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Published on February 16, 2024

AAM Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023 Financial Results

AAM Delivers Sequential Margin Improvement

DETROIT, February 16, 2024 -- American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc. (AAM), (NYSE: AXL) today reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2023. 

Fourth Quarter 2023 Results

  • Sales of $1.46 billion
  • Net loss of $(19.1) million, or (1.3)% of sales
  • Adjusted EBITDA of $169.5 million, or 11.6% of sales
  • Diluted loss per share of $(0.16); Adjusted loss per share of $(0.09)
  • Net cash provided by operating activities of $52.9 million; Adjusted free cash flow of $4.5 million

Full Year 2023 Results

  • Sales of $6.08 billion
  • Net loss of $(33.6) million, or (0.6)% of sales
  • Adjusted EBITDA of $693.3 million, or 11.4% of sales
  • Diluted loss per share of $(0.29); Adjusted loss per share of $(0.09)
  • Net cash provided by operating activities of $396.1 million; Adjusted free cash flow of $219.0 million

 

“AAM’s fourth quarter performance was on track with our improvement objectives, ending a challenging 2023 on a better trajectory,” said AAM’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, David C. Dauch. “As we look ahead, AAM will leverage its strong core business while selectively building a product portfolio to drive the future pivot to electrification.”

 

AAM's sales in the fourth quarter of 2023 were $1.46 billion as compared to $1.39 billion in the fourth quarter of 2022. Sales for the fourth quarter of 2023 were favorably impacted by volume and mix partially offset by the UAW work stoppage. AAM's sales for full year 2023 were $6.08 billion as compared to $5.80 billion for full year 2022. Sales for the full year were favorably impacted by volume and mix and the Tekfor acquisition.  

 

AAM's net loss in the fourth quarter of 2023 was $(19.1) million, or $(0.16) per share, as compared to net income of $13.9 million, or $0.11 per share in the fourth quarter of 2022. AAM's net loss for full year 2023 was $(33.6) million, or $(0.29) per share, as compared to net income of $64.3 million, or $0.53 per share, for full year 2022. AAM's Adjusted loss per share in the fourth quarter of 2023 was $(0.09) as compared to Adjusted loss per share of $(0.07) in the fourth quarter of 2022. AAM's Adjusted loss per share for full year 2023 was $(0.09) as compared to Adjusted earnings per share of $0.60 for full year 2022.

 

In the fourth quarter of 2023, AAM's Adjusted EBITDA was $169.5 million, or 11.6% of sales, as compared to $157.7 million, or 11.3% of sales, in the fourth quarter of 2022. For full year 2023, AAM's Adjusted EBITDA was $693.3 million, or 11.4% of sales, as compared to $747.3 million, or 12.9% of sales, in 2022. 

 

AAM's net cash provided by operating activities for the fourth quarter of 2023 was $52.9 million as compared to $148.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2022. AAM's net cash provided by operating activities for full year 2023 was $396.1 million as compared to $448.9 million for full year 2022.

 

AAM's Adjusted free cash flow for the fourth quarter of 2023 was $4.5 million as compared to $99.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2022. AAM's Adjusted free cash flow for full year 2023 was $219.0 million as compared to $313.0 million for full year 2022.

AAM's 2024 Financial Outlook

AAM's full year 2024 financial targets are as follows:   

  • AAM is targeting sales in the range of $6.05 - $6.35 billion.
  • AAM is targeting Adjusted EBITDA in the range of $685 - $750 million.
  • AAM is targeting Adjusted free cash flow in the range of $200 - $240 million; this target assumes capital spending of approximately 4.0% - 4.5% of sales.

 

These targets are based on the following assumptions for 2024:

  • North American light vehicle production of approximately 15.8 million units.
  • AAM's production estimates of key programs that we support.
  • Current customer launch schedules and operating environment.

 

AAM's 2024-2026 New Business Backlog

AAM’s gross new and incremental business backlog launching from 2024 - 2026 is estimated at approximately $600 million in future annual sales. AAM expects the launch cadence of the three-year backlog to be approximately $300 million in 2024, $175 million in 2025 and $125 million in 2026. Electrification mix approximates 50% of AAM's new business backlog versus 40% in the prior backlog (2023-2025). The backlog takes into account recent OEM powertrain trends and timing estimates.

 

Fourth Quarter 2023 Conference Call Information

A conference call to review AAM's fourth quarter results is scheduled today at 10:00 a.m. ET. Interested participants may listen to the live conference call by logging onto AAM's investor web site at http://investor.aam.com or calling (877) 883-0383 from the United States or (412) 902-6506 from outside the United States with access code 133151. A replay will be available one hour after the call is complete until February 23, 2024 by dialing (877) 344-7529 from the United States or (412) 317-0088 from outside the United States. When prompted, callers should enter replay access code 2703442.

Non-GAAP Financial Information

In addition to the results reported in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) included within this press release, AAM has provided certain information, which includes non-GAAP financial measures such as Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted earnings (loss) per share and Adjusted free cash flow.  Such information is reconciled to its most directly comparable GAAP measure in accordance with Securities and Exchange Commission rules and is included in the attached supplemental data.

