QRG Capital Management Inc. has increased its investment in Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) by 15.5% in the first quarter, according to its latest filing with the SEC. This brings the firm’s total holdings to 297,691 shares valued at approximately $2.99 million after purchasing an additional 39,990 shares during this period.
Other institutional investors have also been active in modifying their stakes in Ford. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its holdings by 16.6% during the fourth quarter, now owning over 402 million shares valued at around $3.98 billion. Additionally, Norges Bank made a new investment in Ford worth $387.3 million, while Jacobs Levy Equity Management Inc. boosted its stake by a significant 88%. Voloridge Investment Management LLC’s holdings saw a remarkable increase of 2,905.1%, and Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. added 5.3% to its stake. Collectively, institutional investors own approximately 58.74% of Ford’s shares.
Several analysts have reassessed Ford’s stock, with Piper Sandler increasing its target price to $9.00 and Goldman Sachs raising it to $10.00, both maintaining a “neutral” rating. JPMorgan Chase & Co. has a more optimistic view, lifting its target price from $11.00 to $12.00 and classifying Ford as “overweight”. The overall market sentiment remains mixed, with three sell ratings, thirteen holds, and two buys on record, leading to an average price target of $10.03.
In recent trading, Ford’s shares experienced slight movement, increasing by $0.01 to reach $10.43. The stock has a range between a 52-week low of $8.44 and a high of $14.85, with a market capitalization of approximately $41.46 billion. The company has been performing moderately well, with a reported EPS beating estimates at $0.14 for the last quarter and revenue hitting $40.66 billion despite a year-over-year decline.
Additionally, Ford announced a quarterly dividend of $0.15 per share, providing shareholders with a yield of 5.76%. The dividend reflects the company’s commitment to returning value to its shareholders, with a payout ratio of 48.00%.
In a time when the automotive sector faces various challenges, Ford is positioning itself strategically through its various segments and innovation. Looking ahead, as analysts predict an EPS of 1.47 for the current fiscal year, there is cautious optimism about Ford’s growth and recovery trajectory.