Cummins Inc. CMI reported first-quarter 2024 earnings of $5.10 per share, a decrease from $5.55 per share in the prior year. Despite falling short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5.11 per share, the company’s revenues amounted to $8.40 billion, surpassing the estimate of $8.35 billion.
Segment Performance Overview
Sales in the Engine segment saw a modest 2% decline to $2.9 billion, outperforming expectations. On-highway revenues edged up by 1%, driven by robust demand in the North American truck market. However, international sales dropped by 8% due to weakened demand in Europe and China. The segment’s EBITDA fell short at $414 million (14.1% of sales), compared to the anticipated $390 million.
Moving to the Distribution segment, sales amounted to $2.5 billion, showing a 5% increase year over year. This growth stemmed from the strong demand for power generation products and successful pricing strategies. While North American sales grew by 2%, international sales spiked by 14%. Nonetheless, the segment’s EBITDA of $294 million (11.6% of sales) fell short of expectations.
The Components segment recorded sales of $3.3 billion, marking a 6% decline from the previous year but aligning with predictions. The decrease in revenues in both North America and the international market (specifically Europe and China) impacted the overall performance. EBITDA stood at $473 million (14.2% of sales), missing the forecasted $489 million.
Sales in the Power Systems segment increased by 3% to $1.4 billion, falling slightly short of the estimated $1.42 billion. The rise in power generation revenues was offset by weaker industrial demand in oil and gas markets. However, the segment’s EBITDA exceeded expectations at $237 million (17.1% of sales).
The Accelera segment posted sales of $93 million, a 9% increase from the previous year. However, a pretax loss of $101 million, wider than expected, was incurred due to costs associated with new product development.
Financial Insights and Future Projections
Cummins held $2.54 billion in cash as of March 31, 2024, up from $2.1 billion at the end of 2023. Long-term debt rose to $5.7 billion from $4.8 billion in the previous quarter.
For the full year 2024, Cummins foresees a 2-5% decline in revenues compared to the previous year. EBITDA is expected to range between 14.5-15.5% of sales, with the company emphasizing returning a significant portion of its operating cash flow to shareholders through dividends.
Cummins currently maintains a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Comparative Analysis
General Motors (GM) reported encouraging results, with adjusted earnings exceeding expectations and showing an increase from the previous year. Strong performance in the GMNA segment led to this outperformance.
Ford (F) also showcased a mixed bag of earnings, surpassing estimates but declining from the prior year. Despite this, consolidated revenues experienced a slight year-over-year increase.
PACCAR (PCAR) demonstrated positive results, surpassing both earnings and revenue estimates when compared to the previous year. The company’s focus on trucks, parts, and services drove this growth.