Ford Motor Company (F)

Ford has made all its cutbacks, redisigned the cars, made them safer, the quality of the car is back better then ever, with Mullally at the helm he has made a great turnaround happen sooner then later.

I have all the confidence in the world that this automotive company will rebound very soon. The Ford products are not only safer they are top quality well made vehicles. "Drive One" love the new slogan, I drive one and believe that the true American people of this country should stick to the American car companies and drive one too. They will help this country to get out of the mess that the American's chose to screw up when they lost their loyalty for the American car companies and put this country in more jeopardy. So come on and stand by the USA.

Ford is so far behind the 8 ball it esn't even funny anymore. Let's take a look at why....

As the oil age begins to wind down, they have nothing, but absolutely nothing in their pipeline in terms of alternative drivetrains. They continue to buy/lease old Toyota patents in terms of their two mode Hybrids. A massive amount of their revenue comes from big trucks, and with oil prices ever increasing, coupled with a housing collapse, adding in the fact that Toyota has full heartedly entered the market...... It all adds up to trouble.

Their CEO is not up to snuff. Don't get me wrong, I think Mulally is a good guy, and I think he did a decent enough job at Boeing, but in over a year at Ford, he's done very little to aid in the restructuring of this troubled Dinosaur. His first move was to remove the Taurus brand. Then 8 months later, he says, bad idea, lets rename the 500 the Taurus and bring back to life this venerable brand. He now wants to bring back the "Have you driven a Ford lately" slogan. Simply stated, he's stuck in the old Detroit mentality that he's going to be able to market his way out of this crisis. Wrong. He looks completely overmatched.

Their corporate culture is garbage. This is a company that donates 98% of its political contributions to Republicans. Now I don't want to get too political here, but we can see where the tide has gone. Without a Republican President, House or Senate, who is going to cover up this companies environmental issues? Who is going to prevent CAFE standards from increasing? Uggg..... Things look ugly.

US Auto sales are not looking good for now or the near term. Ford is so heavily vested in this market, that I have trouble believing it could survive a prolonged downturn of the US Auto sector.

Finally, just take a close look at their balance sheet. It makes the strongest of stomach's ill. When you're mortgaging your plants in the hope, and I do emphasise hope here, that you'll be able to turn things around by 2009.... Then you know the end is near.

Auto sector will be a challenge, but Toyota Motors will outperform the S&P in 2008, while Ford continues to dissapoint.

HOLY CRAP!!!! they still sell this stock. I am going to buy it because Henry Ford came to me in a dream and told me to.... and also because for the price of a new mustang I can actually own half the company.

Lord Mr. Ford! Well, although I do expect this stock to be worth more in 5 years, I won't own it at that point. As soon as I get past my breakeven point, I will sell it. It is in a declining industry that does not do well with change and lacks inovation in a major way. Also, I am a big DRIP investor and Ford has been DECREASING their dividend for several years now. When I first invested I was not saavy enough to notice that...

Ford has some slight advantages over GM, namely that it didn't need to go into bankruptcy and as a smaller entity, should be better poised to re-tool their factories, develop newer vehicles (especially hybrids) that should allow it a lead over GM and Chrysler.

Consumer confidence in GM will create a vacuum to be filled by Ford. Furthermore, people will be more apt to buy American in the short term swaying their decisions away from Honda and Toyota. Ford's decision to not take government assistance will sit very well with the consumer.

Several reasons.

First their new CEO and President has a great track record of turning around multinationals.

Second the new UAW contract removes several significant albatrosses from around Ford's neck.

Third new markets getting exploited. Ford is building several new factories in China as the demand for Ford products in China is exploding. Their products are very popular there. Most experts predict rapid growth of auto demand in China and while Chinese companies will eventually mature to take it, it will take a few years. For the next five or so the demand will be met mainly by established internationals like Ford.

Next Ford is quietly developing new product lines. While GM is trumpeting their timeline for developing the Volt but as of yet do not have a prototype, Ford is already testing a PHEV developed with JCI-Saft. Plug-ins that are mainly powered off of grid-derived power for a majority of commuting miles will be a major part of the future of transportation. Ford is showing that are ready to compete in that sector.

And finally its just a wonderfully contrarian pick! American auto and their financial divisions are just so so so beaten down.

You guys are crazy on this stock. It's not worth $6 a share period. It wouldn't matter if the entire auto sector went bankrupt except ford.

The point is, they actually can't make a profit even if they sell a ton more cars. Profit isn't coming till 2011 (by Fords best projections, meaning we've recovered by then). To give you an idea...this stock traded for 6.50 a share in 2006, when they were making a profit, and the economy was still good. There's no way it's worth that now.

