What caused AXL's Q4 2024 earnings to miss forecasts?

American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc. (AXL) experienced a slight discrepancy between its actual Q4 2024 earnings and the forecasted figures. Here's a detailed analysis of the factors that contributed to this outcome:

1. **Revenue Analysis**: AXL's total revenue for Q4 2024 was reported at $1.38 billion. This figure was marginally lower than the anticipated revenue, which could be attributed to various operational factors.

2. **Earnings Per Share (EPS)**: The company reported an EPS of $1.38 for the quarter, which was slightly higher than the anticipated EPS. However, the adjusted EPS was reported at a loss of $0.06 per share, indicating that while the EPS was positive, it was influenced by non-recurring items.
3. **Earnings Surprise**: The EPS surprise for AXL in Q4 2024 was positive at $0.05, suggesting that the company's performance exceeded expectations in terms of profitability. This was a notable improvement from the previous year's EPS of -$0.12.

|code|Ticker|Name|Date|Revenue Surprise|Revenue Surprise YoY|market_code|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|AXL|AXL.N|American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings|2024 Q1|8.0E7|1900|169|
|AXL|AXL.N|American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings|2024 Q2|4.0E7|566.6666666666667|169|
|AXL|AXL.N|American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings|2024 Q3|-1.0E7|-115.625|169|
|AXL|AXL.N|American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings|2024 Q4|-1.0E7|-123.25581395348837|169|

4. **Strategic Adjustments**: AXL has been actively making strategic adjustments to navigate the challenging auto market environment. For instance, the company has been focusing on cost management and operational efficiency. These efforts likely contributed to the positive earnings surprise despite the slight revenue miss.

In conclusion, AXL's Q4 2024 earnings missed forecasts primarily due to lower-than-expected revenues. However, the company's strategic adjustments and positive EPS surprise indicate a resilient financial performance amidst challenging market conditions.