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    Ahead of the Bell: Ford Motor

    Associated Press – Mon, Jan 30, 2012

    NEW YORK (AP) — A trio of Wall Street analysts backed their "Buy" ratings for Ford Motor Co., saying that investors shouldn't be too concerned about the automaker's lower-than-expected fourth-quarter results, noting that its profits and sales should improve this year as the industry continues to recover.

    Ford shares closed down more than 4 percent on Friday, after the Dearborn, Mich.-based automaker said it posted an adjusted fourth-quarter profit of 20 cents per share, 5 cents below average analysts' predictions.

    Ford officials said Thai flooding and the rising cost of steel and other commodities hurt the automaker more than analysts expected. The company also lost money in Europe and Asia, while profits fell in South America.

    But analysts were optimistic about the company's prospects down the road.

    Jefferies analyst Peter Nesvold said he expects automotive margins to improve this year, while cost increases should remain minimal. In addition, Ford's product lineup should get a boost from new versions of its Fusion sedan and Escape SUV.

    "Coupled with a market backdrop that wants more auto exposure, we think that Ford shares will resume their upward trajectory once we get past the selling pressure from the mixed fourth-quarter print," Nesvold wrote in a Monday note to investors.

    Citi Investment Research's Itay Michaeli said that the automaker is making progress toward its mid-decade financial goals, while its free cash flow and balance sheet are also improving.

    "If there's such a thing as a quality miss, this may be it," Michaeli wrote in a Friday note. "Ford's incremental contribution profits were strong in the fourth quarter (all regions) with much of the margin pressure coming from commodities and exchange. Commodity costs have abated and our January checks suggest that Ford's U.S. transaction prices are up considerably."

    Sterne Agee analyst Michael Ward added that Ford's full-year results back his belief that the company's results will continue to improve over the next few years.

    "In our view, Ford's cost, revenue and balance sheet restructuring are complete and the company is well positioned to benefit from an improving industry environment, especially in North America," Ward wrote.

    The stock traded at $12.05 in premarket trading, down 16 cents. Over the past year shares have traded between $9.05 and $18.88.

     

