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Fourth Quarter 2017 Highlights
Record sales of $10.4 billion, up 12% from the fourth quarter of 2016
Record diluted earnings per share of $1.53, an increase of 23%
Cash from operations of $1.4 billion
Returned $461 million to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends
Raises quarterly cash dividend by 20% to $0.33 per share
Full Year 2017 Highlights
Record sales of $38.9 billion, up 7% from 2016
Record diluted earnings per share of $5.90, an increase of 14%
Record cash from operations of $3.3 billion
Returned approximately $1.3 billion to shareholders through share repurchases and $400 million in dividends.
AURORA, Ontario, Feb. 22, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Magna International Inc. (TSX:MG) (NYSE:MGA), a technology company and one of the world’s largest automotive suppliers, today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2017.
THREE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
2017
2016
2017
2016
Reported
Sales
$
10,391
$
9,253
$
38,946
$
36,445
Income from operations before income taxes
$
761
$
646
$
2,999
$
2,780
Net income attributable to Magna International Inc.
$
556
$
478
$
2,206
$
2,031
Diluted earnings per share
$
1.53
$
1.24
$
5.90
$
5.16
Non-GAAP Financial Measures(1)
Adjusted EBIT
$
809
$
696
$
3,108
$
2,898
Adjusted diluted earnings per share
$
1.57
$
1.31
$
5.96
$
5.23
All results are reported in millions of U.S. dollars, except per share figures, which are in U.S. dollars.
(1) Adjusted EBIT and Adjusted diluted earnings per share are Non-GAAP financial measures that have no standardized meaning under U.S. GAAP, and as a result may not be comparable to the calculation of similar measures by other companies. For a definition and reconciliation of these Non-GAAP financial measures, refer to our Non-GAAP financial measures reconciliation for the 3 months and year ended December 31, 2017 included in the “Supplemental Data” section of this Press Release.
“I’m pleased with our 2017 results which were records for sales, earnings per share, and operating cash flow. Looking forward, we continue to execute our strategy for long-term growth focused on the future of mobility. We have also realigned our management structure to further enhance collaboration and strengthen our position as a provider of mobility solutions.”- Don Walker, Magna’s Chief Executive Officer
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/08eb7658-d691-410f-ac5f-1d2248dfaf2a
THREE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017
We posted record sales of $10.39 billion for the quarter ended December 31, 2017, an increase of 12% over the fourth quarter of 2016. The sales increase was achieved in a period in which European light vehicle production increased 7% and North American light vehicle production decreased 5%, each relative to the fourth quarter of 2016. Our complete vehicle assembly sales increased 129% in the fourth quarter of 2017 largely reflecting the 2017 launches of the BMW 5-Series and Jaguar E-Pace at our assembly facility in Graz, Austria.
During the fourth quarter of 2017, income from operations before income taxes was $761 million, compared to $646 million in the fourth quarter of 2016. Net income attributable to Magna International Inc. was $556 million in the fourth quarter of 2017 compared to $478 million in the fourth quarter of 2016. Diluted earnings per share were $1.53 in the fourth quarter of 2017 compared to $1.24 in the fourth quarter of 2016, reflecting an increase in net income attributable to Magna International Inc. and a 6% decrease in the weighted average number of diluted shares outstanding during 2017.
Adjusted EBIT in the fourth quarter of 2017 increased 16% to $809 million, compared to $696 million for the fourth quarter of 2016. Our Europe and Asia segments each posted higher Adjusted EBIT and Adjusted EBIT as a percentage of sales, compared to the fourth quarter of 2016.
For the fourth quarter of 2017, adjusted diluted earnings per share increased 20% to $1.57 compared to $1.31 for the fourth quarter of 2016.
We generated cash from operations of $884 million in the fourth quarter of 2017, before changes in operating assets and liabilities, and $564 million from operating assets and liabilities. Investment activities for the fourth quarter of 2017 were $1.02 billion, including $750 million in fixed asset additions and a $267 million increase in investments, other assets and intangible assets.
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2017
We posted record sales of $38.95 billion for the year ended December 31, 2017, an increase of 7% from the year ended December 31, 2016. European light vehicle production increased 4% and North American light vehicle production decreased 4% in 2017 compared to 2016.
Income from operations before income taxes was $3.00 billion, an increase of $219 million. Net income attributable to Magna International Inc. was $2.21 billion and diluted earnings per share were $5.90, increases of $175 million and $0.74, respectively, each compared to 2016.
