Strong operating performance on lower sales volumes
Alrik Danielson, President and CEO:
“Our efforts to keep costs under control are showing results, in a market with lower demand. Operating profit for the second quarter was SEK 2,539 million, including costs for restructuring and impairments of 317 million. The reported operating margin was 11.3% (12.9% last year), with an underlying operating margin of 12.7% excluding costs for restructuring and impairments, the sixth straight quarter above 12%.
Net sales were SEK 22.5 billion, a drop in organic sales of 1.6% compared to last year. Sales were relatively unchanged in Europe, slightly lower in Asia and North America and significantly higher in Latin America.
Our operating performance was positively impacted by cost reductions and price. Restructuring and impairment costs on the other hand had a negative impact of SEK 317 million. Cash flow from operations was in line with last year.
The industrial business had yet another strong quarter with an operating margin of 13.9% (14.7% last year) and an organic growth of 0.6% (10.7% last year). The underlying operating margin was higher than last year, with announced restructuring and impairments impacting the reported result negatively. Sales in Europe, Asia and North America were relatively unchanged but increased in Latin America.
The automotive business contributed with an operating margin of 4.8% (8.7% last year). Organic growth was negative 6.8% (+5.2% last year) with significantly lower sales volumes in North America and Asia, lower sales volumes in Europe and significantly higher sales in Latin America.
During the second quarter we continued to invest in regionalizing and automating our manufacturing footprint. An investment of SEK 450 million was announced for deep-groove ball bearings. This investment supports our ambitions to adopt a full value chain approach in Asia, where our global product development for deep-groove ball bearings is based.
During the quarter we also acquired RecondOil, a cleantech start-up that has developed a unique chemical filtration and reconditioning process that enables a drastic reduction in the consumption of lubrication fluids and oil. RecondOil is a perfect strategic fit with our Rotating Equipment Performance offer and supports our efforts to help customers reduce the environmental impact of their operations.
Entering the third quarter of 2019, we expect to see slightly lower volumes for the Group, relatively unchanged for Industrial and lower for Automotive.”
Key figures, SEKm |
Q2 2019 | Q2 2018 | Half year 2019 | Half year 2018 |
| Net sales | 22,488 | 22,620 | 43,766 | 43,180 |
| Operating profit* | 2,539 | 2,925 | 5,197 | 5,550 |
| Operating margin*, % | 11,3 | 12.9 | 11.9 | 12.9 |
| Profit before taxes | 2,261 | 2,783 | 4,703 | 5,208 |
| Net cash flow after investments before financing | 1,448 | 2,182 | 2,132 | 2,441 |
| Basic earnings per share | 3.32 | 4.25 | 7.09 | 8.02 |
*including restructuring and impairments
| Net sales change y-o-y, %, Q2 | Organic | Structure | Currency | Total |
| SKF Group | -1.6 | -2.6 | 3.5 | -0.7 |
| Industrial | 0.6 | -3.8 | 3.8 | 0.6 |
| Automotive | -6.8 | 0.2 | -3.0 | -3.6 |
| Net sales change y-o-y, %, Half year | Organic | Structure | Currency | Total |
| SKF Group | -0.7 | -2.6 | 4.6 | 1.3 |
| Industrial | 1.7 | -3.6 | 4.8 | 2.9 |
| Automotive | -6.3 | 0.0 | 4.1 | -2.2 |
| Organic sales change in local currencies, per region y-o-y, %, Q2 | Europe | North America | Latin America | Asia | Middle East & Africa |
| SKF Group | -1.7 | -3.2 | 8.8 | -2.2 | -5.4 |
| Industrial | +/- | +/- | ++ | +/- | — |
| Automotive | — | — | +++ | — | +++ |
| Organic sales change in local currencies, per region y-o-y, %, Half year | Europe | North America | Latin America | Asia | Middle East & Africa |
| SKF Group | -0.5 | -1.7 | 5.4 | -1.2 | -6.8 |
| Industrial | + | +/- | ++ | +/- | — |
| Automotive | — | — | +++ | — | +++ |
Outlook and guidance
Demand for Q3 2019 compared to Q3 2018
The demand for SKF’s products and services is expected to be slightly lower for the Group, including relatively unchanged demand for Industrial and lower demand for Automotive. Demand is expected to be relatively unchanged in Asia, slightly lower in Europe and North America and slightly higher in Latin America.
Guidance Q3 2019
- Financial net: SEK -245 million
- Currency impact on the operating profit is expected to be around SEK +130 million compared with Q3 2018, based on exchange rates per 30 June 2019.
Guidance 2019
- Tax level excluding effect related to divested businesses: around 28%
- Additions to property, plant and equipment: around SEK 2,800 million
A teleconference will be held on 17 July 2019 at 9:00 (CET):
Conference ID: SKF or 3588786
Standard International: +44 (0) 2071 928000
Sweden: +46 (0)850692180
United States: +16315107495
Website: http://investors.skf.com/en/result-centre
SOURCE: SKF
