American auto-making giant General Motors clocked higher-than-expected first quarterly profit by cutting costs and selling more expensive trucks, like SUVs and crossover vehicles.
However, investors are not quite happy as revenue dropped by 3.4% to $34.88 billion from $36.1 billion during the same quarter a year ago and also missed the Wall Street estimate of $35.28 billion amidst falling vehicle sales and sliding market share. The company’s total market share slid from 17% to 16.1%.
On the other hand, adjusted earnings came-in at $1.41 per share against estimate of $1.11 per share. This was boosted by the company’s stake in the ride-hailing platform Lyft (LYFT) and French auto maker PSA Group. Sales of more expensive trucks, like its recently updated full-size pickup trucks, including the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra, also boosted GM’s profit margin as average sales prices rose by $5,800 year-over-year against outgoing models.
On an unadjusted basis, GM earned $2.1 billion in the first quarter, or $1.48 per share, up from $1.05 billion, or 72 cents per share, a year prior.
Yet, the company is still struggling in the world’s largest auto market, China, where its first quarter income fell 37% to $376 million and sales dropped 18% from the same period a year ago.
To boost its profit margin, GM is cutting more than 14,000 jobs at factories in the U.S. and Canada. The company has plans to launch more full-size pickups in the second half of 2019 with two new heavy-duty pickups from Chevrolet and GMC, which the company deems a favorite among buyers.
Further, to meet changing demand patterns, GM is shifting focus to self-driving and electrified vehicles that will include a complete range of EVs including full-size pickups. Shares of the company rose more than 6% over the last 12 months and is up more than 20% since the beginning of the year.
GM may jump back above the lower band and head toward the middle band. Traders may consider buying the stock or exploring call options. In of 48 cases where GM's price broke its lower Bollinger Band, its price rose further in the following month. The odds of a continued upward trend are .
The average fundamental analysis ratings, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, are as follows
a manufacturer of cars, trucks and automobile parts
Industry MotorVehicles