Press Release - Magna Announces Fourth Quarter and 2019 Results and Raises Quarterly Cash Dividend per Share by 10%

Fourth Quarter 2019 Highlights

 
 
  • Cash from operations increased to $1.70 billion, despite lower sales and earnings
  • Returned $365 million to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends
  • Raised quarterly cash dividend by 10% to $0.40 per share

Full Year 2019 Highlights

  • Record cash from operations of $3.96 billion, despite lower sales and earnings
  • Returned approximately $1.7 billion to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends

Please click HERE for a PDF version of the release.(EN)
Please click HERE for PDF version of the release.(FR)
Please click HERE for PDF version of the release.(DE)

AURORA, Ontario, Feb. 21, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Magna International Inc. (TSX: MG; NYSE: MGA) today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2019.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f1231bd3-895d-41a0-80f3-860a209f46ab

A 40-day labour strike at General Motors [“GM”], which began late in September of 2019 and extended into late October, had a negative impact on North American light vehicle production and consequently negatively impacted our sales and profitability for both the third and fourth quarters of 2019.  

THREE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2019

Our fourth quarter results were ahead of our expectations for sales and diluted earnings per share. 

On a consolidated basis, we posted sales of $9.40 billion for the fourth quarter of 2019, a decrease of 7% from the fourth quarter of 2018.  Our sales in the fourth quarter of 2019 were negatively impacted by, among other factors, declines in light vehicle production of 7% in North America, including the impact of the labour strike at GM, and 3% in Europe, the divestiture of our Fluid Pressure & Controls [“FP&C”] business in the first quarter of 2019, as well as the weakening of a number of currencies against the U.S. dollar. Excluding the impact of foreign currency and divestitures, net of acquisitions, sales decreased by 3% on a consolidated basis, and by segment: Complete Vehicles decreased 11%, Body Exteriors & Structures decreased 5%, and Seating Systems decreased 3%, while Power & Vision increased 4%. These compare to global light vehicle production which was essentially level in the fourth quarter of 2019.

Adjusted EBIT of $590 million in the fourth quarter of 2019 decreased by 19% from the fourth quarter of 2018, driven by lower sales and a lower adjusted EBIT as a percentage of sales.  Adjusted EBIT as a percentage of sales declined to 6.3% compared to 7.2% in the fourth quarter of 2018, reflecting:

  • lower margins in our Power & Vision segment, mainly associated with higher engineering costs in our ADAS business, substantially associated with three programs that will be utilizing new technologies, the labour strike at GM and higher net warranty costs, partially offset by the impact of the divestiture of FP&C during 2019 and higher net favourable commercial items;
  • lower margins in our Body Exteriors & Structures segment, largely due to the labour strike at GM; and
  • lower margins in our Seating segment, mainly associated with foreign exchange losses in the fourth quarter of 2019 compared to gains in the fourth quarter of 2018, launch and operational inefficiencies at a new facility, higher net warranty costs, higher commodity costs, and the labour strike at GM, partially offset by higher equity income.

These factors were partially offset by higher margins in our Complete Vehicles segment, primarily due to earnings on higher sales of certain vehicles, lower launch costs and operational improvements, as well as higher earnings in our Corporate segment.

Income from operations before income taxes of $579 million decreased $28 million in the fourth quarter of 2019 compared to the fourth quarter of 2018.  The decrease reflects lower Adjusted EBIT, partially offset by other income, net in the fourth quarter of 2019 compared to other expense, net in the fourth quarter of 2018, and lower interest expense.

Net income attributable to Magna International Inc. decreased $16 million in the fourth quarter of 2019 compared to the fourth quarter of 2018 primarily as a result of lower income from operations before income taxes, partially offset by lower income taxes and lower income attributable to non-controlling interests.

Diluted earnings per share increased by 4% to $1.43 in the fourth quarter of 2019, reflecting the favourable impact of a reduced share count, partially offset by lower net income attributable to Magna International Inc.  Adjusted diluted earnings per share decreased 13% to $1.41 compared to $1.63 for the fourth quarter of 2018.

