Atlanta, GA, July 28—-Georgia-Pacific posted second quarter net earnings that fell to $194 million, or $0.73 a share, compared with $220 million, or $0.84, earned in the year-ago quarter. Adjusted to exclude special items, income would have been $0. 82 a share, a penny below the average analyst forecasts.
Sales fell to $4.8 billion from $5.12 billion, but this was above analysts' average estimate of $4.62 million.
The company said that operating profit in the North American consumer products segment rose to $220 million from $148 million. Overall tissue prices rose 11 cents per ton.
Packaging profit fell to $68 million from $82 million, while building products' profit fell to $228 million from $366 million. "While building products sales were strong in the quarter, they were down from the record levels experienced in the second quarter of 2004," Georgia-Pacific said.
