my ford stock

[B O N Y]

DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) Ford Motor Co. reports a $12.7 billion net loss in 2006, the largest in the automaker's history.
:shrug :shrug :shrug :shrug :shrug :shrug :shrug :shrug :shrug :shrug :shrug :smash :smash :smash :smash :smash :bang :bang :bang :bang :smash :smash :smash :smash :shrug :shrug :shrug :shrug :shrug :shrug :shrug :shrug :shrug :shrug :shrug :shrug :shrug

 

[Dr Robert Harms]

Wallpaper ????

 

[B O N Y]

I had drinks with a guy who has a manufacturing business here. They have been leaders in the community, support our community, been around for many years, were leaders in their industry, great Americans. Their competitors have all shut down North American operations and have moved to China. We discussed the alternatives, none of them very pretty.

Ford's issues relate to the labor contracts they are tied to. Why can Saleen, and the Asian car builders run factories here in the USA, answer is simple, they don't have (yet) the pension and medical costs for retirees.

 

[usmcfred]

Ford Reports 2006 Financial Results

Ford reported a loss of $12.7 billion for 2006 this morning. This does not bode well for the company stepping up and doing the right thing (a recall and properly enginered fix) for the FGT half shaft design defect(s). They are clearly in survival mode and I do not believe will address anything that results in a significant outlay of cash unless forced to do so by the NHTSA or bad press when someone dies as a result of an immobile car getting t-boned or rear ended. usmcfred

 

[kjslider]

Fred, are you sure you're not reading too much into this? It's ONLY 12.9 BILLIOn:ack

 

[dbk]

No matter how much advance warning there is, people always freak out when it comes. Everyone knew this was coming. They lost $7 billion in the first three quarters, and afterwards went through an even more brutal period of restructuring. I don't know why anyone is surprised.

I don't know about you Bony, but I'm up on all but 2 old lots, and I'll continue to buy at $8 or below.

 

[kjslider]

No matter how much advance warning there is, people always freak out when it comes. Everyone knew this was coming. They lost $7 billion in the first three quarters, and afterwards went through an even more brutal period of restructuring. I don't know why anyone is surprised.

I don't know about you Bony, but I'm up on all but 2 old lots, and I'll continue to buy at $8 or below.

DBK, whatcha thinking? Can Ford find a way out of its quagmire without reorganizing thru bankrupcy?

 

[gtjoey]

AS MY BUDDY BODSKY USED TO SAY IN THE 80"S ITS ONLY MONEY BABY!!!!!!! EUROPE MAKES BILLIONS, JUST A COUPLE MORE QUARTERS AND GTJOEY AT THE HELM . PROFITS IN THE U.S WILL BE A HALF BILLION A MONTH :thumbsup GTJOEY

 

[dbk]

DBK, whatcha thinking? Can Ford find a way out of its quagmire without reorganizing thru bankrupcy?

Yes.

There are people that will say no, but I can pretty much guarantee they work in NY or NJ. Ford has an absolute mountain of cash. They're buying out and replacing an enormous percentage of their N/A workforce. They are replacing UAW workers who get paid an average of $32 an hour with workers who get paid an average of $18 an hour. The union is showing they have recognized the seriousness of the issue and are finally willing to make serious concessions on healthcare.

I really think you can't underestimate the importance of Mullaly. They desperately needed an outsider, and he's done this before. Ford Motor Company and the Detroit auto industry in general is ruined by career bureaucrats and politicians. He is not one of them. He's already pared the executive ranks in a very short period of time, eliminating absurd redundancies and recognizing who is and isn't on the proverbial team. There is more of that to come.

More importantly, he's an engineer with the mind to ask "why"? Why the hell do they build perfectly good cars in Europe, then completely re-engineer them for a different market? Why do they have 30+ platforms when Toyota has 5? Why do they have redundant brands building badge engineered cars that only sap sales from each other? You're going to see all of that change. There are three guys at that office by 6 A.M who don't leave until 9 P.M. He's one of them. He's not here for the money. He's already collected his $40 million. He's here because he truly desperately wants to fix this thing, and is detached enough from the situation to make the hard decisions. He helped cut Boeing in half, restored profitability, and quadrupled the stock price in 3 years.

We'll know for sure within the next 18 months what's going to happen with this company, but I'm feeling much better about their future today than I did in July...

 

[THamonGT]

Why is it a surprise?

Mark Fields at Ford and others have been saying how expensive the restructure will be and that more losses were coming. FORD will not walk away from GT problem issues! They will not open their pockets to panic reaction. Those who were at BJ this past weekend---Did you think FORD pulled back (even a little) in owning the event (evey where)? I repeat restructuring is always very expensive and I know as a Ford Dealer whose had to make many changes (from 82 employees to 43 in less than 1 1/2 years. I've been in this business 49 years . Tomy Hamon Gene Hamon Ford
PS Their stock still looks good to me at below 8. its at 8.44 right now! As we say in TEXAS keep the faith Baby.

