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American Axle & Manufacturing (AXL)
NYSE:AXL
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American Axle (AXL) AI Stock Analysis

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AXL

American Axle

(NYSE:AXL)

Rating:61Neutral
Price Target:
$6.00
▲(0.84% Upside)
American Axle's overall stock score reflects a stable financial performance with strong earnings call highlights, including strategic initiatives and margin improvements. However, high leverage and declining free cash flow growth pose risks. The lack of technical analysis data and moderate valuation further impact the score.
Positive Factors
Merger and Acquisition
The announced merger with Dowlais Group is expected to result in Dowlais shareholders owning approximately 49% of the combined entity, potentially enhancing market position.
Product Offering
AAM manufactures a broad range of driveline components for global automotive OEMs, including electric and hybrid driveline products and systems.
Negative Factors
Conflict of Interest
There may be a conflict of interest in the report as the firm seeks to do business with companies covered in its research reports.

American Axle (AXL) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

American Axle Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionAmerican Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, designs, engineers, and manufactures driveline and metal forming technologies that supports electric, hybrid, and internal combustion vehicles in the United States, Mexico, South America, China, other Asian countries, and Europe. It operates through Driveline and Metal Forming segments. The Driveline segment offers front and rear axles, driveshafts, differential assemblies, clutch modules, balance shaft systems, disconnecting driveline technology, and electric and hybrid driveline products and systems for light trucks, sport utility vehicles, crossover vehicles, passenger cars, and commercial vehicles. The Metal Forming segment provides axle and transmission shafts, ring and pinion gears, differential gears and assemblies, and connecting rods and variable valve timing products for original equipment manufacturers and tier 1 automotive suppliers. American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc. has technology development agreement with Suzhou Inovance Automotive Ltd. and REE Automotive Ltd. American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc. was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Detroit, Michigan.
How the Company Makes MoneyAmerican Axle generates revenue primarily through the sale of its automotive components to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and the aftermarket. The company's key revenue streams include the manufacturing and supply of driveline systems, such as axles and driveshafts, which are essential for vehicle propulsion and handling. Additionally, AAM benefits from long-term contracts with major automotive manufacturers, providing a stable income source. Partnerships and collaborations with leading automotive brands enhance its market presence and drive sales. Furthermore, AAM invests in research and development to create advanced technologies that meet the growing demand for electric and hybrid vehicles, positioning itself for future growth in a rapidly changing industry.

American Axle Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Aug 08, 2025
(Q2-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Oct 31, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call presented a balanced view with significant strategic achievements such as shareholder approvals for the Dowlais transaction and new product wins, offset by challenges like sales decline and incremental tariff costs.
Q2-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Shareholder and Regulatory Approvals
Both AAM and Dowlais shareholders voted in favor of the proposed transaction to create a leading global driveline and metal forming supplier, with approvals received from multiple regulatory bodies including the U.S., Korea, India, Taiwan, Turkey, and the U.K.
New Product Win with Scout Motors
AAM secured an agreement with Scout Motors to supply front electric drive units and rear e-Beam axles for the new electric Traveler SUV and Terra pickup truck. This supports AAM's electrification growth strategy.
Positive Financial Guidance Update
AAM updated its 2025 financial guidance, now targeting sales of $5.75 billion to $5.95 billion, adjusted EBITDA of $695 million to $745 million, and adjusted free cash flow of $175 million to $215 million.
Successful Divestiture
AAM closed on the divestiture of its India commercial axle business to Bharat Forge Limited for approximately $65 million, aligning with its portfolio management strategy.
Strong Free Cash Flow and Liquidity
AAM ended the quarter with nearly $600 million in cash and total available liquidity of over $1.5 billion, with a net leverage ratio of 2.8x.
Negative Updates
Sales Decline
AAM sales fell to $1.54 billion in the second quarter of 2025 from $1.63 billion in the second quarter of 2024, primarily driven by lower overall volumes.
Incremental Tariff Costs
AAM incurred approximately $10 million in incremental tariff costs in Q2, with a full-year impact estimated at $10 million to $15 million after mitigation and recoveries.
Higher Tax Expense
AAM recorded an income tax expense of $28.1 million in Q2 2025, up from $17.2 million in Q2 2024, with an adjusted effective tax rate of approximately 50% for the full year.
Company Guidance
During American Axle & Manufacturing's second quarter 2025 earnings call, the company provided updated guidance reflecting strong first-half performance and expectations for continued progress. AAM now targets sales between $5.75 billion and $5.95 billion, with adjusted EBITDA in the range of $695 million to $745 million and adjusted free cash flow anticipated to be $175 million to $215 million. The guidance is based on North American production volumes of 14.6 million to 15.1 million units. The company highlighted significant business developments, including shareholder approval for a merger with Dowlais, expected to yield $300 million in cost synergies. AAM continues to address tariff challenges and remains focused on cost control and productivity improvements, with a goal of leveraging its installed fixed asset base and enhancing its electric drive technology offerings. The company expects to maintain a net leverage ratio of approximately 2.8x and plans to further reduce it post-closure through strong cash flow generation.

