Ford in Talks with Xiaomi for U.S. Market Entry
Catch up on the weekend's top five stories with this list compiled by The Fly: 1) Ford (F) held discussions with Xiaomi (XIACF) over a partnership to help Chinese carmakers gain a foothold in the U.S., Demetri Sevastopulo, Christian Davies, Kana Inagaki, and Gloria Li of The Financial Times reports, citing four people familiar with the matter. During preliminary discussions, Ford explored forming a joint venture with Xiaomi to create EVs in the U.S., the sources added. Ford has also discussed with BYD (BYDDF) about a potential U.S. collaboration. 2) Oracle (ORCL) announced its full calendar year 2026 plan to fund the expansion of its Oracle Cloud Infrastructure business. Oracle is raising money in order to build additional capacity to meet the contracted demand from its largest Oracle Cloud Infrastructure customers. Oracle expects to raise $45 to $50 billion of gross cash proceeds during the 2026 calendar year. The company plans to achieve its funding objective by using a balanced combination of debt and equity financing to maintain a solid investment-grade balance sheet. 3) Pharming (PHAR) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA, has issued a Complete Response Letter, CRL, to its supplemental New Drug Application, sNDA, for Joenja, an oral, selective phosphoinositide 3-kinase delta inhibitor, as a treatment for children aged 4 to 11 years with activated phosphoinositide 3-kinase delta syndrome, APDS, a rare primary immunodeficiency. The FDA raised an issue with the potential for underexposure in lower weight pediatric patients. As a result, the FDA has requested additional pediatric pharmacokinetic data to reassess the proposed pediatric doses and confirm that children in the lower weight dose groups can achieve exposure levels comparable to the approved adult and adolescent regimen. The letter also identified an issue with one of the analytical methods used for production batch testing, and the FDA requested additional data and clarification on this point. 4) Carlyle (CG) has started exploratory talks with UAE investors to bring in partners should its agreement to purchase Lukoil's international assets proceed, Shadia Nasralla and Anna Hirtenstein of Reuters reports, citing three sources with knowledge of the process. 5) Bain Capital (BCSF) has finalized plans to acquire FineToday in a deal set to be worth $1.29B, Reuters reports, citing Nikkei. CVC Capital Partners intends to divest all of FineToday's shares.
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- e-Power Hybrid System: Nissan plans to introduce its new e-Power hybrid system in the U.S. market, which uses a traditional gasoline engine to generate power for electric motors, providing an all-electric driving experience and potentially enhancing Nissan's competitiveness in the hybrid market.
- Market Timing: With rising gas prices and slow EV adoption, Nissan's e-Power system is expected to meet consumer demands for fuel economy, as S&P Global Mobility forecasts hybrid sales to rise to 18.4% of new vehicle sales in 2023, a significant increase from last year.
- Powertrain Upgrade: Nissan has developed a more powerful 1.5-liter three-cylinder turbocharged engine for the e-Power system to improve efficiency at higher speeds and enhance driving dynamics, aiming to attract consumers who are hesitant about traditional hybrids.
- Global Success: Since its debut in Japan in 2016, Nissan's e-Power system has sold over 1.6 million vehicles in nearly 70 countries, demonstrating its global success and potential for similar recognition in the U.S. market.
- Investment Background: NASCAR star Joey Logano has purchased an ownership stake in Huntersville Ford in North Carolina, indicating his intent to leverage his racing influence to boost car sales, particularly given his long-standing relationship with Ford.
- Business Insights: Logano stated that through collaboration with the Kraus Automotive Group, he is learning the operations of a car dealership, especially how to translate racing success into sales performance, thereby enhancing customer experience and market competitiveness.
- Brand Strategy: He emphasized the concept of 'win on Sunday, sell on Monday,' highlighting the close connection between racing and car sales, aiming to enhance brand image to drive sales growth and further solidify Ford's market position.
