Autobauer: Ford übertrifft Gewinnerwartungen trotz höherer Rohstoffkosten

Ford, the US automaker, reported a slight increase in profit in the third quarter despite higher raw material costs and production problems. The adjusted operating profit rose to $2.7 billion, while the adjusted earnings per share came to 49 cents, surpassing analysts' expectations of 40 cents. Revenue totaled $49.5 billion. Ford raised its bottom line for the annual operating profit (EBIT) by $500 million to $10.5 billion, but kept the top line at $11 billion.

The Ford stock fell by about 1 percent after hours. The company cited rising costs for copper, steel, fuel, and chips, as well as the Iran war driving up freight costs and commodity prices across the industry. Ford increased its estimate for total-year raw material costs from about $2 billion to nearly $2.5 billion. The automaker also faced production failures with its top seller, the F-150 pickup, due to supplier issues and a fire at aluminum supplier Novelis last year.

CFO Sherry House said operational difficulties at Novelis were largely resolved. Declining sales on the domestic market is another pressing issue for Ford. CEO Jim Farley urged a swift resolution within the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) to remain competitive against manufacturers from Japan and South Korea. The US and Canada are currently negotiating a relaxation of US tariffs on Canadian steel and vehicles, set to increase from 25 to 50 percent next year.

Ford manufactures key models like the Bronco Sport in Mexico and heavy-duty pickups in Canada. On the US home market, Ford saw a 8.6 percent sales decline in the first nine months of the year, partly due to the withdrawal of the compact SUV Escape and decreasing demand for electric and hybrid vehicles.