Group 1: Core Issues Facing Lear Corporation - Lear Corporation is experiencing challenges due to economic uncertainty and labor scarcity in wire harness production in the United States [1][2] - Global production forecasts for 2025 have worsened, now expecting a 4% decline on a Lear-weighted basis compared to a previous guidance of 2% [2] - The company faces difficulties relocating wire harness production to the U.S. due to labor scarcity and the labor-intensive nature of the work, compounded by a 25% tariff on wire harnesses [3] Group 2: Customer Concentration and Financial Outlook - Lear has a concentrated customer base, with six major customers accounting for over 50% of total sales in 2024, making the company vulnerable to losing any of these clients [4] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Lear's 2025 sales indicates a year-over-year decline of 5.04%, while earnings per share are expected to decline by 7.21% [5] Group 3: Comparison with Other Stocks - Other better-ranked stocks in the automotive sector include Hesai Group, Ferrari N.V., and Standard Motor Products, with significant expected growth in earnings for 2025 [6][7]

Core Viewpoint - Lear Corp. reported adjusted earnings per share of $3.12 for Q1 2025, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.64, driven by strong performance in the Seating segment, although it decreased from $3.18 in the same quarter last year [1] Financial Performance - Total revenues for Lear Corp. decreased by 7.24% year over year to $5.56 billion, slightly surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5.55 billion [1] - The Seating segment generated sales of $4.15 billion, down from $4.48 billion year over year, but exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.1% [2] - The E-Systems segment reported sales of $1.41 billion, a decline of 7.12% year over year, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.5% [3] Segment Performance - Adjusted earnings for the Seating segment were $280 million, down from $294.9 million year over year, but beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 16.2% [2] - The E-Systems segment's adjusted earnings were $73.8 million, down from $77.1 million in the same quarter last year, yet surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 25.4% [3] Regional Performance - North America sales fell by 9.2% year over year to $2.25 billion, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.43% [4] - Sales in Europe and Africa decreased by 8.5% year over year to $2.06 billion, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 7.28% [4] - Asia region sales totaled $1.07 billion, an increase of 1.12% year over year, but missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.5% [4] - South America sales were $177.8 million, down from $205.2 million year over year, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 18.35% [5] Financial Position - As of March 29, 2025, Lear Corp. had $779.9 million in cash and cash equivalents, down from $1.05 billion at the end of 2024 [6] - Long-term debt remained unchanged at $2.73 billion as of March 29, 2025 [6] - The company reported a negative free cash flow of $231.7 million for the quarter [6] Share Repurchase and Guidance - During the quarter, Lear Corp. repurchased 263,003 shares for a total of $25 million, with a remaining share repurchase authorization of nearly $1.1 billion [7] - The company has not reaffirmed its full year 2025 guidance due to uncertain macroeconomic conditions [7]

Core Insights - Lear (LEA) reported a revenue of $5.56 billion for Q1 2025, reflecting a year-over-year decline of 7.2% and an EPS of $3.12, down from $3.18 a year ago, with a revenue surprise of +0.09% and an EPS surprise of +18.18% [1] Financial Performance - Revenue and EPS: Revenue of $5.56 billion with a year-over-year decline of 7.2% and EPS of $3.12 compared to $3.18 a year ago [1] - Revenue surprise: Reported revenue exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate by +0.09% [1] - EPS surprise: EPS surpassed the consensus estimate of $2.64 by +18.18% [1] Geographic Net Sales - North America: $2.25 billion, below the $2.30 billion estimate, a year-over-year decline of -9.2% [4] - South America: $177.80 million, below the $218.26 million estimate, a year-over-year decline of -13.4% [4] - Asia: $1.07 billion, slightly below the $1.08 billion estimate, with a year-over-year increase of +1.1% [4] - Europe and Africa: $2.06 billion, above the $1.92 billion estimate, a year-over-year decline of -8.5% [4] Segment Performance - E-Systems: Net sales of $1.41 billion, slightly below the $1.42 billion estimate, with a year-over-year decline of -7.1% [4] - Seating: Net sales of $4.15 billion, above the $4.11 billion estimate, with a year-over-year decline of -7.3% [4] - Adjusted Segment Earnings - E-Systems: $73.80 million, exceeding the $58.81 million estimate [4] - Adjusted Segment Earnings - Seating: $279.90 million, above the $240.82 million estimate [4] Stock Performance - Lear's shares have returned +12.7% over the past month, outperforming the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +11.5% change [3] - Current Zacks Rank for Lear is 4 (Sell), indicating potential underperformance in the near term [3]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported revenue of $5.6 billion for the first quarter of 2025, with core operating earnings of $270 million and operating margins improving to 4.9% [6][32] - Adjusted earnings per share were $3.12, down from $3.18 a year ago, while operating cash flow was a use of $128 million in the first quarter [6][32] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - In the Seating segment, sales were $4.2 billion, a decrease of 7% year-over-year, with adjusted operating margins at 6.7% [33] - The E Systems segment reported sales of $1.4 billion, also down 7% year-over-year, with adjusted earnings of $74 million and operating margins at 5.2% [34] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Global vehicle production increased by 1% year-over-year, but Lear's sales-weighted production declined by 5%, with North America down 5% and Europe down 7% [28][30] - In China, production volumes increased by 12%, but Lear's business lagged industry growth estimates by 5% [30] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to extend its leadership in Seating, expand margins in E Systems, and support sustainable value creation through disciplined capital allocation [7][8] - The company is focusing on operational excellence and innovation, particularly through its ComfortFlex modules, which have received positive recognition [9][10] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that the ongoing international trade negotiations have introduced significant uncertainty, particularly regarding tariffs and production volumes [35][36] - The company remains confident in recovering the costs associated with tariffs and is adjusting its capital spending in response to the weaker industry production outlook [38][39] Other Important Information - The company has paused share repurchase activities to maintain liquidity during uncertain times, with plans to resume once visibility improves [40][41] - The company has reduced its global hourly headcount by nearly 19,000 since the end of 2023, contributing to operational efficiency [17][18] Q&A Session Summary Question: Have you seen any meaningful changes to production schedules? - Management acknowledged that changes have been announced but noted the environment remains dynamic, leading to the decision to withdraw guidance due to uncertainty [48][49] Question: Is there a way to get your customers to be the importer of record for tariff reimbursements? - Management confirmed they are discussing options with customers regarding who will be the importer of record and are considering moving production around [55][56] Question: What is the lower end of your outlook contemplating as far as LVP by region? - Management indicated that the February guidance anticipated a 1% global production decline, with significant uncertainty remaining, particularly in North America [69][70] Question: What drove the better-than-expected margin performance? - Management attributed the improved margins to better-than-expected production and a strong finish in March, along with strong operating performance across both business segments [96][97] Question: Are you pausing the buyback while figuring out the outlook for free cash flow? - Management confirmed they are pausing share repurchases temporarily until there is more visibility on production plans [91][92]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported revenue of $5.6 billion for the first quarter of 2025, with core operating earnings of $270 million and operating margins improving to 4.9% [5][29] - Adjusted earnings per share were $3.12, down from $3.18 a year ago, while operating cash flow was a use of $128 million in the first quarter [5][29] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - In the Seating segment, sales decreased by 7% year-over-year to $4.2 billion, with adjusted earnings of $280 million and operating margins of 6.7% [30] - The E Systems segment also saw a 7% decline in sales to $1.4 billion, with adjusted earnings of $74 million and operating margins of 5.2% [31] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Global vehicle production increased by 1% year-over-year, but Lear's sales-weighted production was down 5%, with North America and Europe seeing declines of 5% and 7%, respectively [25][26] - In China, production volumes were up 12%, but Lear's business lagged industry growth estimates by five percentage points [27][28] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to extend its leadership in Seating, expand margins in E Systems, and support sustainable value creation through disciplined capital allocation [6][12] - Investments in automation and restructuring are expected to drive durable operating performance and margin improvements [15][34] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted significant uncertainty in the automotive industry due to ongoing international trade negotiations and the impact of tariffs [32][34] - The company is confident in recovering costs associated with tariffs and is actively managing both direct and indirect exposures [17][19] Other Important Information - The company repurchased $25 million worth of shares during the quarter, but has paused share repurchase activity to maintain liquidity amid uncertainty [36][37] - The company has a strong balance sheet with $2.8 billion in available liquidity and no near-term debt maturities [35] Q&A Session Summary Question: Have you seen any meaningful changes to production schedules? - Management acknowledged seeing changes announced over the past few weeks but noted the environment remains dynamic [43][44] Question: Is there a way to get your customers to be the importer of record for tariff reimbursement? - Management confirmed they are discussing options with customers regarding who will be the importer of record [50][51] Question: What is the lower end of your outlook contemplating as far as LVP by region? - Management