Ford Posts First Quarterly Profit In North America Since 2005

[HighestOfHigh]

Slowly but surely the indicators are beginning to swing back up from the industry's trough of 2008 and early 2009. Ford appears to be leading the way in North America with today's release of a pre-tax $357 million quarterly profit--the first in the region since 2005. There is a counterstroke to the upswing, however. The company as a whole reported a net income of $997 million, up $1.2 billion from the third quarter of 2008, while quarterly pre-tax profit on the whole is up $3.9 billion to $1.1 billion as well.

Those are potentially huge numbers--not just in quantity, but in significance. Despite still-low overall sales volume, Ford's global and North American operations have changed positions well enough to see profit, even if only for the quarter. Provided enough other automakers can get their bottom lines aligned as well, the industry could reach a new equilibrium, and start turning back to growth as sales ramp up over the next several years.

Ford credits its success with a strong product lineup on top of better transaction prices and improved profit margins. The company expects to be fully and comfortably in the black by 2011. With cars like the 2010 Fusion and Fusion Hybrid, its upscale Mercury equivalents, plus the coming Fiesta and new Focus, not to mention a range of new SUVs, trucks and crossovers, such as the Mercury and Lincoln versions of the Kuga, the Ford brand is definitely picking up steam.

On the flip side, however, despite this quarter's upswing, the Blue Oval is down about $1.3 billion on the whole for the year. That's a reflection on what went down over the first half, especially the first quarter, during the industry's slowest sales period in two decades. Ford's future projections about profitability over the coming years also rest on SAAR numbers--as high as 12.5 million vehicles--that may be a bit optimistic, and that could spell disappointment down the road. This tempers the optimism with which this quarter's profit should be received, both for the company and the industry as a whole.

- Ford Posts First Quarterly Profit In North America Since 2005 - MotorAuthority

 

[Merc1]

Ford is really on the turn around now. This is such great news. All the 2010 Fusions and Mustangs I see on the streets are producing real results. Ford should really hit their stride with the new Fiesta and Focus, both for 2011. Even the expensive new Taurus is off to a good start. Go Ford.

M

 

[HighestOfHigh]

Yes, it is always a treat to hear an American company is good after the downturn the Automobile industry has had. Ford knew what to do in this situation, which is why they didn't have to file for bankruptcy like GM and Chrysler. I'm really happy for them.

 

[Merc1]

Ford's management saw this coming and mortgaged everything they had back in 2006 and now they're getting healthier much faster than GM or Chrysler ever will. Now they need to really did in and redesign the Fusion before it gets too old and produce another hit. The new unibody Explorer should add some sales too next year.


M