I agree with the long term bets, I love the companies turn around efforts, like the CEO, and the product is high quality. The issue is, it's just not a $6 a share stock...not even close. The fact is bankruptcy at Chrysler is bad for the economy overall, which means it's bad for Ford overall.

Demonstrating the ability to turn a profit at current sales levels bodes well for Ford. 2010 will should lay the ground work for some sustainable growth and profitability with the introduction of American versions of products that have received a great deal of acclaim globally. The new Ford Fiesta and redesigned Focus may not generate huge profits, but they will strong competitors in the growing B-C car segments and covert a good number of non-Ford owners to its brands. Ford has turned the corner.

Hit bottom, on the way up

Ford Motor, the world’s third largest auto manufacturer, is primarily involved in the business of producing and financing passenger cars and light trucks. The company generates gross annual revenue to the tune of over $150 billion, with wide range of high end brands that include Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, and Mercury. The company has a diversified market base; however it’s the domestic north American market still contributes the major chunk of over 45% of the over all revenues. Ford’s operating revenues are segregated into two key segments: Automotive Sales; and Financial Services. The Automotive Sales segment provides about 90% of the total inflows, of which sale of trucks and sports utility vehicles generate the major contribution.

In 2006 Ford’s performance has been anything but encouraging; with revenues falling and the company observing a staggering net loss of over $12 billion. The revenue loss can be attributed to break neck competition, especially in the U.S. automotive market, where every major manufacturer has offerings in almost all the segments. The drop of 2.6% in the U.S vehicle sales further added to company’s revenue decline, while the low margin sales to rental car companies and high fixed cost structure resulted in such a gigantic loss.

The company has taken some drastic measures to make the organization more lean and sturdy to face the competitive environment, which includes the sale of Aston Martin division and major downsizing that is currently going on. However, excess capacity and difficult union contracts continue to provide the hurdle. Looking ahead in 2007, the ever volatile fuel prices will continue to shift the demand into more fuel efficient vehicles, which will continue to hurt sales of trucks and sports utility vehicles. Moreover, considering the slower pace of the U.S. economy, and the ongoing mark downs and incentive driven sales to rental agencies, will have a negative impact on the margins and probably on future sales, thus making Ford a very speculative investment. It will be better for a value based investor to stay away from the stock at this point of time, rather than hoping for a turnaround soon.

The cars look great, they bested earnings, the company has continued to do well quarter after quarter, it just to cheap. They are out selling other american car companies over seas. Buy now.

Tracinda still willing to pay $8.50. They probably purchased some at lower prices already. Turnaround, green cars, emerging markets, eventual ecenomic recovery... I suspect we're going to see some interesting new products from F in the next few years. In 5-10 years time the current price will seem dirt cheap.

I am just going to call this one a hunch. Ford is not walking around Washington with their hand out, they are proactively restructuring their debt, and they have made concession deals with the unions. They truly act like they get it and they will more than likely be the only American automotive company that isn’t owned by the government at the end of this recession\depression\inflation period (whatever the pundit of the day is spouting). This in of its self makes them poised to be extremely competitive if they survive and I think they will survive.

I have to support the only U.S. auto company that refused a government bailout. Ford has loyal (and patriotic) consumers who I believe will help this manufacturer come out on top in the long run.

ford has been doing a lot of good things lately. they have modernized their plants and lowered their labor costs. their cars and trucks have improved greatly in quality. also, they are marketing towards the younger generation. they are thinking long term.

I’ve misjudged this company. Despite the auto industry whose, Ford has been moving their pieces behind the scenes. They were well prepared to stand alone when their competitors were grabbing their ankles for Uncle Sam. As a long standing client of Goldman Sachs, I believe the Wall Street bank has had some influence in guiding Ford through the recent mine fields.

By getting rid of the over priced Jaguar name brand, ford is now poised to make a dent in the auto market with the addition of sync and the new line of cars. I can see Ford (F) going to $15 ps by years end.

Ford recently posted some profit for the first time in a while. Also, the last few year's changes in management, engineering of their vehicles, along with advertising, and even their holdings in other vehicle brands, are finally turning the tide of the company. The main problems American car makers have had is reliability, gas mileage, and overall value for the money people are paying for their cars. The complete overhaul of vehicle designs are making their cars more than competition for their Japanese rivals, besting them plain out. Watch out in the coming few years as the Ford Fusions keep on rolling without falling apart and all while retaining their hardy reputation as tough American vehicles. With such a quality leap (Reliability, great gas mileage, and the safer American designs) these cars will prove themselves and continue to retake customers as they see the advantages of such vehicles from a home grown car maker.