GM Reports Third-Quarter 2021 Results

2021-10-27


DETROIT – General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) today reported third-quarter earnings that include strong price and mix performance in North America, the benefit of the company’s recall cost recovery agreement with LG Electronics and the continued strong financial results at GM Financial.  As a result, the company is on track to deliver full-year 2021 EBIT-adjusted earnings approaching the high end of its guidance range.

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Results overview

  Three Months Ended  
($M) except where noted September 30, 2021 September 30, 2020 Change
Revenue $ 26,779    $ 35,480    $ (8,701)  
Net income attributable to stockholders $ 2,420    $ 4,045    $ (1,625)  
EBIT-adjusted $ 2,922    $ 5,284    $ (2,362)  
Net income margin 9.0  % 11.4  % (2.4) ppts
EBIT-adjusted margin 10.9  % 14.9  % (4.0) ppts
Automotive operating cash flow $ (2,602)   $ 9,935    $ (12,537)  
Adjusted automotive free cash flow $ (4,385)   $ 9,122    $ (13,507)  
EPS-diluteda
$ 1.62    $ 2.78    $ (1.16)  
EPS-diluted-adjusteda
$ 1.52    $ 2.83    $ (1.31)  
GMNA EBIT-adjusted $ 2,125    $ 4,366    $ (2,241)  
GMNA EBIT-adjusted margin 10.3  % 15.0  % (4.7) ppts
GMI EBIT-adjusted $ 229    $ 10    $ 219   
China equity income $ 270    $ 262    $  
GM Financial EBT-adjusted $ 1,093    $ 1,207    $ (114)  

aEPS-diluted and EPS-diluted-adjusted include a $0.07 and $0.05 impact from mark-to-market gains on equity method investments in the three months ended Sept. 30, 2021 and 2020.

  Nine Months Ended  
($M) except where noted September 30, 2021 September 30, 2020 Change
Revenue $ 93,420    $ 84,967    $ 8,453   
Net income attributable to stockholders $ 8,278    $ 3,581    $ 4,697   
EBIT-adjusted $ 11,456    $ 5,998    $ 5,458   
Net income margin 8.9  % 4.2  % 4.7 ppts
EBIT-adjusted margin 12.3  % 7.1  % 5.2 ppts
Automotive operating cash flow $ 309    $ 2,276    $ (1,967)  
Adjusted automotive free cash flow $ (3,839)   $ (823)   $ (3,016)  
EPS-diluteda
$ 5.55    $ 2.40    $ 3.15   
EPS-diluted-adjusteda
$ 5.73    $ 2.96    $ 2.77   
GMNA EBIT-adjusted $ 8,153    $ 6,459    $ 1,694   
GMNA EBIT-adjusted margin 11.0  % 9.7  % 1.3 ppts
GMI EBIT-adjusted $ 552    $ (811)   $ 1,363   
China equity income $ 854    $ 264    $ 590   
GM Financial EBT-adjusted $ 3,856    $ 1,663    $ 2,193   

aEPS-diluted and EPS-diluted-adjusted include a $0.27 and $(0.15) impact from mark-to-market gains on equity method investments in the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2021 and 2020.

2021 guidance

  • Full-year EPS-diluted of between $5.52 and $6.52, and EPS-diluted-adjusted of between $5.70 and $6.70
  • Full-year net income of between $8.1 billion  and $9.6 billion, and EBIT-adjusted of between $11.5 billion and $13.5 billion

See below for reconciliations of non-GAAP measures to their most directly comparable GAAP measures or visit the GM Investor Relations website for complete details.

Conference call for investors and analysts

Mary Barra and Chief Financial Officer Paul Jacobson will host a conference call for investors and analysts at 10 a.m. ET today to discuss these results and the company’s growth strategy. Introductory remarks will be followed by a question-and-answer session.

Those who wish to listen to the call may dial in using the following numbers:

  • United States: 1-888-808-8618
  • International: +1-949-484-0645
  • Name of call: GM Earnings Call

General Motors (NYSE:GM) is a global company focused on advancing an all-electric future that is inclusive and accessible to all. At the heart of this strategy is the Ultium battery platform, which will power everything from mass-market to high-performance vehicles. General Motors, its subsidiaries and its joint venture entities sell vehicles under the Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, CadillacBaojun and Wuling brands. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety and security services, can be found at https://www.gm.com.

Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements: This press release and related comments by management may include “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements are any statements other than statements of historical fact. Forward-looking statements represent our current judgement about possible future events and are often identified by words such as “anticipate,” “appears,” “approximately,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “designed,” “effect,” “estimate,” “evaluate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “goal,” “initiative,” “intend,” “may,” “objective,” “outlook,” “plan,” “potential,” “priorities,” “project,” “pursue,” “seek,” “should,” “target,” “when,” “will,” “would,” or the negative of any of those words or similar expressions. In making these statements, we rely upon assumptions and analysis based on our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, and expected future developments, as well as other factors we consider appropriate under the circumstances. We believe these judgements are reasonable, but these statements are not guarantees of any future events or financial results, and our actual results may differ materially due to a variety of factors, many of which are described in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and our other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or other factors that affect the subject of these statements, except where we are expressly required to do so by law.

