Weyerhaeuser buzz: trees or paper?

Fighting for profit in a difficult industry, Weyerhaeuser has come to a crossroads.

It operates the way timber companies have for decades, with major timberland holdings that feed its factories. But that way of doing business has fallen out of fashion, and if Weyerhaeuser cannot generate higher profit with a recent overhaul, it could be forced to choose between timber and manufacturing.

Some competitors are selling businesses and changing their corporate status to appease restless shareholders who want higher yields from these old-line companies that for years went relatively unnoticed on Wall Street. Timber companies are considered ripe for greater profits now largely because of how valuable their land holdings have become.

By Melissa Allison

Seattle Times business reporter

Full Story: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2002829236_weyerhaeuser26.html