Sign in

You're signed outSign in or to get full access.

CV

Commercial Vehicle Group, Inc. (CVGI)·Q2 2025 Earnings Summary

Executive Summary

  • Q2 2025 revenue of $172.0M declined 11.2% YoY but improved sequentially, with gross margin rising 80 bps vs Q1 on operational efficiency; adjusted EBITDA was $5.2M (3.0% margin) and adjusted EPS was $(0.09) .
  • Versus S&P Global consensus, revenue beat ($172.0M vs $161.6M*) while normalized EPS missed (−$0.09 vs −$0.07*); EBITDA modestly beat ($5.30M vs $4.88M*) (Values retrieved from S&P Global).
  • Management cut FY25 revenue to $650–$670M and adjusted EBITDA to $21–$25M, but raised free cash flow guidance to >$30M given working capital progress .
  • Segment mix: Global Electrical Systems stabilized (flat YoY revenue; adj. op income +$0.4M YoY), Seating improved adj. margins on lower SG&A, while Trim faced the sharpest demand pressure .
  • Catalysts: continued tariff pass-through negotiations, SG&A and manufacturing cost actions, and ongoing gross margin improvement; management reiterated focus on debt paydown and expects net leverage to decline into 2026 .

What Went Well and What Went Wrong

What Went Well

  • Strong free cash generation: Q2 free cash flow from continuing operations was $17.3M, bringing YTD to $28.5M; management raised FY25 FCF outlook to at least $30M .
  • Sequential margin progress: gross margin expanded 80 bps vs Q1 on efficiency initiatives (freight, labor, plant overhead), with two straight quarters of sequential improvement .
  • Global Electrical Systems stabilizing: revenue flat YoY at $53.6M, with adj. operating income up to $1.2M (from $0.8M) aided by lower salary expense and ramp at low-cost facilities .
  • Quote (CEO): “We made progress in implementing operational improvements and right sizing our manufacturing footprint, which drove sequential gross margin improvement for the second consecutive quarter.”
  • Quote (CFO): “Given our successful working capital initiatives, we are raising our free cash outlook to at least $30 million for the full fiscal year.”

What Went Wrong

  • Demand softness: revenues down 11.2% YoY on lower volumes across all segments; adjusted EBITDA margin fell to 3.0% from 4.2% YoY .
  • Trim Systems and Components under pressure: revenue −23.8% YoY to $43.9M and adj. operating income down to $0.3M from $4.0M, reflecting weaker North American Class 8 exposure .
  • EPS pressure: GAAP diluted EPS from continuing operations was $(0.12); adjusted diluted EPS was $(0.09) vs $0.05 in the prior year .
  • Tariff/macro headwinds: management continues to mitigate tariff impacts via customer negotiations and supply chain actions; Q&A indicated ongoing dynamic renegotiation across customers and suppliers .

Financial Results

MetricQ2 2024Q1 2025Q2 2025Q2 2025 Consensus
Revenue ($M)$193.7 $169.8 $172.0 $161.6*
GAAP Diluted EPS (Continuing Ops)$(0.04) $(0.09) $(0.12) n/a
Adjusted Diluted EPS$0.05 $(0.08) $(0.09) −$0.07*
Gross Margin10.6% 10.5% 11.3% n/a
Adjusted Gross Margin12.4% 10.8% 12.0% n/a
Operating Margin0.6% 0.8% 0.5% n/a
Adjusted Operating Margin2.5% 1.2% 1.1% n/a
Adjusted EBITDA ($M)$8.2 $5.8 $5.2 $4.88*
Adjusted EBITDA Margin4.2% 3.4% 3.0% n/a

Notes: Consensus values marked with * are from S&P Global (Values retrieved from S&P Global).

Segment performance (Q2 2025 vs Q2 2024):

SegmentRevenue Q2 2024 ($M)Revenue Q2 2025 ($M)YoY %Adj. Op Inc Q2 2024 ($M)Adj. Op Inc Q2 2025 ($M)
Global Seating$82.4 $74.5 −9.6%$2.9 $3.1
Global Electrical Systems$53.6 $53.6 ~0%$0.8 $1.2
Trim Systems & Components$57.6 $43.9 −23.8%$4.0 $0.3

Key KPIs and Balance Sheet:

KPIQ1 2025Q2 2025Comment
Free Cash Flow – Continuing Ops ($M)$11.2 $17.3 Strong sequential improvement
Cash ($M)$20.2 (3/31) $45.3 (6/30) Higher liquidity
Revolver/Other Debt ($M)$32.4 U.S. revolver, $0 China (3/31) $30.3 U.S. revolver, $4.2 China (6/30) Reduced net debt
Total Liquidity ($M)$122.7 (3/31) $135.9 (6/30) Availability + cash
Net Leverage (TTM Adj. EBITDA)n/a4.8x (end Q2) Down from 5.0x in Q1

Guidance Changes

MetricPeriodPrevious GuidanceCurrent GuidanceChange
Net Sales ($M)FY 2025$660–$690 (May 6) $650–$670 (Aug 4) Lowered
Adjusted EBITDA ($M)FY 2025$22–$27 (May 6) $21–$25 (Aug 4) Lowered
Free Cash FlowFY 2025>$20 (May 6) >$30 (Aug 4) Raised

Context: Guidance incorporates Class 8 build forecasts (ACT 2025: ~252k units) and 5–15% declines in Construction & Agriculture; new wins in Electrical Systems expected to partially offset .

