Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Adjusted EBITDA for Q2 was $233 million, up 3% year-on-year, with EBITDA margins expanding by 40 basis points to 6.5% [30][31] - Consolidated sales decreased to approximately $3.6 billion, a decline of $139 million compared to Q2 fiscal year 2024, primarily due to lower customer volumes and foreign exchange impacts [32][33] - Free cash flow for Q2 was an outflow of $90 million, consistent with internal expectations reflecting normal seasonality [39] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - In the Americas, sales increased due to favorable comparisons with the previous year, driven by key customer programs reaching full run rates [33][34] - EMEA experienced lower production volumes but began to see improvements from restructuring efforts, with a recorded non-cash goodwill impairment of $333 million due to market value declines [22][30] - Asia's performance was flat year-on-year, with expectations for growth driven by new business with local OEMs [23][34] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Americas outperformed industry volumes, while EMEA faced headwinds from weaker market demand [33][34] - In Asia, sales in China underperformed due to lower volumes from traditional luxury OEM customers, but new customer launches outside China are expected to drive growth [33][34] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on mitigating tariff impacts through resourcefulness and leveraging its global footprint to create value for customers [13][17] - Adient aims to capitalize on growth opportunities by focusing on more profitable business and investing in innovation and efficiency measures [10][17] - The company is committed to maintaining operational excellence and solid execution to navigate macroeconomic volatility [9][28] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to manage tariff exposure and emphasized the importance of USMCA compliance [15][17] - The outlook for the second half of fiscal year 2025 remains positive, with expectations for continued strong business performance despite potential volume headwinds from tariffs [45][46] - Management highlighted the resilience of the operating model and the ability to mitigate external pressures [30][31] Other Important Information - Adient received multiple awards for supplier excellence, including recognition from GM and Toyota for quality and performance [11][12] - The company has a strong cash balance of $754 million and total liquidity of $1.6 billion, with no near-term debt maturities [41][42] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you clarify the progress on tariffs and the roadmap for recovery? - Management indicated that the roadmap includes ongoing price negotiations and cost offsets, with 75% of the gross position already resolved [57][58] Question: How is the EMEA region performing relative to expectations? - Management noted that while EMEA showed positive business performance, it is still subject to variability and should not be seen as a trend [60][62] Question: What is the outlook for margins and cost efficiency actions? - Management expects significant opportunities for margin improvement, particularly in the Americas, while cautioning that EMEA may not see inflection until 2026 [71][74] Question: How are FX assumptions impacting guidance? - Management maintained previous FX assumptions due to volatility, indicating potential translational upside if rates hold [77][78] Question: What is the current mindset on capital allocation? - Management reiterated a measured approach to capital allocation, focusing on investments in the business and potential share repurchases based on cash generation and market clarity [80][82]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Adjusted EBITDA for Q2 was $233 million, up 3% year-on-year, with EBITDA margins expanding by 40 basis points to 6.5% [29][30] - Consolidated sales decreased to approximately $3.6 billion, a decline of $139 million compared to Q2 FY2024, primarily due to lower customer volumes and foreign exchange impacts [31][32] - Free cash flow for Q2 was an outflow of $90 million, consistent with internal expectations reflecting normal seasonality [39] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - In the Americas, sales increased due to favorable comparisons with the previous year, driven by key customer programs reaching full run rates [31][32] - EMEA experienced lower production volumes but began to see improvements from restructuring benefits, with a recorded non-cash goodwill impairment of $333 million due to market value declines [20][29] - Asia's performance was flat year-on-year, with expectations of temporary pressure on China revenue, but new business with local OEMs is anticipated to drive growth [21][32] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Americas outperformed industry volumes, while EMEA faced headwinds from weaker market demand [31][32] - In Asia, sales in China underperformed due to lower volumes from traditional luxury OEM customers, but the company continues to outperform the industry outside of China [32] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on mitigating tariff impacts through resourcefulness and leveraging its global footprint to create value for customers [12][16] - Adient aims to drive operational excellence and invest in innovation, automation, and efficiency measures to enhance profitability [8][10] - The company is committed to maintaining a strong balance sheet and liquidity while navigating macroeconomic challenges [41][44] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to manage tariff exposures and emphasized the importance of customer relationships and operational flexibility [12][16] - The outlook for the second half of FY2025 remains positive, with expectations of continued strong business performance despite potential volume headwinds from tariffs [43][45] - Management reiterated guidance for FY2025 revenue and adjusted EBITDA, assuming no significant changes in tariff policies [44][45] Other Important Information - The company received multiple awards for supplier excellence, including recognition from GM and Toyota for quality and performance [10] - Adient's strong cash position includes $754 million in cash and $1.6 billion in total liquidity as of March 31, 2025 [41][42] Q&A Session Summary Question: Progress on tariff resolution and roadmap - Management indicated that the 75% resolved portion includes agreements for price recoveries, while the roadmap involves ongoing negotiations and cost offsets [57][58] Question: EMEA performance and expectations - Management noted that while EMEA showed positive performance, it is still subject to variability and should not be seen as a trend [60][62] Question: Direct tariff exposure and compliance - Management clarified that 95% of parts produced in Mexico and Canada are USMCA compliant, thus not subject to tariffs, and discussed the implications of Annex One [66][67] Question: Margin outlook and efficiency actions - Management expressed confidence in achieving higher margins through ongoing efficiency improvements and restructuring efforts [71][72] Question: Capital allocation strategy - Management reiterated a measured approach to capital allocation, focusing on investments in the business and potential share repurchases based on cash generation and market clarity [81][84]

