GE Healthcare Expands Contract with BARDA to $35M
Catch up on the top industries and stocks that were impacted, or were predicted to be impacted, by the comments, actions and policies of President Donald Trump with this daily recap compiled by The Fly.CHINA-U.S. CAR PARTNERSHIPS:FordCEO Jim Farley spoke with senior White House officials about a potential roadmap for Chinese car makers to manufacture vehicles in the U.S. by partnering with American car companies, Bloomberg's David Welch, Keith Naughton, and Jenny Leonard, citing people familiar with the discussions. The rough framework that was talked about between Farley and Trump administration cabinet members last month would let Chinese automakers build vehicles in the U.S. through joint ventures with domestic automakers in which the U.S. firm holds a controlling interest, the authors say. Other publicly traded companies in the space include BYD, Geely, General Motors, Honda, Lucid Group, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Rivian, Stellantis, Tesla, Toyotaand Volkswagen.METAL TARIFF:White House officials said there will not be any alterations to President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs on steel and aluminum and thousands of other products made from such metals unless the president himself announces any changes, Reuters' David Lawder. A Trump administration official, in response to reporting that said the U.S. was planning to scale back tariffs on some steel and aluminum goods with certain exemptions, said that Trump "will never compromise on reinvigorating the domestic manufacturing that is critical to our national and economic security, especially steel and aluminum production," the author says. The official added that the White House was implementing "a nimble and nuanced tariff agenda" to increase U.S. output in the steel, aluminum and other manufacturing industries, the author notes. Publicly traded companies in the steel space include ArcelorMittal, Cleveland-Cliffs, Nucor, Steel Dynamicsand U.S. Steel. Publicly traded companies in the aluminum space include Alcoa, Kaiser Aluminum, and Century Aluminum.BARDA CONTRACT:GE HealthCareannounced a new approximately $35M expansion to a previous contract with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, or BARDA, part of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, or ASPR, within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, or HHS. The expansion is structured as a cost-share between BARDA and GE HealthCare, with BARDA providing the majority of funding. This jointly funded expanded agreement builds on the existing program announced in October 2023 and reflects continued momentum to develop artificial intelligence-powered ultrasound solutions and new platforms to support trauma assessment and preparedness for mass casualty incidents.
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- Electrification Challenges: Ford faced $19.5 billion in losses on its first-gen EVs, and despite demand falling short of expectations, the company is pivoting to develop a new universal electric vehicle platform, planning to launch a midsize electric pickup priced around $30,000, aiming for profitability from the outset.
- Manufacturing Efficiency Gains: The new platform reduces total parts by 20% and cuts 40% of process workstations on the factory floor, allowing Ford to lower production costs through streamlined manufacturing processes, thereby enhancing overall profitability.
- Battery Cost Control: Ford opts for lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, which are cheaper and safer, as batteries account for over 40% of an EV's total cost; reducing battery costs is crucial for Ford to achieve profitability in its electric vehicle lineup.
- Market Risks and Opportunities: Although EV penetration in the U.S. is only 6%-8%, Ford remains optimistic about the midsize electric pickup's market potential, believing it meets consumer demand for affordability and utility, potentially filling a market gap and driving sales growth.
- Critical Price Point: Multiple automakers have confirmed that the $35,000 to $50,000 price range is essential for mass-market EV adoption, with Rivian and Ford specifically targeting this segment in their strategic plans.
- Lack of Options: Despite years of EV development, industry executives acknowledge a surprising lack of compelling choices at accessible price points, making the options significantly fewer compared to internal combustion engine vehicles.
- Demand Fluctuations: While near-term consumer demand has softened, particularly following policy changes like the elimination of tax credits, automakers remain confident in the long-term potential for EV adoption, believing the market still holds promise.
- Cost Reduction Focus: All companies emphasize ongoing efforts to reduce battery costs, manufacturing expenses, and overall vehicle costs to achieve profitability at lower price points, ensuring competitiveness in the future market.
- Strategic Shift: Ford Motor (F) is pivoting from large, expensive EVs to smaller, more affordable models after incurring significant losses, aiming to introduce EVs starting at $30K to better align with market demands.
- New Model Launch: The company plans to release a mid-size electric truck, potentially named Ranchero, in 2027 for the 2028 model year, positioning it competitively below the F-150 Lightning in the electric truck market.
- Platform Innovation: This new electric truck will be Ford's first vehicle built on its Universal Electric Vehicle platform, representing a technological advancement aimed at reducing production costs through system simplification and fewer components.
- Charging Ecosystem: Ford is introducing an in-house designed fully electric vehicle charging ecosystem with bi-directional charging capabilities, enhancing user experience and promoting global EV adoption, thereby strengthening its competitive position in the market.
- Spotify User Growth: Spotify added 29 million paid subscribers this quarter, with Monthly Active Users (MAU) growing 11% year-over-year, demonstrating its appeal in a competitive market; despite a 4% decline in ad revenue, its operating margin exceeding 15% indicates significant progress in profitability.
- Datadog Financial Performance: Datadog reported nearly 30% year-over-year sales growth in Q4, and despite facing AI competition pressures, management emphasized that AI-driven innovations will help attract more complex customers, suggesting resilience in its business model amid current challenges and potential for higher future charges.
- Ferrari Market Reaction: After experiencing a record stock price drop, Ferrari's Q4 earnings revealed strong performance, with shares rising about 10%, and management reaffirmed that its order book extends into 2027, indicating sustained brand appeal and pricing power in the luxury market.
- Industry Outlook: Despite concerns about AI disruption in the software sector, analysts believe that strong management teams and innovation capabilities will enable Spotify, Datadog, and Ferrari to maintain competitive advantages in the evolving consumer demand and technological landscape.
- Electrical Architecture Innovation: Ford's adoption of a 48-volt electrical architecture is expected to enhance production efficiency for its electric pickup by reducing parts by 20% and workstations by 40%, significantly lowering production costs and improving market competitiveness.
- Market Competition Strategy: Ford plans to launch a small electric pickup starting at $30,000 in 2027, aiming to compete against Tesla and rapidly expanding Chinese brands, thereby promoting broader EV adoption.
- Production Efficiency Improvement: The new electric pickup's wiring harness will be over 4,000 feet shorter and 22 pounds lighter than that of the first-generation electric SUV, and combined with new technologies, assembly time will be reduced by 15%, enhancing overall production efficiency.
- Future Development Vision: CEO Jim Farley describes this transformation as a

- Joint Venture Proposal: Ford CEO Jim Farley met with senior officials from the Trump administration during the Detroit Auto Show to propose a framework allowing Chinese automakers to manufacture vehicles in the U.S. through joint ventures, ensuring American companies retain a controlling stake, thereby fostering collaboration in the automotive sector.
- Market Competition Dynamics: Ford has been surpassed by BYD in global sales, indicating pressure in market competition; however, with a value score of 87.86, Ford remains attractively valued relative to its industry peers, reflecting potential during its fundamental transition.
- Financial Health Status: With a quality score of 75.64, Ford benefits from a robust balance sheet and consistent operational efficiency across its core segments, providing a solid foundation as it navigates global competition and shifting market dynamics.
- Stock Performance: Ford shares were down 0.46% at $14.05 on Tuesday, approaching a 52-week high of $14.50, indicating market attention and expectations regarding its future performance.








