Cummins’ North America Net Sales Jump 16 Percent in Third Quarter; Also More Acquisitions

Cummins posted net sales of $8.431 billion in the third quarter of 2023, compared to $7.333, a 15-percent year-over-year boost. Sales in North America increased 16 percent and international revenues increased 13 percent due to the addition of Meritor and strong demand across most global markets. The third quarter of 2022 included two months of consolidated operations for Meritor following the completion of the acquisition on August 3, 2022.

“We delivered solid profitability and record operating cash flow in the third quarter,” said Jennifer Rumsey, chair and CEO. “While full year revenues are at the high end of our expectations, we are seeing signs of moderating demand in some markets and are taking steps to reduce costs and position the company for success in 2024.”

Net income attributable to Cummins in the third quarter was $656 million, or $4.59 per diluted share compared to $400 million, or $2.82 per diluted share in 2022. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) in the third quarter were $1.2 billion, or 14.6 percent of sales, compared to $884 million, or 12.1 percent of sales, a year ago. 

Based on its current forecast, Cummins is raising its full year 2023 revenue guidance to be up 18 to 21 percent due to strong demand across most markets, especially North America. EBITDA is expected to be in the range of 15.2 to 15.4 percent of sales, narrowing the range of the previous guidance of 15.0 to 15.7 percent of sales.

“2023 will be another record year for revenue growth, however we are seeing some signs of slowing activity and are expecting lower demand in the fourth quarter,” said Rumsey. “Our leadership team is experienced in managing through periods of economic uncertainty and will continue to make the decisions that ensure we drive cost improvements and maintain a strong financial position. We’ve announced several major partnerships this quarter as we continue to advance our Destination Zero strategy and remain committed to investing in future growth.”

There were several recent highlights for Cummins:

• Accelera by Cummins, Daimler Trucks & Buses, PACCAR and EVE Energy announced in September a joint venture to accelerate and localize battery cell production and the battery supply chain in the United States. The planned joint venture will manufacture battery cells for electric commercial vehicles and industrial applications. Total investment by the partners is expected to be in the range of $2-3 billion for the 21-gigawatt hour (GWh) factory with production expected to begin in 2027.

• On October 2, Cummins completed its acquisition of two Faurecia commercial vehicle manufacturing plants and their related activities, one in Columbus, Ind., and one in Roermond, Netherlands. The acquisition provides an opportunity for the Cummins Emission Solutions business to ensure continued access to the technology and facilities it needs to meet current and future demand for low-emissions products and to ensure continuity for both the employees and customers of the acquired manufacturing facilities.

• The company announced several collaborations that further enable its customers to achieve their decarbonization goals. During the third quarter, Freightliner announced it is partnering with Cummins to offer the new Cummins X15N natural gas engine in its heavy-duty Freightliner Cascadia trucks. Also, Cummins Inc. and Knight Transportation Inc. announced that the industry's largest full truckload company has successfully tested Cummins’ new X15N engine in Southern California, using renewable natural gas to realize reductions in nitrous oxides and greenhouse gas without compromising performance. The X15N, which will launch in North America in 2024, is the first natural gas engine to be designed specifically for heavy-duty and on-highway truck applications.

• Cummins received several prestigious honors during the quarter, including earning the number four spot on Forbes' sixth annual ranking of America’s Best Employers for Women, up from last year’s ranking at number 26. Also, Cummins was named Employer of the Year by Diesel Progress, named a Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion for the third year in a row, and received a 2023 Energy Management Insight Award from the Clean Energy Ministerial.