Ford Motor Company today reported a 2006 full-year net loss of $12.7 billion, or $6.79 per share. In 2005, the company reported net income of $1.4 billion, or 77 cents per share.
Excluding special items, Ford's 2006 full-year after-tax loss from continuing operations totaled $2.8 billion, or $1.50 per share. This compares to year-ago earnings from continuing operations of $1.9 billion, or $1.00 per share, excluding special items.**
Special items, which primarily reflected costs associated with restructuring efforts and fixed asset impairments, reduced full-year results on an after-tax basis by a total of $9.9 billion or $5.29 per share. The total pre-tax effect of full-year special items was $11.9 billion.
Full-year sales and revenue for 2006 was $160.1 billion, compared to $176.9 billion a year ago.
* The financial results discussed herein are presented on a preliminary basis; final data will be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2006 (Form 10-K Report).
**See table following “Safe Harbor/Risk Factors” for the nature and amount of these special items and a reconciliation to U.S. GAAP.
FULL-YEAR HIGHLIGHTS
Ford Motor Company highlights in 2006 included:
* Alan Mulally joining Ford as president and CEO in September.
* An “accelerated” Way Forward plan to return North America to profitability no later than 2009 that calls for idling and ceasing operations at 16 manufacturing facilities through 2012, including seven vehicle assembly plants. The plan also calls for achieving a cumulative $5 billion in reduced operating costs by 2008, compared to 2005, and for 70 percent of Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury products by volume to be new or significantly upgraded by 2008.
* The idling of St. Louis Assembly in March and Atlanta Assembly in October, consistent with the North America restructuring plan.
* An agreement with the UAW to extend a variety of voluntary buyout offers to all U.S. Ford and Automotive Component Holdings, LLC (ACH) hourly employees. Through Dec. 31, 2006, more than 38,000 hourly employees had accepted offers. Many of the offers include an employee's opportunity to rescind acceptance up until the time of separation from the company. In addition, the company realized cost savings from the implementation of its health care agreement with the UAW.
* Efforts to reduce North America salaried-related costs by a third, which will reduce the salaried work force by the equivalent of 14,000 positions. In addition, we implemented cost-saving revisions to salaried benefit plans.
* Agreement in principle to sell three facilities now operated by ACH. Ford intends to sell or close all ACH facilities by the end of 2008.
* Plans to sell Automobile Protection Corporation (APCO), a subsidiary that offers vehicle service contracts to dealers of all makes and models, and all or part of Aston Martin.
* Launching new products that received strong initial feedback, including the Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX, Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator in North America, the Ford S-MAX, Ford Galaxy and Ford Transit in Europe, the Jaguar XK, Land Rover LR2, Volvo S80 and C30 and Mazda CX9.
* Ford S-MAX being named European Car of the Year 2007 and Ford Transit receiving International Van of the Year 2007. Ford also won the 2006 FIA World Rally Championship Manufacturers' Trophy.
* Record sales in China and India.
* A corporate realignment in December that streamlined the organization and formed a Global Product Development team, to better integrate and leverage global resources across the automotive business units.
* Obtaining $23.5 billion of new liquidity in December, including a convertible debt offering of about $5 billion, a secured term loan of $7 billion and a secured revolving credit facility of $11.5 billion. This resulted in total automotive liquidity of $46 billion at year-end 2006.
“We began aggressive actions in 2006 to restructure our automotive business so we can operate profitably at lower volumes and with a product mix that better reflects consumer demand for smaller, more fuel efficient vehicles,” said Alan Mulally, Ford's president and chief executive officer. “We fully recognize our business reality and are dealing with it. We have a plan and we are on track to deliver.”
FOURTH QUARTER
In the fourth quarter, the company reported a net loss of $5.8 billion, or $3.05 per share. This compares to a fourth-quarter net loss of $74 million, or 4 cents per share, in 2005. Excluding special items, the fourth-quarter after-tax loss from continuing operations totaled $2.1 billion, or $1.10 per share, compared to a profit of $285 million, or 15 cents per share, a year ago.*
Special items in the quarter included the costs associated with North America restructuring efforts. On an after-tax basis, special items reduced fourth-quarter earnings by a total of $3.7 billion or $1.95 per share. The total pre-tax effect of fourth-quarter special items was $3.8 billion. (See appendix at the end of this press release for a detailed explanation of special items and other charges during the period.)
Total sales and revenue in the fourth quarter were $40.3 billion, compared to $46.3 billion in the year-ago period.
