Major US Averages Mixed as Unemployment Rate Rises to 4.6%
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Dec 16 2025
0mins
Should l Buy F?
The major averages had a mixed day as traders reacted to delayed jobs data that could influence the Federal Reserve's interest-rate path next year. Though November's jobs report came in better-than-expected, with an increase of 64,000 jobs for the month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics also reported that 105,000 jobs were shed in October, with the unemployment rate climbing to 4.6%.Record highs earlier in December have given way to a softer backdrop as investors weigh the release of the delayed nonfarm payrolls and other indicators like retail sales and CPI inflation, which were postponed by the longest U.S. government shutdown in history.Looking to commodities, gold was mostly unchanged, while oil fell sharply ahead of API crude numbers set for release this afternoon.Get caught up quickly on the top news and calls moving stocks with these five Top Five lists.1. STOCK NEWS:Fordsaid it expectsto "rationalize" U.S. EV-related assetsPfizerreiterated its guidance for FY25 and provided aPayPalhas submitted applications toApplewill expand its iPhone lineup to seven models by 2027,The U.S. Trade Representative said it will use "every tool" to2. WALL STREET CALLS:Rokuto Overweight from Underweight at Morgan StanleyLockheed Martinto Equal Weight at Morgan StanleyOktato Buy at JefferiesStubHubto Market Perform at CitizensWells FargoGapto Overweight3. AROUND THE WEB:Apollo Globalis exploring a potential sale of Atlas Air,Trump is slated to interview Fed governor Christopher Waller on Tuesday for the position of Fed chair,Oraclesigned roughly $150B of data center leases in the three months ending November 30, raising its total data center and cloud capacity commitments to $248B,Metaearned more than $18B in annual ad sales from China in 2024, making up over 10% of its global revenue, with more than $3B linked to fraudulent ads, like for scams,The U.K. government wants Apple, Google, and others to block explicit images at the OS level by default to protect kids and have adults verify their ages,4. MOVERS:Cementos Pacasmayoincreases in New York after announcingof the Hochschild Group, which controls 50.01% of the companyRezolve AIgains in New York afterannual recurring revenue view of $500M or moreAldeyrahigher after announcing thetarget action date for the reproxalap New Drug ApplicationLightwave Logicfalls after announcing anNavanlower after announcing the departure of5. EARNINGS/GUIDANCE:Vestisreaffirmed itsVital Farmsfor FY25Organigram, with Executive Chair Peter Amirault calling fiscal 2025 "marked by purposeful growth"Humanafor FY25CSP Inc., with EPS and revenue higher year-over-yearINDEXES:The Dow fell 302.30, or 0.62%, to 48,114.26, the Nasdaq gained 54.05, or 0.23%, to 23,111.46, and the S&P 500 declined 16.25, or 0.24%, to 6,800.26.
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Analyst Views on F
Wall Street analysts forecast F stock price to rise
14 Analyst Rating
3 Buy
10 Hold
1 Sell
Hold
Current: 12.240
Low
11.00
Averages
13.65
High
16.00
Current: 12.240
Low
11.00
Averages
13.65
High
16.00
About F
Ford Motor Company is an automobile company. The Company develops and delivers Ford trucks, sport utility vehicles, commercial vans and cars, and Lincoln luxury vehicles, along with connected services. The Company’s segments include Ford Blue, Ford Model e, Ford Pro, and Ford Credit. The Ford Blue segment primarily includes the sale of Ford and Lincoln internal combustion engine (ICE) and hybrid vehicles, service parts, accessories, and digital services for retail customers. The Ford Model e segment primarily includes the sale of its electric vehicles, service parts, accessories, and digital services for retail customers. The Ford Pro segment primarily includes the sale of Ford and Lincoln vehicles, service parts, accessories, and services for commercial, government, and rental customers. The Ford Credit segment consists of the Ford Credit business on a consolidated basis, which is primarily vehicle-related financing and leasing activities. Its vehicle brands are Ford and Lincoln.
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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See More
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- Revenue Growth Strategy: The commercial division saw a 30% increase in paid software subscriptions, indicating that the Pro business is evolving by diversifying revenue streams and building a high-margin service infrastructure, with projected EBIT of $6.5M to $7.5M and a 10.3% profit margin by FY26.
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- Enhanced Market Competitiveness: By launching Pro AI, Ford not only strengthens its competitive position in the commercial fleet management market but also lays the groundwork for a future high-margin software and service portfolio, reinforcing its market position in electric vehicles and smart technologies.
See More
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See More
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- Market Expansion Partnership: Zoox has entered a multi-year partnership with Uber to launch its robotaxi service in Las Vegas this summer, with plans to expand to Los Angeles next year, indicating Amazon's growing confidence in the autonomous driving market.
- Competitive Landscape Analysis: While Zoox has provided over 300,000 free rides in Las Vegas and San Francisco, it lags behind competitors like Waymo, which has surpassed 400,000 weekly rides across six U.S. cities, highlighting the intense competition in the market.
- Enhanced User Experience: Zoox CEO Aicha Evans stated that this partnership will offer a differentiated riding experience for Uber users, aiming to enhance passenger convenience and satisfaction by leveraging Uber's user base alongside Zoox's technological advantages.
- Regulatory Challenges Addressed: Zoox is seeking an exemption from U.S. regulators to commercially deploy 2,500 robotaxis on U.S. roads, having only received approval for research and demonstration purposes, reflecting the compliance challenges it faces in scaling operations.
See More
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- Platform Innovation: Ford's introduction of the 'Universal EV Platform' aims to lower electric vehicle costs through innovative design and production methods, expected to support multiple new models, marking the most significant change since the Model T.
- New Model Plans: The first electric pickup based on this platform is expected to launch next year with a starting price around $30,000, followed by various electric SUVs and sedans planned for completion by the end of the decade.
- Market Competition Strategy: Ford's EV platform will help it navigate potential regulatory changes in the future while competing with low-cost EV manufacturers like BYD, enhancing its global market share.
- Investment Scale and Outlook: Ford's $5 billion investment in this platform is seen as an effective strategy to address the slowdown in U.S. EV sales, and despite challenges, it is expected to yield positive market returns.
See More
