AAM Reports First Quarter 2024 Financial Results

AAM Starts 2024 With Solid Performance

DETROIT, May 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc. (AAM), (NYSE: AXL) today reported its financial results for the first quarter 2024.

AAM logo (PRNewsfoto/American Axle & Manufacturing)

First Quarter 2024 Results

Sales of $1.61 billion
Net income of $20.5 million, or 1.3% of sales
Adjusted EBITDA of $205.6 million, or 12.8% of sales
Diluted earnings per share of $0.17; Adjusted earnings per share of $0.18
Net cash provided by operating activities of $17.8 million; Adjusted free cash flow use of $(21.4) million

"AAM is off to a good start in 2024, posting solid first quarter financial performance driven by better-than-expected volume and mix and sequential improvement in AAM's overall performance. With just one quarter completed, we are keeping our outlook unchanged for now, but these results certainly give us added confidence in our full-year guidance." said AAM's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, David C. Dauch. "Longer term, as the industry reassesses propulsion solutions, AAM will continue to develop a strong and agnostic product portfolio for both our Driveline and Metal Forming businesses to support the industry's powertrain needs."

AAM's sales in the first quarter of 2024 were $1.61 billion as compared to $1.49 billion in the first quarter of 2023. Sales for the first quarter of 2024 were favorably impacted by volume and mix.

AAM's net income in the first quarter of 2024 was $20.5 million, or $0.17 per share and 1.3% of sales, as compared to net loss of $(5.1) million, or $(0.04) per share and (0.3)% of sales in the first quarter of 2023.

Adjusted earnings per share in the first quarter of 2024 was $0.18 compared to Adjusted loss per share of $(0.01) in the first quarter of 2023.

In the first quarter of 2024, Adjusted EBITDA was $205.6 million, or 12.8% of sales, as compared to $175.4 million, or 11.7% of sales, in the first quarter of 2023.

AAM's net cash provided by operating activities for the first quarter of 2024 was $17.8 million as compared to $32.1 million for the first quarter of 2023.

AAM's Adjusted free cash flow for the first quarter of 2024 was $(21.4) million as compared to $(17.1) million for the first quarter of 2023.

AAM's 2024 Financial Outlook
AAM's previously stated full year 2024 financial targets remain unchanged. AAM's full year 2024 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.

First Quarter 2024 Conference Call Information
A conference call to review AAM's first 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 9770147. A replay will be available one hour after the call is complete until May 10, 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 9444230.

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 impact of restructuring and acquisition-related costs, debt refinancing and redemption costs, unrealized gains or losses on equity securities, pension curtailment and settlement charges 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, unrealized gains or losses on equity securities, pension curtailment and settlement charges 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; our ability to realize the expected revenues from our new and incremental business backlog; 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; 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.

AMERICAN AXLE & MANUFACTURING HOLDINGS, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2024	2023
	(in millions, except per share data)

Net sales	$ 1,606.9	$ 1,493.9

Cost of goods sold	1,408.4	1,333.3

Gross profit	198.5	160.6

Selling, general and administrative expenses	98.3	98.3

Amortization of intangible assets	20.7	21.4

Restructuring and acquisition-related costs	2.5	4.8

Operating income	77.0	36.1

Interest expense	(49.0)	(50.5)

Interest income	8.3	5.9

Other income (expense):
Unrealized gain (loss) on equity securities	0.1	(0.3)
Other income (expense), net	—	3.7

Income (loss) before income taxes	36.4	(5.1)

Income tax expense	15.9	—

Net income (loss)	$ 20.5	$ (5.1)

Diluted earnings (loss) per share	$ 0.17	$ (0.04)

AMERICAN AXLE & MANUFACTURING HOLDINGS, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)

	March 31, 2024	December 31, 2023
	(in millions)
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 469.8	$ 519.9
Accounts receivable, net	960.5	818.5
Inventories, net	476.8	482.9
Prepaid expenses and other	186.1	185.3
Total current assets	2,093.2	2,006.6

Property, plant and equipment, net	1,700.3	1,760.9
Deferred income taxes	165.3	169.4
Goodwill	181.4	182.1
Other intangible assets, net	512.2	532.8
GM postretirement cost sharing asset	113.2	111.9
Operating lease right-of-use assets	111.2	115.6
Other assets and deferred charges	494.3	477.0
Total assets	$ 5,371.1	$ 5,356.3

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities
Current portion of long-term debt	$ 25.0	$ 17.0
Accounts payable	830.1	773.9
Accrued compensation and benefits	174.9	200.1
Deferred revenue	15.0	16.6
Current portion of operating lease liabilities	22.3	21.9
Accrued expenses and other	168.3	172.1
Total current liabilities	1,235.6	1,201.6

Long-term debt, net	2,735.0	2,751.9
Deferred revenue	69.9	70.4
Deferred income taxes	16.1	16.5
Long-term portion of operating lease liabilities	91.2	95.5
Postretirement benefits and other long-term liabilities	601.9	615.5
Total liabilities	4,749.7	4,751.4

Total AAM stockholders' equity	621.4	604.9
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ 5,371.1	$ 5,356.3

AMERICAN AXLE & MANUFACTURING HOLDINGS, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2024	2023
	(in millions)
Operating activities
Net income (loss)	$ 20.5	$ (5.1)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities
Depreciation and amortization	117.8	124.9
Other	(120.5)	(87.7)
Net cash provided by operating activities	17.8	32.1

Investing activities
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	(48.0)	(46.6)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment	3.1	0.4
Acquisition of business, net of cash acquired	(0.6)	(0.6)
Other	(2.7)	16.3
Net cash used in investing activities	(48.2)	(30.5)

Financing activities
Net debt activity	(10.1)	(30.9)
Other	(5.9)	(18.2)
Net cash used in financing activities	(16.0)	(49.1)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(3.7)	1.7

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(50.1)	(45.8)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	519.9	511.5

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 469.8	$ 465.7

AMERICAN AXLE & MANUFACTURING HOLDINGS, INC. SUPPLEMENTAL DATA (Unaudited)

The supplemental data presented below is a reconciliation of certain financial measures which is intended to facilitate analysis of American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc. business and operating performance.

