GM reports much higher-than-expected fourth-quarter profit

[February 04, 2015]  DETROIT (Reuters) - General Motors Co <GM.N> on Wednesday posted fourth-quarter earnings far above analysts' expectations even as recall costs hit North American profit margins.

Excluding special items, the largest U.S. automaker earned $1.19 per share, compared with the analysts' average estimate of 83 cents, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Net income rose to $1.1 billion, or 66 cents a share, from $900 million, or 57 cents a share, a year earlier.

North American profit margins for the full year were 6.5 percent. Excluding the additional costs for a record vehicle recall in 2014, the margin would have been 8.9 percent, GM said.

(Reporting by Bernie Woodall; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn)

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