China Yuchai International Limited (CYD) Earnings Call Transcript & Summary

Good day, and thank you for standing by. Welcome to the China Yuchai International Limited First Half 2024 Financial Results Conference Call. [Operator Instructions] Please be advised that today's conference is being recorded. I would now -- I would like to now turn the conference over to Kevin Theiss. Please go ahead, sir.

Thank you for joining us today, and welcome to China Yuchai International Limited conference call and webcast for the first 6 months of 2024 ended on June 30, 2024. Joining us today are Mr. Weng Ming Hoh; and Mr. Choon Sen Loo, President, and Chief Financial Officer of CYI, respectively. In addition, we also have in attendance Mr. Kelvin Lai, General Manager of Operations of CYI. Before we begin, I will remind all listeners that throughout this call we may make statements that may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words believe, expect, anticipate, project, targets, optimistic, confident that, continue to predict, intend, aim, will or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are statements that may be deemed forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to statements concerning the company's operation and financial performance and condition, and are based on current expectations, beliefs and assumptions, which are subject to change at any time. The company cautions that these statements by their nature involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially depending on a variety of important factors such as government and stock exchange regulations, competition, political and economic and social conditions around the world and in China, including those discussed in the company's Form 20-F under the headings Risk Factors, Result of Operations and Business Overview and in other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time-to-time. All forward-looking statements are applicable only as of the date they are made, and the company specifically disclaims any obligation to maintain or update the forward-looking information, whether of the nature contained in the press release, made towards today's call or otherwise, in the future. Mr. Hoh will provide a brief overview and summary, then Mr. Loo will review the financial results for the first half ended June 30, 2024. Thereafter, we will conduct a question-and-answer session. For the purposes of today's call, the 2024 and 2023 first half year financial numbers are unaudited and they will be presented in RMB and U.S. dollars. All the financial information presented is reported using the International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board. Mr. Hoh, please begin your prepared remarks.

