General Motors (GM) has significantly upgraded its financial forecasts for 2024, following impressive results that exceeded Wall Street’s expectations for the second quarter. The automaker has revised its anticipated adjusted earnings for the year to a range of $13 billion to $15 billion, an increase from the prior estimates of $12.5 billion to $14.5 billion. Additionally, GM has adjusted its targets for operating cash flow and earnings per share upward, although it slightly lowered the expectations for net income attributable to shareholders to between $10 billion and $11.4 billion.
In terms of revenue, GM reported $47.9 billion for the second quarter, marking over a 7% increase from the previous year and surpassing the Wall Street forecast of $45 billion. Earnings per share reached $3.06, exceeding the analyst expectations of $2.71 per share and reflecting a remarkable 60% rise compared to 2023. The company’s net income climbed by 14% to $2.9 billion, up from $2.5 billion.
Following these announcements, GM’s stock experienced a nearly 5% jump in pre-market trading, with the stock price having already risen more than 37% this year. On the heels of these earnings, GM declared a third-quarter cash dividend, further boosting investor confidence.
In her letter to shareholders, CEO Mary Barra highlighted the robust performance of GM’s gas-powered trucks and SUVs. She mentioned the rollout of eight new or redesigned vehicle models across various size categories in North America, while also discussing the scaling up of production for the electric Chevrolet Equinox. Barra emphasized a commitment to disciplined volume growth in the electric vehicle (EV) market, although she acknowledged that the company would not meet its goal of producing 1 million electric vehicles in North America by the end of 2025 due to a market slowdown. Nevertheless, Barra noted a positive trend in EV sales last quarter.
Moreover, Barra revealed changes to GM’s self-driving unit, Cruise, which will discontinue its Origin vehicle to focus on testing the next-generation Chevrolet Bolt in Texas and Arizona. This adjustment comes in response to a previous incident that led to a pause in operations. GM took a significant $600 million charge related to the cessation of Origin production, but the switch to the more traditional design of the Bolt is aimed at addressing regulatory concerns while also reducing costs and optimizing resources.
Lastly, GM is restructuring its joint venture with SAIC Motor in China, as it faced losses, including a $104 million setback reported for the second quarter. Recent production cuts by SAIC-GM further compounded this challenge, with a 70% reduction resulting in only 26,000 vehicle deliveries—down 50% from the previous year.
Overall, GM’s strong performance in the latest quarter and its proactive measures indicate a forward momentum, effectively navigating through market challenges while aligning with industry trends in both traditional and electric vehicle markets.
In summary, GM is experiencing robust growth and has ambitious plans for both its traditional and electric vehicle lines, despite facing some hurdles. The company aims to leverage its strong foundation and innovative approaches to continue thriving in a competitive market.