indicated that the February guidance anticipated a 1% global production decline and a 2% decline on a Lear-weighted basis [64] Question: How are you starting to see performance separate from competitors? - Management highlighted strong operational performance and innovation as key factors in gaining market share [72][75] Question: Do you see any risk from the current uncertainty on backlog? - Management stated it is too early to provide an update on the backlog but noted that new business awards will help long-term growth [88][90]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported revenue of $5.6 billion for Q1 2025, with core operating earnings of $270 million and operating margins improving to 4.9% [6][12][31] - Adjusted earnings per share were $3.12, down from $3.18 a year ago, and operating cash flow was a use of $128 million in the first quarter [6][31] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - In the Seating segment, sales decreased by 7% year-over-year to $4.2 billion, with adjusted operating margins at 6.7% [31][32] - The E Systems segment also saw a 7% decline in sales to $1.4 billion, with adjusted earnings of $74 million, reflecting a slight increase in operating margins to 5.2% [32][33] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Global vehicle production increased by 1% year-over-year, but Lear's sales-weighted production was down 5%, with North America and Europe seeing declines of 5% and 7% respectively, while China experienced a 12% increase [26][27] - Lear's sales growth in Europe outperformed industry production by 2 percentage points, while North America lagged by 2 percentage points [27][28] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to extend its leadership in Seating, expand margins in E Systems, and support sustainable value creation through disciplined capital allocation [7][12] - Recent awards in Seating and E Systems, including significant contracts with major automakers, highlight the company's focus on innovation and operational excellence [8][11][41] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted ongoing uncertainty in the automotive industry due to international trade negotiations and tariff impacts, leading to a withdrawal of full-year guidance [34][35] - Despite challenges, the company remains confident in recovering tariff costs and achieving operational performance improvements [35][36] Other Important Information - The company has paused share repurchases to maintain liquidity during uncertain times, with plans to resume once visibility improves [39][86] - A strong balance sheet with no near-term debt maturities and $2.8 billion in available liquidity positions the company well for future challenges [38][39] Q&A Session Summary Question: Have you seen any meaningful changes to production schedules? - Management acknowledged some changes in production schedules but noted the environment remains dynamic, leading to the decision to withdraw guidance due to uncertainty [46][48] Question: Is there a way to get customers to be the importer of record for tariff reimbursements? - Management confirmed they are discussing options with customers regarding who will be the importer of record to maximize tariff reimbursement opportunities [52][53] Question: What is the lower end of your outlook contemplating as far as LVP by region? - Management indicated that the original guidance anticipated a 1% global production decline, with potential adjustments based on foreign exchange rates and market conditions [64][66] Question: How are you starting to see performance separate from competitors? - Management highlighted strong operational performance and innovation as key factors in gaining market share, particularly in E Systems [72][75] Question: Will you be able to offset indirect tariff impacts with accelerated restructuring benefits? - Management expressed confidence in achieving additional net performance from increased restructuring investments, despite dialing back capital spending [78][79]

Core Viewpoint - Lear (LEA) reported quarterly earnings of $3.12 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.64 per share, but down from $3.18 per share a year ago [1][2] Financial Performance - The earnings surprise for the quarter was 18.18%, with the company previously expected to post earnings of $2.59 per share but actually reporting $2.94 per share, resulting in a surprise of 13.51% [2] - Lear's revenues for the quarter were $5.56 billion, slightly surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.09%, but down from $5.99 billion year-over-year [3] - The company has consistently surpassed consensus EPS and revenue estimates over the last four quarters [2][3] Stock Performance and Outlook - Lear shares have declined approximately 6.7% since the beginning of the year, compared to a 3.9% decline in the S&P 500 [4] - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $2.99 on revenues of $5.65 billion, and for the current fiscal year, it is $11.59 on revenues of $22.05 billion [8] - The estimate revisions trend for Lear is currently unfavorable, resulting in a Zacks Rank 4 (Sell), indicating expected underperformance in the near future [7] Industry Context - The Automotive - Original Equipment industry, to which Lear belongs, is currently ranked in the bottom 26% of over 250 Zacks industries, suggesting potential challenges ahead [9]

