📊 CLW Key Takeaways
Investment Thesis
Clearwater Paper faces severe operational distress with negative profitability across all margins, burning cash despite flat revenue. The company is unable to cover interest expenses with operating income and generating negative free cash flow, indicating fundamental business deterioration in the paperboard mills sector.
CLW Strengths
- Adequate liquidity with 2.43x current ratio providing near-term solvency buffer
- Modest leverage at 0.42x debt-to-equity ratio relative to total assets
- Positive operating cash flow of $12.3M provides minimal cushion despite operational losses
CLW Risks
- Severe profitability collapse with -1.2% net margin and -2.7% operating margin indicating structural business problems
- Negative free cash flow of -$76.5M annually with capital expenditures exceeding operating cash generation, unsustainable burn rate
- Negative interest coverage of -2.4x demonstrates inability to service debt from operations, increasing default risk
- Gross margin compressed to 0.9% suggests commoditized product with minimal pricing power or severe cost pressures
- Deteriorating returns with -2.3% ROE and -1.2% ROA, destroying shareholder value
Key Metrics to Watch
- Operating margin recovery trajectory and ability to return to profitability
- Free cash flow trends and whether negative FCF stabilizes or worsens
- Interest coverage ratio improvement and debt service sustainability
- Gross margin expansion as indicator of cost management or pricing power recovery
- Cash balance depletion rate given current burn and debt obligations
CLW Financial Metrics
💡 AI Analyst Insight
Strong liquidity with a 2.43x current ratio provides a solid financial cushion.
CLW Profitability Ratios
CLW vs Default Sector
How Clearwater Paper Corp compares to Default sector averages
Sector benchmarks are approximate industry averages. Actual sector performance may vary.
CLW Balance Sheet & Liquidity
CLW 5-Year Financial Trend
5-Year Trend Summary: Clearwater Paper Corp's revenue has grown significantly by 12% over the 5-year period, indicating strong business expansion. The most recent EPS of $6.30 reflects profitable operations.
CLW Growth Metrics (YoY)
CLW Quarterly Performance
| Quarter | Revenue | Net Income | EPS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q3 2025 | $393.3M | $2.7M | $-0.17 |
| Q2 2025 | $344.4M | $2.7M | $0.17 |
| Q1 2025 | $258.8M | -$6.3M | $-0.38 |
| Q3 2024 | $278.9M | -$2.8M | $-0.17 |
| Q2 2024 | $524.6M | -$8.6M | $-0.52 |
| Q1 2024 | $496.2M | $17.2M | $1.02 |
| Q3 2023 | $519.9M | $14.7M | $1.21 |
| Q2 2023 | $524.6M | $14.7M | $0.86 |
Data sourced from SEC EDGAR 10-Q quarterly filings. Figures may represent quarterly or cumulative values.
CLW Capital Allocation
CLW SEC Filings
Access official SEC EDGAR filings for Clearwater Paper Corp (CIK: 0001441236)
📋 Recent SEC Filings
| Date | Form | Document | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 17, 2026 | 4 | xslF345X05/wk-form4_1773781654.xml | View → |
| Mar 17, 2026 | 4 | xslF345X05/wk-form4_1773781551.xml | View → |
| Mar 17, 2026 | 4 | xslF345X05/wk-form4_1773781509.xml | View → |
| Mar 17, 2026 | 4 | xslF345X05/wk-form4_1773781457.xml | View → |
| Mar 17, 2026 | 4 | xslF345X05/wk-form4_1773781396.xml | View → |
❓ Frequently Asked Questions about CLW
What is the AI rating for CLW?
Clearwater Paper Corp (CLW) has an AI rating of STRONG SELL with 92% confidence, based on fundamental analysis of SEC EDGAR filings.
What are CLW's key strengths?
Adequate liquidity with 2.43x current ratio providing near-term solvency buffer. Modest leverage at 0.42x debt-to-equity ratio relative to total assets.
What are the risks of investing in CLW?
Severe profitability collapse with -1.2% net margin and -2.7% operating margin indicating structural business problems. Negative free cash flow of -$76.5M annually with capital expenditures exceeding operating cash generation, unsustainable burn rate.
What is CLW's revenue and growth?
Clearwater Paper Corp reported revenue of $1.6B.
Does CLW pay dividends?
Clearwater Paper Corp does not currently pay dividends.
Where can I find CLW SEC filings?
Official SEC filings for Clearwater Paper Corp (CIK: 0001441236) including 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K reports are available on SEC EDGAR.
What is CLW's EPS?
Clearwater Paper Corp has a diluted EPS of $-1.15.
How is the AI analysis conducted?
Our AI (Claude) analyzes publicly available SEC EDGAR filings including 10-K annual reports and 10-Q quarterly reports to evaluate financial health, profitability ratios, balance sheet strength, and growth metrics.