April 30 (Reuters) - Resolute Forest Products Inc RFP.N :
* RESOLUTE REPORTS PRELIMINARY FIRST QUARTER 2020 RESULTS
* Q1 LOSS PER SHARE $0.01
* Q1 SALES $689 MILLION
* Q1 EARNINGS PER SHARE ESTIMATE $-0.36 -- REFINITIV IBES DATA
* Q1 LOSS PER SHARE $0.33 EXCLUDING ITEMS
* CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC FOR SUSTAINED VOLUME AND IMPROVING PRICING
* RESOLUTE FOREST PRODUCTS - IN TISSUE, SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED FINISHED GOODS INVENTORY IN LAST SEVERAL WEEKS WITH INCREASE IN DEMAND FOR AT-HOME END-USES
* RESOLUTE FOREST PRODUCTS - Q1 OPERATING LOSS IN MARKET PULP SEGMENT WAS $3 MILLION, IMPROVEMENT OF $15 MILLION FROM PREVIOUS QUARTER
* RESOLUTE FOREST PRODUCTS - TISSUE SEGMENT REPORTED ITS FIRST OPERATING INCOME QUARTER SINCE START-UP OF TISSUE MACHINE IN CALHOUN
* RESOLUTE FOREST PRODUCTS - OPERATING INCOME IN SPECIALTY PAPERS SEGMENT WAS $3 MILLION IN QUARTER, IMPROVEMENT OF $4 MILLION FROM PREVIOUS QUARTER
* TISSUE BUSINESS IS PROGRESSING WELL IN CURRENT CONTEXT
* REDUCED OPERATIONAL FOOTPRINT TO DEMAND LEVELS CONSISTENT WITH ESSENTIAL NEEDS
* DREW ON CREDIT FACILITIES TO KEEP HIGHER LEVELS OF CASH