Last month, General Motors recalled 1.6 million cars over a problem with ignition switches that suddenly turned off and cut power. Now federal prosecutors are investigating whether GM is criminally responsible for not properly disclosing the problem, which first came to light 10 years ago. U.S. subcommittees in the House and Senate are currently planning hearings.
On Wednesday's Investor Beat, host Chris Hill and Motley Fool analysts Jason Moser and Bryan White discuss just how big a deal this may be for GM. Jason's opinion is that this primarily calls previous leadership into question, setting a low bar for current CEO Mary Barra to outshine, depending on her and her team's handling of this. The guys also note that even large recalls can be somewhat frequent, and Bryan tells investors why the stock isn't taking much of a hit as a result. The guys also discuss whether they like the stock and the industry today.
Then the guys look at five stocks making big moves on the market today. Diamond Foods is hitting a two-year high after second-quarter profits came in higher than expected, with the company also maintaining its full-year guidance. Last Friday, Coupons.com rose 88% on its first day of trading, with shares only pulling back slightly since then. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are falling again today after the U.S. Senate Banking Committee announced plans to overhaul the mortgage market. And shares of apparel retailer Express are dropping after the company missed on fourth-quarter profits. Traffic to the company's stores was down, and the company also lowered guidance.
And finally, Bryan and Jason each pick a stock they'll be watching closely this week. Bryan looks at Williams-Sonoma, which may have an advantage over other retailers in that it sells nearly half of its merchandise directly to consumers, something that may have helped the company weather this rough patch in retail history better than many of the other retailers. Meanwhile, Jason will be watching the continued bloodbath that is Aeropostale, and tells investors that he's curious as to whether the company will find a bottom here, or whether it will just keep falling.
