TLDR

  • William Clay Ford, Jr. purchased 140,000 shares at $13.82 per share, spending approximately $1.93 million and increasing his holdings to 3,912,600 shares.
  • Ford shares surged almost 4.5%, reaching a peak of $14.33 on trading volume that exceeded the average.
  • Fourth-quarter earnings per share were $0.13, surpassing the consensus estimate of $0.06, while revenue of $45.89 billion exceeded projections of $41.78 billion.
  • Ford announced two recalls affecting approximately 450,000 vehicles, notably 2017-2019 Ford Explorers equipped with defective rear suspension toe links.
  • A quarterly dividend of $0.15 is scheduled for payment on March 2, translating to an annualized yield of approximately 4.2%.

Ford Motor (F) shares advanced nearly 4.5% on Tuesday, reaching a high of $14.33 following executive chairman William Clay Ford, Jr.’s multi-million dollar acquisition of company stock.

F Stock Card

The insider acquired 140,000 shares at an average price of $13.82 on February 19, expending roughly $1.93 million. His overall position now stands at 3,912,600 shares, worth approximately $54 million.

Such transactions by corporate insiders typically capture Wall Street’s interest — which proved true in this case.

Trading volume hit approximately 73.5 million shares, roughly 6% higher than Ford’s typical daily average. The shares had finished the previous trading day at $13.64.

The purchase occurred shortly after Ford released its most recent quarterly earnings. The automaker reported earnings per share of $0.13, comfortably exceeding the consensus forecast of $0.06. Revenue reached $45.89 billion, surpassing analyst expectations of $41.78 billion.

Nevertheless, the quarter had its challenges. Revenue declined 4.8% compared to the prior year, and the company recorded a negative net margin of 4.37%. In the comparable quarter last year, Ford had earned $0.39 per share.

Two Recalls, No Panic

Additionally on Tuesday, Ford announced two separate vehicle recalls affecting nearly 450,000 vehicles combined.

The more extensive recall involves 412,774 Ford Explorers from the 2017-2019 model years. The problem involves a rear suspension toe link susceptible to cracking and breaking under specific conditions, potentially compromising steering control and increasing collision risk. Dealerships will install a reinforced replacement part.

A separate recall encompasses 40,655 vehicles related to battery malfunctions and brake pedal issues.

Ford has issued 103 recalls in 2025. The company has noted that a substantial number of recalls may indicate its internal monitoring systems are functioning effectively, rather than signaling a surge in vehicle defects.

For their part, investors appeared unfazed, with the stock maintaining its gains through the market close.

Analyst Ratings and Dividend

Analyst sentiment remains divided. The current consensus rating for F is “Hold,” derived from two Buy recommendations, 12 Hold ratings, and one Sell rating over the past quarter. The average price target of $13.88 suggests modest downside potential from current prices.

Recent adjustments to price targets include HSBC’s increase from $9.80 to $12.80 in January, Morgan Stanley’s revision from $11.00 to $14.00 in December, and Evercore’s raise to $14.00 during the same period.

Ford also announced a quarterly dividend of $0.15 per share, to be distributed on March 2 to shareholders of record as of February 13. This amounts to an annualized payout of $0.60 per share, representing a yield of approximately 4.2%.

The stock’s 50-day moving average is positioned at $13.68, while its 200-day moving average rests at $12.80. Ford maintains a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.95 and commands a market capitalization of roughly $56.59 billion.

Analysts anticipate Ford will deliver full-year earnings per share of approximately $1.47 for the current fiscal year.