The following discussion of the preliminary pre-tax results of our Automotive sector and Financial Services sector, by segment or business unit, is on a basis that excludes special items. See table following “Safe Harbor/Risk Factors” for the nature and amount of these special items and a reconciliation to U.S. GAAP.
AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR
For the full year, Ford's worldwide Automotive sector reported a pre-tax loss of $5.2 billion, compared to a pre-tax loss of $993 million a year ago. The decline primarily reflected unfavorable volume and mix, unfavorable net pricing and currency exchange, partially offset by favorable cost performance and higher interest income.
For the fourth quarter, Ford's worldwide Automotive sector reported a pre-tax loss of $2.5 billion, compared to a pre-tax loss of $109 million a year earlier. The decline primarily reflected adverse volume and mix and higher incentives in North America.
Worldwide Automotive revenue for 2006 was $143.3 billion, compared to $153.5 billion a year ago. Total fourth-quarter Automotive revenue was $36 billion, a decrease from $40.7 billion a year ago.
*See table following “Safe Harbor/Risk Factors” for the nature and amount of these special items and a reconciliation to U.S. GAAP.
Total company vehicle wholesales in 2006 were 6,597,000, a decrease from 6,767,000 in 2005. Fourth-quarter vehicle wholesales totaled 1,568,000, compared to 1,737,000 units a year ago.
Automotive cash at Dec. 31, 2006, totaled $33.9 billion of cash, net marketable securities, loaned securities and short-term Voluntary Employee Benefits Association (VEBA) assets.
North America : For 2006, Ford's North America Automotive operations reported a pre-tax loss of $6.1 billion, compared to a loss of $1.5 billion in 2005. The increased losses primarily reflected unfavorable net pricing, largely reflecting higher incentive spending, unfavorable mix, lower market share and a reduction of dealer stocks, partially offset by cost reductions. For the year, North America's sales totaled $69.4 billion, compared to $80.6 billion a year ago.
For the fourth quarter, North America Automotive operations reported a pre-tax loss of more than $2.8 billion, compared to a pre-tax loss of $217 million in 2005. The increased losses primarily reflected unfavorable net pricing, largely reflecting higher incentive spending, a reduction in dealer stocks, unfavorable mix, and lower market share, partially offset by cost reductions. Fourth-quarter sales were $15.1 billion, compared to $21.4 billion in 2005.
South America : Ford's South America Automotive operations reported a full-year pre-tax profit of $551 million, a $152 million increase from 2005. The improvement primarily reflected higher volumes, partially offset by unfavorable currency exchange. Full-year sales improved to $5.7 billion from $4.4 billion in 2005.
In the fourth quarter, Ford's South America Automotive operations posted a pre-tax profit of $114 million, compared to a pre-tax profit of $131 million in 2005. The change was more than explained by unfavorable currency exchange. Fourth-quarter sales were $1.7 billion, an improvement from $1.3 billion a year ago.
Ford Europe: Ford Europe posted a full-year pre-tax profit of $469 million, an improvement of $396 million from a year ago. Sales for the year totaled $30.4 billion, compared to $29.9 billion in 2005.
For the fourth quarter, Ford Europe reported a pre-tax profit of $232 million, an improvement from $24 million a year ago. This improvement primarily reflected higher volume. Fourth-quarter sales totaled $8.8 billion, an increase of $900 million compared to a year ago.
Premier Automotive Group (PAG): For 2006, PAG reported a full-year pre-tax loss of $327 million, compared to a pre-tax loss of $89 million a year ago. The decline is more than explained by prior model warranty accrual adjustments at Jaguar and Land Rover and unfavorable currency exchange rates, partially offset by other cost reductions and favorable mix and pricing. Full-year sales for the group totaled $30 billion, compared to $30.3 billion in 2005.
In the fourth quarter, PAG reported a pre-tax profit of $191 million, an improvement of $129 million compared to the year-ago period. This improvement primarily reflected favorable volume and mix at Volvo due to the introduction of new products, and favorable pricing at Jaguar and Land Rover, partially offset by the effect of a weaker U.S. dollar against key European currencies. Fourth-quarter sales totaled $8.6 billion, compared to $8 billion a year ago.
Asia Pacific and Africa: For full-year 2006, Asia Pacific and Africa reported a pre-tax loss of $185 million, compared to a pre-tax profit of $61 million a year ago. The results primarily reflected adverse volume and mix and exchange rates, partially offset by cost reductions. Full-year sales totaled $6.5 billion, a decline from $7.7 billion in 2005.
