Nissan has posted a surprise rise in quarterly profit on better-than-expected vehicle sales and a weaker yen, and reiterated its forecast for a small gain in full-year profit, according to Reuters.
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It was widely reported recently that Nissan has been struggling with shrinking demand in major regions.
However, October-December operating profit grew 5.2% to 219.62 billion yen. The average forecast from four brokers surveyed by Reuters Estimates had predicted a 2.5% fall to 203.5 billion yen.
Nissan had been expected to be alone among Japan’s top car companies in posting lower third-quarter operating profit, Reuters said.
While sales in its two biggest markets – the United States and Japan – fell 7% and 19% in the period, buoyant shipments in Europe, China and some smaller markets helped overall sales volume rise slightly during the quarter, Nissan said.
Net profit was up 0.6% to 134.98 billion yen, while revenue climbed 10% to 2.301 trillion yen. That gave an operating margin of 9.5%, still relatively high, but down from 10% a year ago as product mix worsened.
Analysts said the results overshot expectations but not enough to change the outlook for the full year, according to Reuters.