In the fourth quarter of 2019, we generated cash from operations before changes in operating assets and liabilities of $954 million and $742 million in operating assets and liabilities. Investment activities for the fourth quarter of 2019 included $513 million in fixed asset additions, a $122 million increase in investments, other assets and intangible assets, and $5 million in acquisitions. We also received proceeds of $221 million relating to the sale of our publicly traded equity securities in Lyft, Inc.

YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2019

We posted sales of $39.4 billion for the year ended December 31, 2019, a decrease of 3% from the year ended December 31, 2018.  Excluding the impact of foreign currency translation and divestitures, net of acquisitions, sales increased 2%. This compares favourably to global light vehicle production, which declined 4%.

Income from operations before income taxes was $2.22 billion, a decrease of $728 million from 2018.

Net income attributable to Magna International Inc. was $1.77 billion and diluted earnings per share were $5.59, decreases of $531 million and $1.02, respectively, each compared to 2018.

Adjusted EBIT decreased to $2.55 billion in 2019, compared to $3.11 billion for 2018. 

Our adjusted diluted earnings per share decreased 10% to $6.05 for 2019 compared to $6.71 for 2018.

During 2019, we generated cash from operations before changes in operating assets and liabilities of $3.61 billion, and $352 million in operating assets and liabilities. Investment activities for 2019 included $1.44 billion in fixed asset additions, $394 million increase in investments, other assets and intangible assets and $147 million in acquisitions. We also received proceeds of $1.13 billion and $231 million related to the sale of our FP&C business and the sale of our publicly traded equity securities in Lyft, Inc., respectively.

RETURN OF CAPITAL TO SHAREHOLDERS

During the three months and year ended December 31, 2019, Magna repurchased 4.7 million shares for $254 million and 25.8 million shares for $1.29 billion, respectively. In addition, we paid dividends of $111 million and $449 million for the three months and year ended December 31, 2019, respectively.

Our Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.40 with respect to our outstanding Common Shares for the quarter ended December 31, 2019. This represents a 10% increase in the dividend. The dividend is payable on March 20, 2020 to shareholders of record on March 6, 2020.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6162ec64-c88c-4f2e-8c84-3fe7e9113714

2020 OUTLOOK

Our 2020 outlook remains unchanged from the outlook provided in our January 16, 2020 press release. We have not included any adjustment to our outlook related to COVID-19 (coronavirus), as it is difficult to forecast when our customers’ facilities in China will be fully operational, their ability to recover lost production, the risk of supply chain disruptions in the event that Chinese factories are unable to resume normal operations promptly, any adverse impact on the economy in China and/or the possibility that the economies of other regions could be adversely impacted by any further COVID-19-related slowdown in China. For further details, refer to the "2020 Outlook" section later in this press release.

REVIEW OF SELECT FOURTH QUARTER 2019 FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Other (Income) Expense, net

For the three months ended December 31, 2019, we recorded Other income, net of $8 million ($7 million after tax), which had a favourable impact of $0.02 on diluted earnings per common share. 

For the three months ended December 31, 2018, we recorded Other expense, net of $97 million ($86 million after tax) which had an unfavourable impact of $0.26 on diluted earnings per common share.

For further details, refer to the "Other (Income) Expense, net" section later in this press release.

Segment Analysis
[All amounts in U.S. dollars and all tabular amounts in millions unless otherwise noted]

Body Exteriors & Structures

Sales for Body Exteriors & Structures decreased 6% or $254 million to $3.92 billion for the fourth quarter of 2019 compared to $4.18 billion in 2018. The decrease in sales was primarily due to declines in light vehicle production in North America, including the impact of the labour strike at GM, and in Europe, the end of production of certain programs, a $33 million decrease in reported U.S. dollar sales primarily as a result of the weakening of the euro against the U.S. dollar, and net customer price concessions. These were partially offset by the launch of new programs during or subsequent to the fourth quarter of 2018, including the Jeep Gladiator, Ford Explorer/Lincoln Aviator, Ford Ranger, and Chevrolet Blazer/Cadillac XT6.

Adjusted EBIT for Body Exteriors & Structures decreased $67 million to $289 million for the fourth quarter of 2019 compared to $356 million for the fourth quarter of 2018. This decline reflects the labour strike at GM, lower scrap steel and aluminum recoveries, higher net warranty costs, lower foreign exchange gains, and higher launch costs, partially offset by inefficiencies during 2018 at a plant we closed subsequent to the fourth quarter of 2018.

