(CLW) Clearwater Paper - Overview
Sector: Basic Materials | Industry: Paper & Paper Products | Exchange: NYSE (USA) | Market Cap: 263m USD | Total Return: -46% in 12m
Avg Turnover: 2.64M
Qual. Beats: 0
Rev. Trend: -57.7%
Qual. Beats: 0
Warnings
High Debt/EBITDA (7.9) with thin interest coverage (-2.9)
High Debt while negative Cash Flow
Interest Coverage Ratio -2.9 is critical
Tailwinds
No distinct edge detected
Clearwater Paper Corporation (NYSE: CLW) is a Spokane-based manufacturer specializing in solid bleached sulfate (SBS) paperboard. The company produces materials for folding cartons, liquid packaging, and commercial printing, serving a global network of packaging converters. Its product portfolio includes specialized paperboard for food service items, such as cups and plates, alongside custom sheeting and slitting services.
Operating within the Paper Products sub-industry, the company utilizes a business model focused on fiber-based packaging solutions, which are increasingly positioned as sustainable alternatives to plastic. The SBS segment is particularly sensitive to fluctuations in virgin wood pulp costs and consumer demand for packaged consumer goods. Investors can further examine the companys fundamental metrics and historical performance on ValueRay.
- Rising demand for paperboard packaging drives revenue in food service segments
- Fluctuating pulp and energy costs impact quarterly operating profit margins
- Strategic acquisition of tissue or paperboard assets influences long-term capital allocation
- Shift toward sustainable fiber-based packaging increases market share over plastic alternatives
- High interest rates and inflation dampen consumer spending on paper-based products
| Net Income: -25.1m TTM > 0 and > 6% of Revenue |
| FCF/TA: -0.03 > 0.02 and ΔFCF/TA 4.35 > 1.0 |
| NWC/Revenue: 20.92% < 20% (prev 13.27%; Δ 7.66% < -1%) |
| CFO/TA 0.01 > 3% & CFO 11.3m > Net Income -25.1m |
| Net Debt (336.7m) to EBITDA (42.7m): 7.89 < 3 |
| Current Ratio: 2.61 > 1.5 & < 3 |
| Outstanding Shares: last quarter (16.1m) vs 12m ago -1.80% < -2% |
| Gross Margin: 5.08% > 18% (prev 5.29%; Δ -0.21% > 0.5%) |
| Asset Turnover: 95.98% > 50% (prev 91.99%; Δ 3.99% > 0%) |
| Interest Coverage Ratio: -2.87 > 6 (EBIT TTM -51.1m / Interest Expense TTM 17.8m) |
| A: 0.20 (Total Current Assets 522.1m - Total Current Liabilities 200.4m) / Total Assets 1.57b |
| B: 0.54 (Retained Earnings 849.4m / Total Assets 1.57b) |
| C: -0.03 (EBIT TTM -51.1m / Avg Total Assets 1.60b) |
| D: 1.08 (Book Value of Equity 813.8m / Total Liabilities 756.0m) |
| Altman-Z'' = 4.02 = AA |
| DSRI: 1.09 (Receivables 197.9m/177.4m, Revenue 1.54b/1.50b) |
| GMI: 1.04 (GM 5.29% / 5.08%) |
| AQI: -13.33 (AQ_t -0.85 / AQ_t-1 0.06) |
| SGI: 1.02 (Revenue 1.54b / 1.50b) |
| TATA: -0.02 (NI -25.1m - CFO 11.3m) / TA 1.57b) |
| Beneish M = -11.40 (Cap -4..+1) = AAA |
As of June 05, 2026, the stock is trading at USD 15.99 with a total of 298,067 shares traded.
Over the past week, the price has changed by -0.93%,
over one month by +25.02%,
over three months by +7.60% and
over the past year by -46.00%.
Clearwater Paper has received a consensus analysts rating of 4.00. Therefore, it is recommended to buy CLW.
