Fields says Ford won’t see big impact from pension payments in 2011

Fields says Ford won’t see big pension impact

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. — One of Ford’s top executives says the company’s pension expenses won’t have a significant impact on its profitability or earnings next year.

Ford Americas President Mark Fields was responding Thursday to a Credit Suisse analyst who suggested Ford’s pension expenses could shave 15 to 20 cents off the automaker’s earnings per share in 2011.

At an analyst conference near Detroit, Fields said the company expects its pension costs to increase “moderately” next year but believes they won’t impact earnings. Ford is contributing $1.5 billion to its pensions this year.

Ford’s shares fell on the pension report Wednesday. They slipped a penny to $12.37 in afternoon trading Thursday.