Ferrari looks to capitalize on brand name as it promises faster growth

MILAN — Strong sales of Ferrari’s Portofino and 812 Superfast models enabled the Italian luxury carmaker to raise its outlook on Monday, with a new brand strategy promising even more growth.

Ferrari’s Milan-listed shares rose as much as 7.4% to an all-time high of 155.15 euros ($172.65) after it reported “solid” third quarter results and signaled a strong year ahead.

The ‘Cavallino Rampante,’ or ‘Prancing Horse,’ launched a plan to enhance its brand through new apparel and accessory collections, entertainment offers, and luxury products and services for clients. They include an agreement with Italian fashion house Giorgio Armani and the opening of a restaurant with star chef Massimo Bottura in the group’s hometown of Maranello in northern Italy.

Ferrari expects the new brand initiative to represent around 10% of the group’s profitability in the next seven to 10 years, in what Chief Executive Louis Camilleri described as an “ambitious but realistic target”.

“It is our intention to increase the size of the cake and our share of the cake,” he told analysts in an earnings call, referring to the group’s bid to expand revenues outside of selling cars.

The new branding strategy builds on the group’s aggressive roll-out of new premium models.

Ferrari said core earnings would be around 1.27 billion euros ($1.41 billion) for the full year, topping a previous forecast of 1.2-1.25 billion euros ($1.34-1.39 billion).

Camilleri said that this year Ferrari would match what it forecast last year for 2020. “I think it’s rather premature for us to address 2020 at this time. But clearly, we do anticipate a strong year,” he told analysts.

The carmaker also increased its outlook on 2019 revenues to about 3.7 billion euros ($4.12 billion), from a previous forecast of more than 3.5 billion euros ($3.89 billion), and industrial free cashflow.

“We expect the stock to rise but (the) focus will be on 2020,” Morgan Stanley said in a note, adding that Ferrari’s results were better than expected across the board.

Ferrari will present its latest new model in Rome next week, taking the total to five this year, including the F90 Stradale, its first hybrid car in series-production.

To support Ferrari’s growth and profitability Camilleri’s strategy plan from September last year promised to launch 15 new models between 2019 and 2022.

Ferrari, known for its racing pedigree and roaring combustion engines, is also considering a full-electric model, though that will not hit the road before 2023.

“We’re taking our time to ensure that it will be a true Ferrari DNA car,” Camilleri said.

In the July-September period, Ferrari’s adjusted EBITDA rose 11% to 311 million euros ($346 million). Margins on core earnings rose by 70 basis points year on year to 33.9%, close to Ferrari’s 34% target for the full-year.

Ferrari shares ended up 6.51% on Monday at 153.85 euros ($171.20).