Core Viewpoint - Honda has halted plans for a large electric SUV due to weaker-than-expected demand for sizable electric vehicles and the impact of President Trump's decision to cut EV incentives in the US [1][2][4]. Group 1: Honda's Decision - Honda has reportedly scrapped the development of a seven-seat electric SUV, which was initially planned to follow the five-seat SUV and sedan based on the Concept 0 unveiled at CES [1][4]. - The company has cut approximately $48 billion (¥7 trillion) from its research and development budget for electric vehicles [4]. Group 2: Market Context - Demand for large electric cars has been lower than anticipated, influencing Honda's decision to suspend its EV plans [2][9]. - Other manufacturers, including Ferrari and Lamborghini, have also delayed or pushed back their electric vehicle projects in response to market conditions [12]. Group 3: Broader Industry Trends - The electric vehicle market is facing challenges, as evidenced by Kia's EV9 selling only 165 units in Australia compared to 5,165 units of the combustion-powered Sorento in the first half of the year [8][11]. - Major brands like Mercedes and VW are experiencing significant sales ratios favoring combustion-powered models over their electric counterparts [11].

Core Points - Honda Motor is recalling over 259,000 vehicles in the US due to a faulty brake pedal that can shift out of position, increasing the risk of crashes or injuries [1][3] - The recall affects specific models including Acura MDX (2023-2025), Acura TLX (2021-2025), and Pilot (2023-2025) [1] - Honda estimates that about 1% of the recalled vehicles may have the defect, and owners will be notified by mail starting July 28 [3] Recall Details - There have been three warranty claims related to the recall, but no injuries or deaths have been reported [2] - Owners are advised to take their vehicles to a Honda dealership for inspection and potential free repairs [3][8] - The defect originated during production at a US plant, which has since relocated to Mexico [4] Production Changes - The new facility in Mexico has implemented a camera sensor system to ensure the brake pin is securely staked [5] - Honda initiated an investigation in April 2024 after receiving reports of brake pedal movement, confirming the defect on June 5 [8]

Core Viewpoint - Honda Motor's stock has shown limited growth, with a 2% increase since the start of 2023, and recent financial results have been disappointing, particularly in Q4 FY'25, where revenues fell to $35.1 billion from $36.5 billion the previous year [1][2] Financial Performance - For Q4 FY'25, Honda's revenues were approximately $35.1 billion, a decline from $36.5 billion year-over-year, and profits also did not meet expectations [1] - The company sold 1.65 million vehicles in North America in FY'25, a slight increase from the previous year, aided by a rise in hybrid vehicle adoption [1] - Honda has projected a net profit forecast for 2026 that is expected to be 70.1% lower than FY'25, with revenues anticipated to decline by 6.4% year-over-year [2] Market Challenges - The 25% tariff on foreign automotive imports imposed by the Trump Administration is expected to impact Honda's U.S. operations, prompting the company to consider producing its next-generation Civic hybrid in the U.S. instead of Mexico [2] - Honda's sales volumes in Asia decreased by nearly 28% year-over-year in FY'25, indicating challenges in maintaining competitiveness in the region [3] - The strengthening of the yen, which has appreciated almost 8% against the dollar in the past year, could negatively affect Honda's export competitiveness and international earnings [3][4] Valuation and Investment Outlook - Honda's stock is trading at approximately 8x FY'25 earnings, suggesting a reasonable valuation, supported by ongoing share repurchase programs and potential growth in the hybrid sector [4] - The current stock valuation is estimated at around $32 per share, slightly above the present market price [4]

