Mitsubishi Corp

TSE:8058

Earnings Call Analysis

Mitsubishi Corporation Achieves Strong Q1 Results Amid Market Uncertainty

In the first quarter of FY 2024, Mitsubishi Corporation reported a consolidated net income of JPY 354.4 billion, a JPY 36.7 billion increase year-on-year, primarily due to divestitures in the metallurgical coal sector and a weak yen. They reached 37% of their annual guidance of JPY 950 billion. Operating cash flow was JPY 313.6 billion, representing a 33% progression towards their yearly target. Despite successful divestitures and robust cash flow generation, uncertainties in global commodity markets persist, prompting cautious navigation in operations. The expected dividend stands at JPY 100 per share, reflecting confidence in sustained financial performance.

Strong Start to Fiscal Year 2024

Mitsubishi Corporation has kicked off Fiscal Year 2024 with an impressive start, reporting a consolidated net income of JPY 354.4 billion, which represents a significant increase of JPY 36.7 billion from the same period last year. This performance is primarily attributed to profitable divestitures, particularly the sales of two metallurgical coal mines, and the beneficial impact of a weaker yen. The company has already achieved 37% of its full-year guidance of JPY 950 billion set earlier in May 2023.

Cash Flow and Dividends

The company's underlying operating cash flow also showed notable strength, reaching JPY 313.6 billion, equating to 33% of the annual projection. The overall cash inflow for the quarter stood at JPY 653.5 billion. Following this trend of financial health, the dividend for shareholders has been set at JPY 100 per share, consistent with prior announcements.

Strategic Progress Amid Market Uncertainties

Mitsubishi is progressing well against its Midterm Corporate Strategy 2024, with total cumulative results reporting underlying operating cash flow at JPY 2.8 trillion. This reflects a robust cash generation from operations and successful recovery of investments through divestitures, totaling JPY 1.8 trillion. Nevertheless, the company is navigating through a turbulent external environment characterized by geopolitical uncertainties, such as the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and rising tensions in the Middle East. High U.S. policy interest rates and political dynamics heading into elections also add layers of complexity to market predictions.

Segment Performance Highlights

Examining the performance across sectors reveals mixed results. The Mineral Resources segment had a remarkable increase, with net income rising by JPY 68.6 billion to JPY 165.7 billion, following the successful sale of coal assets. However, the Urban Development and Infrastructure segment faced losses amounting to JPY 7.1 billion, primarily due to provisions related to a specific LNG project and a lack of prior year gains in domestic real estate. The Food Industry segment showed a modest rise of JPY 13.9 billion to JPY 25.2 billion, while the SLC sector saw a decrease in profits of JPY 39.3 billion to JPY 16.2 billion affected by absence of previous gains.

Navigating Forward

Looking ahead, Mitsubishi Corporation will continue to assess the commodity market situations closely and adapt its strategies to the dynamic business landscape. While the current financial results are promising, the leadership acknowledges the need for caution due to external uncertainties, indicating a careful yet responsive approach to growth in the coming quarters.

Earnings Call Transcript 2025-Q1

[Yuzo Nouchi, executive]

I am Nouchi, the CFO. Thank you very much for joining the Q1 earnings presentation for FY 2024 today for Mitsubishi Corporation despite your busy schedule.

First, I will give an overview of the financial results for the first quarter of FY '24. And then Mr. Shimazu, general manager of corporate accounting, will explain the details of the financial results.

Please turn to Page 2 of the earnings presentation. The page numbers are indicated at bottom right.

Consolidated net income for the first quarter of fiscal 2024 increased by JPY 36.7 billion year-on-year to JPY 354.4 billion mainly due to gains from the sales of 2 metallurgical coal mines and the impact of weak yen. Although this represent 37% progress toward the full year guidance of JPY 950 billion announced on May 2, we will carefully assess the full year guidance in light of uncertainties in commodity markets and the business environment.

Underlying operating cash flow was JPY 313.6 billion, a 33% progress vis-à-vis the full year projection.

Dividend is expected to be JPY 100 per share, as announced on May 2.

Please turn to Page 3. I would like to explain our progress as of Q1 of FY '24 against the cash flow allocation plan set forth in the Midterm Corporate Strategy 2024.

Cash inflow for the period was JPY 653.5 billion, consisting of JPY 313.6 billion in underlying operating cash flow and JPY 339.9 billion in cash from divestitures. In addition to the steady generation of underlying operating cash flow from each business segment, the company has made good progress in recovering investments through proceeds from divestitures of coal mines in the metallurgical coal business and other proceeds from asset replacements. On the other hand, cash-outs from investments amounted to JPY 196.5 billion, resulting in adjusted free cash flow of JPY 457 billion.

Regarding cumulative results of the Midterm Corporate Strategy 2024, underlying operating cash flow was JPY 2.8 trillion. And recovery of investments through divestitures was JPY 1.8 trillion, showing steady progress against the forecast. As investments have steadily accumulated to JPY 2 trillion, the cumulative total of adjusted free cash flow was JPY 2.5 trillion.

The progress of quantitative targets of the Midterm Corporate Strategy 2024 is summarized on Page 5. Please refer to it later. Although the first quarter progressed at a high rate compared to the full year forecast, we had anticipated a gain on divestitures of coal mines in the first quarter when the full year forecast was formulated. And the depreciation of the yen also helped to boost profits.

In addition to the increasing uncertainty of commodity market trends, the business environment is uncertain due to such factors as the prolonged conflict in Russia and Ukraine, rising geopolitical risks such as expansion of conflicts in the Middle East region, persistently high U.S. policy interest rates and the presidential election in the fall, all of which require a difficult steering of the company's operations. However, we will steadily implement various growth strategies as the final year of the Midterm Corporate Strategy 2024.

That is all from me. Next, Mr. Shimazu, GM of accounting department, will explain the details of fiscal year '24 Q1.

[Yoshihiro Shimazu, executive]

I am Shimazu, general manager of the corporate accounting department. I'd like to make some additional comments on the details of the first quarter financial results for FY '24.

On Page 4, I will explain the segments with large year-on-year change. Please note that, due to the company's reorganization, the results for FY '23 have been restated.

The net income for third segments from the top, Mineral Resources, increased by JPY 68.6 billion to JPY 165.7 billion, thanks to the divestiture of 2 metallurgical coal mines despite a volume decline in the Australian metallurgical coal business.

Urban development and infrastructure, the fourth line from the top, posted a loss of JPY 7.1 billion, marking a year-on-year drop of JPY 22.3 billion mainly due to a provision for the Golden Pass LNG project in the United States undertaken by Chiyoda Corporation and the absence of sales gain in the domestic real estate business booked in the same period of the previous year. Regarding the provisions related to Chiyoda, in fiscal year '23 Q4, the provisions estimated by our company was recorded in the other segment but, this time around, was transferred back to this segment.

The third segment from the bottom, Food Industry, was affected by the tax effect of impairment losses in the overseas food ingredients business in prior years and therefore recorded an increase of JPY 13.9 billion to JPY 25.2 billion.

Finally, SLC, the second item from the bottom. Profits decreased by JPY 39.3 billion year-on-year to JPY 16.2 billion due to the absence of gains on sales of affiliated companies that were recorded in the same period last year.

For detailed information by segment and supplementary information such as market assumptions, please refer to Page 6 and beyond.

This is all for me. Thank you.

[Statements in English on this transcript were spoken by an interpreter present on the live call.]