China Automotive Systems Reports Unaudited 2019 Third Quarter Results

WUHAN, China, Nov. 12, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- China Automotive Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: CAAS) ("CAAS" or the "Company"), a leading power steering components and systems supplier in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2019.

 Third Quarter 2019 Highlights

• Net sales were $100.5 million compared to $112.1 million in the third quarter of 2018;
• Gross profit increased to $17.3 million from $15.4 million, and the gross margin rose to 17.2% from 13.7% in the third quarter of 2018;
• Income from operations was $4.3 million, with an operating margin of 4.3%, compared with Income from operations of $1.8 million, or a 1.6% operating margin in the same quarter last year;
• Net income attributable to parent company's common shareholders was $4.2 million, or diluted earnings per share of $0.13, compared to net income attributable to parent company's common shareholders of $0.4 million, or diluted earnings per share of $0.01 in the third quarter of 2018;
•  Approximately 96,000 shares of common stock were repurchased.

First Nine Months of 2019 Highlights

• Net sales were $315.5 million compared to $371.9 million in the first nine months of 2018;
• Gross margin was 14.8% compared with 14.5% in the same period last year;
• Income from operations was $8.1 million compared with $7.0 million in the same period last year;
• Diluted earnings per share attributable to parent company's common shareholders was $0.26 compared with $0.17 for the first nine months of 2018;
• Cash and cash equivalents and pledged cash deposits were $102.3 million as of September 30, 2019;
• Net cash flow from operating activities was $4.1 million.

Mr. Qizhou Wu, the Chief Executive Officer of CAAS, commented, "Our sales reflected the continuing slow growth in the economy as China's gross domestic product grew by 6.0% in the quarter ended September 30th, the slowest quarterly growth rate since 1992.  In the automobile sector, the sales of Chinese-branded cars were down 13.2% year-on-year in the month of September and accounted for 18.5% of the total car sales. This market share represented a decline of 1.2% in market share compared with September 2018.  For the first nine months of 2019, total sales of Chinese-branded passenger cars were 18.5% lower than the same period in 2018. The sales of Chinese-branded SUVs declined by 8.0% year-on-year with a decrease of 2.6 percentage points in market share over the previous year. The sales of Chinese brand MPVs were down 10.5% year on year. As a leading supplier of steering products to Chinese-branded vehicles, our sales reflect the current market conditions. However, government stimulus measures including tax cuts and infrastructure investments, have started to improve the economy and if necessary, there may be more infrastructure spending to stabilize economic growth."

"In addition, we are positive about the prospects for our developmental projects. Our electric power steering ("EPS") joint venture with KYB (China) Investment Co., Ltd. will add more resources to quickly improve our products and market share.  Our new electric motor product development for power steering systems with Hyoseong Electric Co. Ltd. and our new recirculating-ball steering system development for a global client's autonomous vehicle development offer new avenues for future growth."

Mr. Jie Li, the Chief Financial Officer of CAAS, commented, "We continue to focus on building our financial strength to offer customers advanced products as well as develop new products to enhance our global presence. During the 3rd quarter, we purchased approximately 96,000 shares of common stock in the open market. We are committed to enhancing long-term shareholder value."

Third Quarter of 2019

In the third quarter of 2019, net sales were $100.5 million compared to $112.1 million in the same quarter of 2018. The decrease in net product sales was mainly due to a change in the product mix and lower domestic sales volume due to softer demand in the Chinese domestic brand automobile market. Net product sales to North America grew 11.6% to $33.8 million compared to $30.3 million for the same quarter in 2018. The increase in export sales to North America was mainly due to higher sales of the Company's more advanced products.  Net product sales for the Company's electric power steering ("EPS") products were $18.5 million, or 18.4% of net sales.

Gross profit was $17.3 million in the third quarter of 2019, compared to $15.4 million in the third quarter of 2018.  Gross margin was 17.2% compared to 13.7% for the same period of 2018, mainly due to changes in the product mix.

Selling expenses were $3.6 million in the third quarter of 2019, compared to $3.4 million in the third quarter of 2018. Selling expenses represented 3.6% of net sales in the third quarter of 2019, compared to 3.0% in the third quarter of 2018.

General and administrative expenses ("G&A expenses") were $4.4 million in the third quarter of 2019, compared to $3.7 million in the same quarter of 2018. The increase was primarily due to higher professional fees. G&A expenses represented 4.4% of net sales in the third quarter of 2019 compared with 3.3% in the third quarter of 2018.

Research and development expenses ("R&D expenses") were $6.1 million in the third quarter of 2019, compared to $7.0 million in the third quarter of 2018. R&D expenses represented 6.1% of net sales in the third quarter of 2019 compared with 6.1% in the third quarter last year. The lower R&D expenses were mainly due to more strict cost controls over R&D expenditures.

Net financial income was $1.6 million in the third quarter of 2019 compared to net financial income of $0.8 million in the third quarter of 2018, which was mainly due to the increase in foreign exchange gain as a result of the significant appreciation of USD against RMB.

