Improving supply chains will lift their profits

Article Excerpt

Shortages of computer chips and other components are weighing on Toyota and Honda’s profits. However, the easing of COVID-19 lockdowns in China and other countries should improve the flow of these parts. Investors will also benefit from consumers’ embrace of electric vehicles. TOYOTA MOTOR CO. ADRs $139 is a buy. The stock (New York symbol TM; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; ADRs outstanding: 1.4 billion; Market cap: $194.6 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.8; Dividend yield: 2.9%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.toyota.com) gives you exposure to the world’s largest automaker. Toyota’s sales in its fiscal 2023 third quarter, ended December 31, 2022, rose 16.4%, to 2.33 million vehicles from 2.00 million a year earlier. Revenue in Japanese yen improved 25.3% from a year earlier. However, revenue in U.S. dollars were roughly flat at $68.7 billion. Due to computer chip shortages and higher raw material costs, earnings per ADR fell 5.7%, to $4.80 from $5.09 (each American Depositary Receipt equals two common shares). For all of fiscal 2023,…