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On Monday, Mizuho (NYSE:MFG) Securities adjusted the price target for Autoliv, Inc. (NYSE:ALV) shares, reducing it to $112 from the previous $115, while keeping an Outperform rating on the stock. The adjustment came after Autoliv reported mixed results for the fourth quarter of 2024. The company’s revenue and earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter were approximately $2.62 billion and $3.05, respectively. These figures compare with consensus estimates of about $2.73 billion in revenue and $2.80 EPS. According to InvestingPro data, the stock currently trades at a P/E ratio of 12.0x, suggesting an attractive valuation relative to its near-term earnings growth potential.
The company’s organic sales in the fourth quarter dropped by roughly 3% year-over-year, which was a 4 percentage point underperformance compared to the Light Vehicle Production (LVP), which saw a 0.4% increase year-over-year. The decline was attributed to weaker performance in the China and North America markets. InvestingPro analysis reveals that Autoliv maintains a solid financial health score of "GOOD," despite operating with a moderate debt level and relatively weak gross profit margins of 18.55%.
For the year 2025, Autoliv has guided for revenue to be approximately flat year-over-year, as foreign exchange headwinds are expected to negate organic growth. The company anticipates that organic sales growth will be up around 2% year-over-year, suggesting an outperformance against LVP by about 2.5 percentage points. However, the anticipated foreign exchange headwinds are projected to be around 2% year-over-year, which would offset the organic growth. Notably, InvestingPro data shows the company has maintained dividend payments for 28 consecutive years, with a current dividend yield of 2.9%, demonstrating consistent shareholder returns despite market challenges.
The forecast for the full-year operating margin is set to be around 10-10.5%, marking an increase of approximately 50-60 basis points year-over-year. Autoliv also reaffirmed its long-term target of around a 12% operating margin. For the first quarter of 2025, the company expects customer production to decline quarter-over-quarter due to model pushouts and macroeconomic headwinds.
Despite these challenges, Autoliv anticipates that revenues in China will improve in 2025, bolstered by the company’s significant exposure to domestic Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). In light of these factors, Mizuho has maintained its Outperform rating but has revised its estimates and price target to reflect the latest financial outlook provided by Autoliv.
In other recent news, Autoliv Inc. has been the subject of significant financial discussions. JPMorgan analyst Ryan Brinkman has adjusted the price target for Autoliv to $109.00, down from the previous $115.00, while retaining a Neutral rating on the stock. This adjustment follows Autoliv’s recent fourth-quarter results and full-year 2025 guidance, which showcased higher-than-expected margins and lower-than-expected sales. The company’s fourth-quarter revenue was reported at $2.616 billion, falling short of JPMorgan’s estimate of $2.754 billion.
Despite the revenue shortfall, Autoliv achieved record profitability for the quarter, with an operating income reaching a new high of $353 million and an operating margin of 13.5%. For the full year of 2025, Autoliv has provided guidance for flat year-over-year revenue, with an expected 2% organic growth offset by a 2% foreign exchange headwind. Based on these developments, JPMorgan has revised its EBIT estimates for Autoliv, anticipating an EBIT of $1.088 billion for 2025, a decrease from the previous estimate of $1.129 billion. These are the recent developments that have shaped the financial outlook for Autoliv Inc.
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