Core Viewpoint - Adient reported quarterly earnings of $0.69 per share, significantly exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.36 per share, marking an earnings surprise of 91.67% [1][2] Financial Performance - The company posted revenues of $3.61 billion for the quarter ended March 2025, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 4.07%, although this represents a decline from year-ago revenues of $3.75 billion [2] - Over the last four quarters, Adient has surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times and topped consensus revenue estimates three times as well [2] Stock Performance - Adient shares have declined approximately 26.6% since the beginning of the year, contrasting with the S&P 500's decline of 4.7% [3] - The current Zacks Rank for Adient is 3 (Hold), indicating that shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future [6] Future Outlook - The consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $0.38 on revenues of $3.47 billion, while the estimate for the current fiscal year is $1.63 on revenues of $13.81 billion [7] - The outlook for the automotive industry, particularly the Automotive - Original Equipment sector, is currently in the bottom 25% of Zacks industries, which may impact Adient's stock performance [8]

Financial Performance - Adient's Q2 FY25 consolidated revenue was approximately $3.6 billion, a decrease of 4% year-over-year[11, 36] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q2 FY25 was $233 million, an increase of $6 million year-over-year, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 6.5%, up 40 bps year-over-year[11, 36, 40] - Free cash flow for Q2 FY25 was negative $90 million[11, 43] - The company maintains a strong cash balance of $754 million as of March 31, 2025[11] - Gross debt and net debt were approximately $2.4 billion and $1.6 billion, respectively[11] Tariff Mitigation - Adient estimates approximately monthly tariff exposure of $8 million, with the largest exposure concentrated from goods coming from China[14, 15, 17] - The company has mitigated over 75% of tariff risk and is actively working to close the gap with customers, targeting 100% recovery/cost offsets[16, 17, 21] - Approximately 95% of Adient's parts produced in Mexico and Canada and shipped to the U S are USMCA compliant, representing about $100 million monthly imports[17] Regional Performance - Americas sales outperformed the market by 700 bps due to favorable volume/mix and slow ramping launches on high-volume customer programs last year[39] - EMEA sales were mostly in line with the broader market[39] - Sales in China underperformed industry production primarily due to production declines from traditional luxury OEMs[39] - Growth in the rest of Asia outpaced the broader market by 300 bps, driven by new customer launches in H2FY24 reaching full production volumes[39] Outlook - Adient maintains its FY25 revenue and adjusted EBITDA outlook, expecting positive momentum from H1 to carry into H2, excluding potential tariff-related volume impacts[12, 58] - Free cash flow is now forecast between $150 million and $170 million, influenced by the timing of customer recoveries and potential acceleration of European restructuring cash costs[59]

