China Automotive Systems Reports Sales Increased by 19.4% in the Third Quarter of 2024

WUHAN, China, Nov. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- China Automotive Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CAAS) ("CAAS" or the "Company"), a leading power steering components and systems supplier in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2024.

Third Quarter 2024 Highlights

• Net sales rose 19.4% year-over-year to $164.2 million from $137.5 million in the third quarter of 2023.
• Gross profit increased by 6.5% year-over-year to $26.4 million from $24.8 million in the third quarter of 2023; gross margin was 16.0% in the third quarter of 2024 compared to 18.0% in the third quarter of 2023.
• Income from operations was $11.1 million for the third quarter of 2024, a nearly 10.0% increase compared to $10.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023.
• Net income attributable to parent company's common shareholders was $5.5 million, or diluted earnings per share of $0.18.

First Nine Months of 2024 Highlights

• Net sales grew by 10.8% year-over-year to $462.2 million, compared to $417.2 million in the first nine months of 2023.
• Gross profit increased by 15.4% year-over-year to $79.7 million, compared to $69.1 million in the first nine months of 2023; gross margin increased to 17.2% in the first nine months of 2024 from 16.6% in the same period last year.
• Income from operations rose by 22.9% year-over-year to $31.6 million compared to income from operations of $25.7 million in the first nine months of 2023.
• Net income attributable to parent company's common shareholders was $20.9 million.
• Diluted earnings per share attributable to parent company's common shareholders was $0.69.
• Cash and cash equivalents, and pledged cash were $138.8 million, or approximately $4.60 per share, as of September 30, 2024.
• A special cash dividend of $0.80 per common share was paid to shareholders in August 2024.

Mr. Qizhou Wu, Chief Executive Officer of CAAS, commented, "We are pleased to report sales growth for both the third quarter and the nine-month periods. Our third quarter's solid performance was driven by a noteworthy 43.5% year-over-year increase in sales of Electric Power Steering ("EPS") products, now accounting for almost 40.0% of our total sales. Additionally, sales of traditional steering products in the domestic Chinese passenger vehicle market climbed by 29.6% year-over-year, despite a slower industry growth environment. We are also pleased to see our commercial vehicle market sales rebounded with a 10.5% increase this quarter. Domestic sales were buoyed by the vehicle replacement cycle and subsidy policies. All business units, with the exception of North America, reported sales growth in the third quarter of 2024."

"According to statistics from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, overall automobile sales in China increased by 2.1% year-over-year in the first nine months of 2024 with passenger car sales up by 3.0% and commercial vehicle sales lower by 1.6%. Sales of new energy vehicles increased by 32.5% and Chinese vehicle exports rose by 27.3% for the first nine months of 2024."

"Given our recent financial performance and positive outlook, our shareholders were rewarded with a special cash dividend of $0.80 per common share in August of 2024. Also in August 2024, we celebrated the 20th anniversary of our NASDAQ listing," Mr. Wu concluded.

Mr. Jie Li, Chief Financial Officer of CAAS, commented, "We continued to maintain a strong balance sheet with cash and cash equivalents plus pledged cash of $138.8 million, despite spending $9.3 million on cash dividends to shareholders and investing $18.3 million in property, plant and equipment in the first nine months of 2024. At September 30^th, working capital was $156.6 million and positive cash flow from operations increased by almost 54.0% year-over-year in the first nine months of 2024. We remain well positioned in our markets for long-term growth."

Third Quarter of 2024

Net sales increased by 19.4% year-over-year to $164.2 million in the third quarter of 2024, compared to $137.5 million in the third quarter of 2023. Net sales of traditional steering products and parts increased by 7.4% year-over-year to $98.6 million for the third quarter of 2024, compared to $91.8 million for the same quarter in 2023. Net sales of EPS products rose 43.5% year-over-year to $65.6 million from $45.7 million for the same period in 2023. EPS product sales grew to 39.9% of the total net sales for the third quarter of 2024, compared to 33.2% for the same period in 2023. Sales of Henglong's passenger vehicle steering systems increased by 29.6% and sales to Chery Auto rose by 12.4% due to higher demand. Sales to the commercial vehicle markets increased by 10.5%. Export sales to North American customers decreased to $18.7 million in the third quarter of 2024, compared to $27.6 million in the third quarter of 2023. North American sales declined primarily due to decreased demand from one customer. Sales in Brazil were $14.3 million in the third quarter of 2024, compared to $13.3 million in the third quarter of 2023. Net product sales for other entities rose 23.4% to $35.2 million compared to $28.5 million for the third quarter in 2023.

Gross profit grew by 6.5% year-over-year to $26.4 million from $24.8 million in the third quarter of 2023. Gross margin was 16.0% in the third quarter of 2024 compared to 18.0% in the third quarter of 2023. The change in gross margin was mainly due to the changes in the product mix for the three months ended September 30, 2024.

