics expenses. In the three months ended March 31, 2024, gross profit included $2 million of special items related to Jackson mill conversion-related activities. In the three months ended March 31, 2023, gross profit included $6 million of special items primarily related to closure costs related to corrugated products facilities and Jackson mill conversion-related activities.

Selling, General, and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general, and administrative expenses (“SG&A”) increased $4 million during the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023. The increase was primarily due to bad debt expense.

Other Income (Expense), Net

Other income (expense), net, for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 are set forth below (dollars in millions):

We discuss these items in more detail in Note 5, Other Income (Expense), Net, of the Condensed Notes to Unaudited Quarterly Consolidated Financial Statements in “Part I, Item 1. Financial Statements” of this Form 10-Q.

Income from Operations

Income from operations decreased $75 million, or (27.6%), during the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023. The first quarter of 2024 included $10 million of special items expense primarily related to Jackson mill conversion-related activities, compared to $11 million of special items expense primarily related to closure costs related to corrugated products facilities and Jackson mill conversion-related activities in the first quarter of 2023.

Packaging. Packaging segment income from operations decreased $64 million to $204 million, compared to $268 million during the three months ended March 31, 2023. The decrease related primarily to lower containerboard and corrugated products prices and mix ($158 million), higher annual outage expenses ($12 million), higher expenses related to corrugated plant capital projects other costs ($6 million), and higher depreciation expense ($4 million), partially offset by higher sales and production volumes ($87 million), lower operating and converting costs ($20 million), and lower freight expenses ($3 million). Special items during the first quarter of 2024 included $4 million of expense primarily related to Jackson mill conversion-related activities, compared to $9 million of expense primarily related to closure costs related to corrugated products facilities in the first quarter of 2023.

Paper. Paper segment income from operations decreased $4 million to $30 million, compared to $34 million during the three months ended March 31, 2023. The decrease primarily related to lower prices and mix ($10 million), partially offset by higher sales and production volumes ($6 million), lower operating costs ($3 million) and lower freight expenses ($1 million). Special items during the first quarter of 2024 and 2023 included $6 million and $1 million, respectively, of expense for Jackson mill conversion-related activities.

Non-Operating Pension Income, Interest Expense, Net and Income Taxes

Non-operating pension income increased $3 million during the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023. The increase in non-operating pension income was related to favorable 2023 asset performance and favorable assumption changes.

Interest expense, net for the three months ended March 31, 2024 decreased $6 million when compared to the same period in 2023. The decrease in interest expense, net was primarily due to higher interest income in 2024 due to higher rates on invested cash balances, partially offset by higher interest expense in 2024 related to the Company's November 2023 debt refinancing.

During the three months ended March 31, 2024, we recorded $41 million of income tax expense, compared to $63 million of expense during the three months ended March 31, 2023. The effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 was 21.6% and 24.9%, respectively. The decrease in our effective tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared to the same period in 2023 was primarily due to higher excess tax benefits associated with employee restricted stock and performance unit vests.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Sources and Uses of Cash

Our primary sources of liquidity are net cash provided by operating activities and available borrowing capacity under our revolving credit facility. At March 31, 2024, we had $692 million of cash and cash equivalents, $561 million of marketable debt securities, and $323 million of unused borrowing capacity under the revolving credit facility, net of letters of credit. Currently, our primary uses of cash are for operations, capital expenditures, acquisitions, debt service, common stock dividends, and repurchases of common stock. We believe that net cash generated from operating activities, cash on hand, available borrowings under our revolving credit facility, and available capital through access to capital markets will be adequate to meet our liquidity and capital requirements, including payments of any declared common stock dividends, for the foreseeable future. As our debt or credit facilities become due, we will need to repay, extend, or replace such facilities. Our ability to do so will be subject to future economic conditions and financial, business, and other factors, many of which are beyond our control.

Below is a summary table of our cash flows, followed by a discussion of our sources and uses of cash through operating activities, investing activities, and financing activities (dollars in millions):

Operating Activities

Our operating cash flow is primarily driven by our earnings and changes in operating assets and liabilities, such as accounts receivable, inventories, accounts payable and other accrued liabilities, as well as factors described below. Cash requirements for operating activities are subject to PCA’s operating needs and the timing of collection of receivables and payments of payables and expenses.