Financial Performance - Q2 FY2025 revenue was $3.611 billion, a decrease of 4% compared to Q2 FY2024, primarily due to lower customer volume in Europe[2] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q2 FY2025 was $233 million, up 3% year-over-year, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 6.5%, an increase of 40 basis points from Q2 FY2024[3] - The company reported a GAAP net loss of $335 million for Q2 FY2025, including a $333 million non-cash goodwill impairment[7] - In Q2 FY2025, adjusted EPS was $0.69, reflecting an 18% increase compared to the prior year[2] - Net loss attributable to Adient for Q1 2025 was $335 million, compared to a net loss of $70 million in Q1 2024, indicating a significant decline in profitability[21] - The company’s diluted loss per share for Q1 2025 was $(3.99), compared to $(0.77) in Q1 2024, reflecting worsening financial performance[30] - Net loss for Q1 2025 was $313 million, compared to a net loss of $49 million in Q1 2024, representing a significant increase in losses[33] - Adjusted net income attributable to Adient was $58 million in Q1 2025, compared to $49 million in Q1 2024, showing an 18.4% increase[34] Revenue Outlook - Adient maintains its FY2025 revenue outlook at approximately $13.9 billion and adjusted EBITDA at around $850 million, with no changes from previous guidance[14] Cash Flow and Debt - Adient's cash and cash equivalents totaled $754 million as of March 31, 2025, with gross debt at approximately $2.4 billion[11] - Cash provided by operating activities was negative at $(45) million for Q1 2025, a decline from positive cash flow of $81 million in Q1 2024[25] - Cash and cash equivalents decreased to $754 million as of March 31, 2025, down from $945 million as of September 30, 2024[23] - Net debt as of March 31, 2025, was $1,642 million, an increase from $1,460 million as of September 30, 2024[40] - The net leverage ratio increased to 1.90 as of March 31, 2025, compared to 1.66 as of September 30, 2024[40] Segment Performance - The Americas segment reported adjusted EBITDA of $94 million in Q2 FY2025, up from $80 million in Q2 FY2024, driven by positive volume and mix[8] - The Americas segment reported net sales of $1,699 million, while EMEA and Asia reported $1,231 million and $707 million, respectively[28] Operational Challenges - Restructuring and impairment costs surged to $351 million in Q1 2025, compared to $125 million in Q1 2024, highlighting increased operational challenges[21] - The company recorded a goodwill impairment charge of $333 million during the three months ended March 31, 2025[41] Investments and Awards - Adient's China Technical Center expansion in Chongqing represents a significant investment in long-term growth and product innovation[4] - The company received multiple awards, including the Best Supplier Award for ESG Management from Hyundai Motor Group, highlighting its commitment to operational excellence[6]

Core Viewpoint - Adient reported its second quarter 2025 financial results, highlighting a significant net loss primarily due to a non-cash goodwill impairment, while maintaining its revenue and adjusted EBITDA outlook for the fiscal year [6]. Financial Performance - The company recorded a GAAP net loss of $335 million and a diluted EPS of $(3.99), which included a non-cash goodwill impairment of $333 million [6]. - Adjusted EPS for the quarter was $0.69, with an adjusted EBITDA of $233 million, showing year-over-year improvement despite revenue challenges [6]. - As of March 31, 2025, gross debt and net debt were approximately $2.4 billion and $1.6 billion, respectively, with cash and cash equivalents amounting to $754 million [6]. Debt Management - Adient successfully refinanced $795 million of senior unsecured notes due in 2026 during the quarter, extending its average maturity profile from 4.0 years to 6.1 years, eliminating near-term maturities [6]. Outlook - The company maintains its fiscal year 2025 revenue and adjusted EBITDA outlook, expecting positive momentum from the first half to carry into the second half, excluding potential impacts from tariffs [6]. Company Overview - Adient is a global leader in automotive seating, employing over 70,000 people across 29 countries and operating more than 200 manufacturing and assembly plants worldwide [4]. - The company produces automotive seating for all major OEMs, covering the entire seat-making process from research and design to engineering and manufacturing [4].

Investment Rating - The report assigns an "Overweight" (OW) rating to General Motors (GM) and Ford, while Tesla and Rivian are rated "Underweight" (UW) [6][7]. Core Insights - The automotive industry is experiencing varied performance metrics across different companies, with GM and Ford showing potential upside in their stock prices, while Tesla and Rivian face significant downside risks [6][7]. - The report highlights the importance of valuation metrics such as EV/EBITDA, P/E ratios, and sales growth projections for assessing investment opportunities within the automotive sector [6][22]. Global Auto OEMs Investment Comparables - General Motors (GM) has a current price of $44.57 with a market cap of $43.067 billion and a target price of $53.00, indicating a 19% upside potential [6]. - Ford (F) is priced at $9.63 with a market cap of $38.294 billion and a target price of $11.00, representing a 14% upside [6]. - Ferrari (RACE) is valued at $439.97 with a target price of $460.00, showing a 5% upside [6]. - Tesla (TSLA) is currently priced at $241.37 with a target price of $120.00, indicating a -50% downside [6]. - Rivian (RIVN) has a price of $11.60 with a target price of $11.00, reflecting a -5% downside [6]. Global Auto Parts Suppliers Valuation Metrics - The average EV/EBITDA for US auto parts suppliers is projected at 1.8x for 2024, with a corresponding EBITDA margin of 12% [22]. - Aptiv (APTV) is rated "Overweight" with a current price of $51.71 and a target price of $102, indicating a 97% upside [22]. - Borg Warner (BWA) is rated "Overweight" with a price of $26.45 and a target price of $46, representing a 74% upside [22]. - Lear Corp (LEA) is rated "Overweight" with a price of $79.42 and a target price of $140, indicating a 76% upside [22]. Performance Metrics - The report indicates that the average revenue CAGR for US auto parts suppliers is projected to be 2% from 2023 to 2025 [74]. - The EBITDA margin for US auto parts suppliers is expected to be around 12% in 2025, with some companies showing higher margins [74][83]. - The report also highlights the financial returns of various suppliers, with some companies achieving significant returns on invested capital (ROIC) [54][56].

