Honda Motor Raises Full-Year Profit Forecast on Strong US Sales

On Thursday, Japan's Honda Motor announced that it had raised its full-year operating profit forecast by 4.2 percent to 1.25 trillion yen ($8.4 billion). This upgrade is attributed to robust sales in the United States, a more profitable product mix, and the weakening of the yen.

Reuters reported that the revised forecast exceeds the earlier estimate of 1.2 trillion yen and surpasses the average analyst forecast of 1.271 trillion yen.

Strong Third Quarter Performance

In the October-December third quarter, Honda's operating profit increased significantly by 35 percent, amounting to 379.8 billion yen. This result aligns with the average estimate of 371.6 billion yen projected by a poll of nine analysts conducted by LSEG.

Honda reported that its global sales experienced a notable growth of 5.6 percent, with nearly 4.0 million vehicles sold in 2023. The surge in sales was primarily driven by a remarkable 33 percent jump in the United States, marking the company's first sales growth in its largest market in eight years. This growth comes as the shortage of high-tech chips abated, enabling Honda to meet the demand successfully.

Conversely, Honda's sales in China declined by 10 percent, to 1.2 million vehicles. The company attributed this slump to intense competition from emerging Chinese auto brands.

Honda's Electric Vehicle Plans

Despite lagging in the shift to battery-powered electric vehicles, Honda made a significant announcement last month. According to Channel News Asia, the automaker unveiled its plans to introduce a new EV series starting in 2026. This move was showcased at the CES trade show in Las Vegas, where Honda presented two concept EVs.

With the upward revision of its profit forecast and the strategic focus on electric vehicles, Honda aims to successfully navigate the evolving automotive landscape. The company's solid performance in the United States and its commitment to innovation signal a promising future.

Industry analysts are closely monitoring Honda's performance and strategic moves. While the revised profit forecast is slightly below the average analyst estimate, the overall sentiment remains positive, highlighting the company's resilience and ability to adapt to market dynamics.

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