China Automotive Systems Q4 2024 Earnings Report

China Automotive Systems EPS Results

• Actual EPS: $0.30
• Consensus EPS: $0.16
• Beat/Miss: Beat by +$0.14
• One Year Ago EPS: N/A

China Automotive Systems Revenue Results

• Actual Revenue: $188.70 million
• Expected Revenue: $147.52 million
• Beat/Miss: Beat by +$41.18 million
• YoY Revenue Growth: N/A

China Automotive Systems Announcement Details

• Quarter: Q4 2024
• Date: 3/28/2025
• Time: Before Market Opens
• Conference Call Date: Friday, March 28, 2025
• Conference Call Time: 8:00AM ET

China Automotive Systems (NASDAQ:CAAS) (NASDAQ: CAAS) is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of power steering systems and related components primarily for the automotive industry in China. The company’s core business centers on hydraulic and electric power steering products, steering columns, steering gearboxes and electronic control units. By integrating research and development, manufacturing and sales, China Automotive Systems aims to deliver high-quality steering solutions that meet the performance and safety requirements of global automakers.

The company’s product portfolio includes traditional hydraulic power steering systems, which have long been favored for their reliability, as well as advanced electric power steering units that offer improved fuel efficiency and enhanced vehicle control. In recent years, China Automotive Systems has expanded its R&D efforts to develop next-generation steering technologies, such as variable ratio steering and integrated electronic controls, positioning itself to serve the evolving needs of both domestic and overseas OEMs.

With manufacturing facilities located in Guangzhou, Yongzhou and Tianjin, China Automotive Systems serves a broad customer base that includes major international and domestic automakers. Its list of clients features joint ventures and wholly owned manufacturers producing light vehicles, SUVs and commercial vehicles for the Chinese market. The company also explores export opportunities, leveraging its production capacity and quality standards to compete in select overseas markets.

Founded in the early 2000s and headquartered in Guangzhou, China Automotive Systems is led by Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Jianping Zhang. Under his direction, the company has pursued strategic partnerships and continuous process improvements to strengthen its market position. With a focus on technological innovation and customer collaboration, China Automotive Systems seeks to maintain its status as a key supplier in China’s rapidly growing automotive steering sector.

China Automotive Systems Q4 2024 Earnings Call Transcript

Key Takeaways

• Net sales rose 12.9% to $650.9 million in 2024, driven by a 29.9% increase in electric power steering (EPS) system sales and strong growth in China.
• Diluted EPS fell to $0.99 in 2024 from $1.25 in 2023, with net income down to $30 million due to lower margins and one-time tax charges.
• The company returned capital with a special $0.80 per share dividend in August 2024 and authorized a $5 million share buyback at up to $5.50 per share through November 2025.
• Fourth-quarter gross margin shrank to 15.6% from 21.8% year-over-year, contributing to an operating income decline to $8.7 million from $13.6 million.
• Management issued 2025 revenue guidance of $700 million, expecting a 30% unit increase (≈400,000 units) in EPS products to drive growth.

Presentation

[Hanlin Chen, Chairman and Executive Officer at China Automotive Systems]

For $1.25 per share for 2023. Net cash provided by operating activities was $9.8 million for 2024. Cash paid to acquire property, plant, equipment, and land use was $43.7 million, partly offset by $20.5 million cash received from property, plant, and equipment sales. Total cash and equivalents, pledged cash, and short-term investments were $129.4 million, or approximately $4.29 per share at year-end 2024. A special cash dividend of $0.80 per common share, or approximately $22.4 million, was paid in late August 2024 to reward our shareholders. This cash dividend was paid from internal funds and cash flow. This reflects our unwavering confidence in sustainable sales growth and our ability to generate positive cash flow. We have also implemented the share buyback program of up to $5 million of our outstanding common shares in the open market at market prices not to exceed $5.50 per share through November 15, 2025.

[Hanlin Chen, Chairman and Executive Officer at China Automotive Systems]

We celebrated our 20th anniversary of our NASDAQ listing in 2024. From a small domestic manufacturer, we have established a global presence, especially with tier-one companies in North America, South America, Europe, India, and Asia. Since 2004, net sales have grown from $58.2 million-$650.9 million in 2024. We look forward to the further growth of our company sales and operations as our traditional steering products continue to contribute to our sales and profits even as we further expand our EPS portfolio and rebuild our advanced driver assist systems technologies with our Sentient AB operations. We have positioned our company to benefit from two ongoing technology transitions: from internal combustion engines to electric powertrains and from human driving to autonomous driving. Now, let me review the financial results in the fourth quarter of 2024.

