DETROIT, May 25, 2026, 17:02 (EDT)
- Ford closed at $14.93 on Friday, up 9.22%, with U.S. markets now closed for Memorial Day.
- Ford Energy is the focus of the rally, with its new battery storage plans targeting data centers, utilities and industrial clients.
- This week, investors decide if they still buy into that story or if Ford’s familiar problems like tariffs, aluminum supply, and pickup production return to the front.
Ford Motor shares finished Friday at $14.93, a one-year high, gaining 9.22%. The NYSE shuts for Memorial Day on Monday and trading starts back up Tuesday.
Tuesday shapes up as a key moment for Ford, with investors set to show if they’re buying into the company’s updated pitch. The stock isn’t being driven just by F-150 margins or the EV business anymore. Wall Street started pricing in Ford Energy, the new battery storage unit selling big batteries to grid operators, data centers and high-usage customers.
Ford shares gained 11.42% in the seven days to Friday, pushing its year-to-date rise to 16.49%, according to FinanceCharts. That put Ford ahead of both General Motors and Tesla so far this year. GM is off 2.88% for the year, while Tesla is down 5.27%.
Ford Energy signed a five-year framework deal with EDF power solutions North America. EDF may buy up to 4 gigawatt hours of Ford battery storage systems each year, for as much as 20 GWh under the deal. Deliveries are set to begin in 2028. A gigawatt hour is a unit of stored energy.
Ford Energy president Lisa Drake said the EDF agreement pointed to demand for a supplier with “industrial-scale manufacturing discipline.” Drake said Ford is “not simply delivering hardware.” Tristan Grimbert, CEO of EDF power solutions North America, called supply reliability and product quality “paramount.” Nasdaq
Ford stock got a lift in May after Morgan Stanley analysts pointed to Ford’s deal with China’s CATL on battery tech as an advantage. Reuters said Ford is planning $2 billion for the storage business, aiming for first customer deliveries by late 2027 and wants to deploy at least 20 GWh every year.
Ford’s rally is backed by better profit numbers. The automaker lifted its 2026 adjusted EBIT target last month to $8.5 billion–$10.5 billion, up from $8 billion–$10 billion, helped by a likely tariff refund. First-quarter adjusted earnings came in at 66 cents a share, beating the 19-cent estimate from analysts, Reuters said.
There’s a tough side here. Ford is still looking at $1 billion in net tariff costs this year and is under pressure on aluminum supply after fires at Novelis, which has hit F-150 production. JPMorgan’s Ryan Brinkman said Ford could be having “a more difficult time” bouncing back from the Novelis fire than expected. Reuters
Ford has targets overseas too. Last week, the automaker said it plans seven new European models by 2029 as it pushes to win back share and keep its spot in commercial vehicles. “We need to stand out in a crowd,” Ford’s European chief Jim Baumbick told Reuters. Reuters
Ford picked up a quieter boost from supplier relationships. Plante Moran’s yearly survey found all six major automakers made progress with suppliers, but Ford and Stellantis had the most ground to make up and showed the biggest jumps. Angela Johnson, principal at Plante Moran’s automotive group, said Ford and Stellantis need to “prove that they can keep this going.” Reuters
Ford jumped Friday, but the move could reverse if investors lose patience with energy storage, or if issues like pickup supply, tariffs, and warranty costs crop up again. A U.S. appeals court on Friday restored $82.2 million in a trade secrets judgment against Ford, creating another legal risk.
Ford watchers will be looking at $14 after the holiday. If Ford sticks above that level, investors could keep giving it credit beyond legacy automakers. A drop below $14 and last week’s move starts to seem like a quick trade on new business that hasn’t delivered yet.