During the three months ended March 31, 2024, net cash provided by operating activities was $260 million, compared to $280 million in the same period in 2023, a decrease of $20 million. Cash from operations excluding changes in cash used for operating assets and liabilities decreased $33 million primarily due to lower income from operations in 2024 as discussed above. Cash from operations increased by $13 million due to changes in operating assets and liabilities primarily due to the following:

a)

a net favorable change in accrued liabilities during the first three months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023 primarily related to the accrued liability for the DeRidder trial compensatory damages and prejudgment interest recorded in the first quarter of 2024; and

b)

a net favorable change in inventories during the first three months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023 primarily due to a decrease in raw materials inventory levels in the Packaging segment and a decrease in finished goods in the Paper segment due to strong demand.

These favorable changes were partially offset by the following:

c)

a net unfavorable change in prepaid expenses and other current assets during the first three months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023 primarily due to the accrued receivable for the insurance recovery related to the DeRidder litigation recorded in the first quarter of 2024;

d)

a net unfavorable change in income taxes due to a larger decrease in income tax receivables in the first quarter of 2023 compared to the first quarter of 2024; and

e)

a net unfavorable change in accounts receivable levels during the first three months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023 primarily related to a larger increase in accounts receivable levels in the Paper segment in 2024 due to higher sales volumes and an increase in interest receivables in the Corporate and Other segment during the first quarter of 2024 related to accrued interest on the proceeds received from the November 2023 debt refinancing.

Investing Activities

We used $81 million for investing activities during the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared to $115 million during the same period in 2023. We spent $77 million for internal capital investments during the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to $112 million during the same period in 2023.

We expect capital investments in 2024 to be between $470 million and $490 million. These expenditures could increase or decrease as a result of a number of factors, including our financial results, strategic opportunities, future economic conditions, and our regulatory compliance requirements. We currently estimate capital expenditures to comply with environmental regulations will be about $15 million in 2024. Our estimated environmental expenditures could vary significantly depending upon the enactment of new environmental laws and regulations. For additional information, see “Environmental Matters” in “Part II, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of our 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Financing Activities

During the three months ended March 31, 2024, net cash used for financing activities was $135 million, compared to $117 million of net cash used for financing activities during the same period in 2023. We paid $112 million of dividends during the first three months of both 2024 and 2023. In addition, we withheld shares to cover $23 million of employee restricted stock taxes during the first three months of 2024 compared to $5 million of employee restricted stock taxes withheld during the same period in 2023.

In addition to the items discussed in Note 11, Debt, of the Condensed Notes to Unaudited Quarterly Consolidated Financial Statements in "Part I, Item 1. Financial Statements" of this Form 10-Q, see Note 10, Debt, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in “Part II, Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of our 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K for more information.

Contractual Obligations

There have been no material changes to the contractual obligations disclosed in Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of our 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Financial Measures to Reported Amounts

Income from operations excluding special items, net income excluding special items, EBITDA, and EBITDA excluding special items are non-GAAP financial measures. Management excludes special items, as it believes that these items are not necessarily reflective of the ongoing operations of our business. These measures are presented because they provide a means to evaluate the performance of our segments and our Company on an ongoing basis using the same measures that are used by our management, because these measures assist in providing a meaningful comparison between periods and because these measures are frequently used by investors and other interested parties in the evaluation of companies and the performance of their segments. Any analysis of non-GAAP financial measures should be done in conjunction with results presented in accordance with GAAP. The non-GAAP measures are not intended to be substitutes for GAAP financial measures and should not be used as such. Reconciliations of the non-GAAP measures to the most comparable measure reported in accordance with GAAP for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 follow (dollars in millions):

(a)

Includes charges related to the announced discontinuation of production of UFS paper grades on the No. 3 machine at the Jackson, Alabama mill associated with the permanent conversion of the machine to produce linerboard and other paper-to-containerboard conversion related activities.

(b)

For 2024, includes income primarily related to a favorable lease buyout for a closed corrugated products facility, partially offset by closure costs related to corrugated products facilities and design centers. For 2023, includes charges consisting of closure costs related to the closure of corrugated products facilities and design centers.

