Navistar Posts Bigger-than-Expected Quarterly Loss

Navistar International Corp (NYSE:NAV) on Tuesday reported a larger-than-expected loss, pulled down by restructuring and product warranty costs.

The Lisle, Illinois-based truckmaker reported a net loss of $72 million, or 88 cents a share, in the fiscal fourth quarter ended October 31, compared with a loss of $154 million, or $1.91 a share, during the comparable quarter last year.

Sales rose 9 percent to $3 billion.

Analysts, on average, expected the company to post a profit of 15 cents a share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Strong demand for the company’s commercial vehicles in North America was offset by $60 million in charges related to the company's ongoing restructuring in North and South America.

On Monday, the company announced it was closing its engine foundry in Indianapolis, a move that will result in more than 100 job losses and cost the company $11 million during the quarter.

The company, which was once a leading maker of truck engines, continues to try to turn itself around after making a disastrous bet on a costly and unsuccessful proprietary smog-reduction system. The emissions-related debacle sent Navistar's warranty expenses skyrocketing even as sales tumbled.

(Reporting by James B. Kelleher in Chicago; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)