Earnings before interest expense, income taxes and depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) and Adjusted EBITDA^(a)

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2024	2023
	(in millions)

Net income (loss)	$ 20.5	$ (5.1)
Interest expense	49.0	50.5
Income tax expense	15.9	—
Depreciation and amortization	117.8	124.9
EBITDA	203.2	170.3
Restructuring and acquisition-related costs	2.5	4.8
Unrealized loss (gain) on equity securities	(0.1)	0.3
Adjusted EBITDA	$ 205.6	$ 175.4

Adjusted earnings (loss) per share^(b)

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2024	2023
Diluted earnings (loss) per share	$ 0.17	$ (0.04)
Restructuring and acquisition-related costs	0.02	0.04
Unrealized loss (gain) on equity securities	—	—
Tax effect of adjustments	(0.01)	(0.01)
Adjusted earnings (loss) per share	$ 0.18	$ (0.01)

Adjusted earnings (loss) per share are based on weighted average diluted shares outstanding of 121.0 million and 115.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 respectively.

AMERICAN AXLE & MANUFACTURING HOLDINGS, INC. SUPPLEMENTAL DATA (Unaudited)

The supplemental data presented below is a reconciliation of certain financial measures which is intended to facilitate analysis of American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc. business and operating performance.

Free cash flow and Adjusted free cash flow^(c)

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2024	2023
	(in millions)
Net cash provided by operating activities	$ 17.8	$ 32.1
Capital expenditures net of proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment	(44.9)	(46.2)
Free cash flow	$ (27.1)	$ (14.1)
Cash payments for restructuring and acquisition-related costs	5.7	4.0
Cash payments (insurance proceeds) related to Malvern fire, net	—	(7.0)
Adjusted free cash flow	$ (21.4)	$ (17.1)

Segment Financial Information

	Three Months Ended
	March 31,
	2024	2023
	(in millions)
Segment Sales
Driveline	$ 1,106.4	$ 1,013.8
Metal Forming	644.1	619.1
Total Sales	1,750.5	1,632.9
Intersegment Sales	(143.6)	(139.0)
Net External Sales	$ 1,606.9	$ 1,493.9

Segment Adjusted EBITDA^(a)
Driveline	$ 157.4	$ 114.1
Metal Forming	48.2	61.3
Total Segment Adjusted EBITDA	$ 205.6	$ 175.4

Full Year 2024 Financial Outlook

	Adjusted EBITDA
	Low End	High End
	(in millions)
Net income (loss)	$ (10)	$ 30
Interest expense	195	195
Income tax expense	—	25
Depreciation and amortization	480	480
Full year 2024 targeted EBITDA	665	730
Restructuring and acquisition-related costs	20	20
Full year 2024 targeted Adjusted EBITDA	$ 685	$ 750

	Adjusted Free Cash Flow
	Low End	High End
	(in millions)
Net cash provided by operating activities	$ 445	$ 485
Capital expenditures net of proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment	(265)	(265)
Full year 2024 targeted Free Cash Flow	180	220
Cash payments for restructuring and acquisition-related costs	20	20
Full year 2024 targeted Adjusted Free Cash Flow	$ 200	$ 240

(a)	We define 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, unrealized gains or losses on equity securities, pension curtailment and settlement charges and non-recurring items. We believe that EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are meaningful measures of performance as they are commonly utilized by management and investors to analyze operating performance and entity valuation. Our management, the investment community and the banking institutions routinely use EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, together with other measures, to measure our operating performance relative to other Tier 1 automotive suppliers. We also use Segment Adjusted EBITDA as the measure of earnings to assess the performance of each segment and determine the resources to be allocated to the segments. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are also key metrics used in our calculation of incentive compensation. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as income from operations, net income or cash flow from operating activities as determined under GAAP. Other companies may calculate EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA differently.
(b)	We define 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, unrealized gains or losses on equity securities, pension curtailment and settlement charges and non-recurring items, including the tax effect thereon. We believe Adjusted earnings (loss) per share is a meaningful measure as it is commonly utilized by management and investors in assessing ongoing financial performance that provides improved comparability between periods through the exclusion of certain items that management believes are not indicative of core operating performance and which may obscure underlying business results and trends. Other companies may calculate Adjusted earnings (loss) per share differently.
(c)	We define 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. We believe free cash flow and Adjusted free cash flow are meaningful measures as they are commonly utilized by management and investors to assess our ability to generate cash flow from business operations to repay debt and return capital to our stockholders. Free cash flow and Adjusted free cash flow are also key metrics used in our calculation of incentive compensation. Other companies may calculate free cash flow and Adjusted free cash flow differently.