Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. (7272) Earnings Call Transcript & Summary

Hi, I am Shitara from Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. Thank you very much for taking time out of your busy schedule today to participate in the Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. earnings presentation for the first quarter of fiscal year ending December 31, 2023. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued interest, understanding and support of our business. I will now give an overview of the financial results. Please refer to Page 4. First of all, I'd like to explain the key points of our first quarter results. Our first quarter results achieved record high net sales, operating income and operating income ratio. Both sales and profits increased significantly in the core Motorcycle and the Marine Products business supported by strong demand and increased production and shipments. On the other hand, the Robotics business posted lower sales and profit due to continued sluggish semiconductor market and weak domestic demand in China since the second half of last year. On the outlook for the current fiscal year, we expect the continued uncertainty in the U.S. and European countries, while economic recovery is expected to continue in many emerging markets. Regarding market trends, while demand for outdoor leisure activities are expected to decline, strong demand for motorcycles in emerging markets and for large outboard motors is expected to continue. In the SPV business, the e-Bike market is expected to grow moderately, and the Robotics market is expected to recover from the second half of this year. We continue to believe that both of these markets will grow in the medium to long term. Based on this recognition of the environment, the entire group will work together to deliver as many products as possible to customers as quickly as possible, while keeping in mind the breakeven point and the cost efficiency. Please go to Page 5. The table on the left shows a comparison of our shipments by major products with the actual results for 2022. Except for Vietnam, where the economy is in recession, shipments of motorcycle increased due to strong demand in all markets. On the other hand, the premium scooters continue to be in short supply. Unit shipments of outboard motors also increased due to solid demand for large models. ATV, ROV unit shipments increased as the production issues at the U.S. production site is resolved. In SPV, the production volume increased due to the improvement of supply chain disruptions and E-Kit shipments increased as well. Mounter sales volume to Asia decreased significantly. The graph on the right shows inventories of March with appropriate levels of inventory. Except for Vietnam, inventories are still insufficient. Please see Page 6. I will now explain the overall business results. From left to right, the chart shows the results for the first quarter of 2022, the first quarter of '23, the year-on-year changes and 2023 full year forecast. In the first quarter, net sales was 126% of last year at JPY 606.5 billion, operating income 182% of previous year at JPY 72.8 billion, operating income increased 3.7 percentage points to 12%, ordinary income was 157% of previous year at JPY 71.7 billion, and net income attributable to owners of the parent was 137% versus '22 at JPY 44.8 billion. EPS reached 146% versus previous year at JPY 132.5. Increased sales in Motorcycle and Marine Products led to higher sales and profits. We achieved a record high operating income ratio by increasing scale and by improving the cost efficiency. The actual exchange rates are JPY 132 to the U.S. dollar and JPY 142 to the euro, and the exchange rates of emerging currencies against the U.S. dollar are shown at the bottom. Please go to Page 7. Please find operating income factors for the first quarter FY 2023. As you can see, the sales increase contributed to JPY 27.6 billion, out of which sales increase is JPY 14.3 billion positive, price raises JPY 23 billion positive, unrealized profits plus JPY 9.4 billion, Financial Services, minus and down JPY 1.4 billion, and the product mix and others was down JPY 17.7 billion. Cost reduction was minus JPY 3.6 billion, of which cost reduction plus JPY 5.2 billion, cost increase minus JPY 8.9 billion and an increase in growth strategy expenses of minus JPY 1.7 billion. Higher SG&A expenses had a negative impact of JPY 7.5 billion and the FX impact was positive JPY 17.9 billion. The scale expansion and effective price hikes implemented in stages since last year contributed positively. In addition, the appropriate control of SG&A expenses resulted in a significant increase in profit. Please refer to Page 8. I will now explain the progress of medium and long-term measures. There has been 3 developments in our efforts to become carbon neutral, as you can see. Firstly, by applying that theoretical value production improvement method used at the production site was applied to the Hamakita plant to save energy and achieved a model line with 32% of energy reduction without spending any additional cost for improvement. This activity was recognized and Hamakita plant received the Energy Conservation Grand Prize in '22. We will expand this initiative to other plants to achieve further energy conservation. We will also begin using green aluminum and recycle the polypropylene materials in motorcycles. Furthermore, in order to accelerate carbon offsetting efforts toward carbon neutrality by 2050, we invested in CO2 removal biotechnology startup in the United States. Next, I would like to discuss business restructuring. Discussion is underway to conclude a business transfer agreement for the business subject to the structural reform as defined in the portfolio strategy of our medium-term management plan. Let me now give you the details by business segments. Please see Page 10. Net sales and operating income by business segments are shown on this page. Land Mobility segment of Motorcycles, RVs, SPVs, Marine Products and Other Products segments had higher revenues and profits. The Financial Services segment reported higher revenues, yet lower income, while the Robotics reported lower revenue and operating income. I will provide more details by business segments on the following pages. Please see Page 11. First, the core business. On the left is the Motorcycle business. The graph shows sales by region. Supported by robust demand in developed markets and recovery in emerging economies, sales increased in all regions, resulting in higher operating income. In particular, sales increased significantly in North America, Europe, Indonesia, Brazil, Thailand and the Philippines. On the profit, the operating income ratio improved by increasing scale and controlling SG&A expenses. Next on the right is the Marine Products business. The bar shows sales by each product category. In outboard motors, demand for small and midsized models has been slowing down, but demand for large models remained strong. Demand also increased for water vehicles, and we were able to increase the supply as the production issues at the U.S. plant were resolved, improving net sales as well as operating income ratio. Most recently, we launched our most powerful 450-horsepower outboard motor model. The response from the market outboard shows has been favorable, and we will continue to further expand our lineups of large outboard motors to strengthen the competitiveness of our business. Please go to Page 13. On the left, please find the RV business. In the U.S., our major market, RV sales volume increased achieving higher sales. In addition, production efficiency improved as a result of resolving production issues at our U.S. plants, and we achieved a higher profit margin of over 10%. However, demand has softened faster than expected, and the competitors have begun their sales promotion. Going forward, we will closely monitor the market and the competition and implement appropriate sales promotions and inventory control. Next on the right is the Financial Services business. Revenues increased due to higher finance receivables in all regions, along with higher sales volume. On the profit, the sharp rise in interest rates since last year had a negative impact on financing costs. In addition, the increase in receivables led to late allowance for doubtful accounts, resulting in a decrease in profit. Please refer to Page 14. Next, the growth business. On the left is the SPV business. For 2023, the supply chain disruption is coming to an end. Production volume is increasing, and the supply of E-Kit has improved significantly. As a result, both sales and profit increased. However, the market now faces [ lull ], and the inventory level is getting higher. So we are planning to have a production adjustment. Next, on the right is the Robotics business. Both sales and profits declined due to sales drop caused by the slow recovery in China and Taiwan. We expect the recovery from the third quarter toward the end of the year and the sales expected to recover by introducing new models and by capturing automotive demand. This concludes the presentation for the first quarter of the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023. Thank you very much for your attention. [Statements in English on this transcript were spoken by an interpreter present on the live call.]