Ford profit drops 19 pct, beats forecast

DETROIT July 19, 2005; Reuters said today that Ford Motor Co. reported 19 percent drop in second-quarter profit as it continued to lose vital U.S. market share, but earnings were substantially higher than analysts expected.

The second-largest U.S. automaker, which has warned that its automotive operations may not be profitable this year, reported a loss for its automotive operations for the quarter as its credit arm continued to drive results. Ford affirmed its full-year earnings outlook.

Ford's second-quarter net income fell to $946 million, or 47 cents a share, from $1.17 billion, or 57 cents a share, a year earlier.

Excluding special charges too, earnings were also 47 cents a share. On that basis, Wall Street analysts on average were expecting second-quarter earnings of 33 cents a share, according to Reuters Estimates.

Ford said charges related to a bailout of former parts subsidiary Visteon Corp. (VC.N: Quote, Profile, Research) and job reduction programs reduced earnings per share by 18 cents. But the charges were fully offset by a one-time adjustment in the company's taxes.

The lower earnings follow a 13-month decline in the company's U.S. vehicle sales, including a dramatic slowdown in sales of its profitable mid- and large-size sport utility vehicles amid high gasoline prices.

Revenue rose to $44.54 billion in the second quarter from $42.87 billion a year ago.

Ford said its core auto operations posted a pretax loss of $245 million before taxes and excluding charges, while its finance arm contributed net profit of $740 million.

Including special charges, Ford said its auto division posted a loss of $571 million.

Ford, which last month had slashed its 2005 earnings outlook for the second time this year, affirmed its outlook for full-year earnings of $1 to $1.25 per share.