Global light vehicle markets
+2% in January
In October, global light vehicle sales increased 5.1% yoy to 7.62m, after 2.9% in September, resulting in a 1.5% increase to 73.26m YTD. LMC Automotive (LMCA) calculate that underlying demand continued to strengthen in October, with a SAAR (seasonally adjusted annualised rate) of 92.4m units/year, up 4.0% from 88.8m in September, resulting in a YTD SAAR of 88.2m, up less than 1% from FY14’s 87.4m. The recovery of the October SAAR to levels last seen in December (92.1m) and January (89.4m), is due to a strong recovery in China, supported by continuing strong performances in the US and Western Europe.
For FY15E, we expect a global LV market of 89.2m, implying an increase by 1.9% or 1.7m. The growth rate is thus expected to almost halve in 2015E, from 3.7% in FY14 and 4.0% in FY13.
If the current slow GDP trend continues, and all signs we see point to this, then the level of earnings for the S&P 500 could be the lowest seen in two years. Q1. We are convinced by the initial data that this year’s Q2 will not be nearly as strong; we maintain our 2015 forecast for +2.2% GDP growth. It is time to make a few portfolio adjustments.
01 14 2015 CGI – GADA – January 2015 edition
Automotive Analyst Sabine Blumel reviews global automotive demand by country.
11 24 2014 CGI – GADA – November edition
Senior Automotive Analyst Sabine Blumel analyzes Global Automotive Demand.
09 01 2014 CGI – GADA – August-September edition
Automotive Analyst Sabine Blumel analyzes global automotive demand trends.
07 28 2014 CGI – Ford – 2Q14A results comment
Auto Analyst Sabine Blumel discusses Ford Q2 results.
06 11 2014 CGI – GADA – Emerging Markets – June 2014
Auto Analyst Sabine Blumel reviews the outlook for automotive demand in the Emerging Markets.
05 30 2014 CGI – GADA – May 2014 edition
Analyst Sabine Blumel reviews Global Automotive Demand by major market globally. SAAR revised down slightly due to the worsening outlook in a number of emerging markets,the FY14E forecast is a 3.5% increase to some 87.3m; this implies a deceleration from last year’s restated +3.9% growth to 84.36m.
Quick Response: 1Q14 EPS miss blamed on ‘accumulation of unusual factors’ that understate the underlying strength of business. Confirmation of FY14 guidance implies 1) stronger 2-4Q14 results; 2) upgrade for FY14 Asia & Pacific and Europe; downgrade for FY14 South America outlook.
We consider management’s FY14 guidance and the underlying market assumptions realistic and also conservative enough for the company to surprise on the upside in the next quarters. More importantly, we are of the opinion that Ford is well on track implementing its global growth strategy and should be able to resume earnings growth from 2015 onwards. We consider Ford a ‘fundamental’ buy with a medium-term target price of USD 20, but short-term technical headwinds for the sector, inclusively Ford should give investors renewed opportunity to buy into Ford at lower prices. (See p.3.)
In March, the global light vehicle markets declined 1.5% yoy to 7.96m units, after having declined 6.2% yoy in February, resulting in a 1.6% yoy increase in YTD, according to LMC Automotive. The SAAR (seasonally adjusted annualised rate) of sales was 81.26m units/year, 2.0% higher than February’s 79.68m and 5.4% down from a record 85.91m in January. YTD, the SAAR was 82.83m, 2.3% higher than FY12’s 81.00m. In FY13E, the global LVs markets are expected to grow 2.8% to 83.2m, which implies a considerable deceleration from last year’s 5.3% and is in line with our previous forecast. (See GADA March 2013 edition of April 1st, 2013.) From 2014 onwards, the markets are expected to accelerate again and to grow by almost 7% p.a. in 2014E and 2015E.
The Euro has realized rather pronounced declines since the start of February, but recently momentum indicators have diverged from the short-term price action, indicating that selling pressures were abating. The intermediate trend is noted to have changed, but a continuation of this short-term rebound is reasonable as the currency corrects an oversold condition. A retest of the 50-day moving average around 1.32, and even up to 1.3450 is increasingly probable as the currency exits a period of seasonal weakness that concluded at the end of March.
Euro strength has generally coincided with US$ index weakness, often seen as a positive catalyst for equity and commodity prices.
The US$ index is showing signs of rolling over from its recent positive trend. The US$ index is pushing towards its 50-day average as seasonal weakness in the month of April pressures the currency lower.
In January, the global light vehicle markets grew 12.0% yoy, after having advanced 1.3% yoy in December and 5.2% to 80.89m in FY12, according to LMC Automotive. The SAAR (seasonally adjusted annualised rate) of sales hit a record level of 85.91m units/year in January, 4.4% higher than December’s 82.31m. In FY13E, the global LVs markets are expected to decelerate sharply and grow just 2.7% to 83.0m, in line with our previous forecast. (See GADA January 2013 edition of January 23rd, 2013.)
As you know we turned very bullish on Japan and China in September 2012, and have been advising to overweight allocations towards the Nikkei and the Shanghai Indices, as we recognized major turning points in those markets due to changes in government leadership and implicitly new and improved stimulus policies going into effect as of Q4 2012.
A more import factor, in our view, is the polarisation in demand into premium and discount brands and product that has been intact for the past 20 years and accentuated during the crisis. Driving forces have been the downsizing on the part of the premium brands and an improvement in quality of discount brands. As a result the mainstream brands such as GM’s Opel/Vauxhall, Ford and local champions such as Peugeot, Citroën and Fiat have lost ground.
See also our monthly publication ‘Global Automotive Demand Atlas’ p.8. We published the January edition on January 23rd. Continue reading
In December, the global light vehicle markets grew 1.3% yoy, after having advanced 4.3% in November, resulting in a 5.2% increase to 80.89m in FY12, according to LMC Automotive. The SAAR (seasonally adjusted annualised rate) of sales declined somewhat to 82.31m units/year in December, from 83.03m units/year in November, though was better than in October and September. In 2013E, the global LVs markets are expected to decelerate sharply and grow just 2.3% to 82.73m, in line with our previous forecast. (See GADA December 2012 edition of December 19th, 2012.) Continue reading
FORD (NYSE: F US$ 10.80) BUY – 6 Months Price Target US$14
Between 2008 and 2012, revenues fell from $143.6 billion in 2008 to an estimated $130 billion this year. The company took $14.8 billion in losses in 2008, but has been profitable ever since. Ford’s performance of its different operations is rapidly diverging. US quarterly profits and operating margins hit the highest level since 2000. Ford’s operating margins of 12.0% during the quarter were very strong. Strength in Ford’s core business was offset by weakness in Latin America and continuing problems in Europe.
– Europe, US, Japan, Korea & India OEMs Valuations
– Global Truck Manufactures Valuations