Something askew between Ford stock price and its performance?
The Board of Directors of Ford Motor Company declared a fourth quarter dividend of $0.15 per share on the company’s outstanding Ford family controlled Class B and common stock. The Q4 dividend is the same level of regular dividends paid in the first, second and third quarters of 2016. The Q4 dividend is payable on Dec. 1, 2016 to shareholders of record at the close of business on Oct. 27, 2016. This is a 5% return annually.
Ford set record earnings during 2015 but its stock – trading in a 52-week range of $11.02 – $15.84 – continues to languish as investors remain wary of the company. Its recent performance is lagging with total U.S. September sales of 204,447 vehicles down 8% from a year ago. Ford just announced the closing of its Mustang factory in Michigan for a week after U.S. sales plunged 32% in September – while it was crowing about 21,000 y-t-d sales in Europe. Attacks from non-taxpaying Donald Trump, aka serial sexual assaulter of females, probably hasn’t been helpful. (AutoInformed on U.S. Sales)
Ford Motor during Q2 of 2016 – the latest available financial results – had net income of $2 billion, down $190 million from a year ago. Total company adjusted pre-tax profit was $3. Billion, down $293 million. Earnings per share at $0.49 were down $0.05 from a year ago; adjusted earnings per share at $0.52 were down $0.02. Automotive segment pre-tax profit of $2.8 billion, was down$130 million; regions outside North America collectively also were profitable for third consecutive quarter. Automotive segment operating margin was 7.7 %.
