Honda Motor Company posted a 61% increase in net profits to ¥71.5 billion yen or ~$883 million profits in the Japanese Q4 (January through March 2012) an increase from ¥44.5 billion a year earlier. However, operating income for the fiscal year (April 2011 through 31 March 2012) declined by 59.4% compared to the previous fiscal year and amounted to only ¥231.3 billion yen because of production interruptions caused by natural disasters in Japan and Thailand.
Now that production has resumed, and the all important North American and Asian markets are recovering, Honda predicted record global vehicle sales of 4.3 million vehicles – up from 3.1 million – for this fiscal year and a profit of ¥ 470 billion.
The Japanese automaker continues to suffer from a strong yen, which cuts its overseas earnings with the dollar trading near ¥80 compared with ¥86 yen the previous year.
Honda plans for year-end cash dividends of ¥15 per share. Together with the quarterly cash dividends of J¥15 for the first, second and third fiscal quarters, the total cash dividends to be paid for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012 are planned to be ¥60 per share, which is an increase of ¥6 per share from the annual dividends paid for the fiscal year ended 31 March 2011.
