Posted on 09/19/2010 9:59:43 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Shares of Ford got a boost Thursday from CNBC's Jim Cramer, but they certainly didn't need it.
Cramer mentioned them as worthy of being a buy candidate, but this is nothing new. Ford's stock has been nothing short of remarkable, since December 2008 when it was under $1 per share. Shares are currently over $12, a remarkable run for a company that many though would need to go into bankruptcy or need government help.
Since dropping to under $1, Ford has done everything right. From cutting its massive debt load, getting products out to market, to making the company more competitive on a global scale, Ford has certainly stepped on the gas pedal at the right time and never looked back.
One can never underestimate goodwill, and Ford has certainly been a beneficiary of it. Consumers rewarded Ford by not taking government money, when competitors General Motors and Chrysler did. In tune, consumers bought more Ford products than they did GM or Chrysler to show their appreciation for doing business the right way, and it's showed.
Ford has continued to gain market share here in the U.S., and is now the 2nd largest automaker in the U.S..
Wall Street has been impressed with the turnaround story at Ford, as evidenced by an upgrade at Barclays.
This morning, Barclays analyst Brian Johnson upgraded the company to Overweight from Equal Weight, and raised his price target to $16 from $15, citing Ford's increased earnings power despite slow U.S. sales.
Ford is definitely one of the greatest turnaround stories this country has ever seen, as is a prime example of the "can do" spirit that American manufacturing is famous for.
(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...
What year is your truck? Does it have the 6.0 or 7.3?
I've heard that the 6.0 is a lemon. What is your opinion?
When my beloved Cheve Tahoe wears out I will replace it with a Ford.
Yes in a 2 pronged approach...
The Lincoln version of the Fusion hybird will go on sale soon, with the same price point as the the gas version. We are talking a proven midsized all gussied up that also has a proven drivetrain.
2nd, it will be just north of 38K entry from what I have read. Now that is aimed squarely @ the Volt.
FWIW, a Ford gnome has a relative that bought a Fusion and is not truly attuned to driving for max MPG and she is seeing 50mpg in her Fusion.
In a year or 2, the Fusion gets a redue via the global platform and will then be common with the Euro-Mondeo. I have seen them running around MI with factory plates.
I have also read that may potentially have their Gen III hybrid drive system. Will that plug in capacity? Who knows, but I do not see Team Ford/Mulally resting on their butts...
“2nd, it will be just north of 38K entry from what I have read”
Actually, it’s cheaper than that: the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid is $35,180 (including freight): the same price as the gas-powered version!!!
They could bring back a limited edition of the Edsel and still cream the over-priced golf cart, I mean Volt.
“The new Mustang looks really cool.”
The 2011 Shelby GT500 is the best Mustang ever made.
WD57..
DO some googling of what Ford has done with the Union "VEBA".
They have esentially payed it off with; Cash, & Stock Warrants. They took the UAW's ( IMHO ) variable liability of retiree health care and made it into a fixed cost and delt with it. Their Pension liabilities are not bad, but again do your research. If you also research the balance sheet you will see Mulally and his team are full steam ahead trying to pay off the "mortgage" they took out to turn the company around. They are paying off 3 to 4 billion a Qtr in Cash and if my memory is correct, and the debt is somewhere between 21 and 27 billion. If you subtract the cash on hand and what is a normal operating debt ( I have read 8 to 10 billion ) their is speculation they may have this payed off in a year or 2.
I have heard Mulally has eluded to his troops something to the effect stick with me folks, this thing will be turbocharged when it takes off, i.e. all your hard work will payoff via your good product and it will make us a profit making machine.
Wk... Thanks! I knew their was an 8 in their, just a couple of digits back :-)...
I threw that out there just to get it over with...
They have a sharp Euro small SUV the Kuga. Talk of a world platform and my guess it would be the replacement for the Escape, at least in shape, keep the name.
Well the price-point was to high with their labor since they didn't go for the requested re-negotiation this past winter, and they lost out in the Kentucky Plant to build it. I assume they will build in Europe.
I don't mean to rude, but this time, it sucks to be them...
AFAIK - Ford owns all their hybrid technology too. They were doing a technology share with Toyo.
The direct injection diesels in Europe get crazy MPG. 50 mpg is easy. They have to be competitive there because Merc, BMW, Audi, VW, Pug/Cit, Renault, Fiat are all there too. Opel AG too. I wish someone would buy Opel to get them away from UAW/Obam Motors.
The Escape Hybrid is a fine vehicle, as is the Fusion Hybrid.
I’m still driving a 1988 F150; in three more years
it will be officially classified as an antique.
I’ve the 6.4 turbo, and, as I noted, it hasn’t caused me any problems at all, including northern VA driving as well as the cross country trip. Oil changes are expensive, but then I like to have insurance, and have it on the heavy duty schedule, even though it doesn’t really do much work.
Given a choice, I’d take a bigger engine and no dual turbo, there being only one thing to screw up rather than three, but that’s how things go.
The truck is an ‘08, with something like 23K on it.
When the “experts” recommend buy, then y’all better sell and run..
Run, don’t walk, away from Cramer’s recommendations.
The irony is that if the UAW had simply invested in Ford when it was $1 a share, they’d have their pensions funded. O ye of little faith.
Cramer is a joke.....
I am sure The One will throw a monkey wrench into the works to knock Ford down !
RE: Cramer is a joke.....
Well, he presents his program as something like that.
That’s why people watch him, to be entertained.
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