Ford, Chrysler and Home Depot announce bonuses for their workers

Our forecast is for 16.7 million new-car sales in 2018, so the fight for a piece of a smaller pie will be competitive.

“Further, Ford, like the other automakers, will have to address some headwinds like higher interest rates and an onslaught of returning off-lease vehicles that could challenge new vehicle sales.”

Meanwhile, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles on Thursday released its earnings for 2017, showing profits up 93 percent for the year and announcing that eligible employees will get profit-sharing checks averaging $5,500 this month.

The company, which has its U.S. headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan, reported pretax profits of $4.4 billion. Adjusted earnings per share were $3, up from $2 the prior year.

The profit-sharing payments, which the company said were a result of strong financial performance for the year, are also an increase over the $5,000 checks released for 2016.

About 40,000 UAWrepresented employees are to receive their checks on Feb. 16. That money is in addition to the $2,000 bonuses Fiat Chrysler announced when the company said this month that it would be shifting production of Ram Heavy Duty trucks from Mexico to the Warren Truck Plant in 2020.

The recent tax overhaul was cited as the impetus for Home Depot to offer U.S. hourly workers one-time bonuses of up to $1,000.

The home-improvement retailer follows others doing the same, including Disney, Starbucks and Walmart.

Home Depot Inc. said Thursday that the one-time bonus will be distributed in the current quarter. Existing bonuses will be paid out as well.