AAM Reports First Quarter 2014 Financial Results

Non-GM sales of $288 million, up over 50% on a year-over-year basis

Published on May 2, 2014

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DETROIT, Michigan, May 2, 2014-- American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc. (AAM), which is traded as AXL on the NYSE, today reported its financial results for the first quarter of 2014.

“AAM's financial results in the first quarter of 2014 reflect strong sales growth that continues to outpace the industry,” said AAM’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, David C. Dauch. “AAM's top priority in 2014 is to flawlessly launch our new business backlog which will drive higher profitability, improve free cash flow generation and enhance business diversification for our fast-growing company. We remain committed to delivering world-class quality products, maintaining operational excellence at every one of our 35 global facilities and demonstrating technology leadership by continuing to develop innovative driveline solutions for the global automotive market.”

First Quarter 2014 Results

  • First quarter 2014 sales of $858.8 million, up approximately 13.7% on a year-over-year basis
  • Non-GM sales grew over 50% on a year-over-year basis to $287.8 million
  • Gross profit of $121.9 million, or 14.2% of sales
  • Net income of $33.6 million, or $0.44 per share
  • EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) of $112.5 million, or 13.1% of sales

AAM’s net income in the first quarter of 2014 was $33.6 million, or $0.44 per share as compared to net income of $7.3 million, or $0.10 per share, in the first quarter of 2013. In the first quarter of 2013, AAM's results reflect the impact of $11.3 million (or $0.13 per share) of debt refinancing and redemption costs.

Led by higher sales in support of Chrysler's all-new Jeep Cherokee and heavy-duty Ram full-size pickup trucks and its derivatives, AAM's sales in the first quarter of 2014 increased approximately 13.7% to $858.8 million as compared to $755.6 million in the first quarter of 2013.  Non-GM sales grew 53.0% on a year-over-year basis to $287.8 million in the first quarter of 2014 as compared to $188.1 million in the first quarter of 2013.

AAM's content-per-vehicle is measured by the dollar value of its product sales supporting our customers’ North American light truck and SUV programs. In the first quarter of 2014, AAM’s content-per-vehicle increased 10.0% to $1,655  as compared to $1,504 in the first quarter of 2013. 

AAM’s gross profit in the first quarter of 2014 was $121.9 million, or 14.2% of sales, as compared to $104.3 million, or 13.8% of sales, in the first quarter of 2013.

In the first quarter of 2014, AAM’s operating income increased over $20 million to $64.8 million, or 7.5% of sales, as compared to $44.7 million, or 5.9% of sales, in the first quarter of 2013.

AAM’s SG&A spending in the first quarter of 2014 was $57.1 million, or 6.6% of sales, as compared to $59.6 million, or 7.9% of sales, in the first quarter of 2013.  AAM's R&D spending in the first quarter of 2014 was $25.8 million as compared to $28.5 million in the first quarter of 2013.

In the first quarter of 2014, AAM’s net income was $33.6 million, or $0.44 per share as compared to $7.3 million or $0.10 per share in the first quarter of 2013.

AAM defines EBITDA to be earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.  In the first quarter of 2014, AAM’s EBITDA increased over $37 million to $112.5 million, or 13.1% of sales, as compared to $75.3 million, or 10.0% of sales, in the first quarter of 2013.

AAM defines free cash flow to be net cash provided by (or used in) operating activities less capital expenditures net of proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment and the sale-leaseback of equipment.

Net cash used in operating activities for the first quarter of 2014 was $55.5 million.  Capital spending, net of proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment, for the first quarter of 2014 was $40.0 million.  Reflecting the impact of this activity, AAM's free cash flow was a use of $95.5 million for the first quarter of 2014. 

A conference call to review AAM’s first quarter 2014 results is scheduled today at 10:00 AM 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) 681-2072 from the United States or (973) 200-3383 from outside the United States.  A replay will be available from 2:00 p.m. ET on May 2, 2014 until 5:00 p.m. ET May 9, 2014 by dialing (855) 859-2056 from the United States or (404) 537-3406 from outside the United States.  When prompted, callers should enter conference reservation number 34605136.

 

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 information is reconciled to its closest GAAP measure in accordance with Securities and Exchange Commission rules and is included in the attached supplemental data.

Management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to both management and its stockholders in their analysis of the Company'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.

AAM is a world leader in the manufacture, engineering, design and validation of driveline and drivetrain systems and related components and modules, chassis systems and metal-formed products for light trucks, sport utility vehicles, passenger cars, crossover vehicles and commercial vehicles.  In addition to locations in the United States (Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Indiana), AAM also has offices or facilities in Brazil, China, Germany, India, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Poland, Scotland, South Korea, Sweden and Thailand.

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: reduced purchases of our products by General Motors Company (GM), Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) or other customers; reduced demand for our customers' products (particularly light trucks and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) produced by GM and Chrysler); 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; 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; our ability to respond to changes in technology, increased competition or pricing pressures; 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; global economic conditions, including the impact of the continued market weakness in the Euro-zone; risks inherent in our international operations (including adverse changes in political stability, taxes and other law changes, potential disruptions of production and supply, and currency rate fluctuations); 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; price volatility in, or reduced availability of, fuel; our ability to successfully implement upgrades to our enterprise resource planning systems; 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; 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 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 to consummate and integrate acquisitions and joint ventures; 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 

AMERICAN AXLE & MANUFACTURING

One Dauch Drive
Detroit, MI 48211-1198