Toyota & Honda Overcome a Low Dollar

Article Excerpt

The drop in the U.S. dollar hurts Toyota and Honda since earnings in the United States now translate into fewer Japanese yen. However, both are building more of their cars here, which cuts their currency risk. Their strong reputations for quality and fuel efficiency should also let them expand profits despite high gas prices and the slowdown in the housing market. TOYOTA MOTOR CORP. ADRs $106 (New York symbol TM; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; ADR’s outstanding: 1.6 billion; Market cap: $169.6 billion; WSSF Rating: Above average) reported that its North American sales in the six months ended September 30, 2007 rose 2.3%, due to strong demand for the new Tundra pickup truck and Prius hybrid compact. Sales grew 18% in Japan, and 8% in Europe. Consequently, Toyota’s six-month revenue rose 9.3%, to $101.0 billion from $92.4 billion a year earlier. Earnings improved 18.8%, to $4.86 per ADR from $4.09 per ADR. (Each Toyota American Depository Share represents two of…