Ford, GM U.S. September Sales Jump; Chrysler Sales Declines

Mukesh Buch
03 Oct, 2017
New York City

Fiat Chrysler September sales declined 10%, Ford sales jumped 8.7% and GM sales soared 12%. Intuit reaffirmed fiscal 2018 outlook. Lennar net and sales soared. Paychex lifted fiscal outlook. Park Electrochemical net tumbled.

[R]1:35 PM New York - Fiat Chrysler September sales declined 10%, Ford sales jumped 8.7% and GM sales soared 12%. Intuit reaffirmed fiscal 2018 outlook. Lennar net and sales soared. Paychex lifted fiscal outlook. Park Electrochemical net tumbled.[/R]

Tollbooth Index rose 11.94 to 12,677.12.

Earnings Review

AZZ Inc ((AZZ)) slumped 2.1% or $1.05 to $49.15 after the electrical equipment and engineered services provider said revenues in the second-quarter ending in August fell 2.4% from a year ago to $190.4 million.

Net income in the quarter plunged 16.9% to $8.3 million or 32 cents per diluted share from $10 million or 38 cents in the same quarter last year.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV ((FCAU)) slid 6 cents to $17.89 after the vehicle maker said U.S. auto sales in September declined 10% to 174,266 vehicles compared to 192,883 vehicles in a year ago month and retail sales rose 0.3% to 146,904 vehicles while fleet sales tumbled 41% to 27,362 vehicles.

Jeep brand sales in the month dropped 4% to 73,409 vehicles and Chrysler brand sales plunged 16% to 15,759 vehicles. Dodge brand sales tumbled 30% to 29,938 vehicles. Wrangler jumped 10% to 15,714 vehicles.

Fiat brand sales plummeted 24% to 2,206 vehicles while RAM pickup vehicles sales fell 1% to 47,142 vehicles.

Ford Motor Company ((F)) advanced 2.3% or 27 cents to $12.36 after the automaker reported total U.S. sales in September jumped 8.7% to 222,248 units and retail sales were advanced 4.4% to 169,544 units.

Passenger car sales in the month slipped 1.3% to 49,918 units while fleet sales surged 25.1% to 52,704 units while trucks sales soared 19.9% to 103,625 units while Lincoln brand unit sales rose 0.1% to 8,802 units.

Ford Escape sales in the month grew 2% to 25,575 units but F-Series truck retail sales soared 21.4% to 82,302 units from a year ago month. Sales in Ford SUVs grew 1% to 62,803 units.

Fusion sales increased 3.3% to 21,253 units and Focus sales jumped 5.3% to 11,751 units. Mustang sales declined 9.1% to 5,847 vehicles. Ford Explorer sales surged 13.4% to 18,898.

Ford’s average transaction prices increased $2,300 from a year ago on strong demand for high-series trucks.

General Motors Company ((GM)) increased 2.9% or $1.22 to $43.37 after the automaker reported total sales in September soared 12% to 279,397 vehicles and retail sales in the month jumped 8.1% to 221,075 vehicles.

GM said September sales in Chevrolet segment surged 17.4% to 199,801 units while sales in Cadillac unit rose 1.1% to 15,530 units while sales in Buick segment slumped 5.9% to 159,830 units from a year ago month.

The Kelley Blue Book said average transaction prices were $38,851, up 0.2% month over month but down 3.1% year over year.

Intuit Inc ((INTU)) rose 32 cents to $142.06 after the business and financial software developer reaffirmed fiscal 2018 revenues forecast in the range of $5.64 billion to $5.74 billion, growth of 9% to 11% and operating income in the range of $1.49 billion to $1.54 billion, increase of 6% to 10% and diluted earnings per share between $4 and $4.10.

Lennar Corporation ((LEN)) increased 2.5% or $1.33 to $54.13 after the home builder reported revenues in the third-quarter ending in August soared 15% from a year ago to $3.3 billion.

Net income in the quarter jumped 5.7% to $249.2 million or $1.06 per diluted share from $235.8 million or $1.01 in the same quarter last year.

The home builder said total deliveries in the quarter surged 12% to 7,598 homes and as of August 31, total backlog jumped 10% to 10,212 homes and backlog in dollar value soared 18% to $4.1 billion.

Paychex, Inc ((PAYX)) jumped 4.1% or $2.41 to $62.22 after the outsourcing services provider reported revenues in the first-quarter ending in August advanced 4% from a year ago to $816.8 million.

Net income in the quarter increased 5% to $227.8 million or 63 cents per diluted share from $217.4 million or 60 cents in the same quarter last year.

Paychex revised higher fiscal 2018 revenues in the Human Resource Services segment to jump between 12% and 14% and total revenues to increase about 6% and operating profit to soar in the range of 39% to 40%.

Park Electrochemical Corp ((PKE)) gained 1.9% or 37 cents to $19.22 after the integrated circuits maker stated revenues in the second-quarter ending on August 27 rose 2.4% from a year ago to $29.8 million.

Net income in the quarter tumbled 73.7% to $0.5 million or 3 cents per diluted share from $2 million or 10 cents in the same quarter last year.