Leuna Biorefinery And Biofuels Will Drive A Sustainable Future

Key Takeaways

• Expansion in renewable chemicals, advanced materials, and biofuels is positioning UPM for growth as global demand shifts toward sustainable solutions and decarbonization.
  
• Strategic cost reductions and disciplined capital allocation are supporting earnings resilience and long-term value, despite challenges in traditional paper markets.
  
• Declining paper demand, high input costs, macroeconomic volatility, heavy investment burdens, and global competition threaten profitability, market share, and sustainable earnings growth.

Catalysts

Engages in the forest-based bioindustry in Europe, North America, Asia, and internationally.

• The successful startup of the first core process at the Leuna biorefinery marks a crucial step toward new revenue streams in renewable chemicals, with full positive EBIT from this initiative expected by 2027 as global regulatory and consumer shifts drive demand for sustainable alternatives. (positive impact on future revenue and EBIT margins)
  
• The advanced materials (labeling and adhesives) business is showing resilience and ongoing sales growth, supported by investments in high-margin capacity expansions in the U.S. and Malaysia, positioning UPM to capture market share from the global transition away from plastics and toward bio-based, fiber solutions. (expected to boost long-term revenue and net margins)
  
• Progress in the UPM Biofuels business, including increased deliveries, cost reductions, and the pursuit of sustainable aviation fuels qualification, is aligned with accelerating demand for decarbonization and renewable energy solutions, laying a foundation for higher returns and margin expansion as these global trends intensify. (upside for earnings and margin improvement)
  
• Structural cost reduction programs-such as the closure of uncompetitive paper mills in response to shrinking graphic paper demand-are streamlining the portfolio, supporting improved EBITDA margins and earnings stability despite cyclical pressures in legacy segments. (net margin and earnings resilience)
  
• The continued prudent capital allocation and strong balance sheet, with management intent to maintain net debt/EBITDA below 2x and focus on high-return organic and inorganic growth, enable UPM to fund strategic projects and maintain stable/dividend returns, underpinning long-term shareholder value even through industry cycles. (long-term support for ROIC and dividend sustainability)

UPM-Kymmene Oyj Future Earnings and Revenue Growth

Assumptions

• Analysts are assuming UPM-Kymmene Oyj's revenue will grow by 3.1% annually over the next 3 years.
• Analysts assume that profit margins will increase from 3.4% today to 11.7% in 3 years time.
• Analysts expect earnings to reach €1.3 billion (and earnings per share of €2.47) by about July 2028, up from €345.0 million today. However, there is some disagreement amongst the analysts with the more bearish ones expecting earnings as low as €1.1 billion.
• In order for the above numbers to justify the analysts price target, the company would need to trade at a PE ratio of 13.6x on those 2028 earnings, down from 36.2x today. This future PE is lower than the current PE for the GB Forestry industry at 29.3x.
• Analysts expect the number of shares outstanding to decline by 1.13% per year for the next 3 years.
• To value all of this in today's terms, we will use a discount rate of 8.34%, as per the Simply Wall St company report.

UPM-Kymmene Oyj Future Earnings Per Share Growth

Risks

• Structural decline in demand for Communication Papers driven by accelerating digitization and a weak print media market, compounded by further demand drops (e.g., -9% in Europe YoY) and significant overcapacity, which both pressure revenue and lead to recurring margin erosion.
  
• Elevated and persistently high wood costs in Finland-near double 2022 levels-with constrained local raw material availability, threaten P&L through higher input costs and forced curtailments of profitable pulp operations, negatively impacting net margins and operating earnings.
  
• Macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainties, including frequent and unpredictable tariff changes and adverse currency movements (notably a weakened U.S. dollar), introduce volatility to revenues (especially in Fibres and Communication Papers), increase hedging costs, and compress earnings.
  
• Prolonged capital-intensive investment cycle (e.g., biorefineries, Leuna project) coinciding with higher leverage (net debt/EBITDA above 2x) raises risk of constrained cash flows and slower improvement in ROIC and earnings growth during periods of weak demand or price cycles.
  
• Intensifying competitive pressures from global low-cost pulp and paper producers (notably in South America and Asia), as well as overcapacity and cyclical downturns in key markets like China, risk further reductions in market share and pricing power, dampening long-term revenue prospects and profitability.

Valuation

• The analysts have a consensus price target of €27.453 for UPM-Kymmene Oyj based on their expectations of its future earnings growth, profit margins and other risk factors. However, there is a degree of disagreement amongst analysts, with the most bullish reporting a price target of €32.0, and the most bearish reporting a price target of just €23.0.
  
• In order for you to agree with the analyst's consensus, you'd need to believe that by 2028, revenues will be €11.2 billion, earnings will come to €1.3 billion, and it would be trading on a PE ratio of 13.6x, assuming you use a discount rate of 8.3%.
  
• Given the current share price of €23.66, the analyst price target of €27.45 is 13.8% higher.
  
• We always encourage you to reach your own conclusions though. So sense check these analyst numbers against your own assumptions and expectations based on your understanding of the business and what you believe is probable.