    12 comments

    • Onewiseman
      Onewiseman  •  Green Bay, Wisconsin  •  3 mths ago
      Dropping the Ranger was a dumb move in my opinion. But I guess nowadays everyone is more interested in having a ton of plastic electronic toys in their vehicles, and Ford seems to be the leader in that area.
    • OMG
      OMG  •  San Diego, California  •  3 mths ago
      Mr. Ford Co. stay in course and concentrate on making good cars. You can do it by two things. One reuce the number of cars that are truly selleable. Two, reduce the cost to the most reasonable price or give a long lasting incentives. The new give away tactics of Toyota, the resale assurance of Hyandai, the safety features of Mercedes "M" class and the safety features of backing out of the parking space and garage by Volvo. Keep your eyes and ears on the public. You need a better AD group with real good ideas that connotes a meaning. i.e. A light in a dark room that is not being use and will never be use has no meaning. Got it. There's a lot you can choose from but be careful some are just opportunist. Love you for standing on your own feet. No bail out for you and saving taxes for the people. I have not yet decide whether to by a 2012 Toyota, kia, Hyundai, or Ford. No electric or a hybrid car for me untilo 2015. Watching you AD daily.
      • Curmudgeon
        Curmudgeon 3 mths ago
        I, uh, don't suppose I could interest you in a new Gov't Mtrs Volt? Only $45,000.00, after the $10,000.00 Gov't subsidy ...... I "promise" (wink! wink!) that by 2020 (IF I AM RE-ELECTED) (wink! wink!) the 3rd grade science projects of the Glorious Comrade Government Elementary School will be geared up to offer their State Approved "improvements".... think of it as an FDIC policy for your automobile. Certain restrictions, fees, (yet to be determined) and Gov't "easements" affecting the customer, may apply.
    • A Yahoo! User  •  Phoenix, Arizona  •  3 mths ago
      I'm sure if Henry Ford were alive today he would be very proud of the company he built and all the innovations he and his advisers devised such as the assembly line production that is still in use today. And what he would probably be most proud of is not having to take a bailout from the Government to keep the company going; that has to be the best part of all. So, Buy FORD products, and Thank them for being innovative in tough times, with no taxpayer money involved. And that by itself is Priceless.
      • ultracon
        ultracon 3 mths ago
        Right -on Phoenix===Ford is & has been my car company since PEARL HARBOR...
      • A Yahoo! User 3 mths ago
        You have good taste, keep the trend going. Ford for Ever. The Government still owns 61% of GM($49.9 Billion), and 9.9% of Chrysler ($15.2 Billion), and we'll be lucky to see us taxpayers get all of that bailout money back. Both car makers have paid some back, sort of. So time and profits will tell.
    • Deb W
      Deb W  •  Phoenix, Arizona  •  3 mths ago
      SEE THE VIDEO """ WHEN CAR DEALERS ATTACK OBAMA 2012
    • Gary
      Gary  •  Las Vegas, Nevada  •  3 mths ago
      Let's see what Fraud is doing in a year now that they have dropped the
      Ranger Pickup line. To the service manager at Friendly Ford in Las Vegas, If I had wanted an F 150 I would have bought one.
      • Onewiseman
        Onewiseman 3 mths ago
        Dropping the Ranger was a dumb move in my opinion. But I guess nowadays everyone is more interested in having a ton of plastic electronic toys in their vehicles, and Ford seems to be the leader in that area.
    • sigh
      sigh  •  Tampa, Florida  •  3 mths ago
      Fords warranty program is the fastest path to a Chevrolet dealership.
      Trucks have been at the heart of their business. See how many people were happy with their 6 liter diesels and problem resolution. See how many people got satisfaction on their "buried" spark plug problems (5.4 liter) . Going to their salvation in small cars . . .last time I saw a wheel break off a car was on a 51 Studebaker . .. seems like more recent for Ford . ....
      The proof of who builds the best cars . . .see whose cars are most plentiful on the used car lots. . . . The best are keepers .. ..
      • Patman
        Patman 3 mths ago
        A lot of the problems with the 6.0L was people not taking care of them or modifying the engine.
      • Mike
        Mike 3 mths ago
        PATMAN You are dead wrong . The 6.o liter was the biggest piece of junk made. Tons of problems . Let start with the EGR Cooler. As soon as it leaks into the engine blows the head gaskets. 3200.00 to fix. turbo problems, oh ya and the injectors at 1000.00 a piece to replace. Problem LOW SULFER DIESEL . By the way ford sued navistar and won millions .What did they give the people who bought these trucks with this engine. NOTHING GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT PATMAN
    • chris
      chris  •  Miami, Florida  •  3 mths ago
      Ford sucks !!! GM build's better quality vehicles .
      • Dolphin
        Dolphin 3 mths ago
        Your crazy!!! some of the worst cars on the road are Gm vehicles.Gm and Chrystler have sixteen of the worst cars...That"s a fact ! and aveo is concidered the worst car built !
      • shane
        shane 3 mths ago
        Ford has 2 of the top ten, Gm one-a caddie, chrylser- 0, the rest are honda, toyota.
    • Dick Hatch
      Dick Hatch  •  3 mths ago
      Are the ignorant import fanboys actually considering a domestic these days?? Maybe they've figured out that its better to support americans than some asian that could give 2 #$%$ about them..Or maybe they've finally heard of the Bataan March.
    • Curmudgeon
      Curmudgeon  •  3 mths ago
      Buy Ford for the L - O - N - G . R - U - N.
      Buy Gov't Motors for a quick-penny-flip, but then GTF out.
    • lor
      lor  •  3 mths ago
      ford models are old.. escape is not that great of a SUV.
    • Mike
      Mike  •  3 mths ago
      Cant always make money
    • truth csar
      truth csar  •  3 mths ago
      It's tougher to compete against government bailouts, goverment Volts (burning up and government cover-ups) and government motors with endless billions of government waste.
     Post a comment
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