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Investing.com -- Shares of Dometic (STO:DOM) climbed 6% as the company’s fourth-quarter earnings report showed an adjusted EBITA that beat consensus by 12%, excluding a one-time positive effect. Despite a year-on-year decline in net sales, the company exceeded consensus revenue estimates and reported improved operating cash flow.
Dometic’s net sales for the quarter reached SEK 4.8 billion, a 13% organic decline compared to the same quarter last year but still 2% ahead of the SEK 4.7 billion consensus. The decline was softened by a positive currency impact and the ramp-up of new Mobile Cooling Solutions products. The company also saw a sequential improvement in its Service & Aftermarket and Distribution channels.
Adjusted EBITA for the quarter was SEK 349 million, resulting in a margin of 7.3%. This margin reflects a decrease from 8.7% in the previous year, primarily due to lower net sales across all segments. However, a one-time trade tariff refund of SEK 63 million in the Mobile Cooling Solutions segment provided a boost. Without this one-time effect, the margin would have been 6.0%, still 60 basis points ahead of consensus expectations.
The leverage ratio increased slightly to 3.1x, up from 3.0x in the third quarter and 2.7x in the same quarter last year. Operating cash flow showed significant improvement, rising to SEK 784 million from SEK 488 million in the prior year’s quarter.
Dometic also announced a proposed dividend for FY24 of SEK 1.30, surpassing the consensus forecast of SEK 1.17. The company is planning a structural change, consolidating its three Land Vehicles segments into one Global Land Vehicles segment, with the first report under this new structure expected in the first quarter of 2025.
The company’s outlook suggests that retailer inventory levels are currently below last year’s across all sales channels. Dometic anticipates a gradual recovery in demand for the Service & Aftermarket and Distribution channels during the first half of the year. However, OEM sales are expected to remain challenged in the early part of the year, with potential improvements in the second half.
According to Jefferies, "Dometic expects demand to gradually recover in Service & Aftermarket and Distribution in 1H, while OEM should remain under pressure, and improve during 2H." This analyst comment reflects a cautiously optimistic view on the company’s performance in the upcoming periods.
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