Fiat Chrysler, GM, Nissan Sales Jump; Ford Sales Drops

Mukesh Buch
03 Mar, 2015
New York City

AutoZone net jumped 10%. Best Buy profit surged 77%. Dicks Sporting net soared 12% on 11% increase in revenues. February auto sales at Ford fell 1.9% but Fiat Chrysler sales soared 6% and sales climbed 4.2%. Stage Stores profit surged 8.3%.

[R]11:45 AM New York – AutoZone net jumped 10%. Best Buy profit surged 77%. Dicks Sporting net soared 12% on 11% increase in revenues. February auto sales at Ford fell 1.9% but Fiat Chrysler sales soared 6% and sales climbed 4.2%. Stage Stores profit surged 8.3%.[/R]

Tollbooth Index nearly slipped 0.5% or 53.64 to 10,725.94.

Earnings Review

AutoZone, Inc ((AZO)) jumped 2.3% or $14.68 to $664.21 after the automobile part distributor reported total revenues in the second-quarter ending on February 14 climbed 7.5% to $2.14 billion form a year ago period.

Net income in the quarter jumped 9.8% to $211.7 million or $6.51 per diluted share compared to $192.8 million or $5.63 from the same quarter last year.

Accuride Corporation ((ACW)) 7.5% or 40 cents to $4.92 after the commercial vehicle component supplier said net sales in the fourth-quarter ending in December soared 19.4% to $172.8 million from a year ago period.

Net in the quarter swung to a loss of $5.1 million or 10 cents per diluted share compared to profit of $1.6 million or 3 cents from the same quarter last year.

Best Buy Co Inc ((BBY)) climbed 2.2% or 86 cents to $39.41 after the consumer electronics retailer reported revenues in the fourth-quarter ending in January rose 1.3% to $14.21 billion form a year ago period. Same store sales in the quarter jumped 2%.

Net income in the quarter surged 77.1% to $519 million or $1.46 per diluted share compared to $293 million or 83 cents from the same quarter last year.

The retailer increased quarterly dividend by 21% to 23 cents per share and declared special one-time dividend of 51 cents per share.

The company announced it will buy back shares for up to $1 billion in next three years.

Dicks Sporting Goods Inc ((DKS)) gained 54 cents to $56.05 after the sporting goods retailer said net sales in the fourth-quarter ending in January advanced 10.9% to $2.16 billion form a year ago period.

Same store sales in the quarter climbed 3.4% and same store sales for DICK''S sporting goods jumped 3.8% while Golf Galaxy tumbled 7.1%.

Net income in the quarter soared 12.2% to $155.5 million or $1.30 per diluted share compared to $138.6 million or $1.11 from the same quarter last year.

Ford Motor Company ((F)) dropped 2.7% or 44 cents to $16.13 after the automobile company said U.S. sales in February slumped 1.9% to 180,383 vehicles from 183,947 vehicles a year ago period.

The company added car sales in the month declined 8.1% to 56,081 units while truck sales jumped 4% to 69,882 units and utilities sales decreased 2.3% to 54,420 units compared to a year ago period.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV declined 3% or 48 cents to $15.35 after the auto-maker reported U.S. sales soared 6% to 163,586 units and the group’s best February sales since 2007.

Jeep brand sales in the month surged 21% and Chrysler brand sales jumped 13%. Sales of the Ram pickup truck increased 7% and Dodge Challenger sales soared 42%.

General Motors Company ((GM)) fell 6 cents to $37.54 after the automaker reported sales in February climbed 4.2% to 231,378 units from 222,104 units a year ago month.

GM said sales of trucks, including SUVs, vans and pickups, surged 36% and sale of commercial and fleet vehicles climbed 12%.

For the year, total sales soared 10.3% and retail sales advanced 7%.

Stage Stores Inc ((SSI)) declined 3.2% or 66 cents to $20.06 after the apparel and accessory retailer stated net sales in the fourth-quarter ending in January increased 6.6% to $524.9 million from a year ago period. Comparable sales increased 6.4%.

Net income in the quarter surged 8.3% to $43.7 million or $1.36 per diluted share compared to $24.9 million or 78 cents from the same quarter last year.

The retailer forecasted sales for the year to be in the range of $1.64 billion to $1.68 billion and comparable sales to rise between flat and 2% increase and diluted earnings per share between $1.20 and $1.28.