Non-GAAP Reconciliations

The following table reconciles Net income (loss) attributable to stockholders under U.S. GAAP to EBIT (loss)-adjusted (dollars in millions):

  Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
  September 30, 2021 September 30, 2020 September 30, 2021 September 30, 2020
Net income (loss) attributable to stockholdersa
$ 2,420    $ 4,045    $ 8,278    $ 3,581   
Income tax expense (benefit) 152    887    2,300    1,132   
Automotive interest expense 230    327    723    823   
Automotive interest income (38)   (51)   (102)   (195)  
Adjustments        
Cadillac dealer strategyb
158    —    175    —   
GMI restructuringc
—    76    —    657   
GM Korea wage litigationd
—    —    82    —   
Total adjustments 158    76    257    657   
EBIT (loss)-adjusted $ 2,922    $ 5,284    $ 11,456    $ 5,998   

aNet of net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest.
bThese adjustments were excluded because they relate to strategic activities to transition certain Cadillac dealers from the network as part of Cadillac's electric vehicle strategy.
cThese adjustments were excluded because of a strategic decision to rationalize our core operations by exiting or significantly reducing our presence in various international markets to focus resources on opportunities expected to deliver higher returns. These adjustments primarily consist of supplier claims in the three months ended Sept. 30, 2020 and dealer restructurings, asset impairments, inventory provisions, employee separation charges and sales allowances in the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2020 in Australia, New Zealand and Thailand.
d
This adjustment was excluded because of the unique events associated with recent Supreme Court of Korea decisions related to our salaried workers.

The following table reconciles diluted earnings (loss) per common share under U.S. GAAP to EPS-diluted-adjusted (dollars in millions, except per share amounts):

  Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
  September 30, 2021 September 30, 2020 September 30, 2021 September 30, 2020
  Amount Per Share Amount Per Share Amount Per Share Amount Per Share
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share $ 2,375    $ 1.62    $ 4,005    $ 2.78    $ 8,141    $ 5.55    $ 3,446    $ 2.40   
Adjustmentsa
158    0.11    76    0.05    257    0.18    657    0.46   
Tax effect on adjustmentb
(39)   (0.03)   (14)   —    (43)   (0.03)   (82)   (0.06)  
Tax adjustmentc
(271)   (0.18)   —    —    45    0.03    236    0.16   
EPS-diluted-adjusted $ 2,223    $ 1.52    $ 4,067    $ 2.83    $ 8,400    $ 5.73    $ 4,257    $ 2.96   

aRefer to the reconciliation of Net income (loss) attributable to stockholders under U.S. GAAP to EBIT (loss)-adjusted for adjustment details.
bThe tax effect of each adjustment is determined based on the tax laws and valuation allowance status of the jurisdiction to which the adjustment relates.
cThese adjustments consist of tax benefit related to a deduction for an investment in a subsidiary in the three months ended Sept. 30, 2021 and tax expense related to the establishment of a valuation allowance against Cruise deferred tax assets in the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2021, and tax expense related to the establishment of a valuation allowance against deferred tax assets that are considered no longer realizable for GM in Australia and New Zealand for the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2020.

The following table reconciles net automotive cash provided by (used in) operating activities under U.S. GAAP to adjusted automotive free cash flow (dollars in millions):

      Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
          September 30, 2021 September 30, 2020 September 30, 2021 September 30, 2020
Net automotive cash provided by (used in) operating activities         $ (2,602)   $ 9,935    $ 309    $ 2,276   
Less: Capital expenditures         (1,829)   (980)   (4,235)   (3,292)  
Add: Cadillac Dealer Transition         27    —    44    —   
Add: GMI restructuring         —    167    24    251   
Add: GM Korea Wage Litigation         19    —    19    —   
Less: GM Brazil indirect tax recoveries         —    —    —    (58)  
Adjusted automotive free cash flow         $ (4,385)   $ 9,122    $ (3,839)   $ (823)  


Guidance Reconciliations

The following table reconciles expected Net income (loss) attributable to stockholders under U.S. GAAP to expected EBIT-adjusted (dollars in billions):

    Year Ending
December 31, 2021
Net income attributable to stockholders   $ 8.1-9.6
Income tax expense   2.3-2.8
Automotive interest expense, net   0.8   
Adjustmentsa
  0.3   
EBIT-adjustedb
  $ 11.5-13.5

aRefer to the reconciliation of Net income (loss) attributable to stockholders under U.S. GAAP to EBIT (loss)-adjusted for adjustment details.
bWe do not consider the potential future impact of adjustments on our expected financial results.

The following table reconciles expected EPS-diluted under U.S. GAAP to expected EPS-diluted-adjusted:

  Year Ending
December 31, 2021
Diluted earnings per common share $ 5.52-6.52
   
Adjustmentsa
0.18   
EPS-diluted-adjustedb
$ 5.70-6.70

aRefer to the reconciliation of diluted earnings (loss) per common share under U.S. GAAP to EPS-diluted-adjusted for adjustment details.
bWe do not consider the potential future impact of adjustments on our expected financial results.