Ford Motor Company’s stock (NYSE: F) heads into mid‑December 2025 as one of the more interesting value‑and‑dividend stories in large‑cap autos. The company is juggling a reset of its U.S. battery joint venture, a new European EV partnership with Renault, record quarterly revenue, and an equity market that has already pushed the shares sharply higher this year.
This article reviews the latest Ford stock news, fundamentals, analyst forecasts and key risks as of 11 December 2025, with a focus on what could matter most for investors over the next 12–18 months.
Ford stock today: price, valuation and recent performance
Ford shares are trading around $13.40–$13.41 in early trading on 11 December 2025, near a 12‑month high of about $13.97 and well above a 52‑week low around $8.44. [1]
MarketBeat data show that the stock opened at $13.40 on Thursday, with: [2]
- A market cap of roughly $53 billion
- A P/E ratio of about 11.5
- A debt‑to‑equity ratio of 2.20
- A 12‑month trading range of $8.44–$13.97
Separately, outlets such as The Motley Fool note that Ford shares are up roughly 30%+ in 2025 year to date (as of early December), significantly outperforming the broader market. [3]
For income‑focused investors, Ford remains a high‑yield name. The company has been paying a $0.15 quarterly dividend (about $0.60 annually), implying a yield of roughly 4.5% at current prices, with some providers calculating a total shareholder yield (including specials/buybacks) closer to the 5.5–6% range. [4]
The breaking headline: Ford and SK On unwind U.S. battery joint venture
The biggest fresh headline for Ford stock on 11 December 2025 is the restructuring of its U.S. battery partnership with South Korean cell maker SK On.
According to Reuters, SK On has decided to end its joint venture with Ford for U.S. battery factories as part of a strategic overhaul driven by slowing EV demand and changes to U.S. subsidies. [5]
Key points from the new arrangement: [6]
- Ford will take full ownership of the Kentucky battery plants that were previously part of the JV.
- SK On will fully own and operate the Tennessee plant, with the production timeline now “flexible” as ownership transitions.
- The original JV investment, announced in 2022, was around $11.4 billion.
- SK On is trying to cut debt and fixed costs and pivot more aggressively into energy storage systems, as EV battery shipments and profits come under pressure.
For Ford shareholders, the implications are mixed:
- On the positive side, full ownership of Kentucky facilities could give Ford more control over a critical part of its EV supply chain and may simplify capital allocation and governance.
- On the negative side, it potentially concentrates execution and financial risk on Ford’s balance sheet, at a time when management is already re‑sequencing EV investments and confronting slower demand.
The JV split lands squarely in the middle of a broader EV strategy rethink, rather than a simple retreat from batteries.
Europe pivot: multi‑energy strategy and a new Renault EV partnership
Two days before the SK On news, Ford announced a major strategic update for its European business, anchored in affordable EVs, multi‑energy vehicles and partnerships. [7]
From Ford’s own media center, the revamped European strategy rests on: [8]
- Two pillars:
- Defending and expanding leadership in Ford Pro (vans, pickups, software and fleet services)
- Launching a new line‑up of electrified passenger vehicles
- A shift toward “multi‑energy” cars and vans—mixing full EVs, plug‑in hybrids and hybrids—to better match real‑world adoption rates and CO₂ rules.
- A push for policy alignment: Ford publicly urged European policymakers to adapt CO₂ targets to consumer uptake, noting that EV share is about 16.1% today versus roughly 25% implied by 2025 targets. [9]
The centerpiece is a new strategic partnership with Renault Group: [10]
- Ford and Renault will develop two Ford‑branded electric passenger vehicles on Renault’s Ampere platform, built in northern France and expected in European showrooms starting 2028.
- A Letter of Intent covers potential joint development and manufacturing of selected light commercial vehicles (LCVs) in Europe.
- Ford will lead the design and driving dynamics, aiming to ensure that the models remain recognizably Ford in character, even while leveraging Renault’s scale and EV expertise.
For investors, this signals that Ford is:
- Doubling down on Europe, rather than walking away, but
- Doing so via asset‑light partnerships and multi‑energy flexibility, in contrast to earlier all‑in EV timelines that proved too aggressive for demand and infrastructure.
The U.S. EV plan: Ford’s $5 billion bet on an affordable platform
In August, Ford detailed a $5 billion investment in a new “Universal EV Platform” and EV production system, centered on Louisville Assembly Plant and BlueOval Battery Park Michigan. [11]
Highlights from Ford’s announcement: [12]
- About $5 billion in total investment and nearly 4,000 jobs secured or created across the two U.S. sites.
- A new prismatic LFP battery plant in Michigan to supply cost‑efficient, cobalt‑ and nickel‑free batteries.
- First product: a midsize four‑door electric pickup with a target starting price near $30,000, planned for 2027, designed to be as quick 0–60 mph as a Mustang EcoBoost.
