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Embraer soars in H1

Posts best H1 rally since 2001 on higher orders, weak currency

Embraer, the world’s top regional-jet maker, posted the biggest first-half gain since 2001 as a plunging Brazilian currency and increasing orders boosted the outlook for profit growth.

The shares rose 0.8 per cent on Friday to 20.51 reals in Sao Paulo, extending this year’s advance to 42 per cent. That’s the best first-half performance since a 45 per cent gain in 2001.

Embraer has been the best performer this year in Brazil’s Ibovespa benchmark, which has slumped 22 per cent.

The Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil-based planemaker received jet orders from companies including Japan Airlines, SkyWest, Republic Airways Holdings and the US Air Force this year, and expanded a pact that lets Boeing sell its military aircraft globally.

The orders could help further improve the company’s backlog after a “light” 2012, according to Peter Skibitski, an analyst at Drexel Hamilton. “The regional jet market had been soft for a while, and there’s been a tremendous replacement demand that has come through to Embraer,” Skibitski said.

“The US market has certainly picked up for Embraer, and they have good growth prospects in all three of their core segments. I think that’s what has led to the great share performance this year.”

Embraer booked more than 365 firm orders and commitments for the so-called E2 versions of its E-Jets regional lineup, introduced this month at the Paris expo, the industry’s biggest trade event.

The planemaker’s backlog totalled 211 planes and $13.3 billion on March 31, up from 185 aircrafts and $12.5 billion at the end of last year.

Real plunge

The 9.4 per cent plunge in Brazil’s currency, the real, in the second quarter has also helped Embraer, which drove up the local currency proceeds from the company’s dollar revenue.

Embraer received about 86 per cent of its revenue last year from outside Brazil, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

The real was the worst performer among 24 emerging-market currencies tracked by Bloomberg in the second quarter.

The currency had its biggest quarterly loss in a year as stagnant economic growth, violent street protests and speculation the Federal Reserve will curtail monetary stimulus in the United States economy eroded demand for Brazilian assets.