- Future Outlook: Logano is optimistic about his career trajectory, planning to remain involved in the automotive industry after his racing career, utilizing the relationships and experiences he has built in racing to drive business development at Huntersville Ford.
- Ford's Stock Decline: As of March 18, 2026, Ford's share price has dropped by 10%, indicating unfavorable market performance; despite its F-Series pickups being the best-selling vehicles in America for 44 consecutive years, this has not translated into strong financial results.
- Ford's Financial Outlook: Analysts project Ford's revenue to grow at a compound annual rate of less than 1.8% over the next three years, with an adjusted operating margin of only 3.6% in 2025, leading to investor disappointment regarding long-term returns.
- Ferrari's Exceptional Performance: Ferrari's stock has surged 674% over the past decade, currently trading at a forward P/E of 29.6; despite its premium price, the luxury brand's focus on wealthy buyers results in less cyclical demand and strong pricing power.
- Ferrari's Financial Strength: In 2025, Ferrari's revenue increased by 7%, with an impressive average operating margin of 27% over the past five years, highlighting its brand value and profitability, giving it a clear competitive edge over Ford.
- Ford's Market Position: Ford's F-Series pickups were once again the best-selling vehicles in America in 2025, maintaining this position for 44 consecutive years; however, its stock price has dropped 10% in 2026, indicating poor long-term financial performance.
- Weak Financial Growth: Analysts project Ford's revenue to grow at a compound annual rate of less than 1.8% over the next three years, with an adjusted operating margin of only 3.6% in 2025, leading to investor disappointment regarding future returns.
- Ferrari's Brand Power: Ferrari's stock has surged 674% over the past decade, currently trading at a forward P/E of 29.6; despite its high valuation, its focus on the luxury market results in less cyclical demand, showcasing strong pricing power.
- Profitability Comparison: Ferrari achieved a 7% revenue increase in 2025, with an average operating margin of 27% over the past five years, highlighting its advantages in brand strength, pricing power, and steady growth, positioning it to deliver higher returns for shareholders in the next five years.
- Ford's Stock Decline: As of March 18, 2026, Ford's stock has dropped 10%, indicating a decline in market competitiveness; despite its F-Series pickups being the best-selling vehicles in America for 44 consecutive years, this has not translated into strong financial performance.
- Ferrari's Strong Financials: Over the past decade, Ferrari's stock has surged 674%, and its revenue increased by 7% in 2025, demonstrating robust pricing power and stable growth potential, even amidst challenges from shifting trade policies.
- Valuation Discrepancies: Ford's forward P/E ratio stands at 8.1, indicating a cheap valuation, but its lack of growth results in poor investor returns; in contrast, Ferrari's forward P/E is 29.6, suggesting a premium valuation that reflects its brand strength and scarcity, making it a more attractive investment option.
- Investor Return Comparison: Ford has only delivered a total return of 50% over the past decade, while Ferrari, with its brand and pricing power, is expected to generate higher returns for shareholders in the next five years, highlighting Ferrari's clear investment advantage.
- Scale of Arms Sales: The Trump administration is advancing approximately $23 billion in arms sales to the UAE, Kuwait, and Jordan, aimed at bolstering their defenses amid escalating Middle East conflicts, highlighting U.S. commitment to regional security.
- Investment in Air Defense: Over $16 billion of the deal is allocated for air-defense systems, munitions, and radar equipment, enhancing the military capabilities of these nations and improving interoperability with U.S. Joint Forces and other regional forces.
- Emergency Clause Utilization: The U.S. government invoked the emergency clause of arms control law for some transactions, allowing them to proceed without the standard 30-day congressional review, reflecting an urgent need to address regional security threats.
- Future Threat Preparedness: The arms sales not only enhance the Gulf nations' capabilities to meet current and future threats but also include $5.6 billion worth of Patriot PAC-3 missiles and approximately $1.32 billion in CH-47 helicopters, further solidifying U.S. strategic influence in the region.