Adjusted EBIT increased 7% to $3.11 billion in 2017, compared to $2.90 billion for 2016. Our Asia and Rest of World segments each posted higher Adjusted EBIT and Adjusted EBIT as a percentage of sales, compared to 2016.
Our adjusted diluted earnings per share increased 14% to $5.96 for 2017 compared to $5.23 for 2016.
During 2017, we generated cash from operations before changes in operating assets and liabilities of $3.56 billion, and invested $232 million in operating assets and liabilities. Investment activities for 2017 were $2.51 billion, including $1.86 billion in fixed asset additions and a $651 million increase in investments, other assets and intangible assets.
RETURN OF CAPITAL TO SHAREHOLDERS
During the three months and year ended December 31, 2017, Magna repurchased 6.7 million shares for $366 million and 26.2 million shares for $1.27 billion, respectively. In addition, we paid dividends of $95 million and $400 million for the three months and year ended December 31, 2017, respectively.
Our Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.33 with respect to our outstanding Common Shares for the quarter ended December 31, 2017. This dividend is payable on March 23, 2018 to shareholders of record on March 9, 2018.
“Our strong earnings growth and cash flow have enabled us to return significant amounts of capital to shareholders. Our 20% dividend increase, the ninth consecutive annual dividend increase, reflects the confidence that both management and our Board have in Magna’s future.”- Vince Galifi, Magna’s Chief Financial Officer
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0a6a8639-042a-46d5-9af8-fd23270369bb
2018 OUTLOOK
Our 2018 outlook remains unchanged from the outlook provided in our January 16, 2018 press release, except that European light vehicle production units have increased from 22.3 million to 22.4 million units. For further details, refer to the “2018 Outlook” section later in this press release.
REVIEW OF SELECT FOURTH QUARTER 2017 FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Other Expense, net
We recorded other expense, net of $28 million ($35 million after tax) for the three months ended December 31, 2017 compared to $30 million ($26 million after tax) for the three months ended December 31, 2016. These items had an unfavourable impact of $0.10 and $0.07 on diluted earnings per common share for the three months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. For further details, refer to the “Other Expense, Net” section later in this press release.
US Tax Reform
On December 22, 2017, the United States enacted the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “US Tax Reform”), which (i) reduces the U.S. federal corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% beginning in 2018; (ii) requires companies to pay a one-time transition tax on earnings of certain foreign subsidiaries that were previously tax deferred; and (iii) creates new taxes on certain foreign-sourced earnings. At December 31, 2017, we have not completed our accounting for the tax effects of the US Tax Reform. However, we have made provisional estimates and recorded a net $23 million reduction in income tax expense. This included a $61 million tax benefit related to the remeasurement of our deferred tax balances partially offset by an expense of $38 million related to the one-time transition tax. These amounts positively impacted our diluted earnings per share by $0.06 in the fourth quarter of 2017.
Segment Analysis
North America
For the three months
ended December 31,
2017
2016
Change
Vehicle Production Volumes (thousands of units)
4,139
4,358
(219
)
–
5
%
Sales
External Production
$
4,872
$
4,878
$
(6
)
—
Tooling, Engineering and Other
388
360
28
+
8
%
Total Sales
5,260
5,238
22
—
Adjusted EBIT
$
506
$
516
$
(10
)
–
2
%
Adjusted EBIT as a percentage of sales (i)
9.6
%
9.9
%
–
0.3
%
(i) Adjusted EBIT as a percentage of sales is calculated as Adjusted EBIT divided by Total Sales.
External production sales in North America was relatively unchanged at $4.87 billion for the fourth quarter of 2017 compared to $4.88 billion for the fourth quarter of 2016 while North American vehicle production volumes decreased 5%. Lower production volumes on certain existing programs were substantially offset by the launch of new programs during or subsequent to the fourth quarter of 2016, including the Jeep Compass, Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain, Volkswagen Atlas, Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator, and a $67 million favourable impact due to the strengthening of the Canadian dollar against the U.S. dollar.
In North America, Adjusted EBIT decreased $10 million to $506 million for the fourth quarter of 2017 compared to $516 million for the fourth quarter of 2016. The decrease was primarily due to customer settlements in the fourth quarter of 2017, higher pre-operating costs incurred at new facilities and reduced earnings on lower production sales partially offset by operational improvements, higher scrap steel recoveries, lower warranty costs, and an $11 million favourable impact due to the strengthening of the Canadian dollar and Mexican peso, each against the U.S. dollar.
