Ford Reports 2010 Full Year Net Income of $6.6 Billion, Fourth Quarter Net Income of $190 Million

Ford plans to deliver continued improvement in pre-tax operating profit and Automotive operating-related cash flow in 2011.

DEARBORN, Mich., Jan. 28, 2011 -- Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) today reported 2010 full year net income of $6.6 billion, or $1.66 per share, an increase of $3.8 billion, or 80 cents per share, from 2009. This was Ford's highest net income in more than 10 years, as strong products and new investments fueled improvements in all of the company's business operations around the world.

"Our 2010 results exceeded our expectations, accelerating our transition from fixing the business fundamentals to delivering profitable growth for all," said Alan Mulally, Ford president and CEO.  "We are investing in an unprecedented amount of products, technology and growth in all regions of the world."

Full year 2010 pre-tax operating profit was $8.3 billion, or $1.91 per share, an increase of $8.3 billion, or $1.90 per share, from a year ago. This increase reflects a profit in each Automotive segment led by strong performance in North America, reflecting primarily favorable volume and mix as well as favorable net pricing.  Ford Credit's strong profit also contributed significantly to Ford's full year performance.

Ford made significant progress in strengthening its balance sheet, reducing Automotive debt by $14.5 billion in 2010, a 43 percent reduction. These actions will lower annualized interest expense by more than $1 billion. Ford finished the year with Automotive gross cash exceeding debt by $1.4 billion. Fourth quarter actions reduced Automotive debt by $7.3 billion, including $2.5 billion of newly announced debt reductions to pay down Ford's revolving credit facility and term loans.

Ford reported fourth quarter net income of $190 million, or 5 cents per share, a decrease of $696 million, or 20 cents per share, from the fourth quarter of 2009. This includes the negative impact of special items of $1 billion, primarily associated with a previously disclosed $960 million charge related to the completion of debt conversion offers that reduced outstanding Automotive debt by over $1.9 billion.

Ford earned a pre-tax operating profit of $1.3 billion, or 30 cents per share, in the fourth quarter, marking the sixth consecutive quarter of pre-tax operating profit. This is a decrease of $322 million, or 13 cents per share, from the fourth quarter of 2009.

Fourth quarter Automotive pre-tax operating profit was $741 million, a decrease of $173 million from a year ago.  Fourth quarter Financial Services pre-tax operating profit was $552 million, a decrease of $149 million from a year ago, which includes a pre-tax operating profit of $572 million for Ford Credit.

North America posted a fourth quarter pre-tax operating profit of $670 million, a $59 million increase compared with 2009. Full year North America pre-tax operating profit was $5.4 billion, an improvement of more than $6 billion from a year ago.  South America, Europe and Asia Pacific Africa also reported full year pre-tax operating profits for 2010.        

As a result of Ford's 2010 financial performance, the company will pay profit sharing to approximately 40,600 eligible U.S. hourly employees. The average amount is expected to be approximately $5,000 per eligible full-time employee.  

Ford's fourth quarter worldwide revenue was $32.5 billion, an increase of $1.6 billion compared with the same period a year ago, excluding Volvo from 2009. Ford reported full year revenue of $120.9 billion, an increase of $17 billion from a year ago, excluding Volvo from 2009.

Ford generated positive Automotive operating-related cash flow of $1 billion in the fourth quarter and $4.4 billion in the full year, an improvement of $5.2 billion from full year 2009.

Ford finished the year with Automotive gross cash of $20.5 billion and total Automotive debt of $19.1 billion. Automotive gross cash was down $3.3 billion from the end of the third quarter as a result of significant debt reduction actions. As of Dec. 31, 2010, total Automotive liquidity was $27.9 billion, including available credit lines.

"The progress that we made improving our core Automotive business has allowed us to strengthen significantly the balance sheet in 2010, and this will remain a key area of focus for us in 2011," said Lewis Booth, Ford executive vice president and chief financial officer. "We continue to manage the business for long term profitable growth."

Total Automotive pre-tax operating profit in the fourth quarter was $741 million, a decrease of $173 million from a year ago. The decrease is more than explained by higher structural and commodity costs, aligned with guidance, as well as unfavorable volume and mix. This was offset partially by favorable net pricing. The higher structural costs, which include manufacturing, engineering, and advertising costs,  largely supported product launches and growth of product plans.

Full year pre-tax operating profit was $5.3 billion, an improvement of $7.2 billion compared with a year ago, led by strong performance in North America. Each of the Automotive segments was profitable and also improved compared with a year ago.

Total vehicle wholesales in the fourth quarter were 1.4 million units, up 41,000 units from a year ago, excluding Volvo from 2009. The increase was explained primarily by higher wholesales in Asia Pacific Africa, offset partially by lower wholesales in Europe. Full year total vehicle wholesales were 5.3 million units, up 771,000 units, excluding Volvo from 2009.

Total Automotive revenue in the fourth quarter was $30.3 billion, up $2.2 billion from a year ago, excluding Volvo from 2009. Full year total Automotive revenue was $111.2 billion, up $19.7 billion from a year ago, excluding Volvo from 2009.

FOURTH QUARTER AND FULL YEAR 2010 HIGHLIGHTS

  • Announced $850 million in future investments for Michigan-based engineering and manufacturing, leading to 1,200 jobs through 2013
  • Announced $600 million investment in Louisville Assembly and additional 1,800 jobs
  • Announced $630 million investment in Kocaeli, Turkey, for future Transit production
  • Launched 2011 F-150 lineup with completely new fuel-efficient engines
  • Unveiled all-new global Ford Ranger at the Australian International Motor Show
  • 2011 Explorer awarded North American Truck of the Year at the North American International Auto Show
  • New Figo won Society of India Auto Manufacturers' 2011 Indian Car of the Year
  • The redesigned Explorer and new Fiesta earned IIHS Top Safety Picks in the U.S.; C-MAX and Grand C-MAX earned Euro NCAP five-star safety ratings
  • Increased U.S. sales 15 percent in the fourth quarter. For the full year, Ford had the first back-to-back market share increase since 1993, and the largest sales percentage increase of any full-line automaker
  • Ford of Canada reported an 11 percent sales increase in the fourth quarter, leading Ford of Canada to finish 2010 as best-selling automaker for the first time in more than 50 years
  • Ford Brazil sales increased 24 percent in the fourth quarter, leading to a market share gain of three-tenths of a point
  • European market share fell in the fourth quarter and full year as a result of Ford's decision to reduce participation selectively in low-margin business, as well as the end of the favorable effect of scrappage programs on its small car sales
  • Sales increased 35 percent in Asia Pacific and Africa in the fourth quarter. In 2010, the region reported record full year sales in China and India, with 32 and 168 percent increases respectively

Companies in this article
Latest