Autoliv Q3 2023 Earnings Report
Key Takeaways
Autoliv reported strong Q3 2023 results, with organic sales growth significantly outperforming LVP growth and adjusted operating income reaching a new third-quarter record since 2018. The company saw improvements across key areas, including gross and operating margin, labor efficiency, and SG&A and RD&E costs relative to sales. Strong cash flow and debt leverage were maintained, along with a dividend payout and increased share repurchases.
Organic sales growth outperformed global LVP growth by 7 percentage points, driven by new product launches and higher prices.
Profitability improved due to price increases, organic growth, and cost reduction activities, resulting in an adjusted operating margin increase from 7.5% to 9.4%.
Operating cash flow remained strong at $202 million, though declining due to temporary negative working capital effects.
The company detailed intentions to reduce its indirect workforce by up to 2,000 and is reorganizing global functions and European operations to reduce the normalized tax rate.
Autoliv
Autoliv
Forward Guidance
Autoliv anticipates continued improvements in supply chain stability, albeit slower than initially expected, and expects a Q4 adjusted operating margin improvement year-over-year of around 1.5-2pp. The company is confident in delivering a substantial full-year increase in sales, operating cash flow, and adjusted operating income.
Positive Outlook
- Full year 2023 global LVP growth of around 7%.
- Achievement of targeted cost compensation effects.
- Reduction of customer call-off volatility.
- Organic sales growth around 17%.
- Around 1% positive FX effect on net sales.
Challenges Ahead
- UAW strike is not prolonged beyond what is included in the S&P Global October outlook.
- Cost pressures from labor, logistics, utilities, and other items.
- Continued cost pressure from broad-based inflation relating to labor, logistics, utilities and other items, especially in Europe.
- The improvement is slower than we had expected, as it deteriorated somewhat in Europe in Q3.
- Adverse FX development.