Autoliv: Financial Report October - December 2025

Core Insights - The company reported record high net sales of $2,817 million in Q4 2025, representing a 7.7% increase year-over-year, with organic sales growth of 4.2% [1][2][3] - Operating income decreased by 9.6% to $319 million, while adjusted operating income fell by 3.6% to $337 million, primarily due to lower customer compensations and engineering income [2][3] - The company expects around 0% organic sales growth and an adjusted operating margin of 10.5-11.0% for the full year 2026 [1][9] Financial Performance - Q4 2025 net sales were $2,817 million, up from $2,616 million in Q4 2024, marking a 7.7% increase [2] - Full year 2025 net sales reached $10,815 million, a 4.1% increase from $10,390 million in 2024 [2] - Operating cash flow for Q4 2025 was $544 million, a 30% increase from $420 million in Q4 2024, contributing to a full year operating cash flow of $1,157 million [3][6] Regional Performance - Organic sales growth outperformed global light vehicle production (LVP) in all regions, with significant growth in China (5.3pp above LVP) and Asia ex. China (4.8pp above LVP) [3][5] - Sales to Chinese OEMs (COEMs) grew nearly 40% in Q4 2025 and 23% for the full year, indicating strong market performance [3][5] Profitability Metrics - The operating margin for Q4 2025 was 11.3%, down from 13.5% in Q4 2024, while the adjusted operating margin was 12.0%, down from 13.4% [2][3] - Return on capital employed (ROCE) was reported at 30.3%, with adjusted ROCE at 31.8%, reflecting a decrease from previous periods [4] Shareholder Returns - The company paid a dividend of $0.87 per share, a 2.4% increase from Q3 2025, and repurchased 1.26 million shares [3][8] - The ability to deliver attractive shareholder returns remains strong, with record high operating cash flow and free operating cash flow for both the quarter and the full year [6][8] Strategic Developments - The company has strengthened its position in China through investments and strategic agreements, with 30% of order intake in 2025 coming from COEMs [7] - The company anticipates continued strong sales performance with COEMs in 2026, supported by new product launches and market strategies [3][5]