- The platform targets:
- 20% fewer parts
- 25% fewer fasteners
- A 15–40% faster assembly process, using an “assembly tree” architecture.
The strategic message: Ford is pivoting from expensive first‑generation EVs toward simpler, cheaper, scalable architectures—aiming squarely at mainstream buyers who have balked at high EV prices and uneven charging networks.
Q3 2025: record revenue and a strong beat on expectations
Ford’s third‑quarter 2025 results, released on 23 October, set the fundamental backdrop for today’s share price. [13]
Key financial metrics:
- Revenue: about $50.5 billion, up roughly 9% year‑on‑year and a quarterly record. [14]
- EPS:$0.45, beating consensus estimates around $0.35 by more than 25%. [15]
- Adjusted EBIT: approximately $2.6 billion, essentially flat year‑over‑year, with solid performance from Ford Pro offset by continued losses in the Model e EV segment. [16]
- Free cash flow: about $4.3 billion in Q3 and $5.7 billion year‑to‑date, driving a cash and cash‑equivalents balance near $27–33 billion and total liquidity above $50 billion. [17]
Management reaffirmed full‑year 2025 guidance of: [18]
- Adjusted EBIT:$6.0–6.5 billion
- Adjusted free cash flow:$2–3 billion
- Capex: around $9 billion
Ford also highlighted the impact of a fire at a Novelis aluminum plant, which is expected to cut 90,000–100,000 units of production in Q4 2025. To help recover lost F‑Series volume and meet strong demand, Ford plans to add up to 1,000 jobs and ramp F‑Series production over time. [19]
Overall, Q3 confirmed that Ford’s legacy and commercial businesses can generate substantial cash even as EV investments weigh on margins.
EV supply chain and rare‑earths: a quiet but important December update
On the same date as the SK On announcement, Ford disclosed that some of its rare‑earth suppliers were included in China’s first batch of new export licenses under a streamlined regime. [20]
While details are limited, this suggests that:
- Ford’s magnet and motor supply chain for EVs and hybrids has, at least for now, avoided the worst‑case outcome of being blocked by export controls.
- The risk is reduced but not eliminated: the license system can still be tightened or used as leverage in trade disputes.
Together with its move to LFP batteries (which use no nickel or cobalt) and its U.S. battery plants, Ford is clearly trying to de‑risk its materials exposure, but geopolitical supply risk remains a structural overhang for the entire EV sector.
What Wall Street expects: Ford stock forecasts and ratings
Despite the strong 2025 rally, most Wall Street analysts still see Ford as a “Hold” rather than a clear‑cut bargain or growth story.
Different aggregators show slightly different numbers, but they broadly agree on three points: current valuation is close to “fair value,” downside and upside are both plausible, and opinions are widely dispersed.
Recent snapshots:
- ValueInvesting.io (31 analysts)
- Average 12‑month target:$12.62
- Range:$9.90 – $17.16
- Consensus rating:HOLD
- Implied downside of about 6% from a spot price of $13.41. [21]
- StockAnalysis.com (13 analysts)
- Average target:$12.08
- Range:$7 – $14
- Implied downside near 10% vs the latest quote, with a “Hold” consensus. [22]
- MarketBeat (17 analysts)
- Consensus target: around $12.04
- Consensus rating:“Hold”, with only a handful of Buy ratings and multiple Sells. [23]
- Fintel/Nasdaq data
- Average 1‑year target about $12.62, with a range of $9.90–$17.16, implying roughly 3% downside from a recent close around $13.03. [24]
On top of the aggregates, Morgan Stanley’s Adam Jonas recently raised his price target from $11 to $14, while maintaining an Equal‑Weight rating, effectively saying that even at higher prices, Ford still looks neither clearly cheap nor clearly expensive versus the market. [25]
Earnings and revenue forecasts
Looking at Street forecasts compiled by StockAnalysis and ValueInvesting.io: [26]
- 2025 revenue is projected around $176 billion, down about 4–5% from 2024.
- 2026 revenue is expected to tick up slightly to roughly $178 billion.
- EPS 2025 is forecast near $1.07–1.08, down more than 25% from 2024 as EV and restructuring costs weigh on profits.
- EPS 2026 is projected around $1.49–1.51, implying ~40% EPS growth if execution stays on track.
In other words, analysts see 2025 as a digestion year, with a rebound in earnings power starting in 2026 as cost actions, price discipline and more efficient EV platforms begin to show up in the bottom line.
Dividend profile: still one of the richer yields in large‑cap autos
Ford has a long history of paying dividends through cycles, occasionally suspending or cutting during crises (for example, during the pandemic) and then restoring payouts.
The current run‑rate: [27]
- Quarterly dividend: $0.15 per share
- Annualized dividend: $0.60 per share
- Indicated yield: ~4.5% at a $13.40 share price
- Payout ratio: around 50% of forecast 2025 EPS, based on consensus estimates near $1.20–1.30 for this year and next.