Group 1: Honda's Strategy Shift - Honda is scaling back its electric vehicle (EV) plans due to cooling global demand and is focusing on hybrid cars, planning to launch 13 new hybrid models globally between 2027 and 2030 [1][5] - The company is reducing its EV and software investment target by 30%, from 10 trillion yen ($69 billion) to 7 trillion yen ($48.4 billion) by 2030, and now expects EVs to account for less than 30% of its production by that year [2] - Honda aims to sell 2.2–2.3 million hybrids by 2030, a significant increase from 868,000 in 2024 [2] Group 2: Industry Trends - The shift in Honda's strategy aligns with a broader industry trend where global automakers are slowing EV rollouts as governments ease emission targets and hybrids gain popularity [3] - Competitors Nissan and Toyota are also rethinking their EV strategies, with Nissan scrapping plans for a $1.1 billion battery plant and Toyota reducing its EV production plans by 20% [6][8] Group 3: Market Challenges - Honda faces increasing pressure in China, where EV adoption is rising and competition from domestic brands is strong, leading to a drop in profits in the region [4] - The company has only launched two EVs so far and recently paused a $10.7 billion EV plant project in Canada due to sluggish demand [4] Group 4: Financial Performance - Honda's shares have gained 3.7% year to date, contrasting with the industry's decline of 1.7% [9] - The company trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 0.32, which is below the industry average, and carries a Value Score of A [11]

Core Insights - Honda is reducing its EV investment by 30% from $69 billion to $48.4 billion through the 2031 fiscal year to stabilize its future in a slowing EV market [1][2] - The company will focus on increasing its hybrid lineup due to changes in environmental regulations and a slowdown in EV market expansion [2] - Honda's expected EV sales ratio for 2030 is now projected to fall below the previously announced target of 30% [2] Investment Strategy - Honda plans to launch 13 new hybrid models globally starting in 2027, aiming to sell 2.2 million hybrids annually by 2030 [4] - Despite the shift towards hybrids, Honda remains committed to achieving 100% zero-emission vehicle sales by 2040 [4] Market Context - In the first four months of 2025, EV sales in North America increased by only 5%, compared to 25% in Europe and 35% in China [3] - The International Energy Agency indicated that higher tariffs could further increase EV prices and slow down sales growth [3] Organizational Changes - Honda is mandating US employees to return to the office at least 80% of the time by October, emphasizing the importance of in-person work in a rapidly changing business environment [5]

Core Insights - Honda reported earnings of 18 cents per share for Q4 fiscal 2025, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 72 cents and declining from 99 cents per share in the previous year [1] - Quarterly revenues totaled $35.1 billion, falling short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $35.6 billion and the year-ago figure of $36.5 billion [1] Segment Performance - The Automobile segment's revenues decreased by 2.8% year over year to ¥3.57 trillion ($23.4 billion), but exceeded projections of ¥3.4 trillion. The segment recorded an operating loss of ¥158.7 billion ($1.04 billion), compared to an operating income of ¥100.1 billion in the same quarter of fiscal 2024 [2] - Revenues from the Motorcycle segment increased by 6.7% year over year to ¥919.6 billion ($6.12 billion), surpassing estimates of ¥873 billion. The operating profit rose by 11.8% year over year to ¥161.7 billion ($1.06 billion), exceeding the forecast of ¥160.8 billion [3] - The Financial Services segment reported revenues of ¥849 billion ($5.56 billion), down 1.7% year on year and below the prediction of ¥879 billion. Operating profit increased by 2.2% year over year to ¥70.6 billion ($462 million), but fell short of the estimate of ¥75.2 billion [4] - Revenues from Power Products and Other Businesses were ¥113.2 billion ($742 million), down 2.2% year over year, yet exceeded the forecast of ¥104.2 billion. The segment achieved breakeven compared to a loss of ¥8.3 billion in the same period last year [5] Financial Overview - As of March 31, 2025, consolidated cash and cash equivalents were ¥4.53 trillion ($31.04 billion), while long-term debt increased to ¥6.95 trillion ($47.67 billion) from ¥6.06 trillion a year earlier [5] Future Projections - For fiscal 2026, Honda projects consolidated sales volumes of 14.25 million units for Motorcycles, 2.83 million units for Automobiles, and 3.67 million units for Power Products, indicating a 4.1% growth in Motorcycle unit sales, but declines of 0.3% and 0.8% in Automobile and Power Product unit sales, respectively [6] - Honda forecasts fiscal 2026 revenues of ¥20.3 trillion, reflecting a decline of 6.4% year over year. Operating profit is expected to be ¥500 billion, indicating a contraction of 58.8% year over year, while pretax profit is projected at ¥490 billion, suggesting a drop of 62.8% year over year, attributed to macroeconomic and tariff-related challenges [7]

Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (NYSE: HMC ) just posted its earnings for the fiscal year ending March 2025, and while the top-line growth held up well, the real story is in the details. The companyI’m passionate about finance and investing, focusing on business analysis, fundamental analysis, valuation, and long-term growth, especially in sectors like AI, fintech, finance and tech. I study finance and economy and have hands-on experience in equity research, financial modeling, and creating investment content. I acti ...

Industry Overview - The Zacks Automotive – Foreign industry involves designing, manufacturing, and selling vehicles and components, heavily influenced by business cycles and economic conditions [2] - Key manufacturing countries include China, Japan, Germany, and India, with a significant shift towards technology and green vehicles due to stricter emission targets and supportive government policies [2] - Competition is intensifying as foreign automakers invest in R&D for electric and autonomous vehicles, fuel efficiency, and low-emission technologies [2] Key Themes Shaping the Industry - In April 2025, China's passenger vehicle sales reached 1.755 million units, a 14.5% increase year-over-year, with total vehicle sales from January to April exceeding 10 million units, up 10.8% [3] - New energy vehicle (NEV) sales in China surged to 4.3 million units, reflecting a 46.2% increase, making up 42.7% of all new car sales, driven by government incentives [3] - Japan's vehicle sales rose 14% to 1.101 million units in Q1 2025, with a forecasted economic growth of 1.2% in 2025, sustaining vehicle demand [4] - European automakers faced a 0.4% decline in new car sales in Q1 2025, with a projected profit reduction of 20% to 30% due to U.S. auto tariffs and global economic slowdown [5] Industry Performance and Valuation - The Zacks Automotive – Foreign industry ranks 224, placing it in the bottom 9% of around 250 Zacks industries, indicating a negative earnings outlook [6][7] - The industry has underperformed the Auto, Tires, and Truck sector and the S&P 500, losing 15.1% compared to the sector's growth of 10.9% and the S&P 500's 13% [9] - The industry is currently trading at an EV/EBITDA ratio of 7.43X, significantly lower than the S&P 500's 16.56X and the sector's 18.38X [13] Company Highlights - **Toyota**: A leading global automaker focusing on restoring production levels, optimizing inventory, and enhancing its value chain. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2026 sales implies a 5.41% year-over-year growth [19][20] - **Honda**: Aiming for 100% EV and FCEV sales by 2040, with plans to reduce battery costs by over 20% in North America by 2030. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2026 sales implies a 0.13% year-over-year growth [23][25] - **NIO**: A pioneer in China's EV market, with a strong vehicle lineup and plans to expand beyond luxury offerings. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 sales implies a 50.4% year-over-year growth [28][29]

About this content About Emily Jarvie Emily began her career as a political journalist for Australian Community Media in Hobart, Tasmania. After she relocated to Toronto, Canada, she reported on business, legal, and scientific developments in the emerging psychedelics sector before joining Proactive in 2022. She brings a strong journalism background with her work featured in newspapers, magazines, and digital publications across Australia, Europe, and North America, including The Examiner, The Advocate, ...

Financial Performance - Honda's fourth-quarter operating profit plunged 76%, missing earnings estimates due to the impact of U.S. tariffs [1] - For the financial year ending in March, Honda reported revenue of 21.69 trillion yen, exceeding the average expectation of 21.63 trillion yen, representing a year-on-year increase of 6.2% [2] - Operating profit for the financial year fell 12.2% to 1.21 trillion yen, below the average estimate of 1.41 trillion yen [2] Quarterly Results - In the fourth quarter, Honda's revenue was 5.36 trillion yen ($47.26 billion), matching expectations [3] - However, the operating profit for the same quarter was significantly lower at 73.5 billion yen compared to 275.52 billion yen in the previous year [3]