 

Certain of the forward-looking financial measures included in this earnings release are provided on a non-GAAP basis. A reconciliation of non-GAAP forward-looking financial measures to the most directly comparable forward-looking financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP has been provided.  The amounts in these reconciliations are based on our current estimates and actual results may differ materially from these forward-looking estimates for many reasons, including potential event driven transactional and other non-core operating items and their related effects in any future period, the magnitude of which may be significant.

 

Management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to management, investors, and banking institutions in their analysis of AAM's business and operating performance. Management also uses this information for operational planning and decision-making purposes.

 

Non-GAAP financial measures are not and should not be considered a substitute for any GAAP measure. Additionally, non-GAAP financial measures as presented by AAM may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.

Definition of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

AAM defines Adjusted earnings (loss) per share to be diluted earnings (loss) per share excluding the impact of restructuring and acquisition-related costs, debt refinancing and redemption costs, loss on sale of business, pension curtailment and settlement charges, unrealized gains or losses on equity securities and non-recurring items, including the tax effect thereon.

 

AAM defines EBITDA to be earnings before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as EBITDA excluding the impact of restructuring and acquisition-related costs, debt refinancing and redemption costs, loss on sale of business, pension curtailment and settlement charges, unrealized gains or losses on equity securities and non-recurring items.

 

AAM defines free cash flow to be net cash provided by operating activities less capital expenditures net of proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment. Adjusted free cash flow is defined as free cash flow excluding the impact of cash payments for restructuring and acquisition-related costs, and cash payments related to the Malvern fire, including payments for capital expenditures, net of recoveries.

Company Description

As a leading global Tier 1 Automotive and Mobility Supplier, AAM (NYSE: AXL) designs, engineers and manufactures Driveline and Metal Forming technologies to support electric, hybrid and internal combustion vehicles. Headquartered in Detroit with over 80 facilities in 18 countries, AAM is bringing the future faster for a safer and more sustainable tomorrow. To learn more, visit aam.com.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

In this earnings release, we make statements concerning our expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, strategies, and future events or performance.  Such statements are “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and relate to trends and events that may affect our future financial position and operating results.  The terms such as “will,” “may,” “could,” “would,” “plan,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “project,” "target," and similar words or expressions, as well as statements in future tense, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by, which such performance or results will be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time those statements are made and/or management’s good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events and are subject to risks and may differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause such differences include, but are not limited to: global economic conditions, including the impact of inflation, recession or recessionary concerns, or slower growth in the markets in which we operate; reduced purchases of our products by General Motors Company (GM), Stellantis N.V. (Stellantis), Ford Motor Company (Ford) or other customers; our ability to respond to changes in technology, increased competition or pricing pressures; our ability to develop and produce new products that reflect market demand; lower-than-anticipated market acceptance of new or existing products; our ability to attract new customers and programs for new products; reduced demand for our customers' products (particularly light trucks and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) produced by GM, Stellantis and Ford); risks inherent in our global operations (including tariffs and the potential consequences thereof to us, our suppliers, and our customers and their suppliers, adverse changes in trade agreements, such as the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), compliance with customs and trade regulations, immigration policies, political stability or geopolitical conflicts, taxes and other law changes, potential disruptions of production and supply, and currency rate fluctuations); supply shortages and the availability of natural gas or other fuel and utility sources in certain regions, labor shortages, including increased labor costs, or price increases in raw material and/or freight, utilities or other operating supplies for us or our customers as a result of pandemic or epidemic illness such as COVID-19, geopolitical conflicts, natural disasters or otherwise; a significant disruption in operations at one or more of our key manufacturing facilities; risks inherent in transitioning our business from internal combustion engine vehicle products to electric vehicle products; negative or unexpected tax consequences, including those resulting from tax litigation; risks related to a failure of our information technology systems and networks, including cloud-based applications, and risks associated with current and emerging technology threats and damage from computer viruses, unauthorized access, cyber attacks and other similar disruptions; our suppliers', our customers' and their suppliers' ability to maintain satisfactory labor relations and avoid or minimize work stoppages; cost or availability of financing for working capital, capital expenditures, research and development (R&D) or other general corporate purposes including acquisitions, as well as our ability to comply with financial covenants; our customers' and suppliers' availability of financing for working capital, capital expenditures, R&D or other general corporate purposes; an impairment of our goodwill, other intangible assets, or long-lived assets if our business or market conditions indicate that the carrying values of those assets exceed their fair values; liabilities arising from warranty claims, product recall or field actions, product liability and legal proceedings to which we are or may become a party, or the impact of product recall or field actions on our customers; our ability or our customers' and suppliers' ability to successfully launch new product programs on a timely basis; risks of environmental issues, including impacts of climate-related events, that could result in unforeseen issues or costs at our facilities, or risks of noncompliance with environmental laws and regulations, including reputational damage; our ability to maintain satisfactory labor relations and avoid work stoppages; our ability to consummate and successfully integrate acquisitions and joint ventures; our ability to achieve the level of cost reductions required to sustain global cost competitiveness or our ability to recover certain cost increases from our customers; our ability to realize the expected revenues from our new and incremental business backlog; price volatility in, or reduced availability of, fuel; our ability to protect our intellectual property and successfully defend against assertions made against us; adverse changes in laws, government regulations or market conditions affecting our products or our customers' products; our ability or our customers' and suppliers' ability to comply with regulatory requirements and the potential costs of such compliance; changes in liabilities arising from pension and other postretirement benefit obligations; our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel in key positions and functions; and other unanticipated events and conditions that may hinder our ability to compete. It is not possible to foresee or identify all such factors and we make no commitment to update any forward-looking statement or to disclose any facts, events or circumstances after the date hereof that may affect the accuracy of any forward-looking statement.

