Ford Posts Q1 Pre-Tax Profit of $2.1B.
Ford Posts First Quarter Pre-Tax Profit of $2.1 Billion, Driven by Highest North America Profit in More than a Decade; Net Income of $1.6 Billion+
Ford Media
Strong total company pre-tax profit was $2.1 billion, or 41 cents per share, a decrease of $147 million from a year ago; 15th consecutive quarter of profitability
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Net income was $1.6 billion, or 40 cents per share, an increase of $215 million compared with a year ago
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Positive Automotive operating-related cash flow was $700 million for the quarter — the 12th consecutive quarter of positive cash flow — with strong liquidity of $34.5 billion, unchanged from year-end 2012
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Wholesale volume and total company revenue each grew about 10 percent compared with a year ago, including market share gains in North America and Asia Pacific Africa
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North America pre-tax profit was a record $2.4 billion — the highest quarterly profit since at least 2000, when the company began reflecting the region as a separate business unit — with an operating margin of 11 percent. Ford also reported a small pre-tax profit for Asia Pacific Africa, and losses in Europe and South America
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Ford Credit continued its solid performance with a first quarter pre-tax profit of $507 million
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For full year 2013, the company’s guidance remains unchanged — Ford expects another strong year, with total company pre-tax profit about equal to 2012, operating margin about equal to or lower than 2012, and Automotive operating-related cash flow higher than 2012
DEARBORN, Mich., April 24, 2013 - Ford Motor Company [NYSE: F] today reported first quarter 2013 pre-tax profit of $2.1 billion, driven by record results from North America and continued solid performance from Ford Credit.
Total company first quarter pre-tax profit of $2.1 billion, or 41 cents per share, was $147 million lower than a year ago, more than explained by Europe and South America. Net income for the first quarter of $1.6 billion, or 40 cents per share, was $215 million higher than a year ago.
Ford generated positive Automotive operating-related cash flow of $700 million in the first quarter — the 12th consecutive quarter of positive performance — with strong liquidity of $34.5 billion unchanged from year-end 2012.
As part of Ford’s previously announced strategy to de-risk its pension obligations, the company made $1.8 billion in cash contributions to its worldwide funded plans during the quarter. This included $1.2 billion of discretionary contributions, in line with Ford’s long-term pension de-risking strategy.
Dividends paid in the quarter totaled about $400 million.
“Our strong first quarter results provide further proof that our One Ford plan continues to deliver,” said Alan Mulally, Ford president and CEO. “Our plan remains centered on serving customers in all markets around the world with a full family of vehicles — small, medium and large; cars, utilities and trucks — each with the very best quality, fuel efficiency, safety, smart design and value.”
For the first quarter of 2013, Ford’s wholesale volume and revenue were each about 10 percent higher than a year ago, driven primarily by strong performance in North America and Asia Pacific Africa.
The decrease in total Automotive pre-tax profit and operating margin for the first quarter is explained by Europe and South America.
Ford North America
Ford North America experienced strong growth in the first quarter, with wholesale volume up 17 percent from the same period a year ago, and revenue improving 20 percent.
Ford North America’s pre-tax profit, which was a record for any quarter since at least 2000 when the company began reflecting the region as a separate business unit, increased from the same period a year ago due to favorable market factors, offset partially by higher costs that reflect the company’s investment in new products and growth, as well as higher pension and OPEB expense. These same factors drove Ford North America’s operating margin of 11 percent — the fourth quarter out of the last five that the region produced double-digit operating margins.
For full year 2013, Ford’s guidance for North America remains unchanged — the company expects strong performance to continue, with pre-tax profit expected to be higher than 2012 and operating margin of about 10 percent.
Ford South America
The decrease in Ford South America’s pre-tax results and operating margin in the first quarter was more than explained by unfavorable exchange, most of which related to Venezuela, including the impact of the devaluation of the bolivar. Currency weakening in Argentina was also a factor.
For full year 2013, the company’s guidance remains unchanged, with Ford South America expected to be about breakeven. The external environment is uncertain, however, particularly in Venezuela and Argentina. There is a risk that this could adversely affect the company’s ability to deliver full year breakeven results for the region.