Gain on other sales was $0.6 million in the third quarter of 2024, compared to $2.2 million in the third quarter of 2023.

Selling expenses increased by 14.6% year-over-year to $4.4 million compared to $3.8 million in the third quarter of 2023. This expense increase was primarily due to higher warehouse and logistic costs related to the increased revenue. Selling expenses represented 2.7% of net sales in the third quarter of 2024, compared to 2.8% in the third quarter of 2023.

General and administrative expenses ("G&A expenses") decreased by 17.0% year-over-year to $5.1 million, compared to $6.1 million in the third quarter of 2023, primarily due to the reversal of bad debt provisions for receivables. G&A expenses represented 3.1% of net sales in the third quarter of 2024, compared to 4.4% of net sales in the third quarter of 2023.

Research and development expenses ("R&D expenses") decreased by 7.1% year-over-year to $6.4 million compared to $6.9 million in the third quarter of 2023. This decrease was related to lower R&D miscellaneous expenses caused by a reduction in R&D activities for new projects. R&D expenses represented 3.9% of net sales in the third quarter of 2024, compared to 5.0% in the third quarter of 2023.

Other income was $1.3 million for the third quarter of 2024, which is stable compared to $1.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023.

Income from operations was $11.1 million for the third quarter of 2024, a nearly 10.0% increase compared to $10.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023.

Interest expense was $0.3 million in the third quarter of 2024 compared to $0.2 million in the third quarter of 2023.

Net financial expense was $0.2 million in the third quarter of 2024, compared to net financial income of $0.2 million in the third quarter of 2023. The change in net financial expense/income primarily resulted from an increase in the foreign exchange losses due to the foreign exchange volatility.

Income before income tax expenses and equity in earnings of affiliated companies was $11.9 million in the third quarter of 2024, compared to income before income tax expenses and equity in earnings of affiliated companies of $11.2 million in the third quarter of 2023.

Income tax expense was $4.0 million in the third quarter of 2024 compared to $0.7 million for the third quarter of 2023, primarily due to a one-time income tax expense settlement for the subsidiaries in the PRC and an increase in the Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income ("GILTI") tax expenses.

Net income attributable to parent company's common shareholders was $5.5 million in the third quarter of 2024, compared to net income attributable to parent company's common shareholders of $9.5 million in the third quarter of 2023. Diluted earnings per share was $0.18 in the third quarter of 2024, compared to $0.31 per share in the third quarter of 2023.

The weighted average number of diluted common shares outstanding was 30,185,702 in the third quarter of 2024, compared to 30,189,363 in the third quarter of 2023.

First Nine Months of 2024

Net sales increased by 10.8% year-over-year to $462.2 million in the first nine months of 2024, compared to $417.2 million in the first nine months of 2023 primarily due to an increase in sales of both traditional steering and EPS products. Nine-month gross profit increased by 15.4% year-over-year to $79.7 million from $69.1 million in the corresponding period last year. Nine-month gross margin increased to 17.2% from 16.6% in the first nine months of 2023. Gain on other sales was $2.8 million in the first nine months of 2024, compared to $3.6 million in the corresponding period last year. Income from operations increased by 22.9% year-over-year to $31.6 million in the first nine months of 2024 from $25.7 million in the first nine months of 2023.

Net income attributable to parent company's common shareholders was $20.9 million in the first nine months of 2024, compared to net income attributable to parent company's common shareholders of $26.8 million in the corresponding period in 2023. Diluted earnings per share in the first nine months of 2024 were $0.69, compared to diluted earnings per share of $0.89 in the first nine months of 2023.

Balance Sheet

As of September 30, 2024, total cash and cash equivalents, and pledged cash were $138.8 million, total accounts receivable including notes receivable were $314.2 million, accounts payable including notes payable were $271.8 million and short-term loans were $59.7 million. Total parent company stockholders' equity was $388.6 million as of September 30, 2024, compared to $367.8 million as of December 31, 2023.

Business Outlook

Management has raised its revenue guidance for the full year 2024 to $630.0 million. This target is based on the Company's current views on operating and market conditions, which are subject to change.

Conference Call

Management will conduct a conference call on Wednesday, November 13, 2024 at 8:00 A.M. EST/9:00 P.M. Beijing Time to discuss these results. A question and answer session will follow management's presentation. To participate, please see the dial-in information below, enter the call 10 minutes before the call start time and ask to be connected to the "China Automotive Systems" conference call:

Phone Number: +1-888-506-0062 (North America)
Phone Number: +1-973-528-0011 (International)
Mainland China Toll Free: +86-400-120-3199
Code: 546311

A replay of the call will be available on the Company's website under the investor relations section.