Adjusted EBIT as a percentage of sales decreased 1.1% to 7.4% for the fourth quarter of 2019 compared to 8.5% for the fourth quarter of 2018. 

The decrease in Adjusted EBIT as a percentage of sales was primarily due to the labour strike at GM, lower scrap steel and aluminum recoveries, higher net warranty costs, lower foreign exchange gains, and higher launch costs, partially offset by inefficiencies during 2018 at a plant  we closed subsequent to the fourth quarter of 2018, and productivity and efficiency improvements, including at certain previously underperforming facilities.

Power & Vision

Sales for Power & Vision decreased 9% or $262 million to $2.73 billion for the fourth quarter of 2019 compared to $2.99 billion for the fourth quarter of 2018. The decrease in sales was primarily due to the divestiture of our FP&C business, declines in light vehicle production in North America, including the impact of the labour strike at GM, and in Europe, a $48 million decrease in reported U.S. dollar sales primarily as a result of the weakening of the euro and Chinese renminbi, each against the U.S. dollar, and net customer price concessions, partially offset by the launch of new programs during or subsequent to the fourth quarter of 2018, including the Jeep Gladiator, Mercedes-Benz GLE/GLE Coupe, and BMW X7.

Adjusted EBIT for Power & Vision decreased $91 million to $163 million for the fourth quarter of 2019 compared to $254 million for the fourth quarter of 2018. The decrease was primarily due to higher engineering costs in our ADAS business, substantially associated with three programs that will be utilizing new technologies, the labour strike at GM, higher net warranty costs, reduced earnings on lower sales at a plant we will be closing, higher spending associated with electrification and autonomy, and the divestiture of FP&C, partially offset by higher net favourable commercial items.

Adjusted EBIT as a percentage of sales decreased 2.5% to 6.0% for the fourth quarter of 2019 compared to 8.5% for the fourth quarter of 2018.  The decrease was primarily due to higher engineering costs in our ADAS business, substantially associated with three programs that will be utilizing new technologies, the labour strike at GM, and higher net warranty costs, partially offset by the divestiture of FP&C during 2019 and higher net favourable commercial items.

Seating Systems

Sales for Seating Systems declined 1% or $9 million to $1.43 billion for the fourth quarter of 2019 compared to $1.44 billion for the fourth quarter of 2018. This decrease was primarily due to declines in light vehicle production in North America, including the impact of the labour strike at GM, and in Europe, the end of production of certain programs, a $15 million decrease in reported U.S. dollar sales primarily as a result of the weakening of the euro, Turkish lira, and Brazilian real, each against the U.S. dollar, and net customer price concessions, partially offset by the launch of new programs during or subsequent to the fourth quarter of 2018, including the BMW 1-Series, BMW X7, BMW X6, and Audi A3 Sportback as well as an acquisition subsequent to the fourth quarter of 2018.

Adjusted EBIT for Seating Systems decreased $31 million to $79 million for the fourth quarter of 2019 compared to $110 million for the fourth quarter of 2018.  The decrease was primarily due to the labour strike at GM, foreign exchange losses in the fourth quarter of 2019 compared to gains in the fourth quarter of 2018, higher net warranty costs, higher commodity costs and higher launch costs, partially offset by an increase in equity income and earnings from an acquisition subsequent to the fourth quarter of 2018.

Adjusted EBIT as a percentage of sales decreased 2.2% to 5.5% for the fourth quarter of 2019 compared to 7.7% for the fourth quarter of 2018.  The decrease was primarily due to foreign exchange losses in the fourth quarter of 2019 compared to gains in the fourth quarter of 2018, launch and operational inefficiencies at a new facility, higher net warranty costs, higher commodity costs, and higher launch costs, and the labour strike at GM, partially offset by an increase in equity income.

Complete Vehicles

Sales for Complete Vehicles decreased 13% or $226 million to $1.46 billion for the fourth quarter of 2019 compared to $1.69 billion for the fourth quarter of 2018, and assembly volumes decreased 7% or 2,700 units. This decrease was primarily due to lower volumes on the Jaguar I-Pace and BMW 5-Series and a $46 million decrease in reported U.S. dollar sales as a result of the weakening of the euro against the U.S. dollar, partially offset by the launch of the Toyota Supra and BMW Z4 as well as improved mix.