[Hanlin Chen, Chairman and Executive Officer at China Automotive Systems]

In the fourth quarter of 2024, net sales increased by 18.6% to $188.7 million compared to $159.2 million in the same quarter of 2023. The net sales increase was mainly due to a change in the product mix and a higher demand for passenger automobiles and commercial vehicles in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to the fourth quarter of 2023. Gross profit was $29.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to $34.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2023. Gross margin in the fourth quarter of 2024 was 15.6% compared to 21.8% in the fourth quarter of 2023, primarily due to a change in product mix. Selling expenses were $4.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared with $4.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2023.

[Hanlin Chen, Chairman and Executive Officer at China Automotive Systems]

Selling expenses represented 2.5% of net sales in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to 2.9% in the fourth quarter of 2023. General and administrative expenses, G&A, were $9.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to $9.4 million in the same period in 2023. The G&A expenses represented 5.1% of net sales in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to 5.9% of net sales in the fourth quarter of 2023. Research and development expenses, R&D, were $7.8 million compared with $9.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2023. R&D expenses represented 4.1% of net sales in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to 5.9% in the fourth quarter of 2023, mainly due to a decrease in miscellaneous development expenses. Operating income was $8.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to $13.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2023.

[Hanlin Chen, Chairman and Executive Officer at China Automotive Systems]

Lower gross profit in 2024 fourth quarter compared with the same period of last year was the main cause of this decline. Interest expense was $1.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared with $0.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2023. Financial income was $0.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared with $1 million in the fourth quarter of 2023. Income for income tax expenses and equity in earnings of affiliated companies was $8.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to $15 million in the fourth quarter of 2023. Net income benefit was $2 million in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to income tax expense of $2.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2023.

[Hanlin Chen, Chairman and Executive Officer at China Automotive Systems]

Net income attributable to parent companies' common shareholders was $9.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to net income attributable to parent companies' common shareholders of $10.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2023. Diluted income per share was $0.30 in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to diluted income per share of $0.36 in the fourth quarter of 2023. The average weighted number of diluted common shares outstanding was 30,180,947 compared to 30,185,702 in the fourth quarter of 2023. Now, we'll review the results for the fiscal year of 2024. Net sales increased by 12.9% to $650.9 million in 2024 compared to $576.4 million in 2023.

[Hanlin Chen, Chairman and Executive Officer at China Automotive Systems]

This increase was mainly due to higher sales of passenger vehicles in China, as total sales of the company's EPS systems increased by 29.9% year-over-year, and sales of the Henglong subsidiary steering systems to the Chinese passenger vehicle market increased by 20% year-over-year. Brazil Henglong had sales decrease by 5.7% year-over-year to $51 million. This growth partially offset the sales reductions by North American customers in 2024. EPS sales represented 38.9% of total revenue in 2024 compared to 33.8% in 2023. Gross profit in 2024 increased by 5.2% year-over-year to $109.2 million compared to $103.8 million in 2023. The gross margin was 16.8% compared with 18% in 2023, mainly due to a change in our product mix and lower average selling prices for the year ended December 31, 2024.

[Hanlin Chen, Chairman and Executive Officer at China Automotive Systems]

Net gain on other sales in 2024 was $4.3 million compared to $5.8 million in 2023, mainly due to lower material sales in 2024. Selling expenses rose by 14.4% year-over-year to $17.9 million in 2024 from $15.6 million in 2023, mainly due to an increase in marketing and office expenses. Selling expenses represented 2.7% of net sales in 2024 and 2023. G&A expenses increased by $8.7 million year-over-year to $27.7 million in 2024 compared to $25.5 million in 2023. G&A expenses represented 4.3% of net sales in 2024 compared to 4.4% of net sales in 2023. This expense increase was mainly due to higher office property and other taxes and maintenance and repair expenses. R&D expenses were $27.6 million in 2024 compared to $29.2 million in 2023. Lower R&D expenses reflect less investment in traditional product upgrades and miscellaneous research expenses.

[Hanlin Chen, Chairman and Executive Officer at China Automotive Systems]

R&D expenses were 4.2% of net sales in 2024 compared to 5.1% of net sales in 2023. Operating income increased by 2.6% to $40.3 million in 2024 compared to $39.2 million in 2023. The increase in operating income was mainly due to a 5.2% increase in gross profit combined with the change in R&D expenses. Interest expense was $1.8 million in 2024 compared to $1 million in 2023, primarily due to an increase in bank loans in 2024 compared with 2023. Net financial expense was $0.09 million in 2024 compared to financial income of $4.7 million for 2023. The decrease in financial income of $4.8 million was primarily due to higher foreign exchange gains in 2023. Income before income tax expenses and equity and earnings of affiliated companies was $44.1 million in 2024 compared with $48.2 million in 2023. The change was primarily due to lower operating income in 2024.