Adjusted EBIT as a percentage of sales decreased 0.3% to 9.6% for the fourth quarter of 2017 compared to 9.9% for the fourth quarter of 2016. The decrease was primarily due to customer settlements in the fourth quarter of 2017, higher pre-operating costs incurred at new facilities and reduced earnings on lower production sales partially offset by operational improvements, higher scrap steel recoveries and lower warranty costs.
Europe
For the three months
ended December 31,
2017
2016
Change
Volumes (thousands of units) (i)
Vehicle Production
5,755.0
5,384.0
371.0
+
7
%
Magna Complete Vehicle Assembly
27.3
7.4
19.9
+
269
%
Sales
External Production
$
2,706
$
2,204
$
502
+
23
%
Complete Vehicle Assembly
1,007
439
568
+
129
%
Tooling, Engineering and Other
593
581
12
+
2
%
Total Sales
4,306
3,224
1,082
+
34
%
Adjusted EBIT
$
151
$
71
$
80
+
113
%
Adjusted EBIT as a percentage of sales
3.5
%
2.2
%
+
1.3
%
(i) Vehicles produced at our Complete Vehicle Assembly operations are included in Vehicle Production volumes.
External production sales in Europe increased 23% or $502 million to $2.71 billion for the fourth quarter of 2017 compared to $2.20 billion for the fourth quarter of 2016 while European vehicle production volumes increased 7%. The increase in production sales was primarily due to a $199 million favourable impact from the strengthening of foreign currencies, including the euro, Polish Zloty, and Czech Koruna each against the U.S. dollar, and the launch of new programs during or subsequent to the fourth quarter of 2016 including the BMW 5-Series, Ford Fiesta, Mercedes-Benz GLC and GLC Coupe and the Land Rover Range Rover Velar. Complete vehicle assembly sales increased $568 million to $1.01 billion in the fourth quarter of 2017 compared to $439 million for the fourth quarter of 2016 primarily due to the 2017 launches of the BMW 5-Series and Jaguar E-Pace.
In Europe, Adjusted EBIT increased $80 million to $151 million for the fourth quarter of 2017 compared to $71 million for the fourth quarter of 2016. The increase was primarily due to margins earned on higher production and complete vehicle assembly sales and lower warranty costs partially offset by operational inefficiencies and launch costs incurred at a body and chassis facility, lower equity income and higher commodity costs.
Adjusted EBIT as a percentage of sales increased 1.3% to 3.5% for the fourth quarter of 2017 compared to 2.2% for the fourth quarter of 2016. The increase was primarily due to higher production sales at margins higher than our European average and lower warranty costs partially offset by operational inefficiencies and launch costs at a body and chassis facility, lower equity income and higher commodity costs.
Asia
For the three months
ended December 31,
2017
2016
Change
Sales
External Production
$
644
$
663
$
(19
)
–
3
%
Tooling, Engineering and Other
150
112
38
+
34
%
Total Sales
794
775
19
+
2
%
Adjusted EBIT
$
139
$
100
$
39
+
39
%
Adjusted EBIT as a percentage of sales
17.5
%
12.9
%
+
4.6
%
External production sales in Asia decreased 3% or $19 million to $644 million for the fourth quarter of 2017 compared to $663 million for the fourth quarter of 2016. This decrease was primarily due to lower production volumes on certain existing programs partially offset by the launch of new programs during or subsequent to the fourth quarter of 2016 and a $22 million favourable impact due to the strengthening of foreign currencies, including the Chinese renminbi, against the U.S. dollar.
In Asia, Adjusted EBIT increased $39 million to $139 million for the fourth quarter of 2017 compared to $100 million for the fourth quarter of 2016. The increase was primarily due to higher equity income, partially offset by reduced earnings due to lower production sales. The higher equity income related to higher net income at a certain equity investment as a result of an increase in sales partially offset by higher pre-operating costs incurred relating to a new venture.
Adjusted EBIT as a percentage of sales increased 4.6% to 17.5% for the fourth quarter of 2017 compared to 12.9% for the fourth quarter of 2016. The increase was primarily due to higher equity income partially offset by an increase in tooling sales as a proportion of total sales, which have a higher material and labour content than our Asia average.
