Ford Stock Flat After Almost 5 Years

"According to Yahoo, Ford Motor Co. ( NYSE: F) stock traded for just above $11 in January 2021. It traded for $12 yesterday. The company's PR department has argued that the company has paid dividends over that period. Really, that's all they have to say. Most of the blame can be attributed to William Clay Ford, Jr. He has served as board chair, executive chair, or chief executive since 1999."

"As Ford entered the electric vehicle (EV) market, Bill Ford stated in 2022 that the launch of the F-150 Lightning was the most significant product launch of his career. After promising to spend $30 billion on its move into the EV sector, the company sold only 10,005 of the Lightning in the third quarter of this year. That was less than 2% of the company's overall sales for the period."

"What Ford has to show for its significant investment in EVs is a market share of approximately 6% of all new EVs sold in the U.S. during the first three quarters of the year. That was less than half GM's share for the same period. Ford repeatedly stepped away from the fact that it is a gasoline-powered car company. The forecast for the fourth quarter of this year has new EV sales at less than 5% of the U.S. auto sales."

Ford's stock traded just above $11 in January 2021 and about $12 recently, with dividends cited as the main shareholder defense. William Clay Ford, Jr. has led as board chair or executive since 1999, during which European and Chinese sales declined while U.S. sales relied heavily on F-Series pickups. Ford committed about $30 billion to EVs, launched the F-150 Lightning, and sold 10,005 Lightnings in Q3, under 2% of company sales. Ford's U.S. EV market share was about 6% through three quarters, below GM's. Forecasts expect U.S. EV sales under 5% for Q4 after tax-credit expiration, with recovery projected in two years. CEO Jim Farley worries about low-priced Chinese EV competition constrained by tariffs.

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