Nissan Stuns With ¥200 Billion Profit Forecast As Turnaround Gains Traction

Nissan surprised markets by forecasting ¥200 billion in operating profit for the fiscal year ending March 2027, well above the analyst consensus of ¥119 billion and up from ¥58 billion last year. The stronger-than-expected outlook, driven by aggressive cost cuts and restructuring, could provide a positive near-term boost to Japanese equity sentiment, particularly in autos, and modestly support the Japan 225 index. However, the story is tempered by a recent ¥533 billion net loss, a ¥240 billion impairment, ongoing product competitiveness issues in North America, rapid sales declines in China and a heavy debt load. Investors and analysts view the forecast as an early sign of progress but remain cautious about durability, making the market reaction likely to be mixed rather than unequivocally bullish.