According to Ford CEO Jim Farley, the first quarter of organizing around and running the company on behalf of distinct customer groups produced solid operating results and a glimpse of the promise of its Ford+ growth plan.
“We’re bringing Ford+ to life by zeroing in on what distinct customers need and value the most,” said Farley. “Ford Pro is leading the way on profitable growth, our big investments in iconic Ford Blue vehicles and derivatives are winning with customers, and Ford Model e’s different approach to EVs is significantly reducing costs on our first high-volume products while rapidly developing breakthrough next-generation vehicles from the ground up.”
Company Key Metrics Summary
Ford’s first-quarter 2023 revenue reached $41.5 billion, up 20% from the same period a year ago, on shipments approaching 1.1 million vehicles, a 9% increase.
Customers made Ford America’s best-selling vehicle brand in the quarter, choosing its iconic gas-powered, hybrid and electric trucks, commercial vans and SUVs – categories in which the company has demonstrated strengths and made strategic commitments.
Profitability in the quarter was enhanced by a favorable mix of products, higher net pricing and increased volume and was broadly based geographically. The Ford Blue and Ford Pro business segments were both profitable in every region where they operate.
Net income of $1.8 billion compared to a net loss in the 2022 period that was primarily attributable to a change in the mark-to-market value of the company’s investment in Rivian. Company adjusted earnings before interest and taxes, or EBIT, were $3.4 billion, an increase of 45% and margin of 8.1%.
Cash flow from operations in Q1 was $2.8 billion; Ford generated $693 million in adjusted free cash flow. They enabled continued strategic investments in profitable growth and returns to shareholders, including through a regular dividend payable June 1.
At the end of the quarter, the company’s persistently strong balance sheet had nearly $29 billion in cash and more than $46 billion in liquidity. In addition, Ford recently completed the renewal of its more than $17 billion in sustainability-linked corporate credit facilities.
Business Segment Highlights
Ford Blue – which has high expectations for profitable growth from its portfolio of iconic gas-powered and hybrid vehicles – had first-quarter revenue of $25.1 billion, EBIT of $2.6 billion and an EBIT margin of 10.4%, all up sharply from a year ago.
Already the maker of America’s most popular truck for 46 straight years – and top vehicle of any type in the region for 41 years – Ford Blue’s Maverick and Bronco were recognized by Car and Driver among its latest 10 best trucks and SUVs. Mustang was recently named the world’s best-selling sports car over the past 10 years combined, with the seventh-generation, 2024 model coming soon. The segment is also launching new versions of the Ford Escape and Lincoln Corsair SUVs.
Ford Model e, which operates like a startup, is rapidly developing innovative electric vehicles along with breakthrough digital capabilities for deployment across the company’s entire product line. Quarterly shipments of and revenue from EVs were limited by production interruptions of two highly popular vehicles: the Mustang Mach-E SUV, to make industrial changes that will nearly double manufacturing capacity, and the F-150 Lightning pickup, to isolate and address a battery issue before it became a problem for customers.
In March, Ford introduced the new, all-electric Explorer crossover that will be built and sold in Europe – another step toward making and selling EVs at a global run rate of 600,000 units by the end of 2023 and more than two million by the end of 2026.
Disciplined capital investments are boosting capacity of popular EVs like the Mustang Mach-E,
F-150 Lightning and E-Transit. Additionally, Ford Model e will manufacture its next-generation electric pickup at the BlueOval City mega-campus now rising in Stanton, Tenn.; transform an existing operation in Oakville, Ont., Canada, to produce batteries and next-generation EVs; and construct and staff an LFP battery plant in Marshall, Mich.
Meanwhile, Ford Pro, which helps commercial customers transform their enterprises with tailored gas, hybrid and electric vehicles and high-value services, posted 18% growth in wholesales; 28% higher revenue, to $13.2 billion; EBIT of $1.4 billion, nearly three times the 2022 level; and an EBIT margin of 10.3%.
The foundation for Ford Pro’s growth ambitions is made up of market leadership, scale and customer knowledge. Ford’s Transit and E-Transit together remain the top commercial van in both North America and Europe. Nine of the vehicles it sells, including Transit, E-Transit and Super Duty pickups – more than from any automaker – recently earned “Vincentric Best Fleet Value in America” awards.
On top of that substantial base, Ford Pro is layering an ecosystem of software, services and EV charging. Paid software subscriptions increased 64% year-over-year in the first quarter and higher-revenue services were also up strongly. The numbers of mobile repair orders from commercial customers and vans now on the road delivering related services to them both more than doubled from a year ago.
As anticipated, Ford Credit’s earnings before taxes of $303 million were down from last year as a result of a lower financing margin, increased credit losses and a decline in leasing income. The company’s credit-loss performance remains strong and below its historical average, but is trending upward toward more normal levels. Likewise, auction values are also still strong, though down from their peak in the first half of 2022.
Outlook
Ford is maintaining the full-year 2023 performance expectations that the company first articulated in early February: for adjusted EBIT of $9 billion to $11 billion and adjusted free cash flow of about $6 billion.
Additionally, the company reaffirmed 2023 segment-level EBIT expectations: about
$7 billion for Ford Blue, up modestly from last year; a full-year loss of about $3 billion for
Ford Model e; and EBIT approaching $6 billion for Ford Pro, which would be nearly twice its 2022 earnings.
Ford’s operating targets presume a range of puts and takes:
- Headwinds including economic uncertainty around the globe; higher industrywide customer incentives, as vehicle supply-and-demand rebalances; a lower profit from Ford Credit; lower past service pension income; exchange rates; and growth-related investments, e.g., in customer experience, connected services and capital expenditures, and
- Tailwinds such as supply chain improvements and higher industry volumes; launch of the all-new Super Duty truck; and lower costs of goods sold, including for materials and commodities.
Ford will host its next capital markets event here on May 21 and 22, during which it will update investors, analysts and others on the Ford+ strategy, including key performance indicators and financial targets for each of the business segments. The company plans to report its second-quarter 2023 financial results on Thursday, July 27.
SOURCE: Ford
