Kyriba’s Currency Impact Report (CIR), a quarterly report looking at foreign exchange (FX) exposures among 1,200 multinational companies based in North America and Europe, reveals US$11.98 billion in total impacts to earnings from currency volatility.
The corporations reported US$9.86 billion in tailwinds and US$2.13 billion in headwinds in the third quarter of 2021.
Companies in North America experienced greater tailwinds than in Europe, with US$9.32 billion in FX-related positive impacts – a decrease of 145% from the previous quarter. European companies reported US$541 million in positive currency impacts — down 20%.
“Headwinds and tailwinds combine to reveal the vulnerability North American and European multinational corporations’ revenues and earnings per share have to currency movements. As the era of low interest rates and, potentially, the strong US Dollar concludes, these quantified impacts are a troubling warning sign as this next environment will become more challenging for CFOs,” said Wolfgang Koester, Chief Evangelist for Kyriba. “CFOs have a long way to go to mitigate risk and include substantial currency gains as part of their earnings revenue.”
Recent interest rate rises from central banks have added to the volatility, but the European Central Bank’s President Christine Lagarde has warned against betting on a flurry of interest hikes ahead. She cited the unusual energy price rises as reasons to believe that soaring inflation may cool as those energy prices stabilise.
Highlights from the January 2022 Kyriba Currency Impact Report
- The average earnings per share (EPS) impact from currency volatility reported by North American companies in Q3 2021 rose to US$0.04 – four times greater than the recommended US$0.01 EPS impact.
- Publicly traded North American companies that qualified to be monitored in the Q3 2021 CIR reported a combined US$9.32 billion in positive currency impacts, and US$929 million in negative currency impacts.
- North American companies indicated the Canadian dollar (CAD) as the most impactful currency, with 33% of companies referencing it. The euro (EUR) was second with 27% of North American companies identifying it as impactful.
- The euro was the currency most mentioned as impactful by European companies on earnings calls, followed by the Swedish krona and the US dollar ranking third.
- The top five industries that experienced the greatest impact from currencies in North America were (in ranked order): machinery, trading & distribution, professional services, biotech & pharmaceuticals, healthcare equipment & supplies, and electronic equipment, and instruments & components.
“Supply chain disruption, currency volatility and inflation are testing CFOs and treasurers’ enterprise liquidity strategies. For the remainder of 2022, execution of applicable best practices to protect shareholder…
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