 

[THamonGT]

Keep the faith.

Right on DAVE!

 

[dbk]

P.S, all you have to do is lose $12 billion dollars and you'll shoot the stock price up 3%. :lol Glad I bought again at $7.20 last month...

 

[SLF360]

Hey,
let's all panic and sell like hell !!!!! I am more and more becoming a buyer here, just hope lot's of people loose their faith. It is always like that, first it gets worst before it gets better. Mullaly is certainly good news, I agree DBK. Cash reserves they still need, and technically still a few quarters the bookvalue will decrease. I have no rush to get in, but eventually this is too sweet an option to lose out.

Time ago, FIAT had the same issue. I asked some inside people, at what price should I buy in (when montezemolo came in I knew it will get better, with winning models). I was told , wait until it is below 5 euro (some two years ago) .

Today the stock is at over 15euro !

Lesson learnt ?

 

[B O N Y]

.

I don't know about you Bony, but I'm up on all but 2 old lots, and I'll continue to buy at $8 or below.

Nope, I am not selling, and yes I have recently bought some more. Interesting article in today's W.J. as well about white colar bonuses. Dave, your anyalsis is spot on.

We will see a new Ford come out of this. And..... oh by the way, this thread and issue with Ford has zip to do with how the GT will be supported in the future.

 

[gtjoey]

NO SALE EITHER , IN FOR THE LONG HALL, WANT TO SEE FREDS GRANDKIDS RUNNING THE GT3 PROJECT:biggrin AMERICA FIRST BABY :thumbsup GTJOEY 1314 AND TRYING TO KEEP THIS THREAD GOING INSTEAD OF TALKING ABOUT HALF YOU KNOW WHATS:biggrin

 

[kjslider]

Mark Fields at Ford and others have been saying how expensive the restructure will be and that more losses were coming. FORD will not walk away from GT problem issues! They will not open their pockets to panic reaction. Those who were at BJ this past weekend---Did you think FORD pulled back (even a little) in owning the event (evey where)? I repeat restructuring is always very expensive and I know as a Ford Dealer whose had to make many changes (from 82 employees to 43 in less than 1 1/2 years. I've been in this business 49 years . Tomy Hamon Gene Hamon Ford
PS Their stock still looks good to me at below 8. its at 8.44 right now! As we say in TEXAS keep the faith Baby.

I recall reading somewhere about the potential cost associated with reducing what they were implying were too many dealerships supporting a shrinking market share. I'm not sure if your reduction in payroll is indicative of this.

Besides bringing manufacturing costs(including legacy costs) in line with its competition, Ford, or any manufacturer, needs a strong network of dealers. From your experience, do you see an issue here, and if so how is Ford responding?

 

[THamonGT]

Reducing Dealer Count?

No question that Ford has talked about reducing dealer count in areas such as mid west & East where there are dealers on every corner. Dealers have been encouraged to buy out other dealers through consolidation.Dealers with staying power will continue and the weak capitilized dealers will sell out or close up. In order to downsize Ford Motor Co and get back to their core business some dealers will close but others will become stronger and Ford needs that to happen. Over dealering in some Metro areas will be drasticly affected.Thats my $2.00 worth FREE OF CHARGE. Tomy Hamon .
Ford needs to get back to their Basics.

 

[THamonGT]

Sorry about that.

 

[ChipBeck]

Mullaly

I bought another new Ford yesterday from my lifelong friend Jim Graham who is the Ford Dealer in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA. Jim spent over an hour with Mullaly a week or so ago. His comments to me mirrored what DBK has said. I think Bill Ford had a pretty good grasp of what needed to be done but didn't have the heart, guts, or whatever to take an ax to his company and cut out the cancer. I asked Jim (who, along with his father has been involved with Ford as a dealer for 40 years) if Mullaly had the balls to do what it's going to take. Yeah, the guy's a complete stud, if this things possible, this is the guy to have at the helm. I too, have a ton of Ford stock, and I'm not selling any of it. My last 5 cars have all been new Fords, I'm doing my part!!

Chip

 

[kjslider]

I bought another new Ford yesterday from my lifelong friend Jim Graham who is the Ford Dealer in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA. Jim spent over an hour with Mullaly a week or so ago. His comments to me mirrored what DBK has said. I think Bill Ford had a pretty good grasp of what needed to be done but didn't have the heart, guts, or whatever to take an ax to his company and cut out the cancer. I asked Jim (who, along with his father has been involved with Ford as a dealer for 40 years) if Mullaly had the balls to do what it's going to take. Yeah, the guy's a complete stud, if this things possible, this is the guy to have at the helm. I too, have a ton of Ford stock, and I'm not selling any of it. My last 5 cars have all been new Fords, I'm doing my part!!

Chip

Everything I've read seems positive regarding Mullaly.

Irregardless how great a CEO anyone is what real leverage does he bring to the negotiation table regarding labor/payroll/legacy costs?