0NWW Ab Skf

GÖTEBORG, Sweden, Feb. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Q4 2021

Net sales: SEK 20,986 million (19,572) Organic growth: 4% (0%) Adjusted operating profit/margin: SEK 2,260 million, 10.8% (2,582, 13.2%)

Full year 2021

Net sales: SEK 81,732 million (74,852) Adjusted operating profit/margin: SEK 10,839 million, 13.3% (9,194, 12.3%)

Rickard Gustafson, President and CEO:

"Looking at the full year, 2021 was very strong for SKF, with solid growth and improved margins. The performance in the first half of the year was especially strong, while the second half of the year saw increasing challenges in the form of supply chain constraints and cost inflation.

During the fourth quarter, we've worked hard to mitigate the evolving cost inflation, which has continued to accelerate. In total, we were able to compensate for about SEK 700 million of the SEK 1,660 million cost increase, which is not a satisfactory level.

Given the continued and exceptionally high levels of cost inflation, we are implementing further broad-based price increases and continuing our focus on cost efficiency, in anticipation of continued supply chain challenges and cost inflation during the new year. This is a necessary step to protect our business and allow for continued investment in innovation and product development, so that we can better support our customers.

The Industrial business delivered organic growth of 9% in the quarter. The strong sales development was driven by significantly higher demand in EMEA and Latin America, while demand in North America and Asia grew at a somewhat lower pace. Demand was generally strong across most industries, especially within industrial drives, industrial distribution, off-highway and heavy industries. The Industrial adjusted operating margin was 13.5% (14.6%).

The Automotive business continued to experience volatile demand, with organic growth at -8%. Despite this, it delivered an adjusted operating margin of 3.7% (10.2%) in part due to the mitigating actions that we announced in the previous quarter. Our order book is strong and it's great to see a continued sharp increase in demand for electric vehicles, where we have a leading position, as well as in the high-margin aftermarket.

Cash flow in the quarter was SEK 823 million (1,901) and included approximately SEK 700 million from real estate sales. The lower cash flow is mainly attributable to higher inventory levels, which increased by SEK 1,279 million in the quarter, compared to an inventory reduc­tion of SEK 862 million last year. Supply chain constraints continue to result in higher levels of goods in transit than what we would normally see.

Taking a long-term view, we continue to invest in strengthen­ing our competitiveness and getting closer to our customers.

A good example of the invest­ments we are making is the expansion of our factory in Xinchang, China. By strengthening our engineering and manufac-turing capability, we are improving our competitiveness towards local and global customers. The factory has the capability to produce a wide range of bearings, including for electric vehicles, agriculture and industrial applications, where we see strong growth on a global scale.

This morning we announced the details of our new strategic framework, which will guide our work as we look to grow our business faster and more profitably than before. SKF has a fantastic position from which to build upon, not least given our wide expo­sure to so many growing segments and the role our offerings play in enabling the shift towards cleaner industrial solutions.

Looking into the first quarter of 2022, we estimate a low single-digit organic sales growth. Industrial is expected to grow while Automotive is expected to decline. For the full year 2022, we expect an organic sales growth of about 5-10%.

In recognition of our strong performance during the year, the Board has proposed a dividend of SEK 7.00."

Outlook and guidance

Demand for Q1 2022 compared to Q1 2021

Looking ahead, for Q1 2022, we estimate a low single-digit organic sales growth.

Guidance Q1 2022

Currency impact on the operating profit is expected to be around SEK 150 million compared with Q1 2021, based on exchange rates per 31 December 2021.

Guidance 2022         

• For the full year 2022, we expect an organic sales growth of about 5-10%.
• Tax level excluding effects related to divested businesses: around 26%.
• Additions to property, plant and equipment: around SEK 5 billion.

A teleconference will be held on 3 February 2022 at 09:00 (CET):

Sweden +46 10 884 80 16
UK / International +44 203 936 2999
Passcode: 142403

https://investors.skf.com/en

Aktiebolaget SKF
      (publ)

This is information that AB SKF is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation and the Securities Markets Act. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out above, at 08.00 CET on 3 February 2022. 

For further information, please contact:
PRESS: Carl Bjernstam, Group Communication
tel: 46 31-337 2517; mobile: 46 722-201 893; e-mail: carl.bjernstam@skf.com

INVESTOR RELATIONS: Patrik Stenberg, Head of Investor Relations
tel: 46 31-337 2104; mobile: 46 705-472 104; patrik.stenberg@skf.com

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SOURCE SKF