Despite Earthquakes, Floods, & Poor Economy, Toyota Thrives

Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE:TM) has swung back with a vengeance. It has risen from its troubles with the twin calamities last year, of the Japanese earthquake and the Thailand flooding, and posted its highest quarterly profit in four years.

Toyota beat estimates for its first quarter, by reporting a net profit of 290 billion yen ($3.7 billion), a far cry from the lowly $1.16 billion yen in the year-ago quarter. On an operating basis it turned from a loss year to an operating profit of 353 billion yen ($4.51 billion). Profit was higher than the analysts’ estimates of 314.1 billion yen.

The results are...