For the fourth quarter, Asia Pacific and Africa reported a pre-tax loss of $135 million, compared to a pre-tax loss of $39 million in the year-ago period. The increased losses primarily reflected adverse volume and mix and exchange rates, partially offset by cost reductions. Fourth-quarter sales totaled $1.4 billion, compared to $1.8 billion in 2005.
Mazda: For full-year 2006, Ford's share of the pre-tax profit of Mazda and associated operations was $168 million, compared to $255 million a year ago. The decline was more than explained by the non-recurrence of gains on Mazda convertible bonds in 2005.
For the fourth quarter, Ford's share of the pre-tax profit of Mazda and associated operations was $51 million, compared to $32 million a year ago, which primarily reflected favorable operating performance.
Other Automotive: Full-year 2006 results included a pre-tax profit of $247 million, compared to a loss of $207 million a year ago, reflecting primarily higher interest income. Fourth-quarter results included a pre-tax loss of $59 million, an improvement of $43 million that primarily reflected higher interest income.
FINANCIAL SERVICES SECTOR
For the full year, the Financial Services sector earned a pre-tax profit of more than $1.9 billion, compared to $3.5 billion the prior year. For the fourth quarter, the Financial Services sector earned a pre-tax profit of $416 million, compared to $626 million the prior year.
Ford Motor Credit Company: Ford Motor Credit Company reported net income of $1.3 billion in 2006, down $621 million from earnings of $1.9 billion a year earlier. On a pre-tax basis from continuing operations, Ford Motor Credit earned more than $1.9 billion in 2006, down $970 million from 2005. The decrease in full-year earnings primarily reflected higher borrowing costs, higher depreciation expense and the impact of lower average receivable levels. These were partially offset by market valuations primarily related to non-designated derivatives and reduced operating costs.
In the fourth quarter of 2006, Ford Motor Credit's net income was $279 million, down $26 million from a year earlier. On a pre-tax basis, Ford Motor Credit earned $406 million in the fourth quarter, compared to $482 million in the previous year. The decrease primarily reflected higher borrowing costs and higher depreciation expense, partially offset by market valuations primarily related to non-designated derivatives.
CASH AND LIQUIDITY
The company ended the year with total Automotive cash, net marketable securities, loaned securities and short-term Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association (VEBA) assets at Dec. 31, 2006 of $33.9 billion, an increase from $23.6 billion at the end of the previous quarter. Total Automotive liquidity at Dec. 31, 2006 was $46 billion including credit facilities. The company's Automotive operating-related cash flow was $1.8 billion negative for the fourth quarter.
“We're pleased the financial markets expressed confidence in our turnaround plan by providing us with the additional liquidity we will need to fund our operations as we restructure to deliver sustainable profitability,” said Mulally. “We will deploy this capital wisely to ensure we earn returns for our shareholders and deliver products our customers prefer.”
2007 OUTLOOK
The company shared its financial outlook for 2007 and, consistent with previous guidance, expects market share and most earnings comparisons to remain challenging for the next two to three quarters.
More specifically:
* U.S. market share is expected to be down through the third quarter of 2007, primarily due to lower fleet sales.
* Production is expected to be down through the first half of 2007, but is expected to increase on a year-over-year basis in the second half of the year.
* Year-over-year third quarter comparisons will be impacted by the non-recurrence of tax-related interest income in 2006.
* Essentially no tax offsets to losses will be recognized – negatively impacting the first nine months of comparisons.
* The company's structural cost reductions will continue to grow during the year as personnel are separated, plants are idled and capacity is reduced.
* As previously stated, from 2007 through 2009 cumulative Automotive operating-related cash outflows will be about $10 billion, and cumulative restructuring expenditures will be about $7 billion. The company expects more than half of this $17 billion outflow will occur in 2007. These outflows also reflect plans to invest in new products at levels comparable to previous years, or about $7 billion annually.
* Special charges in 2007 are expected to be significantly lower than in 2006.
“While challenges lie ahead for us in 2007, we're focused on making continuous improvements to our plan, so we can capitalize on opportunities to create and sell more products and save more costs,” Mulally said. “Our priorities, combined with our sense of urgency, will continue to transform Ford Motor Company.”
Also shared were planning assumptions regarding the industry, operating metrics and profit outlook by business unit.
2007 Planning Assumptions
Industry Volumes
– U.S (Mils.)
16.8
– Europe (Mils.)
17.6
U.S. Industry Net Pricing
Lower
2007 Operational Metrics
Quality
Improved
Market Share
– U.S.
Lower
– Other Regions
Higher
Automotive Costs*
Lower
Cash Flow
Negative
Capital Spending
About $7 billion
*At constant volume, mix and exchange; excludes special items
Pre-tax Profits by Major Operation