Some providers (such as Morningstar) estimate a total yield near 5.8% when incorporating both ordinary dividends and one‑off or variable payouts over time. [28]
For income‑oriented investors, Ford’s appeal is clear: a mid‑single‑digit yield from a company that is still solidly profitable and cash‑generative, albeit in a cyclical and capital‑intensive industry.
Institutional flows: fresh buying in Q2 filings
Institutional activity can provide a secondary check on market sentiment. A recent MarketBeat report highlighted that Nebula Research & Development LLC bought 388,399 Ford shares in the second quarter, worth roughly $4.2 million, while several other funds—including NewEdge Advisors, Albar Capital Partners and Stamos Capital Partners—also increased or initiated positions. [29]
Overall, institutional investors and hedge funds collectively hold close to 59% of Ford’s outstanding shares, indicating that the stock remains a core holding in many diversified value and income portfolios. [30]
Individual blocks like Nebula’s should not be over‑interpreted, but they are consistent with a broader narrative of cautious but improving institutional confidence after Ford’s 2025 execution and stock performance.
Key risks that could still derail the bull case
Even after a strong year, Ford remains a cyclical, levered industrial facing structural changes in its market. Key risks investors are watching include:
- EV demand volatility
Ford’s CEO has previously warned that U.S. EV sales could fall sharply following the expiration of certain tax credits, and the SK On restructuring underscores how quickly demand and policy can shift. [31] - Execution risk in EV and battery investments
The new Universal EV Platform, Louisville upgrades, LFP battery plants and Kentucky battery facilities represent multi‑billion‑dollar bets. Delays, cost overruns or disappointing margins could erode the anticipated earnings recovery. - Macro and interest‑rate sensitivity
Autos are highly sensitive to interest rates and consumer credit conditions. MarketBeat data show Ford’s debt‑to‑equity ratio at about 2.2, making it more exposed to funding costs and economic downturns than some peers. [32] - Regulatory and trade risk
From rare‑earth export controls to tariffs and evolving CO₂ rules, Ford operates in one of the most heavily regulated and politicized industries on the planet. Recent Chinese export license news helps, but does not eliminate supply chain risk. [33] - Segment mix and Model e losses
Ford Pro and Ford Blue are profitable, but Model e (EVs) remains loss‑making, with losses running in the multi‑billion‑dollar range on a year‑to‑date basis. The longer it takes for EV programs to reach scale and profitability, the more pressure on group margins. [34]
Is Ford stock a buy right now?
As of 11 December 2025, Ford stock sits at an interesting intersection:
- The business:
- Record revenue, solid cash generation and a powerful commercial franchise in Ford Pro.
- Elevated but manageable leverage and sizable restructuring/EV investment needs.
- The strategy:
- A clear shift toward affordable EVs, multi‑energy offerings and capital‑light partnerships (e.g., Renault in Europe).
- A willingness to renegotiate or unwind deals (as with SK On) when market realities demand it.
- The valuation:
- A single‑digit or low‑double‑digit earnings multiple and a 4–6% dividend yield.
- Analyst targets that, on average, sit slightly below the current share price, with a “Hold” consensus and a wide range of bull and bear cases.
Taken together, Ford in December 2025 looks less like a classic deep‑value bargain and more like a cyclical, income‑oriented holding where returns will be driven by:
- Management’s ability to execute the EV and restructuring roadmap
- Macro conditions in autos and credit
- How quickly Ford can turn today’s EV losses into sustainable profits without sacrificing its strong positions in trucks, vans and commercial fleets.
For investors comfortable with those risks, Ford offers meaningful income and moderate upside potential if the 2026+ earnings recovery plays out. For those looking for high‑growth EV exposure or low‑beta defensiveness, the stock is unlikely to fit the bill.
References
1. www.marketbeat.com, 2. www.marketbeat.com, 3. www.fool.com, 4. www.marketbeat.com, 5. www.reuters.com, 6. www.reuters.com, 7. media.ford.com, 8. media.ford.com, 9. media.ford.com, 10. media.ford.com, 11. www.fromtheroad.ford.com, 12. www.fromtheroad.ford.com, 13. s205.q4cdn.com, 14. s205.q4cdn.com, 15. www.investing.com, 16. s205.q4cdn.com, 17. s205.q4cdn.com, 18. s205.q4cdn.com, 19. s205.q4cdn.com, 20. www.marketscreener.com, 21. valueinvesting.io, 22. stockanalysis.com, 23. www.marketbeat.com, 24. www.nasdaq.com, 25. www.gurufocus.com, 26. stockanalysis.com, 27. www.marketbeat.com, 28. www.morningstar.com, 29. www.marketbeat.com, 30. www.marketbeat.com, 31. www.reuters.com, 32. www.marketbeat.com, 33. www.marketscreener.com, 34. www.alpha-sense.com
