Group 1 - Recent easing of tariff policies and normalization of trade policies may drive markets back to pre-2025 conditions, with a positive outlook on U.S. stocks, particularly small and mid-cap stocks, as well as investment-grade bonds in Europe and the U.S. due to attractive yields and improving macro conditions [1] - The Chinese market has largely recovered to levels seen before the "Liberation Day" tariffs were announced in early April, with sectors such as electric vehicle batteries, construction machinery, home appliances, and pet food companies likely to benefit [1] - Rapid progress in U.S.-China trade negotiations has surprised the market, alongside the recent U.S.-U.K. trade agreement, indicating the White House's intention to alleviate trade tensions faster than expected [1] Group 2 - The recent volatility in U.S. local policies has led to market tensions, prompting a downgrade of U.S. assets, but a reversal of these fund flows may now be observed [2] - Reduced tariff uncertainty has lowered the likelihood of an economic recession, with investors potentially looking past the current downturn and anticipating a recovery in the U.S. economy and assets [2] - The U.S. government appears to be shifting its policy direction towards easing tariffs and focusing on growth-promoting measures such as tax cuts [2]

Group 1: Trade Agreement Impact - The US and China have officially announced the cancellation of 91% of tariffs on each other's goods, marking a significant step towards easing trade tensions and providing a boost to global economic recovery [2] - The tariff adjustments are expected to create unprecedented development opportunities for Chinese manufacturing, particularly in the context of global supply chain restructuring [2] Group 2: Electronics Industry - The electronics sector, a key pillar of China's exports to the US, will benefit significantly from the tariff reductions, with costs for exporting products like smartphones dropping from $150 to $12 per unit, leading to a 6.8 percentage point increase in gross margins [3] - Xiaomi Group plans to increase its North American production capacity utilization from 45% to 70%, anticipating a recovery in revenue to $5 billion by 2025 due to the tariff relief [5] Group 3: Machinery and Equipment - The machinery manufacturing sector is poised for market expansion, with John Deere's China division expecting to increase its market share in the US from 7% to 12% after tariffs on agricultural machinery drop from 34% to 3.06% [5] - Sany Heavy Industry has successfully secured infrastructure project orders in the US, with its excavators priced 25% lower than competitors due to tariff reductions, leading to a 237% year-on-year increase in exports from January to May 2025 [5] Group 4: Textile and Apparel - The textile and apparel industry is experiencing enhanced market competitiveness, with the cost of exporting cotton knit shirts to the US decreasing by $0.8 per unit, resulting in a 5.2 percentage point increase in gross margins [6] - Anta Sports plans to open 50 direct stores in the US, leveraging tariff advantages to reduce product prices by 15% and compete directly with major brands like Nike and Adidas [6] Group 5: Semiconductor Industry - The tariff adjustments are creating new opportunities for collaboration in the semiconductor sector, with CATL and Tesla entering negotiations for a lithium production line in Nevada, which will significantly lower raw material costs for batteries [7] - Domestic semiconductor equipment manufacturers are also benefiting, with North Huachuang reporting a 40% reduction in trial periods for its etching machines in US wafer fabs due to tariff relief [9] Group 6: Cross-Border E-commerce - Cross-border e-commerce is set to experience a resurgence, particularly for brands like Shein and TikTokShop, as the reduction in tariffs allows for lower product costs and enhanced market penetration in the US [10][12] - Shein's cost for a $20 garment has decreased from $2.5 to $0.2 due to tariff changes, providing greater pricing flexibility and the potential for increased market share [12] Group 7: Shipping and Logistics - COSCO Shipping is directly benefiting from the recovery in US-China trade, with a 27% increase in container shipping rates on the US West Coast and a projected 40% growth in cargo volume for the year [15] - The cold chain logistics sector is also seeing significant growth, with Zhonggu Logistics reporting a 340% increase in refrigerated transport revenue [15] Group 8: Renewable Energy - Solar companies like LONGi Green Energy are expanding in the US market, with project costs decreasing by 12% due to tariff reductions, and the US solar installation demand expected to grow by 56% in 2025 [16] - The energy storage sector is also benefiting, with Sunshine Power's systems priced 20% lower than Tesla's offerings, leading to significant order growth in California [16] Group 9: Overall Economic Impact - The stabilization of US-China trade relations is projected to contribute 0.8 percentage points to global economic growth, with Chinese manufacturing poised for historic advancements in technology innovation and brand development [16]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a total dividend of approximately $312 million for 2024, translating to a dividend of $0.25 per outstanding common share [38][39] - The company returned approximately $1.3 billion to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks despite a challenging market environment [15] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company launched new products including high horsepower tractors and advanced automation solutions, enhancing its product portfolio [15][16] - The company implemented a multi-year strategic sourcing program aimed at achieving efficiencies and cost savings, with the second wave expected to begin implementation at the end of 2025 [14] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company faced a down cycle in the industry, particularly in North America during the first quarter of 2024, leading to actions to reduce channel inventory [14] - The company emphasized its commitment to being a leading player in all major markets, aiming for 16% to 17% mid-cycle adjusted EBIT margins in agriculture [19] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company introduced a new strategic business plan focusing on efficiency and quality programs, aiming for sustained growth through 2030 [18] - The strategy includes three interconnected pillars: becoming a top agricultural player, achieving targeted EBIT margins, and returning substantial industrial free cash flow to shareholders [19][20] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged significant challenges in global agriculture but expressed confidence in navigating industry headwinds and preparing for future opportunities [9] - The leadership team is focused on spending discipline, cost optimization, and structural improvements to ensure long-term profitability across industry cycles [17] Other Important Information - The company moved to a single U.S. listing on the New York Stock Exchange to enhance liquidity and investor focus [13] - The company has a robust innovation pipeline with 49 R&D centers across 16 countries, supporting the development of new market-leading products [16][17] Q&A Session Summary - No questions were received from shareholders prior to the meeting, and no discussions were held during the meeting [5][25][33]

Core Insights - CNH Industrial reported $3.83 billion in revenue for Q1 2025, a year-over-year decline of 20.6%, with an EPS of $0.10 compared to $0.33 a year ago, indicating a significant drop in profitability [1] - The revenue exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.79 billion by 1.14%, while the EPS surpassed the consensus estimate of $0.09 by 11.11% [1] Revenue Breakdown - Total Industrial Activities in Agriculture generated $2.58 billion, exceeding the five-analyst average estimate of $2.48 billion, but reflecting a year-over-year decline of 23.5% [4] - Total Industrial Activities in Construction reported $591 million, below the average estimate of $624.37 million, marking a 22% year-over-year decrease [4] - Net Sales amounted to $3.17 billion, surpassing the five-analyst average estimate of $3.12 billion, with a year-over-year decline of 23.2% [4] - Finance, interest, and other income reached $656 million, slightly below the estimated $660.13 million, representing a 4.5% year-over-year decline [4] - Financial Services generated $651 million, exceeding the average estimate of $635.15 million, but showing a 5% decrease compared to the previous year [4] - Total Industrial Activities reported $3.20 billion, above the average estimate of $3.15 billion, with a year-over-year decline of 23.3% [4] - Eliminations resulted in a loss of $25 million, significantly worse than the average estimate of $1.49 million, reflecting a 37.5% year-over-year decline [4] Adjusted EBIT Performance - Adjusted EBIT for Industrial Activities in Agriculture was $139 million, slightly below the average estimate of $143.03 million [4] - Adjusted EBIT for Industrial Activities in Construction was $14 million, below the average estimate of $21.91 million [4] - Adjusted EBIT for Unallocated items, eliminations, and other was -$52 million, compared to the average estimate of -$54.20 million [4] - Total Industrial Activities adjusted EBIT was $101 million, exceeding the average estimate of $83.73 million [4] Stock Performance - CNH shares have returned -6.2% over the past month, contrasting with the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -0.7% change [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), suggesting it may perform in line with the broader market in the near term [3]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Consolidated revenues for Q1 2025 were down 21% at $3.8 billion, with industrial adjusted EBIT at $101 million, down 73% year-over-year, and EPS for the quarter at $0.10 [12][19] - Free cash flow for industrial activities was an outflow of $567 million, which is significantly better compared to Q1 2024 due to more contained growth of finished goods and component inventories [19] - Gross margin for agriculture was 20%, down 380 basis points year-over-year, primarily due to lower production volumes and unfavorable mix, partially offset by operational cost reductions [19] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - In agriculture, net sales decreased 23% in Q1 2025, driven by lower shipments across all regions due to weak industry demand and network destocking [19] - Construction net sales for Q1 were $591 million, down 22% year-over-year, with a gross margin of 14.9%, down 250 basis points compared to Q1 2024 [21] - Financial Services segment reported net income of $90 million, with a year-over-year decrease mainly due to higher expected risk costs and taxes [22] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Retail demand was slow in Q1, with production hours down 26% compared to Q1 2024, agriculture down 27%, and construction down 19% [13] - The Turkish market showed continued softness, impacting joint venture results in the Other category [21] - Delinquencies increased, particularly in South America and growing in North America, aligning with expectations during a downturn [22] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on