NYSE: F
Key Data Points
Ford Motor Company (F 0.92%), a maker of automobiles and commercial vehicles, closed Thursday's session at $14.40, up 4.80%. Ford Motor Company IPO'd in 1972 and has grown 563% since going public. Trading volume reached 145.2 million shares, about 71% above its three-month average of 84.6 million shares.
Thursday's action is centered on Ford’s analyst upgrade and its CES driver-assistance roadmap. Investors are watching upcoming Q4 results to gauge execution on EV and software plans.
How the markets moved today
The S&P 500 (^GSPC +0.50%) finished flat at 6,921, while the Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC +0.66%) slipped 0.44% to 23,480. Within the Automotive industry peers, General Motors (GM 2.53%) and Toyota Motor (TM +2.27%) rose 3.89% and 0.70%, respectively, as investors weigh hybrid demand trends and competitive EV positioning.
What this means for investors
Ford stock surged to a new 52-week high today after an analyst upgrade and a well-received presentation at the recent CES convention in Las Vegas. Piper Sandler upgraded Ford to the equivalent of a buy rating, raising its price target from $11 to $16.
That upgrade came after the automaker impressed analysts with its autonomous driving technology plan for Level 3 “eyes-off” system by 2028, built on a new EV platform. A successful push into autonomy software could drive future revenue and profit sources for Ford.
Last week, Ford increased its 2025 earnings outlook, even as it booked nearly $20 billion in charges related to changes in its electric vehicle business plan. That focus on profitability has investors boosting Ford stock.
