Honda has recently unveiled its impressive financial results for the first quarter of the year. The company experienced a remarkable surge in quarterly profit, boasting a substantial 78% increase. This substantial boost in profit can be attributed to several factors, including heightened sales performance, particularly in the North American market, as well as the advantageous impact of a weaker yen.
According to Honda’s financial report, its operating profit for the period spanning April to June reached an impressive 394.4 billion yen, equivalent to approximately $2.76 billion. This figure greatly exceeded the average estimate of 324.74 billion yen, as forecasted by a poll of 10 analysts conducted by Refinitiv. This notable achievement stands in stark contrast to the 222.2 billion yen profit the company achieved during the same timeframe in the previous year.
A key driver of Honda’s success has been the robust sales performance in the crucial U.S. market. The company experienced a remarkable year-on-year increase of 44.7%, translating to 347,000 units sold. This surge in sales to retail customers can be attributed to the alleviation of post-pandemic disruptions that affected the supply of parts and chips, allowing for a more seamless distribution and production process.
However, the picture was not entirely uniform across all markets. While Honda celebrated its success in the U.S., it faced challenges in China, the world’s largest car market. Sales in China encountered a notable setback, with a significant 5% decline to 309,000 vehicles. This drop in sales can be attributed to intensified local competition and a rapid shift towards electric vehicles in the Chinese market.
A representative from Honda expressed that business conditions in China had become more challenging compared to when the company initially issued its forecast for the year. The impact of semiconductor shortages still imposed certain restrictions on operations. The representative stated that should the company choose to revise its sales forecast for China, it would need to explore the possibility of distributing parts to and increasing manufacturing in other regions.
Despite the challenges and fluctuations in different markets, Honda has maintained its operating profit forecast of 1.0 trillion yen for the ongoing fiscal year. This projection, while slightly lower than the 1.117 trillion yen average forecast put forth by 22 analysts, reflects the company’s confidence in its ability to navigate the evolving automotive landscape.
As the year progresses, Honda intends to carefully evaluate whether an update to its full-year outlook is necessary. The company is particularly interested in assessing the potential benefits stemming from the weakening yen. An official from Honda indicated that the company plans to announce its second-quarter results around the commencement of November, shedding further light on its future performance expectations.
Source: Reuters
