General Motors
The 10-second takeaway
For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), General Motors met expectations on revenues and missed estimates on earnings per share.
Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue grew and GAAP earnings per share expanded significantly.
Gross margins shrank, operating margins dropped, net margins expanded.
Revenue details
General Motors booked revenue of $39.30 billion. The 14 analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted a top line of $39.00 billion on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were the same as the prior-year quarter's.
Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Dollar amounts in millions. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.
EPS details
EPS came in at $0.48. The 20 earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ forecast $0.51 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.54 for Q4 were 93% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.28 per share.
Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.
Margin details
For the quarter, gross margin was 3.3%, 1,010 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was -5.7%, 1,080 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 3.0%, 110 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.
Looking ahead
Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $37.24 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.58.
Next year's average estimate for revenue is $159.33 billion. The average EPS estimate is $3.31.
Investor sentiment
The stock has a two-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 828 members out of 1,046 rating the stock outperform, and 218 members rating it underperform. Among 217 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 168 give General Motors a green thumbs-up, and 49 give it a red thumbs-down.
Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on General Motors is outperform, with an average price target of $34.05.
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