Honda Motor Co., Ltd. HMCreported consolidated income of ¥ 107.7 billion or ¥60.59 per share (56 cents per ADR) in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 (ended Mar 31, 2018), up 12.3% from the year-ago period. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings per share during the reported quarter was 46 cents.
Consolidated sales revenues increased 4% year over year to ¥3.91 trillion ($36.1 billion). The figure surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $34.7 billion. The year-over-year increase can be attributed to higher revenues in all business operations despite unfavorable foreign currency translations.
Consolidated operating profit was ¥ 126.8 billion, reflecting a decrease of 8.2% from the prior-year quarter, attributable to an increase in selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses and unfavorable currency effects despite continuous efforts to cut costs.
Segmental Performance
For the three months ended Mar 31, 2018, revenues from the Automobile segment’s sales increased 2.7% to ¥2.77 trillion. During the reported quarter, unit sales increased 17.8% year over year to 3.17 million. The Motorcycle segment increased 14.8% to ¥520.9 billion whereas unit sales decreased 1% on a year-over-year basis to 0.9 million.
In the quarter ended Mar 31, 2018, the Financial Services segment increased 1.9% to ¥527.4 billion ($46.5 billion). The Power Product & Other segment was up 0.4% to ¥101.2 billion whereas unit sales increased 11.7% on a year-over-year basis to 2.22 million vehicles.
Financial Position
Consolidated cash and cash equivalents were ¥2.26 trillion as of Mar 31, 2018, up from ¥2.11 trillion as of Mar 31, 2017.
Guidance
For fiscal 2019 (ending Mar 31, 2019), Honda expects revenues to improve 1.6% to ¥15.6 trillion. Operating income is likely to decline 16% to ¥700 billion. Profit before income taxes is projected to fall 17.5% to ¥950 billion.