Nissan Motor Co., Ltd on Monday announced financial results for the nine-month period to December 31, 2016.
“In the first nine months of the fiscal year, Nissan generated an operating profit of 503.2 billion yen, which represents a 6.1% margin on net revenues of 8.26 trillion yen,” said Carlos Ghosn, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Although these results reflect continued currency headwinds, we remain confident of achieving our fiscal year guidance.”
“On a constant currency basis, operating profit rose 30.1% to 764.6 billion yen, equivalent to an 8.1% profit margin. Our underlying performance was enhanced by solid product demand in the US, China and Western Europe, along with the continued benefits of our strict cost controls and synergies from our Alliance strategy.”
Fiscal Year 2016 Nine-Month Financial Highlights
The following table summarizes Nissan’s financial results for the nine-month period to December 31, 2016, calculated under the equity accounting method for the Group’s China joint venture.
Fiscal Year 2016 Nine-Month Financial Highlights to December 31, 2016
(TSE report basis – China JV equity basis) 1
Yen in billions FY 9M 15 FY 9M 163 % change year on year FY 9M 16 at constant currency % change at constant currency
Revenues 8,943.0 8,264.8 -7.6 9,426.1 +5.4
Operating profit 587.5 503.2 -14.3 764.6 +30.1
Operating margin % 6.6 6.1 -0.5 8.1 +1.5
Ordinary profit 631.0 590.2 -6.5 N/A N/A
Net income2 452.8 414.2 -8.5 N/A N/A
On a management pro forma basis, which includes the business results of Nissan’s operations in China, FY16 nine-month net revenue was 9.01 trillion yen. Operating profit was 601.9 billion yen. The operating profit margin was 6.7%.
On a constant currency exchange rate basis, pro-forma net revenues were 10.34 trillion yen and operating profit was 882.2 billion yen, equivalent to a profit margin of 8.5%.
Sales performance
In the first nine months of the fiscal year, Nissan’s total unit sales rose by 2.6% to 3.99 million units.
In the U.S., Nissan’s sales rose by 4.2% to 1.16 million units, equivalent to a market share of 8.7%, amid strong demand for the Rogue and Altima.
Nissan unit sales in China, which reports figures on a calendar year basis, rose 8.2% to 929,000 units, equivalent to market share of 5.0%. In Europe, excluding Russia, Nissan’s sales rose by 5.5% to 474,000 units, which resulted in a market share of 3.6%. The Qashqai SUV and X-Trail helped drive demand in the region.
Nissan’s performance in these key markets helped offset challenging conditions in the Japanese market. Total unit sales in the nine-month period for Japan were 344,000 units, representing a market share of 9.8%. In other markets including Asia and Oceania, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa, Nissan’s sales decreased 3.9% to 596,000 units.
Outlook
“We expect to deliver solid earnings and strong free cash flow generation for Fiscal Year 2016,” said Mr. Ghosn. “The Board remains committed to increasing the full year dividend by 14.3% to 48 yen per share.”
The Company expects to sell 5.6 million units this fiscal year, up 3.3% on fiscal 2015. Based on this sales outlook, Nissan has maintained forecasts first issued to the Tokyo Stock Exchange in May 2016. Calculated under the equity accounting method for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2017, the forecasts showed:
Nissan FY16 Outlook – TSE report basis – China JV equity basis
Net revenue ¥11.8 trillion
Operating profit ¥710.0 billion
Ordinary profit ¥800.0 billion
Net Income ¥525.0 billion
For detailed Nissan financial information and presentations:
www.nissan-global.com/EN/IR/FINANCIAL/
Nissan is a global full-line vehicle manufacturer that sells more than 60 models under the Nissan, Infiniti and Datsun brands. In fiscal year 2015, the company sold more than 5.4 million vehicles globally, generating revenue of ¥12.19 trillion.
Nissan engineers, manufactures and markets the world’s best-selling all-electric vehicle in history, the Nissan LEAF.
Nissan’s global headquarters in Yokohama, Japan, manages operations in six regions: ASEAN & Oceania; Africa, Middle East & India; China; Europe; Latin America and North America.
Nissan has a global workforce of 247,500, and has been partnered with French manufacturer Renault under the Renault-Nissan Alliance since March 1999.
