Nissan Motor Co. raised its full-year profit forecast as Japan's second-biggest automaker benefits from an increase in demand in the U.S., the company said Monday.
Net income may rise to ¥535 billion ($4.4 billion) in the 12 months through March from ¥457.6 billion a year earlier, Nissan said. That's up from the company's ¥485 billion forecast made in May.
That compares with the ¥534 billion average of 26 analysts' estimates compiled by Bloomberg. The company also raised its operating income forecast to ¥730 billion from ¥675 billion.
Nissan is benefiting from a robust U.S. market that registered the fastest pace of sales growth in more than a decade, offsetting weak demand both at home and in China.
The automaker boosted U.S. deliveries faster than rivals, including General Motors Co. and Honda Motor Co., helped by demand for its Rogue crossovers and Altima sedans.
"The strong U.S. demand is making up for weakness in many other markets, including Japan," said Seiji Sugiura, an analyst at Tokai Tokyo Research Center. "But they can't count on the U.S. forever because the market will peak out and their model mix will deteriorate."