As the end of 1998 approached, Ford had amassed profits of 6.9 billion, employees enjoyed record profit sharing, and return on sales (3.9 percent in 1997) was trending solidly upward. The company was the world leader in trucks, it had taken over the U.S. industry lead in profit per vehicle ($1,770) from Chrysler, and it was the most improved automaker on the 1997 J.D. Power Initial Quality Study (in fourth place overall behind Honda, Toyota and Nissan).