TORONTO, Jan. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- No matter how anyone tries to spin the numbers, the actual data from sources not tainted by politics, show that more than a million Ontarians have lost their family doctor since before the Ford government was elected, reports the Ontario Health Coalition. In 2016, before the Ford government was elected 1.3 million Ontarians did not have a family doctor, according to data from Statistics Canada. By July 2024, there were 2.5 million Ontarians without a family doctor, ...

Core Viewpoint - Investors are focusing on General Motors (GM) and Ford (F) as the fourth-quarter 2024 earnings season for the auto sector begins, with GM set to report results first, followed by Ford [1] General Motors (GM) - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for GM's Q4 earnings is $1.75 per share and revenues of $43.8 billion, with a history of surpassing EPS estimates in the last four quarters by an average of 17.54% [2] - GM's fourth-quarter adjusted EBIT is projected to exceed $2.3 billion, indicating a 33% increase year-over-year, supported by strong vehicle demand and cost reductions [5] - The North American market is expected to drive revenue and operating income growth of 2% and 43%, respectively, while the GMI unit (excluding China JV) is projected to see a revenue contraction of 10.6% and a 73% drop in operating income [6] - GM has a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) and an Earnings ESP of +2.85%, indicating a higher likelihood of an earnings beat [4] - The company aims to achieve profitability for its EVs on an EBIT basis by the end of 2024 and plans to reduce fixed costs by $2 billion [12] Ford (F) - The consensus estimate for Ford's Q4 EPS is 34 cents, with revenues expected to be $43.6 billion; however, Ford's earnings surprise history is less favorable, having beaten estimates twice in the last four quarters [3] - Ford has cut its full-year 2024 EBIT forecast to around $10 billion due to high warranty costs and inflation, with anticipated declines in revenues from its Ford Blue and Model e units of 2% and 23%, respectively [7] - The Ford Pro segment is performing well, with expected revenue growth of 7% to $16.4 billion, driven by strong demand and successful product launches [8] - Ford has a Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) and an Earnings ESP of 0.00%, suggesting a lower probability of an earnings beat [4] - Despite a dividend yield of over 5%, Ford faces significant challenges, including widening losses in its EV business and high warranty costs due to quality issues [14] Valuation Comparison - GM shares are trading at a Price/Earnings ratio of 5X forward earnings, below its 3-year high of 7.83X, while Ford trades at 5.91X forward earnings, also below its 3-year high; GM appears more attractive in terms of valuation [15] Conclusion - General Motors is viewed as a better investment choice compared to Ford, given its market leadership, solid earnings history, and commitment to cost reductions, while Ford's persistent EV losses and rising warranty costs present significant risks [17]

TORONTO, Jan. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Over 30 labour leaders from Ontario’s private, public, and trades sectors gathered on Monday, January 27, to demand that Doug Ford immediately establish a tariff taskforce and develop a unified strategy to confront the economic and social impacts of U.S.-imposed tariffs. “Doug Ford’s decision to shut down the legislature—destabilizing the province in favour of heading to the polls for his own political gain—is opportunistic, reckless, and irresponsible,” said Laura ...

TORONTO, Jan. 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On Monday, January 27, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., over 30 labour leaders from Ontario’s private, public, and trades sectors will hold a press conference calling on Premier Doug Ford to establish an “All Hands-on-Deck for Every Ontario Worker” Tariff Taskforce to safeguard hundreds of thousands of Ontario jobs instead of destabilizing the province by moving the government into caretaker mode. The Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) has already launched consultations with l ...

