General Motors is on track to end 2025 as the top US-traded automaker stock – far outpacing American rivals like Ford, Tesla and Stellantis.
The stock has soared more than 55% so far this year to a record price of more than $80 a share as of Monday’s close – setting the automaker up for its best year since it exited bankruptcy in 2009.
That includes a nearly 13% jump so far in December, piling on to five consecutive months of stock gains, according to FactSet.
Shares in Ford and Tesla, meanwhile, have risen 34% and 17%, respectively, over the same time. Honda and Toyota also saw far smaller gains, while Stellantis – which owns Jeep, Ram and Dodge – suffered a 15% loss.
Despite trade tensions and economic uncertainty, GM has steadily beat Wall Street earnings estimates – and it’s expected to continue its rise as it benefits from the Trump administration’s friendly policies, according to a CNBC report.
“Great vehicles, innovative technology, a rewarding customer experience, along with strong financial results, will continue to set GM apart in an increasingly competitive landscape,” CEO Mary Barra said during the company’s latest quarterly earnings call, in October.
The exec has exercised options or sold about 1.8 million shares this year – worth more than $73 million, according to public filings.
As of the latest public filing in September, Barra still owned more than 433,500 shares valued at over $35 million.
The Detroit-based automaker has delivered quarterly adjusted earnings per share above estimates every quarter over the past five years, except for the second quarter of 2022, according to FactSet.
Analysts have kept their expectations high for the company, attributing its performance to strong earnings growth and a solid track record of delivering shareholder returns.
UBS hiked its 12-month price target on the stock by 14% to $97 per share, while Morgan Stanley upgraded GM to overweight with a target of $90 per share.
GM said it expects next year’s earnings to be even more impressive than its reports in 2025 – likely expecting to benefit from some of the Trump administration’s new policies.
President Trump earlier this month proposed much looser fuel economy standards, a sharp turnaround from the Biden administration.
Trump also removed related penalties on automakers that took effect under former President Biden.
The US also earlier this year announced a new trade deal with South Korea that included lower tariffs on several goods, including automobiles and auto parts. The nation is a major manufacturing hub for GM.
GM Chief Financial Officer Paul Jacobson said earlier this month that the company plans to continue stock buybacks.
“As long as the stock remains as undervalued as it is, the priority is to buy back shares. And I think you’ll continue to see that from us going forward,” he said during a UBS investor conference.
An average of analyst ratings on FactSet labels GM overweight with an $80.86 target price.
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