Thank you, Kevin. We are pleased to report higher revenue, operating profit and higher earnings per share in the first half of 2024 compared with the same period last year. Sales grew by 12.4% on a 16.3% increase in unit sales -- units sold on a year-over-year basis. We achieved engine sales growth in every market category except pickup, which is a small portion of our sales. Combined unit sales of our engines in the truck and bus market rose by 32.8% year-over-year compared with data from China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, CAAM, showing, truck and bus vehicle sales growth of 4.4% year-over-year. Our unit sales in the important truck engine market grew by 35.6% year-over-year, compared to an increase of 3.7% for truck vehicle sales according to CAAM data. Our heavy-duty truck engine sales grew by 32.9% year-over-year, compared with a 0.3% increase in CAAM heavy truck vehicle sales to the first half of 2024. And our medium-duty truck engine sales grew faster than CAAM medium-duty truck vehicle sales with a year-over-year increase of 33.1% compared to [ 17.4% ]. Likewise, our light-duty truck engines sales also exceeded the CAAM vehicle sales growth, growing by 45.6% compared to 5.4% year-on-year in the first half of 2024. Similarly, our bus engine sales in the heavy, medium, light -- and light vehicle market segments witnessed a year-over-year growth of 40.3%, 32% and 28.2%, respectively, in the first half of 2024. Our engine sales in the off-road markets exceeded 104,000 units for the first half of 2024, representing a 6.4% year-over-year growth. These sales were led by a 13.1% increase in engine sales in the Industrial segment compared to the same period last year. Marine and generator engine unit sales increased by 5.3% with higher demand from data centers. New energy products unit sales grew by 19.9% year-over-year from a small base from this emerging product. These notable results were achieved despite slower economic growth in China. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, Chinese GDP increased by 5% year-over-year in the first 6 months of 2024. However, 2024 second quarter GDP growth declined to 4.7% compared with an estimate of 5.1% growth and down from the 5.3% growth in the third quarter of 2024. While the Chinese economy grew in the first half of 2024, growth was uneven in different market segments. The equipment manufacturing increased by 7.8% and high-tech manufacturing increased by 8.7% for a select segment of industrial enterprises. The total value of export rose by 6.9% year-over-year for the first half of 2024. However, property investments fell 10.1% and home sales by floor area fell 19% in the first half of 2024 from the year earlier similar period. In the first half of 2024, our total R&D expenditures, including capitalized costs, were RMB 463.2 million or USD 65 million, compared to RMB 465.2 million in the first half of 2023. We continue to improve the quality and performance of our National VI and Tier 4 engines, even as we have initiated the development of the next-generation emission standard engine for on-road and off-road engine market. In addition, the continuing development of new energy products, including products using alternative fuels remains as a high priority. We have established a track record of introducing new energy powertrains, including 2 hydrogen-fired engines with using renewable hydrogen and off-gas power generation system at a production plant which utilizes off-gas discharges to generate power and eliminate greenhouse gas emissions and the new model, YCK07N hybrid engine, which was chosen to power 10-meter gas electric hybrid buses in [ Nanning ]. In the first half of 2024, new energy applications include the first 50 Suzhou King Long 12-meter buses using our hydrogen fuel cells, commence our commercial operations, and the launch of QT700-10 turbine fan main shaft to improve wind power performance to reduce current emissions. As a result of this innovative achievement, Guangxi Yuchai Machinery Company Limited or Yuchai, our main operating subsidiary in China, was appointed as a Committee Member of the New Hydrogen Combustion Engine, Innovation Consortium division of the China Internal Combustion Engine Society. The consortium will lead the development of hydrogen combustion engines for applications in the automobile, power generation, marine and industrial and agricultural industries, among other applications. To encourage improved performance, equity and incentive plans have been implemented by our subsidiaries. Selected senior men and leaders and key employees of Yuchai and its subsidiaries acquired indirectly their respective portions of the enlarge with interest of Guangxi Yuchai Marine and Genset Power Company Limited, or MPG, to better align their interest with the success of this organization. These incentives for selected participants are important to motivate them for their continued contribution, dedication and loyalty for long-term growth. In early June, the company adopted a share buyback plan, whereby the company may repurchase its ordinary shares up to USD 40 million in dollar amount or 4 million in the number, whichever occurs first. China Yuchai may repurchase shares on the open market at prevailing market prices in privately negotiated transactions or by other legally permissible means. Share repurchases will be financed through operating cash flow and existing cash balances. In addition, the company has declared a cash dividend of USD 0.38 for ordinary share for shareholders of record as of the close of business on August 19, 2024, to be paid on August 28, 2024. This share repurchases and dividend distribution reward demonstrates our commitment to shareholder value. With that, I would now like to turn the call over to Choon Sen Loo, our Chief Financial Officer, who will provide more details on the financial results. Choon Sen, you may begin your remarks.

