5 automaker expects to post an operating profit of 130 billion yen (US$1.15bil), versus its prior guidance for 150 billion yen. This would be 44.4% lower than a year ago and smaller than analysts’ average estimate of 109.05 billion yen. Over the October-December quarter, Mazda’s operating profit fell by a more-than-expected 71.2% to 13.64 billion yen, versus forecasts for 30.36 billion yen from 10 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S/. Mazda said its bottom line has been hit by a slump in sedan sales at home and in the United States, where demand for sport-utlity vehicles (SUVs) is booming. Mazda sold about 298,000 units in the United States in 2016, accounting for around a fifth of its global sales.

Source: The Star February 03, 2017 00:11 UTC