Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F), the number two U.S. automaker (by volume), reported a 5.6% increase in sales in August, the fastest sales pace in the last 10 years. In the most recent quarter, the company improved its earnings per share by 46.9%, in comparison to the same quarter last year. This dramatic increase is predicted to continue as the Vice President of Marketing, Sales and Services, Mark La Neve, predicts a 51% pretax profit gain this year.
What prompted this increase in sales?
Due to the full production of redesigned F-150 models, the oil price plunge, and the healthy U.S. economy, Ford executives are optimistic that the second half of this fiscal year, the company will continue to see performance growth across the board. Beginning in early June, the redesigned F-150 model, now built with an aluminum body, has been in volume production. Since the F-150 models were Ford's top selling and most profitable line, manufacturing them at a constant speed was critical to supply the demand. Last year, during the transition to produce lighter vehicles, Ford halted the production of F-150 models for 13 weeks. This interruption negatively impacted profits last year as the pretax profit in North America alone, declined $800 million. Along with the increase in sales for the F-150 models, Ford continued to show strong performance in sales with other models a...
Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F), the number two U.S. automaker (by volume), reported a 5.6% increase in sales in August, the fastest sales pace in the last 10 years. In the most recent quarter, the company improved its earnings per share by 46.9%, in comparison to the same quarter last year. This dramatic increase is predicted to continue as the Vice President of Marketing, Sales and Services, Mark La Neve, predicts a 51% pretax profit gain this year.
What prompted this increase in sales?
Due to the full production of redesigned F-150 models, the oil price plunge, and the healthy U.S. economy, Ford executives are optimistic that the second half of this fiscal year, the company will continue to see performance growth across the board. Beginning in early June, the redesigned F-150 model, now built with an aluminum body, has been in volume production. Since the F-150 models were Ford's top selling and most profitable line, manufacturing them at a constant speed was critical to supply the demand. Last year, during the transition to produce lighter vehicles, Ford halted the production of F-150 models for 13 weeks. This interruption negatively impacted profits last year as the pretax profit in North America alone, declined $800 million. Along with the increase in sales for the F-150 models, Ford continued to show strong performance in sales with other models a...