The following table reconciles net income to EBITDA and EBITDA excluding special items for the periods indicated (dollars in millions):

The following table reconciles segment income (loss) to EBITDA and EBITDA excluding special items for the periods indicated (dollars in millions):

Market Risk and Risk Management Policies

PCA is exposed to the impact of commodity price changes, interest rate changes, and changes in the market value of its financial instruments. To manage these risks, we may from time to time enter into transactions, including certain physical commodity transactions, that are determined to be derivatives. As of March 31, 2024, we are party to certain physical commodity transactions related to natural gas supply contracts. These contracts qualify for the normal purchase normal sale ("NPNS") exception, and we have elected that exception. For a discussion of derivatives and hedging activities, see Note 2, Summary of Significant Account Policies, of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in “Part II, Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of our 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

At March 31, 2024, interest rates on 100% of PCA’s outstanding debt are fixed.

Off-Balance-Sheet Activities

The Company does not have any off-balance sheet arrangements as of March 31, 2024.

Environmental Matters

There have been no material changes to the disclosure set forth in Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Environmental Matters” filed with our 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations are based upon the Company’s consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. On an ongoing basis, PCA evaluates its estimates, including those related to business combinations, pensions and other postretirement benefits, goodwill and intangible assets, long-lived asset impairment, environmental liabilities, and income taxes, among others. PCA bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

PCA has included in its 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K a discussion of its critical accounting policies and estimates which require management’s most difficult, subjective, or complex judgments used in the preparation of its consolidated financial statements. PCA has not had any changes to these critical accounting estimates during the first three months of 2024.

New and Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

For a listing of our new and recently adopted accounting standards, see Note 2, New and Recently Adopted Accounting Standards, of the Condensed Notes to Unaudited Quarterly Consolidated Financial Statements in “Part I, Item 1. Financial Statements” of this Form 10-Q.

Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and in particular, statements found in this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, that are not historical in nature are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements about our expectations regarding our future liquidity, earnings, expenditures, and financial condition. These statements are often identified by the words “will,” “should,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “hope,” or similar expressions. These statements reflect management’s current views with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties. There are important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements, many of which are beyond our control. These factors, risks and uncertainties include the following:

the impact of general economic conditions;

the impact of acquired businesses and risks and uncertainties regarding operation, expected benefits and integration of such businesses;

containerboard, corrugated products, and white paper general industry conditions, including competition, product demand, product pricing, and input costs;

fluctuations in wood fiber and recycled fiber costs;

fluctuations in purchased energy costs;

the possibility of unplanned outages or interruptions at our principal facilities; and

legislative or regulatory actions or requirements, particularly concerning environmental or tax matters.

Our actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements, and accordingly, we can give no assurances that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do occur, what impact they will have on our results of operations or financial condition. Given these uncertainties, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. We expressly disclaim any obligation to publicly revise any forward-looking statements that have been made to reflect the occurrence of events after the date hereof. For a discussion of other factors, risks and uncertainties that may affect our business, see Item 1A. Risk Factors included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.

For a discussion of market risks related to PCA, see Part I, Item 2, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Market Risk and Risk Management Policies” in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

PCA maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in PCA’s filings under the Securities Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC and that such information is accumulated and communicated to PCA’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Prior to filing this report, PCA completed an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of PCA’s management, including PCA’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of PCA’s disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2024. The evaluation of PCA’s disclosure controls and procedures included a review of the controls’ objectives and design, PCA’s implementation of the controls, and the effect of the controls on the information generated for use in this report. Based on this evaluation, PCA’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that PCA’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level as of March 31, 2024.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that occurred during the most recent fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2024 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II

OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

The disclosure set forth under the caption "Legal Proceedings" in Note 19, Commitments, Guarantees, Indemnifications and Legal Proceedings, of the Condensed Notes to Unaudited Quarterly Consolidated Financial Statements in "Part I, Item 1. Financial Statements" of this Form 10-Q is incorporated herein by reference.

There have been no material changes to the risk factors disclosed in “Part I, Item IA. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.

Item 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUI****TY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

The following table presents information related to our repurchases of common stock made under repurchase plans authorized by PCA's Board of Directors, and shares withheld to cover taxes on vesting of equity awards, during the three months ended March 31, 2024:

(a)

All shares were withheld from employees to cover income and payroll taxes on equity awards that vested during the period.

Item 3. DEFAULTS UPO****N SENIOR SECURITIES

None.

Item 4. MINE SAF****ETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.

During the three months ended March 31, 2024, none of the Company's directors or officers adopted or terminated any contract, instruction, or written plan for the purchase or sale of our securities intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c) under the Exchange Act or any non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangements as defined in Item 408(a) of Regulation S-K.

† Filed herewith.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

Date: May 8, 2024