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A producer of cars and trucks combined. The Company's business is divided into two segments: Automotive and Financial Services.
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Recs
zversyp (< 20) Submitted: 4/14/07 10:04 AM : Start Price: $8.45 F Score: -42.93
Nothing looks good for Ford right now. I'll be honest. Losing market share, lots of losses over the last few quarters, it just looks horrible.So why am I giving the thumbs up? For no other reason than I just can't see a giant like Ford going bankrupt. It's an American icon. It just can't.I have no real reasons to back up this pick, take it for what it's worth. I just think that at some point, after enough flubbing around, someone who knows what they're doing will get in there and turn things around. And once they do, I think there's a lot of upside potential to this stock, given the beating it's taken in the last few years.
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Gtrinvestor (99.99) Submitted: 6/14/07 12:57 PM
Recs: 0 | Rec This
Even though I'm not sure I believe that what you hope for is true, I gave your write-up a rec anyway b/c in the end I wish it were true as well (even though I rated the stock thumbs down in CAPS).
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zversyp (< 20) Submitted: 6/14/07 2:16 PM
I hear you. I don't really know if it's going to happen or not either. I just would hate to see pretty much the original car manufacturer in the country go under because of bad management. Plus, I think that the Ford family, after losing enough money, will finally realize that they just don't have the business talent that Henry did, and will finally give in and let someone competent fix the problems.Don't buy this stock because of what I said in my pitch. Like I said, I have no good reason to back up this pick. All I'm saying is, it doesn't look to me like it could get much worse for Ford right now.(Excluding bankruptcy, of course) So, if anyone's looking for a turnaround opportunity, here it is. All it takes is someone to return them to profitability, and this stock will jump again.
ragtopbull (< 20) Submitted: 6/16/07 10:31 AM
Why not seek better opportunities at far less risk? This is what I would consider a "long-short" ala Lucent and Eastern etc appealing to those who are stuck in the glory days. Ford is a stock for investors that are looking in the rear view mirror when there is so much more to gain by looking through the windshield. As with most family enterprises I doubt Bill Ford will be able to let go in the end and it will serve to the detriment to all the stakeholders of the Ford Company. He has already affirmed this bent with his last CEO. This company is upside down in all its facets and may be too far gone..
Terok1313 (98.45) Submitted: 6/25/07 5:50 PM
Keep in mind that you're not betting on whether or not a stock will go up or down. You're betting on whether or not the stock will outperform the S&P500. While it may be unlikely that Ford will go bankrupt, it's probably still a long shot for beating the greater market. Maybe I'm wrong and it'll rally (I'm actually not betting on it in either direction). I just want to make sure you know what it is you're betting on (at least here on CAPS)...
zversyp (< 20) Submitted: 7/01/07 4:51 PM
Yeah, I'm aware of what I'm betting on.I am making this call on the fact that if Ford makes even a mediocre turnaround, I think the stock has enough room to rebound that it will squash the S&P 500.Of course, this is assuming that somebody competent gets in there and fixes everything. If not, then it'll fail impressively.
kristm (99.86) Submitted: 7/18/07 1:09 AM
Recs: 2 | Rec This
Other "American Icon" companies: Woolworths, PanAm... Being well known or iconic doesn't really guarantee anything. Look at the sorry state of other famous American companies, like MGM, Eastman Kodak, Adelphia... Without good management your iconic status means nothing. Ford is in deep trouble and its name and brands won't help much without better leadership and products.
richmouse (< 20) Submitted: 7/19/07 5:23 PM
I live in Indianapolis,IN we have some Ford plant closings like the Alison Plant, however this was stopped by the local UAW signing a deal of some type for lower wages and the company paying out a one time early retirement bonus to employees of the plant to basically quit.That should of helped the stock and I believe it did, but Ford really needs to keep customer loyality and do something to keep wages on a avg scale so worker can stay on the line.Tell me what you think will happen if the Alison plant does finally close? email A reply.
richmouse (< 20) Submitted: 7/19/07 5:31 PM
raptopbull with the proper amount of shares could the right amount of shareholders simply vote him out of control? Or is it more likely that the corporate charter is the real problem. I learned how to pull a companies charter were I live all we need to know is if someone on the Fool living in the state where Ford's corporate headquarters is would go to the state recorders office and pull the charter. I've done it before and it could tell us all what we which to know. Also if the character is in Indiana I can pull it for everyone.
jeremysmartin (< 20) Submitted: 8/28/07 8:18 AM
Nothing looks good, but it can't go bankrupt since it's an American icon? In December 2006, to get credit to fund it's turnaround, it had to put up it's property, equipment, and intellectual property as collateral. This is a first in Fords almost 100 year history. Ford has the oldest linup in the industry, and according to Merrill Lynch's report, "Car Wars 2008-2011", Ford will have the oldest lineup for years to come. Ford is only updating 53% of it's cars in the next 4 years, compared to GM updating 67%, and the Japenese updating 85%.Ford is an American icon, but so was American Motors, Studebaker, REO, etc.
littlehathaway (66.86) Submitted: 9/14/07 6:38 PM
I agree, and in fact, (what I believe some are oddly underestimating) is that Ford is MUCH larger than people looking at the stock chart alone realize. Ford is SUCH a part of American culture, that if Ford were about to fall of the map, it's not unreasonable to believe they would be bailed out. Apparently these people never leave the house, because every I go I see nothing but new Ford automobiles and trucks all over the place, and Ford already reported an unexpected 750mil$ just last qtr?
Windshearer (< 20) Submitted: 9/17/07 11:46 AM
I notice no one has brought up the fact that AFA (American Family Association) has boycotted Ford because of their stance and support of Gays. They certainly seem to be supporting Gays, since they advertise heavily in Gay publications, thus they are perceived by many to be against American family values. Ford may be a symbol of America, but I have to wonder about their moral compass. When confronted by AFA, Ford management as much as snubbed their nose. So, AFA has requested all their members to boycott Ford products. It seems to be working. I am not a member of AFA, but I do receive their emails...more out of curiosity than anything else.My wife was wanting to buy a new Jag (believe me, she has the money to pay cash), but to my great surprise, she came to me and said she had changed her mind. Her reason? She firmly believes Ford has taken a stand that will undermine the family values in this country. Now, you have to understand my wife is not a religious zealot or a marcher for moral rights. However, my bias aside, she is very intelligent (Mensa), articulate and owns her own successful business. She is a very typical American, so I have to wonder how many other Americans are not buying Ford because of Ford's stand on Gay issues?
rockonomics (33.26) Submitted: 11/14/07 11:23 AM
Who cares what the AFA thinks?
mhaft (< 20) Submitted: 11/23/07 12:48 PM
People listen. Getting past the Union/Labor issues is huge....Paring dead wight like Jag, Land Rover and Aston Martin while retaining quality in Volvo and Mazda bode well for the company now managed by Mullaley; himself doing well for Boeing before hiring on at Ford. New products like the Fusion, Mustang and Edge are huge improvements in quality and JD Powers reports reflect these sentiments. Go drive any one of the three mentioned above and see if Ford is "getting it together". I did. I own a Mustang GT 5-speed as well as 6000 shares of common stock!
saltyseaweed (91.73) Submitted: 12/05/07 12:01 PM
Perhaps you should buy Chinese cars, since their government seems firm in its "anti-gay" stance.
zversyp (< 20) Submitted: 2/05/08 9:40 PM
Wow. I didn't even give a good pitch. All I said was "I hope they don't go bankrupt". Now we've got a gay rights discussion going on. This is awesome.
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