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Investing.com -- Suzuki Motor Corporation (TYO:7269) announced a strong third-quarter operating profit and an improved full-year earnings forecast. The Japanese automaker reported a Q3 operating profit of ¥144.7 billion, a 9% increase year-over-year (YoY), slightly surpassing its own estimate of ¥145 billion and outperforming market expectations.
The company has revised its full-year operating profit forecast upward from ¥550 billion to ¥590 billion, despite an implied 10% decline in fourth-quarter consensus estimates. Suzuki’s management expressed confidence in achieving earnings growth and has set its sights on maintaining, or even improving, its operating profit margin (OPM) of around 10%.
In the domestic market, Suzuki’s profitability improvements were noted to have contributed more than anticipated. The company also saw a strong performance in India, where its retail market share climbed to 50.2% in December. The recovery in demand within the Indian market, where Suzuki has a significant presence, was highlighted as a key factor in the company’s robust performance.
Suzuki’s management addressed the sustainability of its OPM, acknowledging that while costs are expected to rise in areas such as capital expenditure, the aim is to maintain or enhance profit margins. The company also mentioned that it is focusing on expanding its lineup of SUVs in India, which could serve as a catalyst for future growth once launch timings become clear.
A comment from Citi analysts further bolstered investor sentiment: "the briefing today gives us hope that the OPM could well be kept at c10% as a medium-term target, too."
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