Autoliv Inc (ALV) Q1 2025 Earnings Call Highlights: Record EPS Amidst Sales Decline

• Net Sales: $2.6 billion, a 1% decrease year over year.

• Adjusted Operating Income: Increased by 28% to $255 million from $199 million last year.

• Adjusted Operating Margin: 9.9%, an improvement of 230 basis points from the previous year.

• Gross Margin: 18.6%, an increase of 160 basis points year over year.

• Adjusted Earnings Per Share (EPS) Diluted: Increased by $0.58, driven by higher operating income and a lower number of shares.

• Return on Capital Employed: 26%.

• Return on Equity: 29%.

• Share Buybacks: Repurchased and retired 500,000 shares for $50 million.

• Dividend: $0.70 per share.

• Operating Cash Flow: $77 million, a decrease of $45 million from the previous year.

• Free Operating Cash Flow: Negative $16 million, compared to negative $18 million in the prior year.

• Trade Working Capital: Decreased by $56 million, with improvements in accounts receivables, payables, and inventories.

• Leverage Ratio: 1.3 times, virtually flat year over year.

Release Date: April 16, 2025

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

• Autoliv Inc (NYSE:ALV) outperformed global light vehicle production despite significant headwinds, particularly in China.

• The company achieved record earnings per share for the first quarter, driven by a lower number of shares and high net profit.

• Autoliv Inc (NYSE:ALV) significantly improved its profit and operating margin compared to the previous year, primarily due to well-executed cost reduction activities.

• The company neutralized tariffs almost entirely in the quarter through agreements with customers.

• Autoliv Inc (NYSE:ALV) continues to generate a high level of return on capital employed, supporting a high level of shareholder returns.

• Sales in the first quarter decreased by 1% year over year due to negative effects from currency and adverse regional and customer mix development.

• The company faces significant uncertainty in the global light vehicle production outlook for 2025, influenced by tariffs and slowing economic growth.

• Autoliv Inc (NYSE:ALV) experienced an unfavorable regional light vehicle production mix, significantly impacting its outperformance negatively.

• Operating cash flow decreased by $45 million compared to the same period last year, mainly due to increased receivables.

• The company anticipates cost pressures from labor, especially in Europe and America, and potential inflationary pressure from ongoing tariff situations.

Q: Can you provide clarity on how much of your sales are non-USMCA compliant and at risk? A: Mikael Bratt, CEO, explained that the situation is fluid, and providing too much detail might be confusing. The company is well-positioned with its current footprint, and most of the production in Mexico is for OEMs in Mexico. The non-compliance is mainly due to the unavailability of certain materials in the region, like leather and magnesium. The majority of the tariff costs are passed on to customers.