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On Monday, BofA Securities adjusted its outlook on shares of Autoliv, Inc. (NYSE: NYSE:ALV), a leading automotive safety systems manufacturer. The firm's analyst set a new price target of $133, down from the previous figure of $145, while still maintaining a Buy rating on the stock.
The revision follows Autoliv's reported revenue of $2.61 billion for the quarter, which represents a year-over-year decrease of 1.1%. This figure fell short of both BofA Securities' projection of $2.75 billion and the Visible Alpha consensus of $2.74 billion by approximately 5%.
A significant downturn in June, with revenues 12% below the company's own budget, was a key factor in the shortfall. The analyst attributed this decline to major clients reducing their inventory levels, particularly Stellantis (NYSE:STLA) in the United States and various Western original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in China.
The revenue miss translated into an earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) that was roughly $45 million below expectations, marking a 15% discrepancy from BofA Securities' estimate of $265 million and the consensus estimate of $266 million.
The adjusted EBIT margin reported was 8.5%, compared to the expected 9.6% by BofA Securities and 9.7% by consensus.
Despite the lower-than-anticipated revenue and EBIT, Autoliv did see a positive aspect in its free cash flow (FCF), which reached $194 million for the quarter. This figure notably surpassed BofA Securities' forecast of $60 million and the consensus of $28 million.
The substantial FCF was supported by a $168 million boost from favorable working capital movements.
Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) for Autoliv also came in below expectations, at $1.87 per share. This represents a 12.6% miss against the consensus and is 12.2% lower than BofA Securities' estimate of $2.13 per share. In light of these results, Autoliv has revised its full-year guidance for 2024 accordingly.
In other recent news, Autoliv Incorporated reported a slight dip in net sales by 1% to $2.6 billion for the second quarter of 2024, but an encouraging 6% increase in gross profit to $475 million. The improved profitability is credited to successful cost reduction strategies and effective pricing tactics.
The automotive safety supplier also announced a strategic partnership with XPENG AEROHT, indicating a focus on innovation and the Chinese market. However, Autoliv anticipates a 3% decline in global light vehicle production, which may affect sales and margins.
Recent developments also include plans to reduce the indirect workforce by up to 2,000, aiming to save $50 million in 2024.
The company maintains its expectation to deliver on its adjusted operating margin target and continue providing high shareholder returns. Organic sales are projected to increase around 2%, with an operating cash flow anticipated to be around $1.1 billion.
Despite some bearish highlights such as lower than expected sales in all regions, Autoliv remains optimistic about maintaining a strong customer base and expects a significant increase in profitability in the second half of the year.
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