Industria
Autoliv: Financial Report July - September 2023
net sales
net sales increase
organic sales growth*
operating margin
adjusted operating margin*
EPS, 30% increase
adjusted EPS*, 35% increase
organic sales growth
FX effect on net sales
adjusted operating margin
operating cash flow
Our performance in the third quarter was very encouraging. Our organic sales growth continued to significantly outperform LVP and the adjusted operating income was a new third quarter record since the spin-off in 2018.
I am pleased that our strong performance in the third quarter was broad based, with improvements in several key areas - both
year-over-year and sequentially - including gross and operating margin, labor efficiency and SG&A and RD&E costs in relation to sales. Cash flow was strong, and the debt leverage remained well within our target range while maintaining our dividend and almost tripling the number of shares repurchased compared to Q2.
We continue to work hard to secure a strong medium- and long-term competitive position. In the quarter, we detailed a large part of our structural cost reduction intentions of reducing our indirect workforce by up to 2,000. In addition, the ongoing reorganization of our global functions and European operations is expected to lead to a reduced normalized tax rate. It is also encouraging for our medium- and long-term potential that we continue to improve our position in China with the fast-growing domestic OEMs. In the first nine months, we increased our sales to this group by more than 50% year over year.
We increase our full year sales indication to reflect that LVP has developed better than expected, even with the UAW strike in the U.S. We have continued to see an improvement of supply chain stability throughout the year, with reduced customer call off volatility. However, the improvement is slower than we had expected, as it deteriorated somewhat in Europe in Q3. This, together with the higher sales and adverse FX development, means that we expect a fourth quarter adjusted operating margin improvement year-over-year of around 1.5-2pp, in line with the previously communicated improvement pattern of around 2pp each quarter throughout 2023.
Our performance in the first nine months and the outlook for the final quarter of the year makes me confident that we will deliver a substantial full year increase in sales, operating cash flow and adjusted operating income. Together with the advancement of our structural cost reduction activities, the improving position with fast growing OEMs, the continued gradual improvement of supply chain stability, and the development of inflation compensation, we have a solid foundation for a continued strong development in the years to come, that support our medium-term targets.
Anders Trapp
Vice President Investor Relations
Tel +46 (0)8 5872 0671
Henrik Kaar
Director Investor Relations
Tel +46 (0)8 5872 0614
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 October 20, 2023 .
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