Stellantis unveiled a share buyback of as much as 1.5 billion euros ($1.6 billion) following Mercedes-Benz and BMW in returning cash to shareholders after strong 2022 results on the back of high vehicle prices and pent-up demand.
Stellantis expects another year of double-digit returns as vehicle price increases slow, chip shortages ease and production picks up, the automaker said Wednesday.
The company’s operating return rose to 13 percent last year, beating analysts' expectations.
"Price increases were substantial in 2022 and they will be lower in 2023," Chief Financial Officer Richard Palmer said on a call with reporters. "The challenge for 2023 is to offset inflation with pricing, but also with an improvement in the industrial efficiency."
The group, formed from the merger of Fiat Chrysler and PSA Group, will pay a dividend of 1.34 euros a share, up from 1.04 euros the previous year. The buyback will run through the end of the year.
Returns during the second half of 2022 declined compared to the first half because of the supply-chain snarls. Operating margin was 12 percent in the second half, down from 14.1 percent in the first six months. Adjusted earnings before interest and tax were 10.95 billion euros in the July to December period.
Industrial free cash flows topped 10.8 billion euros last year.
Stellantis said all of its regions were growing and delivering record profitability, including Europe.
The automaker said on Wednesday that it will distribute a record amount of 2 billion euros to its global employees, 200 million euros more than in 2021.
In the U.S., Stellantis will distribute $14,760 each to eligible UAW-represented workers as part of a profit-sharing plan. About 40,500 workers are eligible for the bonus, with actual payouts depending on individual compensated hours. The payout is up slightly from the 2021 fiscal year, when about 43,000 workers received $14,670 each.
Bumper cash synergies
Stellantis said it had achieved cash synergies of 7.1 billion euros last year, far exceeding in advance the 5 billion-euro target by 2024 it set at the time of the merger.
"This speaks to the fast conversion and execution of the team within Stellantis organization," Palmer said.
Results were also helped by good growth in global sales of electric vehicles, pricing power and a positive exchange rate effect linked to a strong U.S. dollar, Palmer said, "despite various challenges in the marketplace, with semiconductors, logistics, raw materials, energy and inflation."
Increased industrial costs had an overall impact on the group's results last year of over 9 billion euros.
Vehicle deliveries fell 2 percent last year, mainly due to semiconductors and logistics constraints, especially in Europe.
"Challenges continue in securing capacity for (vehicle) outbound transportation (to customers)," Palmer said. "Semiconductors continue to be a problem, I don't think the situation will be fully resolved in 2023," he added.