#  #  #

For more information:

Investor Contact

David H. Lim                                                                                      

Head of Investor Relations               

(313) 758-2006                                                                                                   

david.lim@aam.com

 

Media Contact

Christopher M. Son

Vice President, Marketing & Communications

(313) 758-4814

chris.son@aam.com

 

Or visit the AAM website at www.aam.com.


Links & Downloads

AAM Q4 2023 Financial Results (.PDF 592.82 KB)

For more information:

INVESTOR RELATIONS

David Lim

Head of Investor Relations

+1 (313) 758 2006

InvestorRelations@aam.com

MEDIA

Christopher Son

Vice President, Marketing & Corporate Communications

+1 (313) 758-4814

Contact
AMERICAN AXLE & MANUFACTURING

One Dauch Drive
Detroit, MI 48211-1198

X
Forward-Looking Statement

On this website and elsewhere in attached materials, we make statements concerning our expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, strategies, and future events or performance.  Such statements are “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and relate to trends and events that may affect our future financial position and operating results.  The terms such as “will,” “may,” “could,” “would,” “plan,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “project,” "target," and similar words or expressions, as well as statements in future tense, are intended to identify forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by, which such performance or results will be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time those statements are made and/or management’s good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events and are subject to risks and may differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause such differences include, but are not limited to:

  • reduced purchases of our products by General Motors Company (GM), FCA US LLC (FCA), or other customers;
  • reduced demand for our customers' products (particularly light trucks and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) produced by GM and FCA);
  • our ability to develop and produce new products that reflect market demand;
  • lower-than-anticipated market acceptance of new or existing products;
  • our ability to respond to changes in technology, increased competition or pricing pressures;
  • our ability to attract new customers and programs for new products;
  • our ability to consummate and integrate acquisitions and joint ventures;
  • risks inherent in our international operations (including adverse changes in trade agreements, tariffs, immigration policies, political stability, taxes and other law changes, potential disruptions of production and supply, and currency rate fluctuations, including those resulting from the recent United States presidential election and the United Kingdom's vote to exit the European Union);
  • negative or unexpected tax consequences;
  • liabilities arising from warranty claims, product recall or field actions, product liability and legal proceedings to which we are or may become a party, or the impact of product recall or field actions on our customers;
  • our ability to achieve the level of cost reductions required to sustain global cost competitiveness;
  • supply shortages or price increases in raw materials, utilities or other operating supplies for us or our customers as a result of natural disasters or otherwise;
  • our ability or our customers' and suppliers' ability to successfully launch new product programs on a timely basis;
  • our ability to realize the expected revenues from our new and incremental business backlog;
  • risks related to a failure of our information technology systems and networks, and risks associated with current and emerging technology threats and damage from computer viruses, unauthorized access, cyber attack and other similar disruptions;
  • global economic conditions;
  • our ability to maintain satisfactory labor relations and avoid work stoppages;
  • our suppliers', our customers' and their suppliers' ability to maintain satisfactory labor relations and avoid work stoppages;
  • price volatility in, or reduced availability of, fuel;
  • our ability to protect our intellectual property and successfully defend against assertions made against us;
  • our ability to attract and retain key associates;
  • availability of financing for working capital, capital expenditures, research and development (R&D) or other general corporate purposes including acquisitions, as well as our ability to comply with financial covenants;
  • our customers' and suppliers' availability of financing for working capital, capital expenditures, R&D or other general corporate purposes;
  • changes in liabilities arising from pension and other postretirement benefit obligations;
  • risks of noncompliance with environmental laws and regulations or risks of environmental issues that could result in unforeseen costs at our facilities;
  • adverse changes in laws, government regulations or market conditions affecting our products or our customers' products (such as the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) regulations);
  • our ability or our customers' and suppliers' ability to comply with the Dodd-Frank Act and other regulatory requirements and the potential costs of such compliance;  and
  • other unanticipated events and conditions that may hinder our ability to compete.
It is not possible to foresee or identify all such factors and we make no commitment to update any forward-looking statement or to disclose any facts, events or circumstances after the date hereof that may affect the accuracy of any forward-looking statement.