Adjusted EBIT for Complete Vehicles increased $20 million to $44 million in the fourth quarter of 2019, and Adjusted EBIT as a percentage of sales improved to 3.0% in the fourth quarter of 2019 compared to 1.4% in the fourth quarter of 2018. The increase in Adjusted EBIT and Adjusted EBIT as a percentage of sales were primarily due to earnings on higher sales of certain vehicles, reduced launch costs and operational improvements, partially offset by restructuring and downsizing costs incurred in 2019.

2020 OUTLOOK (2)

In this outlook we have assumed no material unannounced acquisitions or divestitures or other significant transactions. In addition, we have assumed:

  • 2020 light vehicle production volumes (as set out above);
  • foreign exchange rates for the most common currencies in which we conduct business relative to our U.S. dollar reporting currency were:
    • 1 Canadian dollar equals U.S. dollars     0.75
    • 1 euro equals U.S. dollars                      1.10

            These foreign exchange rates are unchanged from our previous 2020 outlook dated January 16, 2020.
             
In addition, we have not included any adjustment to our outlook related to COVID-19 (coronavirus), as it is difficult to forecast when our customers’ facilities in China will be fully operational, their ability to recover lost production, the risk of supply chain disruptions in the event that Chinese factories are unable to resume normal operations promptly, any adverse impact on the economy in China and/or the possibility that the economies of other regions could be adversely impacted by any further COVID-19-related slowdown in China.

Certain of the forward-looking financial measures above are provided on a Non-GAAP basis. We do not provide a reconciliation of such forward-looking measures to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP.  To do so would be potentially misleading and not practical given the difficulty of projecting items that are not reflective of on-going operations in any future period. The magnitude of these items, however, may be significant.

MAGNA INTERNATIONAL INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
[Unaudited]
[U.S. dollars in millions, except per share figures]

[i]  See "Other (income) expense, net" information included in this Press Release.

 

MAGNA INTERNATIONAL INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
[Unaudited]
[U.S. dollars in millions]

MAGNA INTERNATIONAL INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
[Unaudited]
[U.S. dollars in millions]

 

OTHER (INCOME) EXPENSE, NET

During the three months ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company recorded other (income) expense, net items as follows:

 

 

OTHER (INCOME) EXPENSE, NET (CONTINUED)

SEGMENTED INFORMATION

Magna is a global automotive supplier which has complete vehicle engineering and contract manufacturing expertise, as well as product capabilities which include body, chassis, exterior, seating, powertrain, active driver assistance, electronics, mirrors & lighting, mechatronics and roof systems. Magna also has electronic and software capabilities across many of these areas.

The Company is organized under four operating segments: Body Exteriors & Structures, Power & Vision, Seating Systems and Complete Vehicles. These segments have been determined on the basis of technological opportunities, product similarities, and market and operating factors, and are also the Company's reportable segments.

The Company's chief operating decision maker uses Adjusted Earnings before Interest and Income Taxes ["Adjusted EBIT"] as the measure of segment profit or loss, since management believes Adjusted EBIT is the most appropriate measure of operational profitability or loss for its reporting segments. Adjusted EBIT is calculated by taking net income and adding back income taxes, interest expense, net, and other (income) expense, net.

Certain amounts in the prior period comparatives have been restated to reflect the transfer of assets between the Company’s segments to better reflect utilization of these assets and more accurately measure their operational profitability.

SEGMENTED INFORMATION (CONTINUED)

The following tables show segment information for the Company's reporting segments and a reconciliation of Adjusted EBIT to the Company's consolidated income from operations before income taxes:

[i]  Included in Corporate and Other Adjusted EBIT are intercompany fees charged to the automotive segments.
                     
[ii] For a definition and reconciliation of Adjusted EBIT, refer to our Non-GAAP financial measures reconciliation included in the “Supplemental Data” section of this Press Release.
                     

