Tag Archives: John Lawler

Large European Job Cuts Coming at Ford, Again

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) announced today its restructuring plans to create a badly needed more “cost-competitive structure.” The main focus is the health of Ford’s passenger vehicle business in Europe, where it incurred significant losses for years. Ford is also lagging in the European shift to electrified vehicles, and new competition – especially Chinese – has been disruptive. Through Q3 of 2024, Ford sales are down ~18% in Europe. Continue reading

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Ford Posts Weak Q3 Results. Stock Dropping on Cut Outlook

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) posted Q3 2024 of $46 billion; net income of $0.9 billion, including a previously announced $1 billion electric vehicle-related charge, as well as an adjusted EBIT of $2.6 billion. Cash flow from operations in Q3 was $5.5 billion, and adjusted free cash flow was $3.2 billion. At quarter-end, Ford had nearly $28 billion in cash and $46 billion in liquidity. It’s going to need it: Ford’s profit margin was razor-blade thin at 1.9%. Perhaps worse, full-year 2024 adjusted EBIT is  now forecast at ~$10 billion. Nonetheless, Ford declared fourth-quarter regular dividend of 15 cents per share. Head hunters are also on the street looking for a new chief of staff. Continue reading

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Shareholder Warning – Ford Delays Next Gen Electric Truck

Electric vehicle consumers currently, so to speak, are more cost-conscious than early adopters, looking to electric vehicles as a practical way to save money on fuel and maintenance, as well as time by charging at home. This, along with numerous new electric vehicle choices coming to market during the next 12 months , as well as rising compliance requirements, has multiplied pricing pressures. In short (groan) all automakers to survive must have  globally competitive cost structure, emphasizing some customer and product segments to ensure profitable growth and capital efficiency. Continue reading

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Ford Motor Posts 2023 Net Income of $4.3 Billion

CFO John Lawler said that Ford’s robust cash flow and disciplined capital allocation enable vital investments in Ford+ while also returning value to shareholders – targeting distributions of 40% to 50% of adjusted free cash flow. Ford declared a first-quarter regular dividend of 15 cents per share and a supplemental dividend of 18 cents per share. The dividends are payable March 1 to shareholders of record at the close of business on Feb. 16. Lawler said that Ford “will improve capital efficiency by both selectively reducing investments and raising the bar on expected returns for initiatives that the company greenlights.” Continue reading

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Ford Motor 2023 Q3 Net income $1.2 Billion

“I’m very optimistic about the reality we’re creating with Ford+,” said President and CEO Jim Farley. “We’re building a more dynamic, highly talented and customer-focused company at the intersection of great vehicles, iconic brands, innovative software and high-value services.

“We’re also radically changing how we work with a series of actions that put the right people with the right capabilities in the right places across the organization, so that our promise isn’t masked by cost and quality issues,” Farley claimed. Continue reading

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Ford Reshuffling with Retirements, and a Defection Announced

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) said in Dearborn this morning that corporate officers are retiring after three-decade careers, an executive is returning to the auto industry to lead global supply chain operations, and an under warranty new Ford Blue executive is departing to become CEO of a major transportation and logistics business. Continue reading

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Ford Motor New Financial Reporting – Billions in EV Losses

Part of today’s presentation showed Ford’s nascent electric vehicle venture – Ford Model e – lost $3 billion before taxes during 2021 and 2022. More such losses are coming in the near term. Helping stem the tide of red ink, Ford Blue – its traditional internal combustion business – is forecast to post a $7 billion pretax profit in 2023, marginally better than last year. Ford Pro is forecast to earn $6 billion before taxes, almost double 2022 earnings. Other business units include corporate, Ford Credit and Ford Next, dubbed a new business incubator. Continue reading

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Ford Motor Blues – Q1 Loss of $3.1 Billion

As with GM yesterday, Ford was battered by supply chain disruptions mostly beyond its control, as well as self-created costs from the valuation of its investment in Rivian with a mark-to-market loss of $5.4 billion on the company’s investment down from $10.6 billion at the end of 2021. Strong customer demand from the ongoing Biden Administration recovery wasn’t helped by Ford’s popular vehicles because of  persistent supply chain issues that Ford was unable to adjust for. Continue reading

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Ford Posts Q1 Income of $3.3B. Semiconductors Still Difficult

The company anticipates full-year 2021 adjusted EBIT to be between $5.5 billion and $6.5 billion, including an adverse effect of about $2.5 billion from the semiconductor supply issue. Adjusted free cash flow for the full year is projected to be $500 million to $1.5 billion, a large range reflecting the uncertainty in a global economy still reeling from the Covid pandemic. Continue reading

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Milestones: Volkswagen Completes Promised Argo AI Funding

The numerous problems confronting Ford Motor and Volkswagen AG revolve around a central issue: Whether the two global giants and hundreds of thousands of workers can work together or consume shareholder capital at astonishing, company threatening rates without producing the promise efficiencies – on time and on budget. Continue reading

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New Executives For Safety, AV, Strategy, and Ford Credit

Ford Motor Company has made public the retirement of two longtime executives, new assignments for two corporate officers, and promotions to senior positions for three people at the company. Continue reading

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Ford Shakes Up Top Management. Again.

Ford Motor Company today announced leadership changes in the ongoing remake of its under-performing business (Ford Motor Company Declares Q2 Dividend of $0.15*). Joe Hinrichs is appointed president, Automotive, effective May 1. In this role, he will lead Ford’s drive to strengthen its Automotive operations and help deliver a sustainable global EBIT margin of at least 8%, about half that of the world’s leading automotive groups. Continue reading

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Ford Motor Shakes Up Senior Management During Sexual Harassment Debacle

Ford Motor Company today announced changes to its senior management team as it struggles with numerous sexual harassment charges, electrification and mobility business shifts that threaten its future. With a couple of exceptions the management team is y-chromosome male. Continue reading

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