Rest of World
For the three months
ended December 31,
2017
2016
Change
Sales
External Production
$
153
$
133
$
20
+
15
%
Tooling, Engineering and Other
7
11
(4
)
–
36
%
Total Sales
160
144
16
+
11
%
Adjusted EBIT
$
(3
)
$
4
$
(7
)
—
External production sales in Rest of World increased 15% or $20 million to $153 million for the fourth quarter of 2017 compared to $133 million for the fourth quarter of 2016. External production sales were higher primarily due to net customer price increases subsequent to the fourth quarter of 2016.
In Rest of World, Adjusted EBIT decreased $7 million to a loss of $3 million for the fourth quarter of 2017 compared to income of $4 million for the fourth quarter of 2016. The decrease was primarily due to operational inefficiencies at certain manufacturing facilities partially offset by net customer price increases subsequent to the fourth quarter of 2016.
2018 OUTLOOK
Light Vehicle Production (Units)
North America
17.4 million
Europe
22.4 million
Segment Sales
Body Exteriors & Structures
$16.6 – $17.4 billion
Power & Vision
$11.8 – $12.4 billion
Seating Systems
$5.3 – $5.7 billion
Complete Vehicles
$6.0 – $6.4 billion
Total Sales
$39.3 – $41.5 billion
Adjusted EBIT Margin(2)
7.9% – 8.2%
Equity Income (included in EBIT)
$335 – $375 million
Interest Expense, net
Approximately $90 million
Income Tax Rate(3)
Approximately 22-23%
Net income attributable to Magna
$2.3 – $2.5 billion
Capital Spending
Approximately $1.8 billion
(2) Adjusted EBIT Margin is the ratio of Adjusted EBIT to Total Sales.(3) The Income Tax Rate has been calculated using Adjusted EBIT and is based on current tax legislation.
In this 2018 outlook, we have assumed:
2018 light vehicle production volumes (as set out above);
no material unannounced acquisitions or divestitures; and
foreign exchange rates for the most common currencies in which we conduct business relative to our U.S. dollar reporting currency were:
1 Canadian dollar equals U.S. dollars 0.780
1 euro equals U.S. dollars 1.170These foreign exchange rates are unchanged from our previous 2018 outlook dated January 16, 2018.
Certain of the forward-looking financial measures above are provided on a Non-GAAP basis. We do not provide a reconciliation of such forward-looking measures to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. To do so would be potentially misleading and not practical given the difficulty of projecting items that are not reflective of on-going operations in any future period. The magnitude of these items, however, may be significant.
MAGNA INTERNATIONAL INC.
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
[Unaudited]
[All amounts in U.S. dollars and all tabular amounts in millions unless otherwise noted]
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In addition to the financial results reported in accordance with U.S. GAAP, this press release contains references to the Non-GAAP financial measures reconciled below. We believe the Non-GAAP financial measures used in this press release are useful to both management and investors in their analysis of the Company’s financial position and results of operations. In particular, management believes that Adjusted EBIT and Adjusted diluted earnings per share, are useful measures in assessing the Company’s financial performance by excluding certain items that are not indicative of the Company’s core operating performance. Management also believes that these measures are useful to both management and investors in their analysis of the Company’s results of operations, as they provide improved comparability between fiscal periods. The presentation of Non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation, or as a substitute for the Company’s related financial results prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
The following table reconciles Net income to Adjusted EBIT:
Three months ended
Year ended
December 31,
December 31,
2017
2016
2017
2016
Net income
$
572
$
496
$
2,255
$
2,074
Add:
Interest expense, net
20
20
70
88
Other expense, net
28
30
39
30
Income taxes
189
150
744
706
Adjusted EBIT
$
809
$
696
$
3,108
$
2,898
The following table reconciles Net income attributable to Magna International Inc. to Adjusted Diluted Earnings per Share:
Three months ended
Year ended
December 31,
December 31,
2017
2016
2017
2016
Net income attributable to Magna International Inc.
$
556
$
478
$
2,206
$
2,031
Add:
Other expense, net
28
30
39
30
Tax effect of other expense, net
7
(4
)
7
(4
)
US tax reform
(23
)
—
(23
)
—
Adjusted net income attributable to Magna International Inc.
$
568
$
504
$
2,229
$
2,057
Diluted weighted average number of Common Shares
outstanding during the period:
362.3
385.0
373.9
393.2
Adjusted diluted earnings per share
$
1.57
$
1.31
$
5.96
$
5.23
This press release together with our Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Position and our Interim Financial Statements are available in the Investor Relations section of our website at www.magna.com/investors and filed electronically through the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) which can be accessed at www.sedar.com as well as on the United States Securities and Exchange Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (EDGAR), which can be accessed at www.sec.gov .
