Navistar Q1 Revenues of Up, But Net Loss Stands at $73 Million

Navistar International Corporation announced a first quarter 2018 net loss of $73 million, or $0.74 per diluted share, compared to a first quarter 2017 net loss of $62 million, or $0.76 per diluted share. First quarter 2018 results included $46 million of charges as a result of the company’s debt refinancing in November 2017.

First quarter 2018 EBITDA was $55 million, compared to first quarter 2017 EBITDA of $63 million. First quarter 2018 includes $49 million in net adjustments, including the debt refinancing and other items. Adjusted EBITDA was $104 million versus $55 million in first quarter 2017.

Navistar finished the first quarter 2018 with $975 million in consolidated cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities and $947 million in manufacturing cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities.

“We are off to a strong start in 2018 thanks to our ability to grow Navistar’s position in a strengthening market,” said Troy A. Clarke, Chairman, President and CEO. “We grew our Class 8 market share and improved our margins, on the way to delivering our best first quarter on an adjusted EBITDA basis since 2011.”

Navistar’s first quarter Core chargeouts were up 2,400 units year-over-year led by Class 8 Heavy, which was up 56 percent compared to first quarter last year. The company’s Class 8 market share was up 1.2 points versus the same period one year ago. Gross margin for the quarter was 19.6 percent of revenue, up 2 percentage points from first quarter 2017.

“Our improvement this year is due largely to the market’s positive reaction to our new products, including the LT Series on highway tractor and the 13-liter A26 engine,” Clarke said. “In fact, the strong interest in our A26 engine has us nearly doubling our share of trucks with 13-liter engines in the first quarter of 2018 compared to a year ago.”

Continuing its cadence of new product launches, Navistar unveiled its new International MV Series medium-duty vehicle at the NTEA Work Truck Show earlier this week. The launch of the MV Series completes the company’s Project Horizon product refresh, and reflects that program’s improved cab design, along with the same driver-centric enhancements already launched in Class 8 vehicles.

Additionally, the company’s alliance with Volkswagen Truck & Bus is accelerating Navistar’s development of future technologies, including electric powertrains, which are already in development for school buses and medium duty trucks. The company is currently testing its first prototype electric school bus, the chargE, which Navistar will be demonstrating for customers and government officials starting later this month.

“As a leader in the medium and school bus segments, we know our customers and the jobs their trucks and buses do, which is why we’re convinced these will be the market segments best suited for e-powertrains in the near term,” Clarke said. “These vehicles travel shorter distances and typically return to their base overnight, making the charging infrastructure less complex. And, perhaps most significantly, they will provide environmental benefit, especially in urban areas.”

Based on stronger industry conditions, the company raised its 2018 full-year guidance:

• Retail deliveries of Class 6-8 trucks and buses in the United States and Canada are forecast to be in the range of 360,000 units to 390,000 units, with Class 8 retail deliveries of 235,000 to 265,000 units.
• Revenues are expected to be between $9.25 billion and $9.75 billion.
• Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be between $700 million and $750 million.
• Year-end manufacturing cash is expected to be about $1.1 billion.

“We expect market conditions to remain robust and we are determined to take advantage of opportunities to grow share while delivering strong margin performance,” Clarke said. “Given the progress made in Q1, and our positive outlook for the remainder of the year, we are confident that 2018 will be the breakout year for Navistar.”