Shares in Stellantis, Aston Martin skid on profit warnings

Shares in Jeep-maker Stellantis and Britain's Aston Martin tumbled on Monday after both companies joined European rivals in cutting their profit forecasts.

European auto giant Stellantis, whose other top brands include Peugeot, Ram and Fiat, cited efforts to improve its US business as well as competition from Chinese automakers.

The company, which also makes Maserati, Dodge and Chrysler cars, said it now expected an adjusted operating income margin of 5.5 to 7.0 percent.

It had previously expected double-digit growth.

Stellantis shares sank by almost 14.7 percent to close at 12.40 euros ($13.82) on the Paris stock exchange.

"While this is a highly anticipated profit warning ... the magnitude surprises," UBS bank analysts said in a note.

For analysts at French brokerage Oddo BHF, the alert "raises major questions about the vision and direction for the company... and its credibility among investors".

In a statement, the company said efforts to improve its business in North America accounted for about two-thirds of the revision of its financial guidance for the year.

Stellantis said it had brought forward to the end of this year plans to reduce its dealer inventory levels to 330,000 units in the United States.

Stellantis offered promotional deals as US dealerships have struggled to reduce their inventories.

The company, which previously expected a positive cash flow, also said it now forecasts negative cash flow ranging from five billion to 10 billion euros.

"Deterioration in the global industry backdrop reflects a lower 2024 market forecast than at the beginning of the period, while competitive dynamics have intensified due to both rising industry supply, as well as increased Chinese competition," it said.

European car companies have struggled to keep up with competition from Chinese electric vehicles.

German auto giants Volkswagen, Mercedes, and BMW have also cut their guidance in recent weeks, all partly due to weakness in China.

 China effect  

Aston Martin also cited the Chinese market as it trimmed its financial guidance for 2024, saying its core profit is now expected to be "slightly below" the previous year's.

The company's shares plunged 24.5 percent to £1.20 ($1.61) in late-morning deals in London.

Aston Martin, famous for being James Bond's favourite car, said in a statement that it would cut production by 1,000 units this year "to address disruption in its supply chain and continued macroeconomic weakness in China".

Delays in receiving components from suppliers have hit the car maker's output and postponed deliveries.

The company, however, said its "fully reinvigorated portfolio of ultra-luxury high-performance models" would support future growth.