UPDATE: TRW Swings To Second Quarter Loss; Beats Analyst Estimates
August 04 2009 - 8:35AM
Dow Jones News
TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. (TRW), one of the world's largest
maker of safety parts, swung to a second quarter loss but raised
its full-year revenue forecast amid signs of a stabilization in
demand.
The company posted a loss of $11 million, or 11 cents a share,
compared with a profit of $127 million, or $1.24 a share a year
earlier. Sales decreased 38.6% to $2.7 billion
However, TRW joined a growing list of auto parts makers that are
beginning to see firmer financial footing after making drastic job
cuts over the past year. TRW's loss narrowed compared to the first
quarter when the company reported a loss of $131 million.
"The restructuring and cost containment actions implemented over
the previous three quarters had a significant impact," TRW Chief
Executive John Plant said in a statement on Tuesday. "Finalizing
the agreement with our lenders to protect our liquidity, in
addition to our cost containment actions, should allow us to manage
through the downturn."
TRW announced in June it had finalized a deal with its lenders
to amend its $2.5-billion credit agreement. The company sought the
changes in response to the slumping demand in the industry.
Other companies reporting slowing earnings erosion and beating
analyst estimates were Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (GT),
Federal-Mogul Corp. (FDML) and Tenneco Inc. (TEN).
They are among the handful of major suppliers that have avoided
filing for bankruptcy protection. In the past three months alone,
Visteon Corp. (VSTN), Metaldyne Corp., Lear Corp. (LEAR) and
Cooper-Standard Automotive Inc. have all sought Chapter 11.
Excluding special items, TRW reported a second-quarter profit of
8 cents a share, beating the average analyst estimate of a loss of
83 cents, according to a survey by Thomson Reuters.
Auto parts makers could find some additional relief through the
"Cash for Clunkers" program heading into the second half of the
year. The enthusiastic response is depleting new car inventory
which will likely cause auto makers to increase their production
plans.
The annualized U.S. selling rate for July jumped to 11.2 million
vehicles after trailing between 9.3 million and 9.6 million for the
first six months of the year.
Dealers around the country have said they are running low on
products produced by General Motors Co. and Chrysler Group LLC.
Both companies scaled back production during their bankruptcies
earlier this year.
"We remain optimistic the first half of 2009 was the trough in
global automotive production for the current downturn," Plant said.
"Vehicle production forecasts are indicating higher levels of
production for the remainder of 2009 and into 2010."
TRW raised its full-year revenue forecast to a range of $10.5
billion to $10.9 billion, from $10.1 billion to $10.5 billion. It
expects third-quarter sales to be about $2.8 billion.
-By Jeff Bennett, Dow Jones Newswires;
jeff.bennett@dowjones.com; 248-204-5542