Ford Motor (NYSE:F) Trading 2% Higher - Is It Still a Buy?

Ford Motor (NYSE:F) saw its stock price increase by 2% in mid-day trading on Friday. The stock reached a high of $9.79 and was last seen at $9.72. During this session, around 30,910,404 shares changed hands, representing a significant drop of 66% compared to the average daily volume of 90,672,883 shares. The stock had a previous closing price of $9.53.

Analyst Ratings Updates

Many research firms have provided their insights on Ford's performance. Wells Fargo & Company recently lowered its price target for Ford shares from $9.00 to $8.00, placing an "underweight" rating on the company as of February 6th. Wolfe Research maintained an "underperform" rating in their report from December 5th. Meanwhile, Barclays reduced its rating from "overweight" to "equal weight" and decreased its price target from $13.00 to $11.00 on January 22nd. Contrarily, BNP Paribas upgraded Ford to a "hold" rating on February 10th. Additionally, TD Cowen began coverage with a "hold" rating and a target price of $10.00 on March 7th. In total, three analysts have a sell rating on the stock, eleven recommend holding, while four suggest buying. According to MarketBeat, Ford currently holds a consensus rating of "Hold" with a consensus price target of $11.77.

Ford Motor Stock Overview

The company's key financial ratios indicate a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.31, a current ratio of 1.16, and a quick ratio of 1.02. It boasts a market capitalization of $38.58 billion, with a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 6.67 and a P/E/G ratio of 0.61. The stock's fifty-day moving average stands at $9.71, while its two-hundred day moving average is $10.35. Ford released its quarterly earnings results on February 5th, revealing earnings per share (EPS) of $0.39, surpassing analyst expectations of $0.35. The company reported a return on equity of 16.88% and a net margin of 3.18%. Analysts anticipate an EPS of 1.47 for Ford in the upcoming year.

Dividend Announcement

The firm has also made headlines by announcing a quarterly dividend, which was distributed on March 3rd. Shareholders on record as of February 18th received a dividend of $0.15 per share. This equates to an annual dividend of $0.60, offering a yield of 6.16%. The ex-dividend date was set for February 18th, and Ford's dividend payout ratio (DPR) stands at 41.10%.

Institutional Investor Activity

Several large investors have modified their stakes in Ford recently. Apollon Wealth Management LLC has increased its holdings by 1.1% during Q3, now owning 92,950 shares worth approximately $982,000 after acquiring 969 additional shares last quarter. Similarly, Albion Financial Group UT expanded its position by 38.5% in Q4, now holding 3,600 shares valued at $36,000 after adding 1,000 shares. Brighton Jones LLC increased its position by 5.4%, owning 19,693 shares valued at $195,000, with an additional 1,001 shares acquired in the quarter. Angeles Wealth Management LLC also lifted its holdings by 1.3%, bringing its total to 80,728 shares valued at $799,000. Lastly, Atlas Brown Inc. raised its stake by 1.7%, now owning 63,323 shares worth $627,000. Overall, institutional investors control 58.74% of Ford shares.

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company is involved in the development, delivery, and servicing of a variety of Ford trucks, commercial vehicles, vans, SUVs, and Lincoln luxury cars globally. It operates through key segments including Ford Blue, Ford Model e, Ford Pro; Ford Next; and Ford Credit. The company distributes its vehicles and parts through dealers and distributors to commercial fleets, rental companies, and government entities.

Final Thoughts on Investment

Before considering an investment in Ford Motor, it is crucial to examine additional stock recommendations. While Ford holds a "Hold" rating from analysts, top-rated analysts have identified five stocks that they recommend as potential buys over Ford at this moment.

Ford, Stocks, Investment