Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) continues to be a focal point for investors, including political figures. Recent disclosures revealed that Representative Julie Johnson (D-Texas) purchased shares of Ford Motor stock, adding to her portfolio despite the auto sector’s volatility. The trade, valued between $1,001 and $15,000, was executed on February 12, 2025, through her “MERRILL LYNCH TAX EFFICIENT CORE” account.
Representative Johnson’s Investment Moves
Representative Johnson’s investment activity indicates confidence in traditional American automakers like Ford. Her recent trades also included:
- Selling shares of Norfolk Southern (NYSE: NSC) on February 25, 2025.
- Buying shares of Union Pacific (NYSE: UNP) on February 25, 2025.
- Acquiring shares of Bank of New York Mellon (NYSE: BK) on February 24, 2025.
- Selling shares of BlackRock (NYSE: BLK) and The PNC Financial Services Group (NYSE: PNC) on February 24, 2025.
- Purchasing shares of Progressive (NYSE: PGR), Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS), and Capital One Financial (NYSE: COF) in mid-February.
Ford Motor’s Stock Performance
On Friday, Ford’s stock price climbed by $0.20 to close at $9.73, with a trading volume of over 91 million shares. However, the stock remains under pressure, trading below its 12-month high of $14.85.
Key financial metrics:
- Market Cap: $38.54 billion
- P/E Ratio: 6.66
- PEG Ratio: 0.61
- Beta: 1.59
- 50-Day Moving Average: $9.71
- 200-Day Moving Average: $10.33
- Debt-to-Equity Ratio: 2.31
Earnings and Dividend Insights
Ford’s latest earnings report, released on February 5, 2025, exceeded expectations:
- EPS: $0.39 vs. estimated $0.35
- Return on Equity: 16.88%
- Net Margin: 3.18%
The company also announced a quarterly dividend of $0.15 per share, paid on March 3, 2025, resulting in an annualized dividend of $0.60 per share (yielding 6.17%).
Institutional Investment Trends
Hedge funds and institutional investors have made significant adjustments to their Ford holdings:
- Vanguard Group Inc. increased its stake by 16.6%, now owning 402 million shares valued at nearly $4 billion.
- Norges Bank entered a new position in Ford worth $387 million.
- Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. boosted its holdings by 88%, adding 10.5 million shares.
- Voloridge Investment Management LLC acquired 7.7 million shares in Q4 2024.
- Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its position by 5.3%, now holding 129 million shares.
Wall Street Analysts Weigh In
Equities analysts have recently revised their ratings for Ford Motor stock:
- Wells Fargo downgraded Ford to “underweight”, reducing its price target to $8.00.
- Barclays cut its rating from “overweight” to “equal weight”, adjusting its price target from $13.00 to $11.00.
- Jefferies lowered its rating to “underperform” and set a target price of $9.00.
- JPMorgan Chase & Co. maintained an “overweight” rating but reduced its target from $14.00 to $13.00.
- Evercore ISI rated the stock “in-line”, decreasing its price target to $10.00.
What’s Next for Ford?
Ford Motor’s future hinges on economic conditions, consumer demand, and global supply chain stability. With institutional investors and lawmakers like Representative Johnson showing interest, the automaker remains a stock to watch in 2025.
