Feb. 4 (Bloomberg) -- DaimlerChrysler AG, the world's fifth- largest carmaker, probably will report fourth-quarter profit rose by more than eight times on a gain from selling MTU Aerospace Engines GmbH, according to the median estimate of 14 analysts surveyed by Bloomberg News.

Net income will be 1.46 billion euros ($1.8 billion), or 1.46 euros a share, compared with 168 million euros, or 17 cents, a year ago, according to the estimate. The company is expected to release earnings between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. Central European Time.

DaimlerChrysler sold MTU to Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. to concentrate on making cars and trucks. Sales at the company's Chrysler unit declined last year, prompting the company to raise incentives to an average of more than $4,000 a vehicle.

``The gain from MTU will mask the underlying business,'' said Fredrik Westin, an analyst at WestLB, who rates the company ``underperform.'' ``Chrysler's level of incentives means it will be very difficult to increase profit at the unit.''

Fourth-quarter operating profit excluding one-time items is expected to have risen 19 percent to 1.4 billion euros and sales probably fell 5.2 percent to 35.1 billion euros, according to the median estimates.

For the full year, net income is expected to have fallen 81 percent to 900 million euros, hurt by the company's 1.96 billion- euro writedown of its stake in European Aeronautic, Defense & Space Co. in the third quarter.

Shares of DaimlerChrysler fell 62 cents, or 1.7 percent, to 36.69 euros at 12:23 p.m. in Frankfurt. The stock is little changed so far this year.

Following is a table of analysts' median estimates for fourth- quarter and 2003 figures. All figures are in millions of euros, except for earnings per share and dividend figures.

             Full-Year  Full-Year  Change  High      Low
             2003       2002               Estimate  Estimate

Sales        137,683    149,583       -8%  140,200    136,000
Operating      5,700      6,854      -17%    6,300      3,722
Profit
Operating      4,995      5,829      -14%    5,936      3,800
Profit
Ex. Items
Net Income       900      4,718      -81%    2,300       -322
Earnings        0.90       4.68      -81%      2.3      -0.32
Per Share
Dividend         1.5        1.5        0%     1.75        1.4


             4th-Qtr    4th-Qtr    Change  High      Low
             2003       2002               Estimate  Estimate

Sales         35,060     37,001     -5.2%   37,600     33,100
Operating      2,605        553      371%    1,764      1,160
Profit
Operating      1,400      1,173       19%    2,964      2,322
Profit
Ex. Items
Net Income     1,460        168      769%    2,129        634
Earnings        1.46       0.16      769%     2.13       0.63
Per Share

The following banks participated in the survey: WestLB, HVB Group, Credit Suisse First Boston, J.P. Morgan, Bank Sal Oppenheim, Commerzbank, HSBC, Deutsche Bank, Merrill Lynch, Bankhaus Metzler, Julius Baer, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs and UBS.

To contact the reporter on this story: Bret Okeson in Frankfurt at bokeson@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: February 4, 2004 06:30 EST