We will hold a conference call for interested analysts and shareholders to discuss our fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2017 results on Thursday, February 22, 2018 at 7:30 a.m. EST. The conference call will be chaired by Don Walker, Chief Executive Officer. The number to use for this call from North America is 1-800-678-8995. International callers should use 1-303-223-2681. Please call in at least 10 minutes prior to the call start time. We will also webcast the conference call at www.magna.com. The slide presentation accompanying the conference call as well as our financial review summary will be available on our website on the morning of the call.
TAGSQuarterly earnings, record quarter, financial results, sales growth
INVESTOR CONTACTLouis Tonelli, Vice-President, Investor Relationslouis.tonelli@magna.com │ 905.726.7035
MEDIA CONTACTTracy Fuerst, Director of Corporate Communications & PRtracy.fuerst@magna.com │ 248.631.5396
OUR BUSINESS (4)
We have more than 168,000 entrepreneurial-minded employees dedicated to delivering mobility solutions. We are a technology company and one of the world’s largest automotive suppliers with 335 manufacturing operations and 96 product development, engineering and sales centres in 28 countries. Our competitive capabilities include body exteriors and structures, power and vision technologies, seating systems and complete vehicle solutions. Our common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (MG) and the New York Stock Exchange (MGA). For further information about Magna, visit www.magna.com.
______________
(4) Manufacturing operations, product development, engineering and sales centres and employee figures generally include equity-accounted operations.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
We disclose “forward-looking information” or “forward-looking statements” (collectively, “forward-looking statements”) to provide information about management’s current expectations and plans. Such forward-looking statements may not be appropriate for other purposes.
Forward-looking statements may include financial and other projections, as well as statements regarding our future plans, objectives or economic performance, or the assumptions underlying any of the foregoing, and other statements that are not recitations of historical fact. We use words such as “may”, “would”, “could”, “should”, “will”, “likely”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “intend”, “plan”, “aim”, “forecast”, “outlook”, “project”, “estimate”, “target” and similar expressions suggesting future outcomes or events to identify forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements related to:
Magna’s forecasts of light vehicle production in North America and Europe;
Expected consolidated sales, based on such light vehicle production, including expected split by segment in our Body Exteriors & Structures; Power & Vision; Seating Systems; and Complete Vehicles segments;
Consolidated EBIT margin;
Consolidated equity income;
Net interest expense;
Effective income tax rate;
Net income;
Fixed asset expenditures; and
Future returns of capital to our shareholders, including through dividends or share repurchases.
Our forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to us, and are based on assumptions and analyses made by us in light of our experience and our perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors we believe are appropriate in the circumstances.
While we believe we have a reasonable basis for making such forward-looking statements, they are not a guarantee of future performance or outcomes. Whether actual results and developments conform to our expectations and predictions is subject to a number of risks, assumptions and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, and the effects of which can be difficult to predict, including, without limitation:
Risks Related to the Automotive Industry
economic cyclicality;
intense competition;
potential restrictions on free trade;
Customer and Supplier Related Risks
concentration of sales with six customers;
shifts in market shares among vehicles or vehicle segments;
potential loss of a material purchase order;
Manufacturing / Operational Risks
product launch risks;
operational underperformance
restructuring costs;
impairment charges;
labour disruptions;
supply disruptions;
IT Security Risk
IT/Security breach;
Pricing Risks
pricing risks between time of quote and start of production;
price concessions;
commodity costs;
declines in scrap steel prices;
Warranty / Recall Risks
costs to repair or replace defective products;
warranty costs that exceed our warranty provision;
costs related to a significant recall;
Acquisition Risks
an increase in our risk profile as a result of completed acquisitions;
acquisition integration risk;
Other Business Risks
risks related to conducting business through joint ventures;
our ability to consistently develop innovative products or processes;
changing risk profile;
risks of conducting business in foreign markets;
fluctuations in relative currency values;
tax risks;
changes in credit ratings assigned to us;
the unpredictability of, and fluctuation in, the trading price of our Common Shares;
Legal, Regulatory and Other Risks
antitrust and compliance risk;
legal claims and/or regulatory actions against us; and
changes in laws.
In evaluating forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, we caution readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement, and readers should specifically consider the various factors which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements, including the risks, assumptions and uncertainties above which are discussed in greater detail in this document under the section titled “Industry Trends and Risks” and set out in our Annual Information Form filed with securities commissions in Canada and our annual report on Form 40-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, and subsequent filings.
Magna International Inc.