Income from operations was $4.3 million in the third quarter of 2019, compared to $1.8 million in the same quarter of 2018. The increase was mainly due to increased gross profit and higher gross margin.

Income before income tax expenses and equity in earnings of affiliated companies was $5.3 million in the third quarter of 2019, compared to $1.8 million in the third quarter of 2018. The increase in income before income tax expenses and equity in earnings of affiliated companies was mainly due to higher operating income in the third quarter of 2019 compared with the third quarter of 2018.

Net income attributable to parent company's common shareholders was $4.2 million in the third quarter of 2019, compared to net income attributable to parent company's common shareholders of $0.4 million in the third quarter of 2018. Diluted earnings per share were $0.13 in the third quarter of 2019, compared to diluted earnings per share of $0.01 in the third quarter of 2017.

The weighted average number of diluted common shares outstanding was 31,492,035 in the third quarter of 2019, compared to 31,645,556 in the third quarter of 2018.

First Nine Months of 2019

Net sales for the first nine months of 2019 were $315.5 million, compared to $371.9 million in the first nine months of 2018. Nine-month gross profit was $46.5 million, compared to $54.0 million in the corresponding period last year. Nine-month gross margin was 14.8%, compared to 14.5% for the corresponding period in 2018. For the nine months ended September 30, 2019, gain on other sales amounted to $4.9 million, compared to $3.0 million for the corresponding period in 2018. Income from operations was $8.1 million compared to $7.0 million in the first nine months of 2018. Operating margin was 2.6%, compared to 1.9% for the corresponding period of 2018.

Net income attributable to parent company's common shareholders was $8.2 million compared with $5.5 million in the corresponding period last year. Diluted earnings per share were $0.26 in the first nine months of 2019, compared to diluted earnings per share of $0.17 for the corresponding period in 2018.

As of September 30, 2019, total cash and cash equivalents and pledged cash deposits were $102.3 million. Total accounts receivable including notes receivable were $234.3 million. Accounts payable including notes payable were $176.7 million, and short-term loans were $56.0 million. Total parent company stockholders' equity was $304.9 million as of September 30, 2019, compared to $304.8 million as of December 31, 2018. 

Net cash provided by operating activities was $4.1 million in the first nine months of 2019 compared with net cash provided by operating activities of $9.0 million in the first nine months of 2018.  Payments to acquire property, plant and equipment were $23.6 million compared with $24.3 million in the first nine months of 2018. Approximately 96,000 shares of common stock were repurchased during the third quarter of 2019, and the Company expects to repurchase more shares in the future.

Business Outlook

Management has reiterated its revenue guidance for the full year 2019 to $430 million. This target is based on the Company's current views on operating and market conditions, which are subject to change.

Conference Call

Management will conduct a conference call on November 12, 2019 at 8:00 A.M. EST/9:00 P.M. Beijing Time to discuss these results. A question and answer session will follow management's presentation. To participate, please call the following numbers 10 minutes before the call start time and ask to be connected to the "China Automotive Systems" conference call:

Phone Number: +1-877-407-8031 (North America)Phone Number: +1-201-689-8031 (International)Mainland China Toll Free: +86-400-120-2840

A replay of the call will be available on the Company's website under investor relations section.

About China Automotive Systems, Inc.

Based in Hubei Province, the People's Republic of China, China Automotive Systems, Inc. is a leading supplier of power steering components and systems to the Chinese automotive industry, operating through nine Sino-foreign joint ventures. The Company offers a full range of steering system parts for passenger automobiles and commercial vehicles. The Company currently offers four separate series of power steering with an annual production capacity of over 6 million sets of steering gears, columns and steering hoses. Its customer base is comprised of leading auto manufacturers, such as China FAW Group, Corp., Dongfeng Auto Group Co., Ltd., BYD Auto Company Limited, Beiqi Foton Motor Co., Ltd. and Chery Automobile Co., Ltd. in China, and Chrysler Group LLC in North America. For more information, please visit: http://www.caasauto.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements that are "forward-looking statements" as defined under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements represent our estimates and assumptions only as of the date of this press release. These forward-looking statements include statements regarding the qualitative and quantitative effects of the accounting errors, the periods involved, the nature of the Company's review and any anticipated conclusions of the Company or its management and other statements that are not historical facts. Our actual results may differ materially from the results described in or anticipated by our forward-looking statements due to certain risks and uncertainties. As a result, the Company's actual results could differ materially from those contained in these forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including those described under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Form 10-K annual report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 28, 2019, and in documents subsequently filed by the Company from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We expressly disclaim any duty to provide updates to any forward-looking statements made in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

For further information, please contact:

Jie LiChief Financial OfficerChina Automotive Systems, Inc.Email: [email protected]

Kevin TheissInvestor Relations+1-212-521-4050Email: [email protected] 

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SOURCE China Automotive Systems, Inc.