GM posts a solid Q4 beat, gives higher-than-expected guidance, and announces a $6 billion stock buyback
Detroit automaker GM reported its fourth-quarter and full-year earnings results on Tuesday. Its shares climbed more than 5% in premarket trading.
The company, which leads the US in auto sales, guided for adjusted earnings of between $11 and $13 per share in 2026, with a midpoint just modestly ahead of the $11.94 per share expected by Wall Street analysts polled by FactSet. GM forecast adjusted automotive free cash flow of between $9 and $11 billion in the year ahead, compared to estimates of $9.8 billion.
In its fourth-quarter, GM posted adjusted earnings of $2.51 per share, beating the $2.25 per share estimate. In its Q4 sales report GM said EV sales dropped 43% in the quarter amid an industry-wide pullback due to the end of federal tax credits. Total sales fell 7% year-over-year in the quarter, but climbed 6% for the full-year.
The automaker also announced a new $6 billion stock buyback program, and said it would raise its quarterly dividend 20% to $0.18 per share.
Earlier this month, GM said it would take a $6 billion write-down on its EV business in the fourth quarter. Its rival Ford announced a $19.5 billion write-down for similar reasons in December.