Citigroup Optimistic on GM's EV Cost Realignment, Raises Price Target to $98
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 12 2026
0mins
Should l Buy GM?
Source: CNBC
- Earnings Growth Outlook: Citigroup analysts believe that General Motors' fourth-quarter electric vehicle cost realignment will support profit margins and earnings growth, with the 2026 earnings estimate raised from $11.50 to $12.25, indicating sustained improvement in profitability.
- Price Target Increase: Citigroup raised GM's 12-month price target by 12% from $86 to $98, reflecting analysts' optimistic outlook on the company's future performance, with the new target approximately 18% above Friday's closing price.
- One-Time Charge Impact: GM will incur a $6 billion one-time charge in the fourth quarter to realign electric vehicle costs and capacity, primarily for settling contract cancellations and supplier settlements, which will lower future operating expenses and enhance financial performance.
- Market Share Gains: GM's production and pricing have exceeded expectations, and Citigroup believes that market share gains, improved product alignment with market trends, and cost reductions will justify a higher valuation multiple, reflecting the company's competitive advantage post-pandemic.
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Analyst Views on GM
Wall Street analysts forecast GM stock price to rise
19 Analyst Rating
14 Buy
4 Hold
1 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 78.800
Low
57.00
Averages
95.06
High
122.00
Current: 78.800
Low
57.00
Averages
95.06
High
122.00
About GM
General Motors Company designs, builds and sells trucks, crossovers, cars and automobile parts and provides software-enabled services and subscriptions worldwide. The Company's segments include GMNA, GMI and GM Financial. Its GM North America (GMNA) and GM International (GMI) segment develop, manufacture and/or markets vehicles under the Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC brands. The Company's GM Financial segment provides automotive financing and related services. The Company is also focused on investing in electric vehicles (EVs) and autonomous vehicles (Avs), software-enabled services and subscriptions and new business opportunities. The Company's portfolio includes OnStar, GM Energy, GM Insurance, GM Genuine Parts, and the GM Company Store. Its OnStar portfolio offers safety, connectivity and hands-free driver assistance technologies. Its GM Energy provides Home EV Charging, Public EV Charging, Vehicle-To-Home and Energy Storage services.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Transformation Strategy: The company stated that these layoffs are part of a strategy to better position its Information Technology organization for the future, and despite the cuts, GM continues to hire for IT roles, reflecting ongoing investments in artificial intelligence and autonomous vehicles.
- Employee Support Commitment: GM expressed gratitude towards affected employees and committed to supporting them during the transition, demonstrating a sense of responsibility towards its workforce amid structural changes.
- Historical Layoff Context: Over the past few years, GM has routinely reassessed its salaried workforce based on expected needs and skill sets, having laid off over 200 CAD engineers last October, showcasing the company's flexibility in responding to market changes.
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- Layoff Timing: The layoffs began on Monday, reflecting GM's proactive approach to reduce redundancies and optimize operations in response to market changes and internal efficiency pressures.
- Company Confirmation: While GM has confirmed the layoff plans, it has not disclosed specific details, which may lead to employee unrest and raise concerns about the company's future strategic direction.
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- Layoff Scale: General Motors is laying off approximately 500 to 600 IT employees globally, primarily in Austin, Texas, and Warren, Michigan, indicating the company's commitment to reevaluating workforce needs and cutting costs.
- Transformation Strategy: The company stated that these layoffs are part of a strategy to better position its Information Technology organization for the future, and despite the cuts, GM continues to hire for IT roles, reflecting ongoing investments in artificial intelligence and autonomous vehicles.
- Employee Support Commitment: GM expressed gratitude towards affected employees and committed to supporting them during the transition, demonstrating a sense of responsibility towards its workforce amid structural changes.
- Historical Layoff Context: Over the past few years, GM has routinely reassessed its salaried workforce based on expected needs and skill sets, having laid off over 200 CAD engineers last October, showcasing the company's flexibility in responding to market changes.
See More
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- Layoff Announcement: General Motors is cutting 500 to 600 jobs in its IT department as part of a broader cost-saving strategy, with management notifying affected employees starting Monday, which will impact its global workforce.
- Ongoing Losses: The company is grappling with significant losses in the EV sector, projecting an $8.5 billion loss in 2025 due to various charges, and taking a $1.1 billion charge in Q1 related to EV spending cuts, highlighting its struggles in the electric vehicle market.
- Market Reaction: GM's shares fell nearly 4% in midday trading, and the stock has lost about 7% year-to-date, despite a 52% gain over the past 12 months, indicating investor concerns about the company's future outlook.
- Industry Trends: As EV demand weakens, global automakers are also implementing layoffs, with Nissan and Porsche cutting approximately 500 and 900 jobs respectively, reflecting the high-cost challenges faced across the industry.
See More
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- Layoff Scale: General Motors is laying off approximately 500 to 600 employees in its IT department, primarily affecting locations in Austin, Texas, and Warren, Michigan, indicating decisive action in reevaluating workforce needs.
- Layoff Timing: The layoffs began on Monday, reflecting GM's proactive approach to reduce redundancies and optimize operations in response to market changes and internal efficiency pressures.
- Company Confirmation: While GM has confirmed the layoff plans, it has not disclosed specific details, which may lead to employee unrest and raise concerns about the company's future strategic direction.
- Strategic Adjustment: This layoff is part of GM's broader strategy to reassess its business structure and operational efficiency, aiming to enhance overall competitiveness and adaptability in the market.
See More
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- Privacy Settlement: General Motors has agreed to pay $12.75 million to settle a California lawsuit alleging the unauthorized sale of OnStar users' personal and driving data, highlighting significant failures in the company's data privacy practices.
- Scope of Data Collection: The allegations state that between 2016 and 2024, GM collected driving and vehicle-related data from hundreds of thousands of California OnStar subscribers, including names, phone numbers, home addresses, vehicle speeds, and GPS location data, severely infringing on user privacy rights.
- Future Compliance Measures: The settlement requires GM to prohibit the sale of driving data to consumer reporting agencies for five years and mandates the deletion of retained driving data within 180 days, ensuring greater transparency and compliance in data handling.
- Establishment of Privacy Program: GM must implement a privacy program to identify, mitigate, and document risks associated with OnStar data collection practices, and submit privacy assessments to the California Department of Justice, thereby enhancing consumer trust and regulatory compliance.
See More
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- Tech Stock Investment Potential: With an investment of $1,000, it is recommended to buy shares of Alphabet, Nvidia, and Apple, as they are expected to continue outperforming the market over the next decade, particularly in the booming AI and cloud computing sectors.
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- Nvidia's Competitive Edge: Nvidia (NVDA), valued at $5.2 trillion, remains the gold standard for AI model training with its GPUs, and its rapid product development cycle and widely used CUDA software platform ensure its dominant market position.
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