Autoliv: Q2 2024: Sales headwinds from lower LVP

Financial highlights Q2 2024 Full year 2024 guidance

$2,605 million net sales Around 2% organic sales growth

1.1% net sales decrease Around 1% negative FX effect on net sales

0.7% organic sales growth* Around 9.5-10.0% adjusted operating margin

7.9% operating margin Around $1.1 billion operating cash flow

8.5% adjusted operating margin*

$1.71 EPS, 178% increase

$1.87 adjusted EPS*, 3% decrease

All change figures in this release compare to the same period of the previous year except when stated otherwise.

Key business developments in the second quarter of 2024

• Second quarter sales increased organically* by 0.7%, which was 1.4pp better than global LVP decline of 0.7% (S&P Global July 2024). We outperformed in Asia excl. China and in Europe, mainly due to product launches and pricing while we underperformed in Americas and in China, mainly due to lower light vehicle production with certain key customers, as a consequence of weaker sales and inventory reductions. In China, the LVP mix was negative as several models with limited Autoliv content grew strongly.

• Profitability improved despite a slight net sales decline. Sales were lower than expected, which impacted our profitability in the quarter with an operating leverage at the high end of our normal 20%-30% range. Profits improved mainly due to the successful execution of cost reductions and increased pricing. Indirect headcount continued to decrease. Operating income was $206 million and operating margin was 7.9%. Adjusted operating income* improved to $221 million and adjusted operating margin* increased from 8.0% to 8.5%. Return on capital employed was 21.0% and adjusted return on capital employed* was 22.5%.

• Operating cash flow was strong, at $340 million, albeit slightly below last year as Q2 last year was supported by positive timing effects. Free cash flow* of $194 million was thereby also down somewhat compared to last year. The leverage ratio* improved to 1.2x. In the quarter, a dividend of $0.68 per share was paid, and 1.31 million shares were repurchased and retired.

*For non-U.S. GAAP measures see enclosed reconciliation tables.

Key Figures

(Dollars in millions, Q2 Q2 Change 6M 6M Change
except per share data) 2024 2023 2024 2023
Net sales $2,605 $2,635 (1.1)% $5,220 $5,127 1.8%
Operating income 206 94 120% 400 221 81%
Adjusted operating 221 212 4.4% 420 343 22%
income1)
Operating margin 7.9% 3.6% 4.4pp 7.7% 4.3% 3.4pp
Adjusted operating 8.5% 8.0% 0.5pp 8.0% 6.7% 1.4pp
margin1)
Earnings per share2) 1.71 0.61 178% 3.23 1.47 119%
Adjusted earnings per 1.87 1.93 (2.9)% 3.45 2.82 22%
share1,2)
Operating cash flow 340 379 (10)% 462 334 39%
Return on capital 21.0% 9.5% 11.5pp 20.4% 11.4% 9.1pp
employed3)
Adjusted return on 22.5% 21.0% 1.5pp 21.4% 17.4% 4.0pp
capital employed1,3)
1) Excluding effects
from capacity
alignments, antitrust
related matters and
for FY 2023 the
Andrews litigation
settlement. Non-U.S.
GAAP measure, see
reconciliation table.
2) Assuming dilution
when applicable and
net of treasury
shares. 3) Annualized
operating income and
income from equity
method investments,
relative to average
capital employed.

Comments from
Mikael Bratt,
President &
CEO
[image] In the second We continued to outperform LVP significantly
quarter, in Asia excluding China and in Europe, fueled
profitability by product launches and better pricing. In
continued to Americas, we underperformed slightly, as some
improve key customers reduced production.
despite a
slight We continue to expand our business with
decline in domestic Chinese OEMs, positioning us well to
net sales. benefit from the new structure of the Chinese
The market. Domestic Chinese OEMs accounted for
improvement 38% of our China sales in Q2. We grew sales to
was driven by this group by 39% in Q2 vs. a year ago, and by
better 25% vs. the previous quarter. However, the
pricing and market developed unfavorably in Q2, with sales
successful for certain brands and models with low Autoliv
execution of content growing strongly, while some of our
cost key global customers production declined
reductions, significantly, leading to 7pp underperformance
with indirect in China.
headcount
reduced by We remain fully focused on delivering on the
1,100 since around 12% adjusted operating margin target,
the start of although we adjust our full year 2024 guidance
the program. slightly, reflecting changes in LVP and
We have adverse customer mix. We continue to expect a
settled cost significant increase in profitability in the
compensation second half year with an adjusted operating
claims with a margin of around 11-12% compared to the first
majority of half year's 8.0%. The positive development of
our cash flow and balance sheet supports our
continued commitment to a high level of
shareholder returns.
customers and
target to
close most of
the remaining
claims in Q3.
Return on
capital
employed was
good and cash
flow
continued to
be strong,
supporting a
high level of
shareholder
returns and
an
improvement
of the
leverage
ratio to
1.2x.

We remain on
track with
our strategic
and
structural
initiatives
to
sustainably
strengthen
our footprint
and
operations.
However,
light vehicle
production
with certain
key customers
following
weaker sales
and inventory
adjustments
were lower
than expected
in the
quarter,
especially in
June. The
lower than
expected
sales
impacted our
profitability
with an
operating
leverage at
the high end
of our normal
20%-30%
range.

It is
encouraging
that customer
production
plans for the
third quarter
are
normalizing,
indicating
that the June
weakness
should be
temporary.

Inquiries: Investors and Analysts

Anders Trapp

Vice President Investor Relations

Tel +46 (0)8 5872 0671

Henrik Kaar

Director Investor Relations

Tel +46 (0)8 5872 0614

Inquiries: Media

Gabriella Etemad

Senior Vice President Communications

Tel +46 (0)70 612 6424

Autoliv, Inc. is obliged to make this information public pursuant to the
EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication,
through the agency of the VP of Investor Relations set out above, at 12.00
CET on July 19, 2024.