Earnings Call Themes & Trends

TopicPrevious Mentions (Q4 2024, Q1 2025)Current Period (Q2 2025)Trend
Operational efficiency / margin improvement2024: portfolio actions, shifting to Morocco/Mexico; Q1: sequential margin gains and SG&A reduction focus Two straight quarters of sequential gross margin improvement; continued freight/labor/overhead optimization Improving
Free cash flow & deleveragingQ4 guide for EBITDA growth and working capital reductions in 2025 ; Q1 strong FCF, debt paydown priority Q2 FCF $17.3M; FY25 FCF raised to ≥$30M; net leverage down to 4.8x Positive
Tariffs / trade policyQ1 outlook flagged policy concerns and mitigation focus Active customer pass-through negotiations; supplier mitigation; dynamic process with lags Ongoing risk, mitigations in progress
Class 8 cycle dynamicsQ4/Q1: declines in NA Class 8; 2025 build forecasts highlighted ACT now expects no 2026 pre-buy; flat 2026, recovery in 2027; downtime higher June–Aug Near-term soft, medium-term normalizing
Electrical Systems new wins2024: $97M wins concentrated in Electrical Systems ; Q1: re-segmentation to align with customers Flat revenue YoY but adj. op income improved; ~15% of 2025 Electrical revenue from new wins; some launch delays Stabilizing with better mix
Trim Systems (NA exposure)2024: most cyclical (Class 8) Steep YoY decline in revenue and profitability; remediation actions underway Weakness persists

Management Commentary

  • Strategic focus: “We remain focused on execution, delivery, and driving operational efficiency, while managing the potential impact of trade policy.” — James Ray, CEO .
  • Margin drivers: “The operational efficiency improvements made related to freight, labor and plant level overhead continue to benefit our profitability.” — James Ray .
  • Cash and leverage: “We are raising our free cash flow outlook to at least $30 million for the full fiscal year… Continued free cash generation and debt paydown remain key focus areas.” — Andy Cheung, CFO .
  • Segment outlook: “Global Electrical Systems… new business wins offset weaker construction and agriculture demand… benefits of the restructuring actions… stabilizations we are seeing.” — Andy Cheung .

Q&A Highlights

  • New business wins pacing: Robust funnel with Q1/Q2 wins; ~15% of 2025 Electrical revenue from new wins; some implementation delays due to OEM issues and regulatory approvals in autonomy/EV .
  • Cost savings durability: $15–$20M savings targeted in 2025 via material, logistics, SG&A, and manufacturing productivity; savings are structural with outside consultants engaged for supply chain and overhead optimization .
  • Tariff recovery: Daily cross-functional work; tariff pass-through to customers underway with inherent lag; supplier negotiations emphasize initial mitigation before price .
  • Production cadence: Higher-than-expected OEM downtime June–Aug for model changeover/vacations; plants flexing labor and supply orders accordingly .
  • Leverage/covenants: Net leverage at 4.8x; new financing provides covenant headroom (>7x), with focus on cash generation and debt paydown targeting ~2x by 2026 .

Estimates Context

  • Q2 2025 vs consensus: Revenue $172.0M beat vs $161.6M*; Primary/normalized EPS −$0.09 vs −$0.07* (miss); EBITDA $5.30M vs $4.88M* (beat). (Values retrieved from S&P Global.)
  • Q1 2025 vs consensus: Revenue $169.8M vs $163.5M* (beat); Primary EPS −$0.08 vs −$0.145* (beat); EBITDA $5.40M vs $2.19M* (beat). (Values retrieved from S&P Global.)
  • FY 2025 consensus: Revenue ~$641.3M*; company guidance $650–$670M suggests a slightly higher top line than consensus midpoint; EBITDA guidance $21–$25M vs consensus ~$17.0M* indicates reliance on cost actions and cash conversion (Values retrieved from S&P Global) .

Key Takeaways for Investors

  • Sequential margin improvement with strong free cash flow are the bright spots; management raised FY25 FCF to >$30M, which supports ongoing deleveraging .
  • Top-line headwinds persist (Class 8, Construction & Agriculture), prompting modest guidance cuts on revenue and adjusted EBITDA; watch Trim Systems for stabilization .
  • Electrical Systems is showing healthier mix and incremental profitability from low-cost footprint; new wins should help offset end-market declines as launches mature .
  • Tariff pass-through and SG&A/manufacturing cost actions are central to defending margins; expect near-term noise from negotiation lags but improving run-rate thereafter .
  • Near-term trading setup: Mixed print with revenue/EBITDA beats vs normalized EPS miss could create choppiness; cash generation guidance raise is a potential support.
  • Medium-term thesis: If gross margin gains persist and cash conversion stays strong, deleveraging to ~2x by 2026 is plausible even in a flat Class 8 scenario, positioning for operating leverage when demand recovers .

References

  • Q2 2025 8-K earnings press release and exhibits: revenues, margins, segment results, liquidity and guidance .
  • Q2 2025 earnings call transcript: margin initiatives, FCF focus, leverage, tariffs, Class 8 outlook, Q&A .
  • Q1 2025 press release: sequential margin improvement, segment performance, guidance (May 6 update) .
  • Q4 2024 press release: baseline context, portfolio actions, 2025 initial guidance .

Consensus estimates marked with * are from S&P Global (Values retrieved from S&P Global).