Ford's Financial Performance - Ford expects a pre-tax remeasurement gain of approximately $0.7 billion in Q4 2024, linked to pension and OPEB plans using mark-to-market accounting [1] - The gain includes a $0.3 billion loss from U.S. pension plans, a $0.9 billion gain from non-U.S. pension plans, and a $0.1 billion gain from global OPEB plans [2] - Higher discount rates are the primary driver of the gain, partially offset by lower-than-expected asset returns [2] - After taxes, the remeasurement is estimated to boost net income by about $0.4 billion, but it will not affect adjusted EBIT or adjusted EPS [3] Pension and OPEB Plans - The remeasurement has no impact on Ford's 2024 cash flow or 2025 pension contribution plans [4] - Ford's funded plans remain fully funded, with underfunded status for pension and OPEB plans projected at $0.5 billion and $4.4 billion, respectively, at the end of 2024 [4] - This compares to $2.3 billion and $4.7 billion at the end of 2023 [4] Vehicle Recall - Ford is recalling 272,817 vehicles in the U.S. due to potential battery failures, including certain 2021–2023 Bronco Sport and 2022–2023 Maverick models [5] - The 12-volt battery may degrade and fail suddenly, potentially disabling electrical accessories or causing a loss of drive power [5] - Dealers will inspect and replace affected batteries at no cost to owners [5] Industry Comparison - Ford currently carries a Zacks Rank 4 (Sell) [6] - Better-ranked stocks in the auto space include Geely Automobile Holdings Limited (GELYY) and Blue Bird Corporation (BLBD) with Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy), and Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc. (ALSN) with Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) [6] Competitor Performance - GELYY's fiscal 2025 sales and earnings are expected to grow 66.62% and 149.31% year-over-year, respectively, with EPS estimates for fiscal 2025 and 2026 improving by 15 cents and 38 cents in the past 30 days [7] - BLBD's fiscal 2025 sales and earnings are expected to grow 10.97% and 12.14% year-over-year, respectively, with EPS estimates for fiscal 2025 improving by 18 cents in the past 60 days [7] - ALSN's 2024 sales and earnings are expected to grow 6.10% and 11.89% year-over-year, respectively, with EPS estimates for 2024 and 2025 improving by 2 cents and 3 cents in the past 30 days [8]

In the latest market close, Ford Motor Company (F) reached $10.16, with a +1.3% movement compared to the previous day. The stock outpaced the S&P 500's daily gain of 0.53%. Elsewhere, the Dow gained 0.93%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq added 0.22%.Shares of the company witnessed a gain of 0.1% over the previous month, beating the performance of the Auto-Tires-Trucks sector with its loss of 1.54% and underperforming the S&P 500's gain of 2.69%.The investment community will be paying close attention to the earn ...

Ford is recalling more than 272,000 vehicles because the 12-volt batteries may have internal issues causing them to fail unexpectedly while driving.  According to a notice posted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), certain 2021-2023 Ford Bronco Sport vehicles and 2022-2023 Ford Mavericks have been affected by the recall.The agency said the car's battery may have problems related to its internal connections or parts that hold the battery together. The issue could cause the car to f ...

Shares of Ford (F) have plunged 26.6% in six months, underperforming the industry, auto sector and close peers, including General Motors (GM) and Tesla (TSLA) . Although the automaker's overall fourth-quarter 2024 sales grew 9% year over year, contributing to a full-year increase of 4% year over year, its Model e unit, which has been incurring losses, poses significant growth challenges. Let’s analyze the company’s prospects to figure out if it is the right time to buy, sell or hold the stock.6-Months Price ...

Ford Motor F.N is recalling 272,817 vehicles in the United States due to concerns over battery failure, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said on Thursday.The recall affects certain 2021-2023 Bronco Sport and 2022-2023 Maverick vehicles.The recall affects certain 2021-2023 Bronco Sport and 2022-2023 Maverick vehicles. REUTERSThe 12-volt battery may experience degradation and suddenly fail, which can result in a loss of electrical accessories, including the hazard lights, or cause a ...

Ford Motor Company (F) is facing an intensified investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) into its BlueCruise hands-free driving technology, following two fatal crashes involving electric Mustang Mach-E vehicles while the system was active.This week, NHTSA upgraded the inquiry to an "engineering analysis," a step required before considering a recall. The analysis encompasses 2021–2024 model year vehicles, totaling around 129,222 units. It aims to assess the system’s limitat ...