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Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 3 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Loss excluding impairments narrowed: Excluding $221 million of non-cash impairments, loss from continuing operations was $8 million, which the company described as a 60% sequential improvement. Source
  • Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA rose: Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA was $52 million, compared with $40 million in the second quarter and $42 million a year earlier, after $2 million of tariff-related costs. Source
  • HPC income and Adjusted EBITDA rose: HPC operating income was $43 million, up from $29 million in the second quarter. HPC income from continuing operations was $44 million. Source
  • Cellulose Specialties volume declined: CS volume fell 18% from a year earlier as the company ran its CS leadership initiatives, while CS average price rose 19% on higher 2026 pricing. Source
  • 50% tariff began August 22: A 50% U.S. tariff on Canadian paperboard took effect August 22, 2026, producing $2 million of tariff-related costs in the quarter. Source
  • Temiscaming idled on October 3: Temiscaming paperboard and high yield pulp production was economically idled on October 3, 2026, and remains idled after the tariff made it uneconomic. Source
  • Tariffs slowed the strategic review: Management said the U.S. tariffs and the October 3 idling at Temiscaming have slowed the review, as interested parties want more clarity on the site's path forward. Source
  • Review conclusion now targeted for Q1 2027: Management is targeting a conclusion of the strategic review in Q1 2027, citing the complexity of discussions. The prior release had pointed to the fourth quarter. Source

“Commodity losses continue to weigh on HPC’s overall results, making a production mix more heavily weighted toward CS a clear and urgent priority.”

Dan Krawczyk, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Temiscaming site carrying costs SourceWhile Temiscaming production remains idled after October 3, 2026$2 million to $3 million per monthNew
Strategic review conclusion SourceQ1 2027Q1 2027

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Estimated Temiscaming site carrying costs of $2 million to $3 million per month were given for the first time in this quarter's release. Source
  • New: Temiscaming paperboard and high yield pulp production was economically idled on October 3, 2026, after the tariff made continued production uneconomic. Source
  • New: A 50% U.S. tariff on Canadian paperboard took effect August 22, 2026, and resulted in tariff-related costs in the third quarter. Source

Third quarter results and drivers

  • Net loss per share widened: Net loss and loss from continuing operations were each $229 million, or $(3.40) per diluted share, compared with $4 million, or $(0.07) per share, in the prior-year quarter. Source
  • Loss excluding impairments narrowed: Excluding $221 million of non-cash impairments, loss from continuing operations was $8 million, which the company described as a 60% sequential improvement. Source
  • Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA rose: Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA was $52 million, compared with $40 million in the second quarter and $42 million a year earlier, after $2 million of tariff-related costs. Source
  • Operating loss widened on impairments: Operating loss was $196 million, compared with $7 million in the second quarter and operating income of $9 million a year earlier. Source
  • Net sales rose sequentially: Net sales were $383 million, up from $376 million in the second quarter and $353 million a year earlier, with High Purity Cellulose at $313 million. Source

High Purity Cellulose results

  • HPC sales rose on volume: HPC net sales rose $17 million to $313 million, with total cellulose volume up and average price down 3% from a year earlier. Source
  • HPC income and Adjusted EBITDA rose: HPC operating income was $43 million, up from $29 million in the second quarter. HPC income from continuing operations was $44 million. Source
  • Cellulose Specialties volume declined: CS volume fell 18% from a year earlier as the company ran its CS leadership initiatives, while CS average price rose 19% on higher 2026 pricing. Source
  • Commodity volume rose on lower CS orders: CC volume rose 42% as lower CS orders shifted production toward commodities and higher inventory was used in the quarter. Source
  • Biomaterials sales reclassified to costs: Biomaterials and other sales fell $5 million because electricity sales are now reported in cost of sales, applied prospectively beginning in 2026. Source

“U.S. tariffs on Canadian paperboard and the resulting October 3 economic idling at Temiscaming have slowed the review as parties seek greater clarity on the site’s path forward and its implications for the broader business.”

