On Monday, Jefferies, a global investment banking firm, revised its price target for General Motors (NYSE:GM) shares, increasing it from $46.00 to $52.00. The firm has decided to maintain a Hold rating on the stock.
Post-results analysis led to a slight adjustment in profit and loss estimates for General Motors. Adjusted EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes) and EPS (earnings per share) projections were increased by 1% and 2%, respectively, to $14.6 billion and $10.18. Additionally, the forecast for "adjusted free cash flow" was significantly raised to $13 billion, which is expected to facilitate an additional $5 billion in share buy-backs.
The analyst noted that they had missed opportunities to invest in GM over the past year but now view the stock as a relatively safe investment option. This perspective holds irrespective of the political landscape, whether under a Trump or Harris administration in the White House.
The decision to raise the price target to $52 is based on a combination of factors. These include the company's earnings strength, a balanced powertrain strategy, and a reduction in the number of shares available in the market, as per the analyst's commentary.
In other recent news, General Motors (GM) has been the subject of several key developments. GM recently reported strong third-quarter earnings, surpassing estimates with a 10% increase in revenue to $49 billion.
The auto giant also highlighted an increase in its adjusted automotive free cash flow, reaching $5.8 billion. Bernstein, a research group at SocGen, upgraded GM's price target to $55, maintaining a Market Perform rating. Wells Fargo (NYSE:WFC) also adjusted its price target for GM to $38, while maintaining an Underweight rating.
Barclays (LON:BARC) echoed this optimism, raising its price target for GM from $64 to $70 and maintaining an Overweight rating. These adjustments were made following GM's announcement of exceeding expectations and raising its full-year EBIT guidance. GM's commitment to the electric vehicle (EV) segment is evident, with plans to produce around 200,000 EVs in North America this year. However, GM anticipates a $1.5 billion decrease in adjusted EBIT for the fourth quarter due to various factors.
InvestingPro Insights
The recent analysis from Jefferies aligns with several key metrics and insights from InvestingPro. General Motors' financial health appears robust, with the company trading at a low P/E ratio of 5.63, significantly below the industry average. This valuation is particularly noteworthy given GM's recent performance, with a strong 93.4% price total return over the past year.
InvestingPro Tips highlight that GM has been aggressively buying back shares, which corroborates Jefferies' expectation of additional share buybacks. Moreover, GM has raised its dividend for three consecutive years, demonstrating a commitment to shareholder returns that complements its stock repurchase strategy.
The company's revenue growth of 6.25% over the last twelve months and a quarterly growth of 10.48% in Q3 2024 suggest ongoing operational strength. However, investors should note that GM suffers from weak gross profit margins, currently at 12.01%, which may be a point of focus for future improvement.
For readers interested in a deeper dive into GM's financials and prospects, InvestingPro offers 11 additional tips, providing a comprehensive view of the company's position in the automotive industry.
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