Thank you, Weng Ming. Now let me review our unaudited 6-month results ended June 30, 2024. Revenue was RMB 10.3 billion or USD 1.4 billion, compared with RMB 9.2 billion in first half 2023. The total number of engines sold by Yuchai in first half 2024 increased by 16.3% to 192,743 units compared with 165,793 units in first half 2023. The increase was mainly driven by a 35.6% increase in truck engine sales with heavy-duty truck engine sales up by 32.9%. Additionally, bus engine sales rose by 21.7%, and engine sales for industrial applications increased by 13.1%. Sales increased in all product categories except pickups. According to data reported by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, CAAM, in first half 2024, commercial vehicle unit sales excluding gasoline-powered and electric-powered vehicles increased by 4.4% compared to first half 2023, as truck and bus sales increased by 3.7% and 9%, respectively. Gross profit was up by 16.8% to RMB 1.7 billion or USD 242.9 million from RMB 1.5 billion in first half 2023. Gross margin grew to 16.8% as compared with 16.2% in first half 2023. The increases in gross profit and gross margin were mainly attributable to higher engine sales, especially sales of heavy-duty vehicle engines and industrial engines and contributions from ongoing cost reduction efforts. Other operating income increased by 27.8% to RMB 174.1 million or USD 24.4 million compared with RMB 136.2 million in first half 2023. The increase was mainly due to government grants and the government's rebate on value-added tax. Research and development, R&D expenses decreased by 3.1% to RMB 393.6 million or USD 55.2 million compared with RMB 406 million in the first half 203. The company continues to invest in research and development for on-road engines in the commercial vehicle market and off-road engines as well as new energy products. Total R&D expenditures, including capitalized costs, were RMB 463.2 million or USD 65 million, representing 4.5% of revenue in first half 2024, as compared to RMB 465.2 million or 5.1% of revenue in first half 2023. Selling, general and administrative, SG&A expenses increased by 30.3% to RMB 1.1 billion or USD 150.8 million from RMB 824.7 million in first half 2023. The increase was mainly due to higher warranty expenses, and higher provision of personnel costs compared with the same period last year. SG&A expenses represented 10.4% of revenue for first half 2024 compared with 9% in first half 2023. Operating profit increased by 12.7% to RMB 436.9 million or USD 61.3 million from RMB 387.7 million in the first half 2023. The operating margin remained steady at 4.2% in both periods. Finance costs declined by 23.7% to RMB 40.9 million or USD 5.7 million from RMB 53.6 million in first half 2023, mainly due to lower bills discounting. The share of financial results of the associates and joint ventures achieved a 45.4% increase in profit to RMB 43.1 million or USD 6 million compared with a profit of RMB 29.6 million in first half 2023. The improvement was primarily contributed by higher profit at MTU Yuchai Power Company Limited. Income tax expense decreased by 7.4% to RMB 102.4 million or USD 14.4 million as compared with RMB 110.6 million in the first half 2023. Net profit attributable to equity holders of the company increased by 34.7% to RMB 240.3 million or USD 33.7 million compared with RMB 178.4 million in first half 2023. Basic and diluted earnings per share were RMB 5.88 or USD 0.83 compared with RMB 4.37 in the first half 2023. Basic and diluted earnings per share for first half 2024 and first half 2023 were based on a weighted average of 40,858,290 shares. Now we will move to our balance sheet highlights as of June 30, 2024. Cash and bank balances were RMB 6.3 billion or USD 890 million compared with RMB 6 billion at the end of FY 2023. Trade and bills receivables were RMB 10.2 billion or USD 1.4 billion compared with RMB 7.8 billion at the end of financial year 2023. Inventories were RMB 4.6 billion or USD 640.2 million compared with RMB 4.6 billion at the end of financial year 2023. Trade and bills payables were RMB 8.6 billion or USD 1.2 billion compared with RMB 7.6 billion at the end of financial year 2023. Short-term and long-term loans and borrowings were RMB 2.8 billion or USD 390.6 million compared with RMB 2.5 billion at the end of financial year 2023. I will now turn the call over to Kevin for a comment for a Q&A session.

Please note, some officers of China Yuchai are remotely calling into the conference call. This may result in a slight delay in providing answers to some questions. We apologize for any inconvenience, and thank you for your patience. With that, operator, we are ready to begin the Q&A.

[Operator Instructions] And the first question comes from the line of Gary Nash from Nash Consulting.

I guess -- my question is, how much is your 2024 capital expenditures, and in which products or areas are you investing?

Okay. In 2024, we are investing in few areas. Firstly, I think it is the power generation. There is quite a good demand, especially for standby power generation in the data centers - for the data centers application, and the demand is actually quite strong, so that's why we are increasing our capacity in that area. We also are investing in the wind turbine main shaft, which is a new area that we have been getting into, and the other area of investment is in the new energy segment.

And the next question comes from the line of Jessica [ Lynn ].

My question is, how many of the shares has the company purchased under the buyback plan that was announced in June?

We have purchased more than half of our target, so close to about 2.7 million, and a large part of it from the aftermarket.

As there are no further questions on the phone line, I would now like to hand back to the room for any questions on the webcast. We have now reached the end of our Q&A session. I would now like to turn the call back over to Mr. Hoh.

Thank you all for participating in our conference call. We wish each of you good health and look forward to speaking with you again. So, goodbye for now.

This concludes today's conference call. Thank you for participating. You may now disconnect.