Company Overview - Adient is a global leader in automotive seating with over 70,000 employees across 29 countries [3] - The company operates more than 200 manufacturing and assembly plants worldwide [3] - Adient produces and delivers automotive seating for all major original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) [3] Upcoming Financial Event - Adient will host a conference call on May 7, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. (ET) to discuss its second quarter fiscal 2025 financial results [1] - A live webcast of the call and presentation materials will be available on the Adient Investor Relations website [1] - A replay of the conference call will also be accessible on the same site [1]

Core Insights - Proposed tariffs by President Trump on goods from Mexico and Canada are expected to impact automotive suppliers more severely than automakers, potentially leading to broader industry disruptions [1][4] - Compliance with the USMCA is crucial for avoiding tariffs, with a significant portion of vehicle parts not meeting the stringent standards [2][3] Industry Impact - The automotive supply chain is already fragile post-COVID, facing challenges such as high interest rates, labor shortages, and declining profits, which could be exacerbated by new tariffs [4][5] - Major publicly traded suppliers have seen stock declines, with companies like American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings and Magna International down by double digits this year [5] Compliance Statistics - In 2024, only 63% of motor vehicle parts imported from Mexico were compliant with USMCA standards, compared to 92.1% of motor vehicles [6][12] - For Canada, 74.6% of motor vehicle parts and 96.9% of vehicles were imported tariff-free under USMCA in 2024 [6] Tariff Effects - The proposed tariffs could lead to a 25% increase in costs for non-compliant parts, which suppliers are unlikely to absorb, potentially leading to higher consumer prices for vehicles [13][17] - A survey indicated that 97% of parts makers expressed concerns about financial distress due to tariffs, particularly affecting smaller suppliers [15] Supply Chain Resilience - The supply chain is described as resilient yet fragile, with significant challenges in quickly adapting to major policy shifts [8][9] - Executives from various companies, including Forvia, have indicated that the industry cannot sustain the proposed tariffs without passing costs onto consumers [17]

Core Viewpoint - The Zacks Automotive - Original Equipment Industry faces significant uncertainty due to tariffs imposed by the Trump administration and an expected decline in light vehicle production, which is likely to reduce demand for auto equipment. However, companies like American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc., Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc., and Adient plc are leveraging international presence, acquisitions, and technological advancements to navigate these challenges [1][4]. Industry Description - The Zacks Automotive - Original Equipment Industry includes companies that design and produce passive safety systems, driveline, and metal forming technologies for electric, hybrid, and internal combustion vehicles. The industry also provides equipment to the U.S. government and major car manufacturers, and some companies offer equipment financing and leasing solutions [2]. Factors Shaping Industry Prospects - **Import Tariffs**: The Trump administration's protectionist policies impose tariffs of up to 25% on non-U.S.-based auto equipment manufacturers, which could negatively impact their profits and encourage investment in U.S.-based manufacturing [3]. - **Decline in Light Vehicle Production**: Light vehicle output is projected to decline by 1.8% year-over-year in Q1 2025 and 0.5% for the full year, which is expected to reduce demand for auto equipment and affect companies' revenues [4]. - **Technological Advancements**: Automation is enhancing efficiency and reducing labor costs in manufacturing, allowing companies to remain competitive and respond quickly to market changes [5]. Industry Performance - The Zacks Automotive - Original Equipment Industry ranks 148, placing it in the bottom 40% of over 250 Zacks industries, indicating dim near-term prospects [6][7]. - The industry's earnings estimates for 2025 and 2026 have decreased by 26.40% and 19.80%, respectively, over the past year, reflecting a negative outlook [8]. Market Performance - The industry has underperformed the S&P 500, declining by 11.7% over the past year compared to the S&P 500's growth of 15.1% and the broader sector's decline of 1.4% [11]. Current Valuation - The industry is currently trading at an EV/EBITDA ratio of 19.25X, higher than the S&P 500's 17.27X and the sector's 18.69X. Over the past five years, the industry has traded between 4X and 22.09X, with a median of 12.69X [13][14]. Notable Companies - **American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc. (AXL)**: A leading supplier of driveline systems, focusing on electrification and optimizing its portfolio through acquisitions. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 EPS implies a year-over-year growth of 13.92% [18][19]. - **Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc. (ALSN)**: A manufacturer of automatic transmissions, expanding into new markets and focusing on advanced technology. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 sales and EPS implies year-over-year growth of 1.53% and 6.26%, respectively [21][22]. - **Adient plc (ADNT)**: A major automotive seating supplier, focusing on automation and modularity to enhance efficiency. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 sales and EPS implies year-over-year growth of 1.71% and 43.08%, respectively [23][24].