Ford shares fall after missing Q3 expectations; Management has 'a long to-do list' says analyst

Investing.com -- Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) shares fell more than 3% in early Friday trading after the automaker missed expectations for profit in the third quarter.

Ford reported third-quarter adjusted earnings of 39 cents a share and revenue of $43.8 billion. Analysts expected a profit of 46 cents a share and revenue of $43.94 billion.

Ford, which reached a tentative agreement on a contract with United Auto Workers that could end a more than month-long strike, said adjusted earnings before interest and taxes, or EBIT, in the third quarter increased to $2.2 billion. Cash flow from operations was $4.6 billion in the quarter and $12.4 billion through the first nine months of the year.

The automaker withdrew its full-year guidance pending the ratification of the tentative agreement with the UAW. Through the third quarter, Ford earned $9.4 billion in adjusted EBIT and it affirmed a full-year range of $11 billion to $12 billion in late July.

UBS analyst Joseph Spak cut the price target by $2 to $13 per share and says the management has "a long to-do list."

"We won’t sugar coat it was a miss, higher warranty, higher labor costs, a rethink needed on EV strategy there was little to get enthused about from 3Q23 earnings," he said.

Still, Spak remains bullish on the stock.

"While it may take some time, we see a positive risk/reward on F at these levels."

Goldman Sachs analyst Mark Delaney argues that the key investor debate is focused on the margin potential. He also slashed the price target, going to $12 per share.

"Given the potential for these challenges to persist over the next 12-18 months, we maintain our Neutral rating on the stock," Delaney wrote in a note.

By Senad Karaahmetovic

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