- StrongBuy: 0
- Buy: 1
- Hold: 0
- Sell: 0
- StrongSell: 0
| Analysts Target Price | 16 | 0.1% |
P/E Forward = 156.25
P/S = 0.171
P/B = 0.323
P/EG = 3.2135
Revenue TTM = 1.54b USD
EBIT TTM = -51.1m USD
EBITDA TTM = 42.7m USD
Long Term Debt = 360.5m USD (from longTermDebt, last quarter)
Short Term Debt = 600k USD (from shortTermDebt, last quarter)
Debt = 373.2m USD (corrected: LT Debt 360.5m + ST Debt 600k) + Leases 12.1m
Net Debt = 336.7m USD (calculated: Debt 373.2m - CCE 36.5m)
Enterprise Value = 599.5m USD (262.8m + Debt 373.2m - CCE 36.5m)
Interest Coverage Ratio = -2.87 (Ebit TTM -51.1m / Interest Expense TTM 17.8m)
EV/FCF = -11.12x (Enterprise Value 599.5m / FCF TTM -53.9m)
FCF Yield = -8.99% (FCF TTM -53.9m / Enterprise Value 599.5m)
FCF Margin = -3.51% (FCF TTM -53.9m / Revenue TTM 1.54b)
Net Margin = -1.63% (Net Income TTM -25.1m / Revenue TTM 1.54b)
Gross Margin = 5.08% ((Revenue TTM 1.54b - Cost of Revenue TTM 1.46b) / Revenue TTM)
Gross Margin QoQ = -0.25% (prev 4.45%)
Tobins Q-Ratio = 0.38 (Enterprise Value 599.5m / Total Assets 1.57b)
Interest Expense / Debt = 4.77% (Interest Expense 17.8m / Debt 373.2m)
Taxrate = 21.0% (US federal default 21%)
NOPAT = -40.4m (EBIT -51.1m * (1 - 21.00%)) [loss with tax shield]
Current Ratio = 2.61 (Total Current Assets 522.1m / Total Current Liabilities 200.4m)
Debt / Equity = 0.46 (Debt 373.2m / totalStockholderEquity, last quarter 813.8m)
Debt / EBITDA = 7.89 (Net Debt 336.7m / EBITDA 42.7m)
Debt / FCF = -6.25 (negative FCF - burning cash) (Net Debt 336.7m / FCF TTM -53.9m)
Total Stockholder Equity = 814.7m (last 4 quarters mean from totalStockholderEquity)
RoA = -1.57% (Net Income -25.1m / Total Assets 1.57b)
RoE = -3.08% (Net Income TTM -25.1m / Total Stockholder Equity 814.7m)
RoCE = -4.35% (EBIT -51.1m / Capital Employed (Equity 814.7m + L.T.Debt 360.5m))
RoIC = -3.03% (negative operating profit) (NOPAT -40.4m / Invested Capital 1.33b)
WACC = 6.67% (E(262.8m)/V(636.0m) * Re(10.80%) + D(373.2m)/V(636.0m) * Rd(4.77%) * (1-Tc(0.21)))
Discount Rate = 10.80% (= CAPM, Blume Beta Adj.)
Shares (quarterly) Correlation: -82.22 | Cagr: -2.10%
[DCF] Fair Price = unknown (Cash Flow -53.9m)
EPS Correlation: N/A | EPS CAGR: N/A | SUE: 0.01 | # QB: 0
Revenue Correlation: -57.69 | Revenue CAGR: -6.79% | SUE: -0.02 | # QB: 0
EPS current Quarter (2026-06-30): EPS=-1.61 | Chg30d=-35.39% | Revisions=-33% | Analysts=3
EPS next Quarter (2026-09-30): EPS=-0.46 | Chg30d=-181.69% | Revisions=-20% | Analysts=3
EPS current Year (2026-12-31): EPS=-4.52 | Chg30d=-37.52% | Revisions=-33% | GrowthEPS=-2913.3% | GrowthRev=-4.5%
EPS next Year (2027-12-31): EPS=-1.54 | Chg30d=-27.98% | Revisions=-14% | GrowthEPS=+65.9% | GrowthRev=+3.2%
[Analyst] Revisions Ratio: -33%