Dan Krawczyk, President and Chief Executive Officer

Paperboard and high yield pulp

  • Paperboard volume rose on folding grades: Paperboard volume rose 29% on higher folding packaging grades, reflecting increased focus on that market segment, and on higher lottery grades. Source
  • HYP volume rose on Asian maple demand: High yield pulp external volume rose 23%, with higher demand for the HYP maple grade in Asia. Source
  • Indonesian HYP supply challenges noted: The company listed challenges with HYP supply from Indonesia, tied to concerns about forestry practices, among the drivers of the segment's sales figures. Source
  • Segment price fell on paperboard mix: Segment average price fell 2%, with paperboard down 4% and HYP flat. The company attributed the decline to product mix in paperboard. Source
  • Segment operating loss reached $224 million: Paperboard & High Yield Pulp operating loss was $224 million, including $210 million of non-cash asset impairments, against $27 million in the second quarter. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Gross margin fell on impairment charge: Gross margin was $15 million, after $23 million of Temiscaming inventory and other asset impairment charged to cost of sales. Second-quarter gross margin was $23 million. Source
  • Insurance recovery aided operating income: Operating income also benefited from lower wood, logistics and maintenance costs, and from a $3 million insurance recovery tied to the 2024 Jesup fire. Source
  • CC price fell on commodity pricing: CC average price fell 8% year on year, reflecting softer global commodity pricing and product mix within the commodity portfolio. Source
  • Corporate costs flat year on year: Corporate & Other operating loss was $15 million. A $2 million impairment, higher legal fees and unfavorable foreign exchange offset lower variable compensation and professional fees. Source
  • Prior-year downtime lowered costs: Paperboard & High Yield Pulp costs were lower than a year earlier because the prior year had market-driven downtime and the current quarter had none. Source

“Our mandate is to maximize shareholder value, and we are continuing to strengthen the business throughout the review.”

Dan Krawczyk, President and Chief Executive Officer

Temiscaming idling and tariff

  • 50% tariff began August 22: A 50% U.S. tariff on Canadian paperboard took effect August 22, 2026, producing $2 million of tariff-related costs in the quarter. Source
  • Temiscaming idled on October 3: Temiscaming paperboard and high yield pulp production was economically idled on October 3, 2026, and remains idled after the tariff made it uneconomic. Source
  • Site options under evaluation: Management is managing site costs and evaluating all options for Temiscaming as part of the strategic review. No decision on the site is stated. Source

Liquidity, cash and balance sheet

  • Liquidity stood at $143 million: Global liquidity was $143 million: $61 million of cash, $66 million of ABL borrowing capacity and $16 million of France factoring availability. Source
  • Net secured leverage at 4.0 times: The consolidated net secured leverage ratio was 4.0 times covenant EBITDA as of September 26, 2026, compared with 4.2 times at June 27, 2026. Source
  • Nine-month operating cash flow positive: Nine-month cash provided by operating activities was $66 million, compared with a use of $8 million in the same period of 2025. Source
  • Adjusted Free Cash Flow reached $2 million: Year-to-date Adjusted Free Cash Flow was $2 million, up $10 million from the first-half result of $(8) million. Source
  • Net debt flat, equity in deficit: Adjusted Net Debt was $745 million, the same as at December 31, 2025. Stockholders' equity was a deficit of $35 million at September 26, 2026. Source

Strategic review and strategy

  • Tariffs slowed the strategic review: Management said the U.S. tariffs and the October 3 idling at Temiscaming have slowed the review, as interested parties want more clarity on the site's path forward. Source
  • Review conclusion now targeted for Q1 2027: Management is targeting a conclusion of the strategic review in Q1 2027, citing the complexity of discussions. The prior release had pointed to the fourth quarter. Source
  • Mix shift toward CS a stated priority: Management called a production mix more heavily weighted toward CS a clear and urgent priority, aiming to load plant capacity more toward CS and capture product value. Source
  • Altamaha project construction underway: Management cited the Altamaha Green Energy project at Jesup as a way to use existing infrastructure for long-term value, with construction now underway. Source
  • More information for interested parties: Management said it is giving interested parties more information to assess RYAM's full value, while discussing alternatives to strengthen the CS franchise more quickly. Source

Coming up, as management said on 3 November 2026

  • Strategic review conclusion target: Management is targeting a conclusion of the strategic review in Q1 2027, while continuing discussions with interested parties. Source
  • Altamaha project construction continues: Construction is underway on the Altamaha Green Energy project at Jesup, which management cites as a use of existing infrastructure. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Total cellulose sales volume Source218 thousand metric tons
Cellulose Specialties sales volume Source86 thousand metric tons
Cellulose Commodities sales volume Source132 thousand metric tons
Paperboard & High Yield Pulp sales volume Source83 thousand metric tons
Cellulose Specialties average sales price Source$2,227 per metric ton

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Temiscaming remains idled and carries ongoing site costs while management evaluates all options for the site. Source
  • Regulatory: The 50% tariff on Canadian paperboard affected Temiscaming's economics, and tariff-related uncertainty has slowed the strategic review. Source
  • Financial: Net secured leverage was 4.0 times covenant EBITDA, and stockholders' equity moved to a deficit after the quarter's non-cash impairments. Source
  • Demand: Management cited lower demand for ethers and other CS end uses, alongside softer global commodity pricing for CC products. Source
  • Operational: Management cited challenges with HYP supply from Indonesia tied to forestry practice concerns, which affects high yield pulp supply. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The strategic review conclusion is now targeted for Q1 2027. The prior release had pointed to communicating a path forward in the fourth quarter. Source
  • Not stated: Management said it is managing site costs and evaluating all options for Temiscaming. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.