Bridgestone, Japan's largest tyremaker, reported a 42 per cent drop in 2009 operating profit, hurt by a downturn in the global car market and the strength of the yen, but it forecast an earnings recovery this year.
The company, which competes with France's Michelin, booked an operating profit of 75.7 billion yen ($824.8 million) for 2009, down from 131.6 billion yen the year before.
For this year, Bridgestone forecast an operating profit of 94 billion yen, undershooting analysts' average forecast for a 123.7 billion yen profit.
Global car sales have been picking up in recent months thanks to government stimulus measures worldwide, but caromakers including Nissan Motor Co have warned this recovery may slow as such incentives peter out.
Michelin last week reported a weaker-than-expected net profit for 2009 and said rising rubber prices and an unclear market outlook were making the company "extremely vigilant."
Shares of Bridgestone have risen 4.5 per cent in the past three months, underperforming the Nikkei stock average's 6.8 per cent gain.
Reuters