GM Reports First-Quarter Net Income of $2.0 Billion

DETROIT, April 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

• EPS diluted of $1.24; First-quarter record EPS diluted-adjusted of $1.26
• First-quarter record EBIT-adjusted of $2.7 billion
• GM Europe posts break-even performance

General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) today announced first-quarter net income to common stockholders of $2.0 billion or $1.24 per diluted share, compared to $0.9 billion or $0.56 per diluted share a year ago. Earnings per share diluted-adjusted for special items was a first-quarter record at $1.26, up 47 percent compared to the first quarter of 2015.

The company set first-quarter records for earnings and margin, with earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) adjusted of $2.7 billion and EBIT-adjusted margin of 7.1 percent. These compare to EBIT-adjusted of $2.1 billion and an EBIT-adjusted margin of 5.8 percent in the first quarter of 2015.

The earnings increase was driven by improved year-over-year results in all reporting segments, including breakeven performance in Europe.

"We're growing where it counts, gaining retail share in the U.S., outpacing the industry in Europe and capitalizing on robust growth in SUV and luxury segments in China," said Chairman and CEO Mary Barra. "This strong quarter also reflects the excellent progress we're making to improve results in our more challenged global markets. Importantly, the continued success of our core business is enabling us to invest in advanced technology and innovations that will help shape the future of personal mobility."

First-quarter 2016 EBIT-adjusted results included the impact of $0.3 billion restructuring costs, primarily in North America, compared to $0.1 billion in restructuring costs a year ago.

Net revenue during the quarter was $37.3 billion compared to $35.7 billion in the first quarter of 2015. Holding exchange rates constant, net revenue was $2.9 billion higher than the first quarter of 2015.

GM Results Overview (dollars in billions except for per share amounts)

Segment EBIT-Adjusted Results

• GM North America reported first-quarter record EBIT-adjusted of $2.3 billion, which includes $0.2 billion for restructuring costs. This compares with $2.2 billion in the first quarter of 2015.
• GM Europe reported EBIT-adjusted break-even results compared with $(0.2) billion in the first quarter of 2015.  
• GM International Operations reported EBIT-adjusted of $0.4 billion compared with $0.4 billion in the first quarter of 2015. Results included China equity income of $0.5 billion in both periods. 
• GM South America reported EBIT-adjusted of $(0.1) billion compared with $(0.2) billion in the first quarter of 2015.  
• GM Financial reported earnings before tax of $0.2 billion, about equal to a year ago. 

Cash Flow and Liquidity

For the quarter, automotive cash flow from operating activities was $(0.7) billion. Adjusted automotive free cash flow was $(1.5) billion, improved from $(1.7) billion in the first quarter of 2015. GM ended the quarter with total automotive liquidity of $30.6 billion, and automotive cash and marketable securities of $18.5 billion.

Year-to-date through March 31, GM has returned approximately $0.9 billion of cash to shareholders through share repurchases of $0.3 billion and dividends of $0.6 billion.

"The quarter was a great start to a year in which we anticipate strong growth in earnings and free cash flow," said Chuck Stevens, GM executive vice president and chief financial officer.

General Motors Co. (NYSE:GM, TSX: GMM) and its partners produce vehicles in 30 countries, and the company has leadership positions in the world's largest and fastest-growing automotive markets. GM, its subsidiaries and joint venture entities sell vehicles under the Chevrolet, Cadillac, Baojun, Buick, GMC, Holden, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling brands. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety, security and information services, can be found at http://www.gm.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

In this press release and related comments by management, and in reports we subsequently file and have previously filed with the SEC on Forms 10-K and 10-Q and file or furnish on Form 8-K, and in related comments by our management, we use words like "anticipate," "appears," "approximately," "believe," "continue," "could," "designed," "effect," "estimate," "evaluate," "expect," "forecast," "goal," "initiative," "intend," "may," "objective," "outlook," "plan," "potential," "priorities," "project," "pursue," "seek," "will," "should," "target," "when," "would," or the negative of any of those words or similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements that represent our current judgment about possible future events. In making these statements we rely on assumptions and analyses based on our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments as well as other factors we consider appropriate under the circumstances. We believe these judgments are reasonable, but these statements are not guarantees of any events or financial results, and our actual results may differ materially due to a variety of important factors, both positive and negative. These factors, which may be revised or supplemented in subsequent reports on SEC Forms 10-Q and 8-K, include, among others: (1) our ability to maintain profitability over the long-term, including our ability to fund and introduce new and improved vehicle models that are able to attract a sufficient number of consumers; (2) the success of our full-size pick-up trucks and SUVs; (3) global automobile market sales volume, which can be volatile; (4) the results of our joint ventures, which we cannot operate solely for our benefit and over which we may have limited control; (5) our ability to realize production efficiencies and to achieve reductions in costs as we implement operating effectiveness initiatives throughout our automotive operations; (6) our ability to maintain quality control over our vehicles and avoid material vehicle recalls and the cost and effect on our reputation and products; (7) our ability to maintain adequate liquidity and financing sources including as required to fund our new technology; (8) our ability to realize successful vehicle applications of new technology and our ability to deliver new products, services and customer experiences in response to new participants in the automotive industry; (9) volatility in the price of oil; (10) the ability of our suppliers to deliver parts, systems and components without disruption and at such times to allow us to meet production schedules; (11) risks associated with our manufacturing facilities around the world; (12) our ability to manage the distribution channels for our products; (13) our ability to successfully restructure our operations in various countries; (14) the continued availability of wholesale and retail financing in markets in which we operate to support the sale of our vehicles, which is dependent on those entities' ability to obtain funding and their continued willingness to provide financing; (15) changes in economic conditions, commodity prices, housing prices, foreign currency exchange rates or political stability in the markets in which we operate; (16) significant changes in the competitive environment, including the effect of competition and excess manufacturing capacity in our markets, on our pricing policies or use of incentives and the introduction of new and improved vehicle models by our competitors; (17) significant changes in economic, political, regulatory environment and market conditions in China, including the effect of competition from new market entrants, on our vehicle sales and market position in China; (18) changes in existing, or the adoption of new, laws, regulations, policies or other activities of governments, agencies and similar organizations, particularly laws, regulations and policies relating to vehicle safety including recalls, and including such actions that may affect the production, licensing, distribution or sale of our products, the cost thereof or applicable tax rates; (19) stricter or novel interpretations and consequent enforcement of existing laws, regulations and policies; (20) costs and risks associated with litigation and government investigations including the potential imposition of damages, substantial fines, civil lawsuits and criminal penalties, interruptions of business, modification of business practices, equitable remedies and other sanctions against us in connection with various legal proceedings and investigations relating to our various recalls; (21) our ability to comply with the terms of the DPA; (22) our ability to manage risks related to security breaches and other disruptions to our vehicles, information technology networks and systems; (23) significant increases in our pension expense or projected pension contributions resulting from changes in the value of plan assets, the discount rate applied to value the pension liabilities or mortality or other assumption changes; (24) our continued ability to develop captive financing capability through GM Financial; and (25) changes in accounting principles, or their application or interpretation, and our ability to make estimates and the assumptions underlying the estimates, which could have an effect on earnings.

We caution readers not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or other factors that affect the subject of these statements, except where we are expressly required to do so by law.

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SOURCE General Motors