American Axle Financial Statement Overview

Summary
American Axle demonstrates stable financial performance with some concerns. The income statement reflects stable margins despite a slight decline in revenue growth. The balance sheet shows high leverage, which could be risky, but the company is generating returns on equity. Cash flow management is strong, although free cash flow growth has declined. Overall, the company maintains operational efficiency and profitability, but high leverage and declining free cash flow growth are potential risks.
Income Statement
65
Positive
American Axle's income statement shows a mixed performance. The TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) data indicates a slight decline in revenue growth at -1.62%, which is concerning. However, the company maintains a stable gross profit margin of around 12%, and the net profit margin has improved slightly to 0.70%. The EBIT and EBITDA margins are relatively stable, indicating operational efficiency. Overall, while profitability is modest, the company shows resilience in maintaining its margins.
Balance Sheet
55
Neutral
The balance sheet reveals a high debt-to-equity ratio of 4.06 in the TTM, indicating significant leverage, which poses a risk. However, the return on equity has improved to 6.71%, showing better utilization of equity. The equity ratio stands at approximately 12.76%, suggesting a moderate level of equity financing. While the company is heavily leveraged, it is managing to generate returns on its equity.
Cash Flow
60
Neutral
Cash flow analysis shows a decline in free cash flow growth by -26.30% in the TTM, which is a concern. However, the operating cash flow to net income ratio is healthy at 0.36, indicating good cash generation relative to net income. The free cash flow to net income ratio is 0.37, suggesting that the company is generating sufficient free cash flow relative to its net income. Despite the decline in free cash flow growth, cash flow management remains relatively strong.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue5.83B6.12B6.08B5.80B5.16B4.71B
Gross Profit700.20M741.40M624.30M704.90M722.70M582.70M
EBITDA713.90M721.00M664.40M732.90M725.90M109.70M
Net Income41.10M35.00M-33.60M64.30M5.90M-561.10M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets5.27B5.06B5.36B5.47B5.64B5.92B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments586.50M552.90M519.90M511.50M530.20M557.00M
Total Debt2.73B2.74B2.98B3.13B3.23B3.57B
Total Liabilities4.60B4.50B4.75B4.84B5.18B5.54B
Stockholders Equity673.00M562.80M604.90M627.30M457.80M370.50M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow161.70M204.30M201.50M277.50M357.20M239.00M
Operating Cash Flow442.60M455.40M396.10M448.90M538.40M454.70M
Investing Cash Flow-258.50M-254.80M-184.50M-243.00M-161.10M-218.40M
Financing Cash Flow-127.70M-156.20M-205.50M-217.20M-401.40M-214.50M

American Axle Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price5.95
Price Trends
50DMA
5.03
Positive
100DMA
4.58
Positive
200DMA
4.97
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
0.29
Positive
RSI
66.95
Neutral
STOCH
63.58
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For AXL, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 5.95 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 5.78, above the 50-day MA of 5.03, and above the 200-day MA of 4.97, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.29 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 66.95 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 63.58 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for AXL.

American Axle Risk Analysis

American Axle disclosed 43 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. American Axle reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

American Axle Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (61)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
74
Outperform
$7.46B10.1347.08%1.19%2.70%15.17%
67
Neutral
$9.49B46.823.66%1.14%-2.12%-69.42%
66
Neutral
$6.17B15.6816.38%1.71%2.43%-1.25%
66
Neutral
$1.99B805.10-11.85%-3.00%-447.89%
61
Neutral
$17.97B12.87-5.29%2.97%1.26%-14.45%
61
Neutral
$709.61M17.296.38%-6.73%4900.00%
61
Neutral
$2.71B-5.00%1.94%-14.46%-2170.83%
* Consumer Cyclical Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
AXL
American Axle
5.95
0.05
0.85%
ALSN
Allison Transmission Holdings
90.02
4.71
5.52%
BWA
BorgWarner
44.03
12.20
38.33%
DAN
Dana Incorporated
20.61
10.78
109.66%
GNTX
Gentex
28.48
-0.97
-3.29%
ADNT
Adient
24.58
3.46
16.38%

American Axle Corporate Events

Executive/Board ChangesBusiness Operations and Strategy
American Axle Adjusts Executive Compensation to Retain Talent
Positive
Aug 12, 2025

On August 6, 2025, American Axle‘s Compensation Committee approved salary and incentive adjustments for key executives, effective August 16, 2025, to acknowledge their contributions. These changes involve significant increases in base salaries and long-term incentive opportunities for executives like CEO David C. Dauch and others, reflecting the company’s commitment to retaining leadership talent and potentially impacting its operational strategy and stakeholder confidence.

