Ford Motor (NYSE:F) Trading 1.2% Higher Following Analyst Upgrade

Ford Motor (NYSE:F - Get Free Report)'s stock price shot up 1.2% during trading on Friday after JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on the stock from $11.00 to $12.00. JPMorgan Chase & Co. currently has an overweight rating on the stock. Ford Motor traded as high as $10.39 and last traded at $10.31. 26,069,325 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 77% from the average session volume of 112,097,750 shares. The stock had previously closed at $10.18.

A number of other research analysts have also commented on the company. BNP Paribas upgraded Ford Motor to a "hold" rating in a report on Monday, February 10th. TD Cowen assumed coverage on shares of Ford Motor in a research note on Friday, March 7th. They set a "hold" rating and a $10.00 target price for the company. Evercore ISI decreased their price target on shares of Ford Motor from $11.00 to $10.00 and set an "in-line" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, February 10th. Bank of America dropped their price objective on shares of Ford Motor from $19.00 to $15.50 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, February 6th. Finally, StockNews.com cut shares of Ford Motor from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research note on Thursday, April 10th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have issued a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $9.83.

Institutional Trading of Ford Motor

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of F. Grove Bank & Trust boosted its stake in Ford Motor by 289.1% in the first quarter. Grove Bank & Trust now owns 2,533 shares of the auto manufacturer's stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 1,882 shares in the last quarter. Hager Investment Management Services LLC acquired a new position in Ford Motor during the 4th quarter worth about $26,000. Elite Financial Inc. bought a new stake in Ford Motor during the 1st quarter worth about $27,000. Olde Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in Ford Motor in the 1st quarter valued at about $28,000. Finally, Bank of Jackson Hole Trust bought a new position in shares of Ford Motor in the fourth quarter worth about $29,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 58.74% of the company's stock.

Ford Motor Price Performance

The company has a quick ratio of 1.02, a current ratio of 1.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.31. The stock's 50-day moving average price is $9.72 and its 200-day moving average price is $10.08. The company has a market capitalization of $40.74 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.04, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.61 and a beta of 1.41.

Ford Motor (NYSE:F - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 5th. The auto manufacturer reported $0.39 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.35 by $0.04. Ford Motor had a return on equity of 16.88% and a net margin of 3.18%. Equities research analysts anticipate that Ford Motor will post 1.47 earnings per share for the current year.

Ford Motor Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 2nd. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 12th will be paid a $0.15 dividend. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.84%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, May 12th. Ford Motor's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 41.10%.

Ford Motor Company Profile

Ford Motor Company develops, delivers, and services a range of Ford trucks, commercial cars and vans, sport utility vehicles, and Lincoln luxury vehicles worldwide. It operates through Ford Blue, Ford Model e, and Ford Pro; Ford Next; and Ford Credit segments. The company sells Ford and Lincoln vehicles, service parts, and accessories through distributors and dealers, as well as through dealerships to commercial fleet customers, daily rental car companies, and governments.