Goodyear Reports Fourth-Quarter Profit

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. said Thursday it earned $52 million, or 23 cents a share, in the fourth quarter, compared with a loss of $358 million, or $2.02 per share, a year earlier.

The previous fourth quarter’s results were affected by a steelworkers strike at North American factories. Goodyear estimated the 12-week strike reduced its fourth-quarter 2006 sales by $318 million, the Associated Press reported.

Fourth-quarter sales rose 11% to $5.16 billion, the company said in a statement.

For the full year, Goodyear earned $602 million, or $2.65 per share, versus a 2006 loss of $330 million, or $1.86 share. Sales rose to $19.6 billion, from $18.8 billion in 2006.