GM, Honda, Chrysler Sales Jump; Ford Sales Falls

Mukesh Buch
01 Oct, 2014
New York City

Acuity Brands profit surged 22% and revenue climbed 15%. AZZ net plunged 16%. American Honda September sales climbed 12% and Chrysler sales soared 19%. Ford sales in September fell 3%. GM vehicles sales soared 19% to 223,437.

[R]12:55 PM New York – Acuity Brands profit surged 22% and revenue climbed 15%. AZZ net plunged 16%. American Honda September sales climbed 12% and Chrysler sales soared 19%. Ford sales in September fell 3%. GM vehicles sales soared 19% to 223,437.[/R]

Tollbooth Index dropped 0.7% or 60.94 to 9,228.06.

Earnings Review

Acuity Brands, Inc ((AYI)) surged 13.1% or $15.33 to $133.03 after the lighting fixtures provider reported net sales in the fourth-quarter ending in August climbed 15% to $668.7 million from a year ago period.

Net income in the quarter surged 22% to $54.8 million or $1.26 a diluted share compared to $44.9 million or $1.03 from a same quarter last year.

AZZ Inc ((AZZ)) slipped 36 cents to $41.41 after the electric equipment and components maker said revenue in the second-quarter ending in August increased 1.9% to $193.4 million from a year ago period.

Net income in the quarter plunged 15.8% to $13.8 million or 53 cents a diluted share compared to $16.4 million or 64 cents from a same quarter last year.

American Honda Motor Co., Inc, Japan based vehicles maker said sales in September climbed 12% to 118,223 units, the best September since 2007. Acura sales surged 18.8% to 13,832 units.

American Honda year-to-date total sales rose 0.1% to 1,160,605 vehicles.

Brooks Automation, Inc rose 6 cents to $10.57 after the automation and life science equipment provider today agreed to acquire U.K.-based FluidX Ltd for $16 million in cash.

Chrysler Group LLC, the third largest domestic auto maker said U.S. sales soared 19% to 169,890 units from 143,017 units a year ago month, the group’s best September sales since 2005. Total car sales declined 7% to 39,440 units.

Ram pickup sales surged 30% to 36,612 units, 53rd consecutive month of year-over-year sales increase.

Jeep brand sales soared 47% to 55,231 units from 37,464 units and Chrysler brand sales jumped 14% to 28,781 units from a year ago month.

Ford Motor Company ((F)) declined 1.2% or 18 cents to $14.61 after the automobile producer reported U.S. sales in September fell 3% to 180,175 vehicles from a year ago. Retail sales increased 2% to 137,297 vehicles, best monthly sales in seven years.

Fusion sales climbed 19% to 29,452 vehicles and Escape sales jumped 9% to 28,996. Explorer sales surged 25% to 17,748 vehicles, the best September since 2004 and Lincoln registered September sales results since 2010.

General Motors Company ((GM)) jumped 2.7% or 85 cents to $32.79 after the automobile company said sales in the September climbed 19% to 223,437 vehicles from a year ago.

Retail sales soared 17% while fleet sales surged 30%, eleventh consecutive monthly increase in commercial sales.

Average transaction prices increased $1,200 per unit from August and jumped $2,500 from a year ago to $34,600, record high for the automaker.

WebMD Health Corp ((WBMD)) fell 37 cents to $41.47 after the health information service provider forecasted revenues for the year ending December between $570 million and $580 million and net earnings in the range of $36.5 million to $40.5 million.