Ford Motor Co. (F.N) reported a 4.1 per cent increase in light-vehicle sales in August, beating the average estimate for a decline of 0.8 per cent. The company’s F-Series pickups continued to be popular with consumers, while SUVs like the Expedition also provided a lift.

Key Takeaways

• A 15 percent jump in sales to fleet customers played a big part in Ford’s better-than-expected month, but retail deliveries also rose.
• The Mustang had a very good month with sales up more than 35 percent. That bucks the long-standing trend of sinking sales of passenger cars for Ford and its rivals.
• Ford’s car sales fell 21 percent in August and are off more than 16 percent for the year. Among the Dearborn, Michigan-based company’s biggest losers: the Fusion sedan, which saw sales plunge by more than a third last month.

Market Reaction

Ford climbed 0.5 per cent to $9.53. The shares are down 24 per cent this year.

Raw Numbers

Ford August U.S. light-vehicle sales rose 4.1% y/y, est. down 0.8%. F-series marked 16th consecutive month of y/y gains on sales of 81,839 pickupsBest Aug. F-Series month since 2005 Fleet sales rose 15% y/y Truck sales up 5.7% y/y SUV sales up 20% y/y Car sales fell 21% y/y Lincoln Navigator sales up 102% Mustang sales up 35% Expedition sales rose 95%; Explorer sales up 19%.