Ford Confident About Its Future Prospects (F)

Ford Motor Co. F is looking to maintain its profitable streak into next year. Speaking at the company’s annual meeting of shareholders, chief executive officer Alan Mullaly said that he is confident of “continuing improvement” in 2011 on the basis of an improved global economy and a solid vehicle portfolio. Mullaly said, “It's a slow gradual recovery, especially in the United States, but very solid fundamentally." Ford (F) recorded a profit in 2009 of $2.712 billion. The company is currently focused on reducing its leverage and cleaning up its balance sheet. Ford’s executive chairman Bill Ford Jr. said that the company would address the issue of dividend payments after overhauling its balance sheet. He said, “The most important thing we can do as a company is to get our balance sheet strengthened and in order."