In This Article:
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Net Sales: Declined 6% to SEK138 billion, impacted by softer markets and negative FX of SEK1.1 billion.
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Adjusted Operating Income: SEK14 billion, with a margin of 10.1%.
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Operating Cash Flow: Record high of SEK24.3 billion for the quarter.
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Return on Capital Employed: Almost 36% in Industrial Operations.
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Earnings Per Share: SEK5.28.
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Total Truck Deliveries: Declined 11% in Q4.
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Construction Equipment Deliveries: Down 5%, with Volvo down 23% and SDLG up 20%.
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Service Sales: Flat year-over-year, adjusted for currency, with a 4% increase excluding Arquus divestment.
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Book-to-Bill Ratio: Positive at 106% for medium and heavy-duty trucks in Q4.
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Financial Position: SEK86 billion.
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Dividend Proposal: Ordinary dividend of SEK8 per share and an extra dividend of SEK10.5 per share.
Release Date: January 29, 2025
For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.
Positive Points
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Volvo AB (VLVLY) reported a strong operating cash flow of SEK24.3 billion for the fourth quarter, marking an all-time high for the company.
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The company maintained a solid return on capital employed in Industrial Operations at nearly 36%, indicating strong financial health.
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Volvo AB (VLVLY) achieved a positive book-to-bill ratio in Q4, with significant order intake improvements across major regions, particularly in North America.
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The company successfully launched the all-new VNL in North America, which is expected to enhance market share and future growth.
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Volvo AB (VLVLY) continues to lead in the electrification space, with a 62% increase in orders for fully electric vehicles and machines, driven by Renault Trucks and SDLG machines.
Negative Points
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Net sales declined by 6% in Q4, impacted by softer markets and lower volumes, along with a negative currency effect of SEK1.1 billion.
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Group Trucks North America faced specific challenges, including supply chain disruptions due to storm Helen and additional costs related to the VNL ramp-up.
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Total truck deliveries declined by 11% in Q4, with a notable decrease in heavy-duty deliveries.
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The Construction Equipment segment experienced a 19% decline in sales, driven by continued declines in Europe and North America.
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Volvo AB (VLVLY) revised its forecast for the Chinese market, expecting it to move sideways rather than expand, reducing the forecast by 110,000 units.
Q & A Highlights
Q: Can you explain the impact of price versus mix on the average sales per truck, and the pricing environment in general? A: Mats Backman, CFO, explained that the mix impact was significant due to light commercial vehicles. There were no year-over-year pricing effects, but prices are being maintained. Martin Lundstedt, CEO, added that the mix effect was primarily due to changes in light commercial vehicle deliveries.