AutoWallis Closes Q1 With Strong Results

Compared to the same period last year, it sold 86% more vehicles in the first quarter, for a total of 13,800. In addition to transaction effects, organic growth also played an important part in the strong results, mainly driven by the substantial increase in the Distribution Business Unit’s SsangYong and Opel sales, with the Retail & Services Business Unit also seeing a growth of HUF 16.5 bln (in both volume and price effect).

The AutoWallis Distribution Business Unit’s revenue increased by 71% and the Retail & Services Business Unit’s grew by 80%. Within costs, the value of cost of goods sold (CoGS) grew by 74% to HUF 86 bln, which is equal to the company’s revenue figures, leading to AutoWallis Group’s margin remaining at the same value as in the base period of 14.9%.

The value of contracted services grew by 50%, primarily due to the greater volume and increased costs of logistics activities connected to the growth in sales (Opel, SsangYong). The 62% increase in personnel expenses was caused primarily by increased staff numbers related to the organizational development and by wage increases implemented to keep pace with changes on the labor market, as well as the expansion resulting from acquisitions (the group’s average headcount increased by 201 to reach 912 persons).

In Q1, the value of financial gains or losses was HUF 269 mln in profits, which is an improvement of more than HUF 225 mln.

Compared to the same period of 2022, AutoWallis’s EBITDA increased by 81% in the first quarter to reach HUF 5.6 bln. All in all, the EBITDA margin grew from 5.4% to 5.6% the Distribution Business Unit’s margin grew from 5.4% to 6% and the Retail & Services Business Unit’s margins dropped from 5.4% to 4.9%. This latter decrease reflects and forecasts the margin normalization process that has started in the industry as inventories are being replenished, AutoWallis says.

Thanks to the HUF 691 million in profits of Renault Hungária, 50% of which was purchased by the company, AutoWallis’s net result increased two and a half times to reach HUF 5 bln. AutoWallis’s total comprehensive income was HUF 4.7 bln (+127%), meaning earnings per share (EPS) reached HUF 11.5 in the course of 3 months (the total annual value was HUF 19.27 in 2022).

In connection with the strong start at the beginning of the year, AutoWallis CEO Gábor Ormosy said the exceptional Q1 results and the successfully completed transactions give rise to hope that the group may close yet another record year in 2023, though the possibility of inflation, increased financing costs, and an economic downturn urge industry players to be cautious.

He also added that these may catalyze the consolidation process that has already begun, which AutoWallis, with its stable capital and financing, wishes to utilize in the implementation of its growth strategy.