I think the earnings were not to good :(
"Ford Motor Co. (F) said fourth-quarter operating income sank by two-thirds, and it issued a lower-than-expected profit outlook for 2020, the latest signs of trouble for Chief Executive Jim Hackett's turnaround plan.
Ford said operating income for the October-to-December period was $485 million, down from $1.5 billion a year earlier. Earnings per share adjusted for one-time items were 12 cents, well short of analysts' estimate of 17 cents a share.
Ford pinned the shortfall in part on lower production volumes in North America stemming from problems with launches of key models, including the redesigned Explorer and Escape sport-utility vehicles and its Super Duty pickup truck. It also cited higher warranty costs and a bonus payout to United Auto Workers that totaled about $600 million.
Ford booked a net loss of about $1.7 billion for the quarter which it attributed to losses from higher contributions to its pension plans overseas. Revenue fell 5%, to $39.7 billion.
The auto maker forecast earnings per share this year in the range of 94 cents to $1.20, lower than the average estimate of $1.30, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence.
"Financially, it wasn't ok," finance chief Tim Stone said of the 2019 results during a discussion with reporters at Ford's headquarters. "Strategically...I think we made strong progress."
Nearly three years into the top job, Mr. Hackett's strategy to revitalize Ford – which includes a multiyear, multibillion-dollar restructuring – hasn't returned the company to earnings growth or restored profitability overseas, where Ford is closing plants and shedding thousands of workers to cut costs. Ford's operating profit has fallen in both full years of his tenure.
This year "will be crucial for Ford, as it must show better results" from Mr. Hackett's revitalization plan, Credit Suisse analyst Dan Levy wrote in an investor note Tuesday. "Ford must start meeting/exceeding investor expectations to reinvigorate investor interest."
Write to Mike Colias at Mike.Colias@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
02-04-201639ET
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