MAGNA INTERNATIONAL INC.
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
[Unaudited]
[All amounts in U.S. dollars and all tabular amounts in millions unless otherwise noted]

SEGMENTED INFORMATION (CONTINUED)

The following table shows Goodwill for the Company's reporting segments:

The following table shows Net Assets for the Company's reporting segments:

[i] Balance as at December 31, 2018 includes $541 million of net assets held for sale 

The following table reconciles Total Assets to Net Assets:

 

MAGNA INTERNATIONAL INC.
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
[Unaudited]
[All amounts in U.S. dollars and all tabular amounts in millions unless otherwise noted]

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to the financial results reported in accordance with U.S. GAAP, this press release contains references to the Non-GAAP financial measures reconciled below.  We believe the Non-GAAP financial measures used in this press release are useful to both management and investors in their analysis of the Company’s financial position and results of operations. In particular, management believes that Adjusted EBIT and Adjusted diluted earnings per share, are useful measures in assessing the Company’s financial performance by excluding certain items that are not indicative of the Company's core operating performance. Management also believes that these measures are useful to both management and investors in their analysis of the Company's results of operations, as they provide improved comparability between fiscal periods. The presentation of Non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation, or as a substitute for the Company’s related financial results prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

The following table reconciles Net income to Adjusted EBIT:

The following table reconciles Net income attributable to Magna International Inc. to Adjusted Diluted earnings per share:

This press release together with our Management's Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Position and our Interim Financial Statements are available in the Investor Relations section of our website at www.magna.com/company/investors and filed electronically through the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) which can be accessed at www.sedar.com as well as on the United States Securities and Exchange Commission's Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (EDGAR), which can be accessed at www.sec.gov.

We will hold a conference call for interested analysts and shareholders to discuss our fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2019 results on Friday, February 21, 2020 at 7:00 a.m. EST. The conference call will be chaired by Don Walker, Chief Executive Officer. The number to use for this call from North America is 1-888-223-4959. International callers should use 1-303-223-4361. Please call in at least 10 minutes prior to the call start time. We will also webcast the conference call at www.magna.com. The slide presentation accompanying the conference call as well as our financial review summary will be available on our website Friday prior to the call.

TAGS
Quarterly earnings, financial results

INVESTOR CONTACT
Louis Tonelli, Vice-President, Investor Relations
louis.tonelli@magna.com  │  905.726.7035

MEDIA CONTACT
Tracy Fuerst, Vice-President, Corporate Communications & PR
tracy.fuerst@magna.com  │  248.631.5396

OUR BUSINESS (4)

We are a mobility technology company.  We have over 165,000 entrepreneurial-minded employees, 346 manufacturing operations and 94 product development, engineering and sales centres in 27 countries. We have complete vehicle engineering and contract manufacturing expertise, as well as product capabilities that include body, chassis, exteriors, seating, powertrain, active driver assistance, electronics, mechatronics, mirrors, lighting and roof systems. Our common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (MG) and the New York Stock Exchange (MGA).

(4) Manufacturing operations, product development, engineering and sales centres and employee figures generally include equity-accounted operations.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements in this press release constitute "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). Any such forward-looking statements are intended to provide information about management's current expectations and plans and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Forward-looking statements may include financial and other projections, as well as statements regarding our future plans, strategic objectives or economic performance, or the assumptions underlying any of the foregoing, and other statements that are not recitations of historical fact. We use words such as "may", "would", "could", "should", "will", "likely", "expect", "anticipate", "believe", "intend", "plan", "aim", "forecast", "outlook", "project", "estimate", "target" and similar expressions suggesting future outcomes or events to identify forward-looking statements.  Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements relating to our 2020 Outlook; and future returns of capital to our shareholders, including through dividends and share repurchases.

Forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to us, and are based on assumptions and analyses made by us in light of our experience and our perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors we believe are appropriate in the circumstances. While we believe we have a reasonable basis for making any such forward-looking statements, they are not a guarantee of future performance or outcomes. Whether actual results and developments conform to our expectations and predictions is subject to a number of risks, assumptions and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, and the effects of which can be difficult to predict, including, without limitation:

In evaluating forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, we caution readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement, and readers should specifically consider the various factors which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements, including the risks, assumptions and uncertainties above which are discussed in greater detail in this document under the section titled "Industry Trends and Risks" and set out in our Annual Information Form filed with securities commissions in Canada and our annual report on Form 40-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, and subsequent filings.

Magna-Logo-RGB-HR-V1.0.jpg

 

Source: Magna International Inc.