Source: Ford Motor Co.
April retail sales rose 7% on all models while fleet sales were up 1% after posting a drop of 13% in March.
Total sales compare to estimates of 222,000 units from Edmunds and 221,000 from Kelley Blue Book. After a disappointing performance in March, April sales were above expectations.
Sales of the all-new Ford F-Series pickups declined by 0.9% in April to 62,827 units and sales year-to-date are up just 1.4%. The company said that retail sales of the pickups rose 8% in April after gaining 10% in March. In Friday’s press announcement, Ford emphasized that supplies of the new trucks are limited:
Kansas City Assembly, the second assembly plant building the popular new F-150, continues to ramp up production through the second quarter. Once the plant is fully online, Ford will be able to fill many fleet orders – especially the regular cab and long cargo box configurations popular with these customers.
Truck sales comprise about 37% of all Ford company sales, and the F-Series pickups account for 28% of total sales. Ford expects F-150 sales to strengthen in the second half of this year, once the second assembly plant running at capacity. A company spokesman has said that the company has only 16 days of inventory on the new pickups.
ALSO READ: 10 Cars Americans Don’t Want to Buy
Focus sales fell by 5.3% to 18,100 units, and Fusion sales were off 5.6% at 24,954 units.
Ford’s Escape small sport utility vehicle saw a sales gain of 4.8% year-over-year, compared with a drop of 8.4% in March. Sales of the Transit utility vehicles rose by 8%, and the all-new Transit sold 10,913 units in April and has sold a total of 33,794 for the year to date. Were the Transit van not so popular, Ford’s truck sales would be down about 5% on the year.
The stock traded up about 0.3% in the early going Wednesday, at $15.84 in a 52-week range of $13.26 to $18.12.
Essential Tips for Investing: Sponsored
A financial advisor can help you understand the advantages and disadvantages of investment properties. Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
Investing in real estate can diversify your portfolio. But expanding your horizons may add additional costs. If you’re an investor looking to minimize expenses, consider checking out online brokerages. They often offer low investment fees, helping you maximize your profit.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.
Editors' Picks
