By Senad Karaahmetovic
Wolfe Research analysts revisited the firm’s auto coverage after recent earnings reports. The analysts also used the opportunity to cut the rating on General Motors (NYSE:GM) to Peer Perform from Outperform with an unchanged $55 per share price target.
GM had a better rating than Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F), rated as Peer Perform, as the analysts saw more valuation potential due to support from Cruise and growth opportunities. However, given the increasingly challenging macro environment, the analysts are less convinced of GM’s advantage.
“While we continue to see potential for significant upside for GM over the intermediate term… and we still argue that differences in fixed costs, the balance sheet, and growth opportunities make this a very different company than it’s been in the past… we’ve become less convinced that an Outperform rating is appropriate into an increasingly challenging macro environment,” they wrote to clients.
The analysts see GM shares trading range-bound in the near term “amid a recession that likely pressures pricing and profitability.” Over the long term, they believe GM should continue to outperform and see its shares move toward $50 per share.
Despite the downgrade, GM shares trade over 3% higher on the inflation miss.