The end of the earnings season is always a good time to take a step back and see who shined (and who not so much). Let’s take a look at how automobile manufacturing stocks fared in Q4, starting with Ford (NYSE: F).

Much capital investment and technical know-how are needed to manufacture functional, safe, and aesthetically pleasing automobiles for the mass market. Barriers to entry are therefore high, and auto manufacturers with economies of scale can boast strong economic moats. However, this doesn’t insulate them from new entrants, as electric vehicles (EVs) have entered the market and are upending it. This has forced established manufacturers to not only contend with emerging EV-first competitors but also decide how much they want to invest in these disruptive technologies, which will likely cannibalize their legacy offerings.

The 11 automobile manufacturing stocks we track reported a mixed Q4. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 4.4%.

Amidst this news, share prices of the companies have had a rough stretch. On average, they are down 14.3% since the latest earnings results.

Ford (NYSE: F)

Established to make automobiles accessible to a broader segment of the population, Ford (NYSE: F) designs, manufactures, and sells a variety of automobiles, trucks, and electric vehicles.

Ford reported revenues of $45.89 billion, down 4.8% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 3.6%. Despite the top-line beat, it was still a mixed quarter for the company with a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates but a significant miss of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates.

Unsurprisingly, the stock is down 13.9% since reporting and currently trades at $11.68.

Is now the time to buy Ford? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Best Q4: Winnebago (NYSE: WGO)

Created to provide high-quality, affordable RVs to the post-war American family, Winnebago (NYSE: WGO) is a manufacturer of recreational vehicles, providing a range of motorhomes, travel trailers, and fifth-wheel products for outdoor and adventure lifestyles.

Winnebago reported revenues of $702.7 million, up 12.3% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 10.9%. The business had a stunning quarter with a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

Although it had a fine quarter compared its peers, the market seems unhappy with the results as the stock is down 16% since reporting. It currently trades at $33.88.

Is now the time to buy Winnebago? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Lucid (NASDAQ: LCID)

Founded by a former Tesla Vice President, Lucid Group (NASDAQ: LCID) designs, manufactures, and sells luxury electric vehicles with long-range capabilities.

Lucid reported revenues of $522.7 million, up 123% year on year, exceeding analysts’ expectations by 17.3%. Still, it was a softer quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates and a significant miss of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

The stock is flat since the results and currently trades at $9.90.

Read our full analysis of Lucid’s results here.

Rivian (NASDAQ: RIVN)

The manufacturer of Amazon’s delivery trucks, Rivian (NASDAQ: RIVN) designs, manufactures, and sells electric vehicles and commercial delivery vans.

Rivian reported revenues of $1.29 billion, down 25.8% year on year. This print topped analysts’ expectations by 0.7%. Overall, it was a very strong quarter as it also produced an impressive beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates and a solid beat of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates.

Rivian had the slowest revenue growth among its peers. The stock is up 6.5% since reporting and currently trades at $14.91.

Read our full, actionable report on Rivian here, it’s free.

General Motors (NYSE: GM)

Founded in 1908 by William C. Durant, General Motors (NYSE: GM) offers a range of vehicles and automobiles through brands such as Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac.

General Motors reported revenues of $45.29 billion, down 5.1% year on year. This result lagged analysts' expectations by 1.1%. In spite of that, it was a strong quarter as it produced a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates and an impressive beat of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates.

General Motors had the weakest performance against analyst estimates among its peers. The stock is down 9% since reporting and currently trades at $72.32.

Read our full, actionable report on General Motors here, it’s free.

Market Update

The Fed’s interest rate hikes throughout 2022 and 2023 have successfully cooled post-pandemic inflation, bringing it closer to the 2% target. Inflationary pressures have eased without tipping the economy into a recession, suggesting a soft landing. This stability, paired with recent rate cuts (0.5% in September 2024 and 0.25% in November 2024), fueled a strong year for the stock market in 2024. The markets surged further after Donald Trump’s presidential victory in November, with major indices reaching record highs in the days following the election. Still, questions remain about the direction of economic policy, as potential tariffs and corporate tax changes add uncertainty for 2025.

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