“We continue to implement our One Ford plan in South America to address the challenging business environment in the region,” said Bob Shanks, Ford executive vice president and chief financial officer. “We are confident in the strength of our new global products and we are expanding our product portfolio while looking at all areas of our business to improve operating results.”
Ford Europe
The decline in Ford Europe’s first quarter pre-tax results primarily reflected higher structural costs, including restructuring effects (principally accelerated depreciation), and higher pension expense due to lower discount rates. Market factors and exchange also were unfavorable.
The company’s European transformation plan announced in October 2012 is proceeding on track, with solid progress made during the first quarter of 2013. Ford’s unprecedented product acceleration is on pace, with five new passenger vehicles and two new commercial vehicles introduced since the plan was announced. These new vehicles are off to a strong sales start. The company increased retail market share for the five major markets in Western Europe, which is critical to margins, residuals and brand health, and made strides on quality and customer satisfaction.
Ford also made progress on cost efficiencies during the first quarter, including plans to restructure its manufacturing footprint within the region. The company’s discussions are progressing with unions at Southampton assembly and Dagenham stamping and tooling operations in the U.K. toward closure mid-year. Discussions also are progressing at Ford’s assembly plant in Genk, Belgium, where hourly employees recently ratified a package of proposed separation benefits, and salaried employees now have reached agreement on a tentative proposal subject to ratification. As the information and consultation process moves forward, normal vehicle production levels at the plant have resumed.
Full year 2013 guidance for Europe remains unchanged, with the company expecting a loss of about $2 billion. The outlook for the business environment in Europe remains uncertain. While it is possible that economic and industry conditions will begin to stabilize later this year, recent economic indicators are mixed. Despite the challenging environment, the company is progressing toward its goal of a profitable, growing Ford Europe by mid-decade.
Ford Asia Pacific Africa
Ford Asia Pacific Africa showed strong growth in wholesale volume and revenue, gaining market share in this growing industry. Ford’s first quarter market share for Asia Pacific Africa was 3 percent, a 30 percent improvement from a year ago; in China, the company’s market share improved more than a percentage point compared with a year ago, setting a first quarter record of 3.6 percent.
The improvement in Ford Asia Pacific Africa’s pre-tax results and operating margin mainly reflected favorable market factors, as well as higher royalties and subsidiary profits. These positive factors were largely offset by the company’s investments for future growth in the region.
For full year 2013, the company’s guidance for Ford Asia Pacific Africa remains unchanged at about breakeven. While Ford expects to deliver strong growth in volume, share and revenue during 2013, costs will continue to largely offset these positive effects as the company continues to invest in an expanded product lineup, new plants in China and India, and people to implement the company’s growth plan.
Other Automotive
The first quarter loss of $125 million reflects net interest expense, offset partially by a favorable fair market value adjustment on the company’s equity investment in Mazda.
Ford expects net interest expense for full year 2013 to be about $750 million to $800 million, in line with the first quarter run rate of about $200 million.
FINANCIAL SERVICES SECTOR
Ford Motor Credit Company
Ford Credit’s increase in first quarter pre-tax profit compared with a year ago primarily reflects higher receivables and favorable residual performance, offset partially by lower credit loss reserve reductions.
For full year 2013, Ford’s guidance for Ford Credit remains unchanged. The company projects that Ford Credit’s full year pre-tax profit will be about equal to 2012, year-end managed receivables will be in the range of $95 billion to $105 billion, and distributions to its parent will be about $200 million.
OUTLOOK
Ford’s planning assumptions and key metrics include the following:
Consistent with prior guidance, the company expects its full year operating effective tax rate to be similar to 2012, which was 32 percent.
Ford remains focused on delivering the key aspects of the One Ford plan, which are unchanged:
• Aggressively restructuring to operate profitably at the current demand and changing model mix
• Accelerating the development of new products that customers want and value
• Financing the plan and improving the balance sheet
• Working together effectively as one team, leveraging Ford’s global assets
The company continues to work toward its mid-decade outlook.
“We continue to expect 2013 to be another strong year, as we go further in strengthening our global product lineup and improving the competitiveness of our operations,” Mulally said. “Everyone at Ford remains laser focused on continuing to make progress on our One Ford plan and building a profitably growing Ford for the benefit of all our stakeholders.”