Financial Performance - Sales decreased from $6 billion in Q1 2024 to $5.6 billion in Q1 2025[10] - Core operating earnings decreased from $280 million in Q1 2024 to $270 million in Q1 2025[10] - Adjusted earnings per share decreased from $3.18 in Q1 2024 to $3.12 in Q1 2025[10] - Operating cash flow decreased from negative $35 million in Q1 2024 to negative $128 million in Q1 2025[10] Segment Performance - Seating sales decreased from $4478 million in Q1 2024 to $4151 million in Q1 2025[27] - E-Systems sales decreased from $1517 million in Q1 2024 to $1409 million in Q1 2025[32] - Seating adjusted earnings were $294.9 million in Q1 2024 and $279.9 million in Q1 2025, with adjusted margins of 6.6% and 6.7% respectively[56] - E-Systems adjusted earnings were $77.1 million in Q1 2024 and $73.8 million in Q1 2025, with adjusted margins of 5.1% and 5.2% respectively[56] Production and Currency - Global vehicle production increased by 1% year-over-year, North America decreased by 5%, Europe and Africa decreased by 7%, and China increased by 12%[20] - The Euro decreased by 4% from $1.09/€ in Q1 2024 to $1.05/€ in Q1 2025[21]

Financial Performance - Revenue for Q1 2025 was $5.6 billion, a decrease of 7% compared to $6.0 billion in Q1 2024[4] - Net income for Q1 2025 was $81 million, down from $110 million in Q1 2024, with adjusted net income at $169 million compared to $183 million[4] - Core operating earnings were $270 million, representing 4.9% of sales, compared to $280 million or 4.7% of sales in Q1 2024[6] - Earnings per share were $1.49, down from $1.90 in Q1 2024, while adjusted earnings per share were $3.12 compared to $3.18[10] - Total net sales for Q1 2025 were $5,560.3 million, a decrease of 7.2% compared to $5,994.6 million in Q1 2024[29] - North America net sales decreased to $2,248.8 million from $2,475.9 million, representing a decline of 9.2%[29] - Seating segment net sales were $4,151.1 million, down from $4,477.6 million, a decrease of 7.3%[33] - E-Systems segment net sales decreased to $1,409.2 million from $1,517.0 million, a decline of 7.1%[33] Cash Flow and Operating Activities - Net cash used in operating activities was $(128) million, and free cash flow was $(232) million, compared to $(35) million and $(148) million in Q1 2024[10] - Free cash flow for Q1 2025 was $(231.7) million, compared to $(148.2) million in Q1 2024, indicating a worsening cash flow situation[29] Business Operations and Market Conditions - Operating margins increased year-over-year for both Seating and E-Systems segments, with approximately 125 basis points in Seating and approximately 155 basis points in E-Systems[4] - Awarded business in E-Systems totaling over $750 million in average annual sales[4] - Global vehicle production was up 1% year-over-year, with North America down 5%, Europe down 7%, and China up 12%[6] Shareholder Actions - Lear repurchased $25 million of shares during Q1 2025, with a remaining share repurchase authorization of approximately $1.1 billion[11] Financial Outlook - The company did not reaffirm its 2025 financial outlook due to uncertainty in industry production caused by evolving tariff environments[13] Assets and Liabilities - Total assets increased to $14,623.3 million in Q1 2025 from $14,027.5 million in Q4 2024, an increase of 4.3%[27] - Total liabilities and equity also rose to $14,623.3 million in Q1 2025 from $14,027.5 million in Q4 2024, reflecting a 4.3% increase[27] Adjusted Financial Metrics - Adjusted net income for Q1 2025 was $169.3 million, compared to $183.2 million in Q1 2024, a decline of 7.9%[31] - Diluted net income per share available to Lear decreased to $1.49 from $1.90, a drop of 21.6% year-over-year[31] - Core operating earnings for Q1 2025 were $270.4 million, down from $279.8 million in Q1 2024, reflecting a decrease of 5.0%[29]

Core Insights - Lear Corporation reported a solid start to 2025 with improved operational margins in both Seating and E-Systems segments despite lower industry production in key markets [3][4] - The company is facing challenges due to changes in global tariffs, which have created uncertainty in the automotive industry and impacted the cost structure of the supply chain [3][4] - Lear is focused on maintaining long-term competitiveness by managing near-term challenges, winning new business, and investing in automation and restructuring [3][4] Financial Performance - Total sales for Q1 2025 were $5,560.3 million, a decrease of 7% from $5,994.6 million in Q1 2024 [4][5] - Net income for Q1 2025 was $80.7 million, down from $109.6 million in the same period last year [4][5] - Adjusted net income was $169.3 million compared to $183.2 million in Q1 2024, with adjusted earnings per share at $3.12, down from $3.18 [4][5][8] Segment Performance - In the Seating segment, net sales were $4,151.1 million with segment margins of 5.2% and adjusted margins of 6.7% [34][35] - The E-Systems segment reported net sales of $1,409.2 million, with segment margins of 3.9% and adjusted margins of 5.2% [34][35] - Both segments experienced year-over-year margin improvements driven by efficiency gains and restructuring efforts [5][8] Cash Flow and Share Repurchase - Net cash used in operating activities was $(128) million, and free cash flow was $(232) million, compared to $(35) million and $(148) million in Q1 2024, respectively [5][9] - The company repurchased $25 million of shares during the quarter and had a remaining share repurchase authorization of approximately $1.1 billion [11][12] Market Outlook - Due to the uncertainty in industry production caused by evolving tariff environments, Lear is not reaffirming its 2025 financial outlook at this time [13] - The company remains confident in delivering its operating performance commitments as highlighted in previous earnings calls [13]