I would like to discuss a topic of considerable significance in the contemporary automotive landscape – electric vehicles (EVs). The transition towards electric cars has been extensively covered in recent news. Among the companies commanding attention in this field is Fisker.
Fisker initiated the production acceleration of their Ocean SUV in July, following the closure of their second quarter for the fiscal year 2023. Although their initial production targets for 2023 were ambitious, they had to make adjustments in response to real-world challenges.
Despite these adjustments, Fisker has managed to maintain a positive gross margin and boasts a substantial cash reserve, suggesting resilience in the face of adversity.
EVs are undeniably shaping the future of transportation in the United States. In 2022, an impressive 809,000 electric vehicles were sold in the US, constituting approximately 5.7% of all car sales. Projections indicate a potential milestone of one million units sold in 2023.
While Tesla remains at the forefront of this transformation, established industry giants such as Ford and General Motors are also joining the electric vehicle race. Competition is fierce, especially as states like California establish deadlines for phasing out internal combustion engine vehicle sales.
Returning to Fisker, it’s crucial to acknowledge that their journey to success is far from guaranteed. The EV market can be likened to a high-stakes poker game where calculated risks must be weighed against potential rewards.
In 2023, we witnessed the unfortunate bankruptcy of several EV companies, including Proterra, Lordstown Motors, and Electric Last Mile Solutions. Fisker’s future could pivot in one of two drastically different directions – either a resurgence or a Chapter 11 scenario.
Despite being an asset-light production model, Fisker expended $128.1 million in cash from operations and an additional $91.3 million on capital spending in the last quarter. However, when compared to competitors, their figures have decreased by a promising 42% from the previous year, a positive sign, especially with the rising sales of the Ocean SUV.
The second-quarter earnings report, though somewhat limited in informative value due to the early stage of Ocean production, did reveal a noteworthy 7.5% gross margin, a considerable achievement under their asset-light model. Additionally, Fisker has commenced vehicle deliveries in Europe, facilitated by Magna’s manufacturing facility in Austria.
Nonetheless, a minor setback surfaced as they had to revise their 2023 production targets down to 20,000 to 23,000 units due to capacity issues with a supplier. Their original goal was set at 32,000 to 36,000 units, and while they did produce 1,022 vehicles in the second quarter, this figure dipped to 1,009 in July due to reduced working hours during Magna’s summer shutdown. Some questions have arisen regarding why these holidays were not initially factored in.
The topic of short interest in Fisker’s stock cannot be overlooked. A staggering 46% of the float is being sold short, surpassing competitors such as Rivian, Faraday Future, and Lucid. These companies are all striving to increase production and deliveries, but Fisker has become the primary target of bearish sentiment.
What lies ahead for Fisker? The focus is squarely on the production ramp-up. They anticipate a capital expenditure of $245 million to $260 million for 2023. In terms of cash reserves, they held $521.8 million at the end of the quarter, a figure that swelled to $822 million after a $300 million influx from their convertible note offering in July. Additionally, they expect around $33 million in VAT receivables, making every dollar crucial.
A noteworthy development is the availability of reservations for the Ronin, a supercar priced at $385,000, scheduled for release in the second half of 2025. With only 999 units planned, this venture could generate substantial revenue.
In conclusion, Fisker’s positive gross margins offer promise, potentially mitigating the substantial losses often associated with in-house production ramp-ups. While it’s likely they will need to secure additional funding in 2024, the stock market’s growing appetite for risk, particularly if the Federal Reserve reduces interest rates, could be in Fisker’s favor.
In my assessment, a prudent approach would be to hold Fisker stock for the time being. The road ahead may indeed be marked by challenges, but such is the nature of the EV industry.