[Hanlin Chen, Chairman and Executive Officer at China Automotive Systems]

Income tax expense was $5.9 million in 2024 compared to $5.1 million in 2023. This increase was mainly due to a valuation allowance reversal and a one-time income tax expense settlement for subsidiaries in the PRC and the U.S. this year. Net income attributable to parent companies' shareholders was $30 million in 2024 compared to $37.7 million in 2023. Diluted net income per share was $0.99 in 2024 compared to $1.25 in 2023. The weighted average number of diluted common shares outstanding was 30,184,513 in 2024 compared with 30,189,421 in 2023. Now, we'll provide some balance sheet and other financial highlights. As of December 31, 2024, total cash, cash equivalents, pledged cash, and short-term investments were $129.4 million. Total cash receivable, including notes receivable, was $343.5 million. Accounts payable, including notes payable, was $292.8 million, and short-term bank loans were $72.6 million.

[Hanlin Chen, Chairman and Executive Officer at China Automotive Systems]

Total parent company stockhold's equity was $349.6 million as of December 31, 2024, compared to $344.5 million as of December 31, 2023. Net cash flow from operating activities was $9.8 million in 2024. Cash paid to acquire property, plant, and equipment and land use rights was $43.7 million in 2024, and cash received from the sale of property, plant, and equipment was $20.5 million. The business outlook. Management has provided revenue guidance for the full year of 2025 of $700 million. This target is based on the company's current views on operating market conditions, which are subject to change. With that, operator, we'll be ready to begin the Q&A.

[Operator]

Thank you very much. At this time, we'll be opening the floor for questions. If you would like to ask a question, you can do so by pressing Star 1 on your phone keypad now to join the queue. The confirmation tone will indicate that your line is in the queue. You may press Star 2 if you would like to remove your question from the queue. For any participants using speaker equipment, it may be necessary to pick up your handset before you press the keys. Please wait a moment whilst we poll for questions. Thank you. Your first question is coming from Jonathan Nieves, who's a private investor. Jonathan, your line is live. Jonathan, can you hear us?

[Jonathan Nieves, Private Investor at China Automotive Systems]

Yes, I can hear you. Sorry, can you guys hear me?

[Qizhou Wu, CEO at China Automotive Systems]

Yes, we can hear you.

[Jonathan Nieves, Private Investor at China Automotive Systems]

Okay. My question is, for the 2025 year, the projection is for sales to grow by $50 million. What areas will generate this growth?

[Qizhou Wu, CEO at China Automotive Systems]

2025, right?

[Jonathan Nieves, Private Investor at China Automotive Systems]

Yes.

[Qizhou Wu, CEO at China Automotive Systems]

Okay.[Foreign language]

[Jonathan Nieves, Private Investor at China Automotive Systems]

[Foreign language]

[Qizhou Wu, CEO at China Automotive Systems]

Okay. The majority of our sales increase in our production will be contributed from the EPS sales, our electric power steering products. That breaks down to a number of new products: CEPS, DPEPS, and REPS products. On the volume, we're expecting a 30% year-over-year increase in 2025. In terms of total volume, we're looking at, in terms of unit volume increase, we're looking at another 400,000 units increase in 2025. That we're looking at, that will contribute to significant revenue growth we are reporting right now.

[Operator]

Okay. Jonathan, do you have any more questions?

[Jonathan Nieves, Private Investor at China Automotive Systems]

No, that was it. Thank you.

[Operator]

Nope. Okay. Thank you very much. Just a reminder that if there are any remaining questions, you can jump into the queue by pressing Star 1 on your phone keypad. Just wait a moment to see if anyone jumps into the queue. Okay. I'm not seeing any further questions. Nope. There's nobody come into the queue. Just a reminder to the audience, you can press Star 1 on your phone keypad if you would like to ask a question. Okay. We don't appear to have anyone else in the queue. I can hand back to the management team if they would like any closing comments.

[Qizhou Wu, CEO at China Automotive Systems]

Thank you for your participation in today's conference call. Be safe, and we look forward to speaking with you in the future.

[Operator]

Thank you very much. This does conclude today's conference call. You can disconnect your phone lines at this time and have a wonderful day. Thank you for your participation.

Participants

Executives

• Hanlin Chen, Chairman and Executive Officer
• Jonathan Nieves, Private Investor
• Qizhou Wu, CEO