Valkyrie hiccups put Aston Martin earnings in low gear
07 January 2022 - 12:17
bySiddharth Philip
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings says its Valkyrie project is back on track. Picture: BLOOMBERG
Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings says it has put its Valkyrie project back on track after deliveries of the £2.4m car fell short of expectations in 2021.
The company shipped just 10 units in the fourth quarter, lowering adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation by about £15m. Aston Martin said on Friday it still reached its goal of selling more than 6,000 cars in 2021 thanks to robust demand for the DBX, its first sport utility vehicle.
The Valkyrie programme is now running “at rate” and the company expects “significant growth” from the sold-out model this year, CEO Tobias Moers said in a statement.
The Valkyrie’s launch has been plagued by electronics issues, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg News in December. While the car is a limited-run special model that will sell in low volumes, analysts have described it as pivotal to the company’s year-end results. Bloomberg Intelligence estimates each Valkyrie sale makes the same earnings contribution as 21 Vantage V8 models.
“We believe the impact has already largely been priced in to the shares,” Gabriel Adler, a Citigroup analyst with a buy rating on Aston Martin’s stock, wrote in a note to clients. “We do not believe this impacts the company’s ability to execute on its midterm turnaround.”
Aston Martin has spent the last 18 months restructuring after a rescue by Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll. The fashion mogul injected much-needed cash and forged closer ties with Daimler’s Mercedes-Benz to ensure the company survives tumultuous times for the auto industry.
Moers is now broadening Aston Martin’s line-up. The company delivered 3,001 DBX units to dealers in 2021 and plans to roll out another iteration of the SUV in 2022 after introducing a smaller-engine version in China in November.
Aston Martin shares traded up 2.6% as of 9.35am London time. The stock fell 28% in 2021.
The carmaker confirmed its medium-term guidance and said it ended the year with a cash balance of £420m, higher than previously anticipated. Aston Martin will announce full-year results on February 24.
More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com Bloomberg
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Valkyrie hiccups put Aston Martin earnings in low gear
Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings says it has put its Valkyrie project back on track after deliveries of the £2.4m car fell short of expectations in 2021.
The company shipped just 10 units in the fourth quarter, lowering adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation by about £15m. Aston Martin said on Friday it still reached its goal of selling more than 6,000 cars in 2021 thanks to robust demand for the DBX, its first sport utility vehicle.
The Valkyrie programme is now running “at rate” and the company expects “significant growth” from the sold-out model this year, CEO Tobias Moers said in a statement.
The Valkyrie’s launch has been plagued by electronics issues, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg News in December. While the car is a limited-run special model that will sell in low volumes, analysts have described it as pivotal to the company’s year-end results. Bloomberg Intelligence estimates each Valkyrie sale makes the same earnings contribution as 21 Vantage V8 models.
“We believe the impact has already largely been priced in to the shares,” Gabriel Adler, a Citigroup analyst with a buy rating on Aston Martin’s stock, wrote in a note to clients. “We do not believe this impacts the company’s ability to execute on its midterm turnaround.”
Aston Martin has spent the last 18 months restructuring after a rescue by Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll. The fashion mogul injected much-needed cash and forged closer ties with Daimler’s Mercedes-Benz to ensure the company survives tumultuous times for the auto industry.
Moers is now broadening Aston Martin’s line-up. The company delivered 3,001 DBX units to dealers in 2021 and plans to roll out another iteration of the SUV in 2022 after introducing a smaller-engine version in China in November.
Aston Martin shares traded up 2.6% as of 9.35am London time. The stock fell 28% in 2021.
The carmaker confirmed its medium-term guidance and said it ended the year with a cash balance of £420m, higher than previously anticipated. Aston Martin will announce full-year results on February 24.
More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
Bloomberg
How Tesla dodged the supply chain issues that stalled its rivals
Nissan unveils $18bn electrification push
GM to team up with semiconductor producers
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most Read
Related Articles
Johnson Matthey shares plunge as firm exits battery materials business
A sobering week for Volkswagen’s EV ambitions
Carmakers’ electric ambitions set to hit half a trillion dollars
Tesla joins $1-trillion club as EVs go mainstream
Published by Arena Holdings and distributed with the Financial Mail on the last Thursday of every month except December and January.