operational excellence, advancing technologies, and executing cost-saving initiatives while preparing for a new model year lineup [11][14] - The company aims to balance production levels with market demand, keeping production low to manage inventory effectively [12][14] - Strategic discussions are ongoing regarding potential partnerships in the construction business, but decisions are paused until market uncertainty settles [41] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged the soft industry demand and the need for a cautious approach to production and inventory management [12][16] - The company expects the second half of the year to show improved profitability, returning to double-digit margins [67] - Management is actively monitoring tariff discussions and their potential impacts on operations and pricing strategies [15][28] Other Important Information - The company announced leadership changes, including the appointment of Jim Nicholas as the new CFO [6][10] - The company is committed to maintaining a strong presence in North America while adapting to global trade changes [31][35] - The company is preparing for an Investor Day to provide more insights into its product roadmap and strategic initiatives [44] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you quantify the EPS impact from tariffs? - Management indicated that all changes in guidance are due to tariff scenarios, with a midpoint estimate reflecting potential impacts [50][51] Question: What is the outlook for production costs related to quality? - Management expects quality-related costs to improve in the coming quarters as product quality has been enhanced [55][56] Question: Can you elaborate on price adjustments and procurement efforts? - Price adjustments are moderate and aligned with cost movements, and the company is actively working with suppliers to share tariff-related costs [61][63] Question: How should we think about ag segment margins as the year progresses? - The first quarter is typically low, with expectations for improved margins in the second half of the year [66][67] Question: What is the current state of dealer inventories? - The company aims for a significant inventory reduction, having achieved a $100 million reduction in Q1, and will continue to monitor production levels closely [81][82]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For Q1 2025, sales and revenues decreased by 10% year-over-year to $14.2 billion, primarily due to lower sales volume and unfavorable price realization [10][30] - Adjusted operating profit was $2.6 billion with an adjusted operating profit margin of 18.3%, slightly better than expectations [11][30] - Adjusted profit per share was $4.25, down from $5.60 in the previous year [31] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Construction Industries sales decreased by 19% to $5.2 billion, with a profit of $1 billion, a 42% decrease year-over-year [34][36] - Resource Industries sales decreased by 10% to $2.9 billion, with a profit of $599 million, an 18% decrease [38] - Energy and Transportation sales decreased by 2% to $6.6 billion, with a profit of $1.3 billion, a slight increase of 1% [40] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - In North America, sales to users were slightly higher than the prior year, driven by residential construction [12] - Sales to users in Latin America continued to grow at a higher rate than anticipated [13] - Sales to users in Asia Pacific declined in line with expectations, while sales in Africa and the Middle East showed better-than-expected performance [12][13] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on long-term profitable growth through disciplined execution of its strategy and leveraging its diverse end markets [8] - Strong order rates led to a record backlog growth of $5 billion, indicating robust demand across segments [8][15] - The company is evaluating a range of longer-term mitigation actions in response to tariff impacts, emphasizing the need for clarity in the tariff environment [20][21] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed cautious optimism for the full year, expecting sales and revenues to be flat in a pre-tariff scenario [22][45] - The potential impact of tariffs is estimated to be a cost headwind of $250 million to $350 million for Q2 2025 [19][51] - The company remains confident in its ability to navigate the evolving economic conditions and maintain strong performance [20][55] Other Important Information - The company deployed $4.3 billion to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends in Q1 2025 [16][44] - The company maintains a strong balance sheet with ample liquidity, including $3.6 billion in cash [44] Q&A Session Summary Question: Cost headwind of $250 million to $350 million in Q2 - Management is evaluating short-term cost reductions and overhead cuts, while also considering longer-term mitigation actions [57][58] Question: Construction industry dynamics and dealer inventory - Management noted that better-than-expected sales to users have resulted in minimal dealer inventory build, indicating positive customer sentiment [68][70] Question: Tariff impact and pricing strategy - Management clarified that not all tariffs will impact the full quarter and that they are exploring mitigation strategies [74][76] Question: Pricing within Construction and Resource Industries - Management indicated that pricing decisions will depend on market conditions and competitive positioning, with no immediate price increases assumed [80][82] Question: Backlog pricing protection - Management confirmed that there is flexibility in pricing for the backlog, and they have not seen evidence of widespread pre-buying [90][91]