The most recent analyst rating on (AXL) stock is a Sell with a $7.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on American Axle stock, see the AXL Stock Forecast page.

Executive/Board ChangesBusiness Operations and Strategy
American Axle Appoints David B. Walker to Board
Positive
Aug 11, 2025

On August 8, 2025, American Axle & Manufacturing announced the appointment of David B. Walker to its Board of Directors. Walker, a retired Vice Chairman of Investment Banking at J.P. Morgan, brings 35 years of experience in advising global companies, enhancing AAM’s strategic and financial capabilities. This appointment is expected to strengthen AAM’s board with Walker’s expertise in financing, strategy, and investment opportunities.

The most recent analyst rating on (AXL) stock is a Sell with a $7.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on American Axle stock, see the AXL Stock Forecast page.

M&A TransactionsBusiness Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
American Axle Reports Q2 2025 Financial Results
Positive
Aug 8, 2025

American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc. reported its financial results for the second quarter of 2025, highlighting a net income of $39.3 million and an adjusted EBITDA of $202.2 million. The company experienced year-over-year growth in adjusted EBITDA margin due to productivity and cost controls, despite a decrease in sales compared to the previous year. AAM also announced a significant milestone in its upcoming combination with Dowlais, which is expected to enhance its position as a premier global driveline and metal forming auto supplier. The company’s updated financial outlook for 2025 targets increased sales and adjusted EBITDA, reflecting confidence in its strategic initiatives.

The most recent analyst rating on (AXL) stock is a Sell with a $7.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on American Axle stock, see the AXL Stock Forecast page.

M&A TransactionsBusiness Operations and Strategy
American Axle Announces Merger with Dowlais Group
Positive
Jul 22, 2025

On July 22, 2025, American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc. announced that Dowlais Group plc shareholders approved the proposed combination with AAM, following AAM stockholder approval on July 15, 2025. This strategic merger aims to create a leading global driveline and metal forming supplier with a powertrain-agnostic product portfolio, enhancing AAM’s market position and creating value for stakeholders. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2025, pending regulatory approvals.

The most recent analyst rating on (AXL) stock is a Sell with a $7.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on American Axle stock, see the AXL Stock Forecast page.

M&A TransactionsShareholder Meetings
American Axle Stockholders Approve Dowlais Acquisition
Positive
Jul 15, 2025

On July 15, 2025, American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc. held a special meeting where its stockholders approved proposals related to the acquisition of Dowlais Group plc, a move expected to expand AAM’s geographic presence and market reach in the automotive industry. The acquisition, which is anticipated to close in the fourth quarter of 2025, aims to create a leading global driveline and metal forming supplier with projected annual revenues of approximately $12 billion, pending Dowlais shareholder approval and regulatory conditions.

The most recent analyst rating on (AXL) stock is a Sell with a $7.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on American Axle stock, see the AXL Stock Forecast page.

M&A TransactionsLegal ProceedingsShareholder Meetings
American Axle Faces Legal Challenges on Acquisition
Negative
Jul 7, 2025

On January 29, 2025, American Axle announced a recommended offer to acquire Dowlais Group plc, with a special meeting scheduled for July 15, 2025, to approve related proposals. However, the company faces legal challenges from shareholders alleging disclosure deficiencies in its proxy statements, which it denies, but has provided supplemental information to mitigate litigation risks.

The most recent analyst rating on (AXL) stock is a Sell with a $7.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on American Axle stock, see the AXL Stock Forecast page.

M&A TransactionsShareholder MeetingsBusiness Operations and Strategy
American Axle Proposes Share Increase and Acquisition
Positive
Jun 9, 2025

On June 2, 2025, American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings, Inc. announced a proposed amendment to increase its authorized shares and a recommended offer to acquire Dowlais Group plc. The acquisition involves adjustments to the consideration payable to Dowlais shareholders, including an increase in cash and share consideration following the cancellation of certain shares held by the Melrose Employee Share Ownership Trust. The special meeting for stockholders to approve these changes is scheduled for July 15, 2025. This strategic move is expected to strengthen AAM’s market position and shareholder value.

The most recent analyst rating on (AXL) stock is a Sell with a $7.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on American Axle stock, see the AXL Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Aug 14, 2025