Daimler reports third-quarter operating profit rose 8%

FAN Editor
File photo of Mercedes-Benz logo pictured before company's annual news conference in Stuttgart
FILE PHOTO: The Mercedes-Benz logo is seen before the company’s annual news conference in Stuttgart, Germany, February 4, 2016. REUTERS/Michaela Rehle

October 24, 2019

FRANKFURT (Reuters) – Daimler <DAIGn.DE> reported a slight rise in third-quarter operating profit on Thursday, boosted by higher sales of Mercedes-Benz cars but announced cost cuts and warned that legal provisions tied to diesel litigation could rise.

Group earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) rose 8% to 2.69 billion euros, up from 2.49 billion euros in the year-earlier period boosted by an 8% rise in sales of luxury cars.

“In order to master the transformation in the next few years, we need to increase our efforts considerably: we have to significantly reduce our costs and consistently strengthen our cash flow,” Chief Executive Ola Kaellenius said, without elaborating.

Daimler is due to give a detailed presentation on strategy and costs on November 14.

The return on sales at Mercedes-Benz Cars fell to 6%, down from 6.3% in the year-earlier period, despite an 8% rise in passenger car sales during the quarter, Daimler said.

Daimler reiterated that it expected group earnings before interest and taxes to be significantly lower than last year, and warned it now sees revenue at the trucks division to be at the year-earlier level instead of expecting slight revenue growth.

Daimler said current legal proceedings tied to diesel emissions may result in additional expenditures which may hit profits at Mercedes-Benz Cars and Mercedes-Benz Vans.

(Reporting by Edward Taylor; editing by Thomas Seythal and Thomas Escritt)

Free America Network Articles

Leave a Reply

Next Post

Asian shares inch ahead as earnings, geopolitics sway sentiment

FILE PHOTO: Pedestrians are reflected in a window in front of a board displaying stock prices at the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) in Sydney, Australia, February 9, 2018. REUTERS/David Gray October 24, 2019 By Swati Pandey SYDNEY (Reuters) – Asian shares pulled ahead on Thursday as corporate earnings and a […]