Three Reasons General Motors Continues to Thrive
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 3 hours ago
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Source: Yahoo Finance
- Shareholder Return Strategy: General Motors has repurchased approximately 500 million shares valued at $30 billion over the past five years, and while its 0.9% dividend yield is lower than Ford's 4.2%, its total shareholder yield stands at an impressive 7.6%, showcasing the strength of its buyback strategy.
- Software Revenue Growth: GM's OnStar and Super Cruise services generated about $2.7 billion in revenue last year, with expectations to reach $3.1 billion this year, alongside $5.4 billion in deferred revenue, indicating that its software business is becoming a significant source of recurring income.
- Electric Vehicle Profitability Outlook: Despite ongoing profitability challenges in the EV sector, GM's investment in LMR battery chemistry is expected to lead to EV profitability within three to five years, reversing billions in annual losses and enhancing overall financial performance.
- Market Valuation Increase: GM's price-to-earnings ratio is around 30x, significantly higher than the typical 10x for traditional automakers, reflecting market recognition of its growth potential and suggesting it will continue to outperform the broader market.
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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: 78.530
Low
57.00
Averages
95.06
High
122.00
Current: 78.530
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.
- Shareholder Return Strategy: General Motors has repurchased approximately 500 million shares valued at $30 billion over the past five years, and despite a modest 0.9% dividend yield, its total shareholder yield stands at an impressive 7.6%, indicating the strength of its buyback strategy that is expected to continue attracting investor interest.
- Software Revenue Growth: GM's OnStar and Super Cruise businesses generated around $2.7 billion in revenue last year, with expectations to grow to $3.1 billion this year, alongside $5.4 billion in deferred revenue, highlighting the company's increasing long-term profitability potential in software services.
- Electric Vehicle Profitability Outlook: While electric vehicles currently face profitability challenges, GM's investment in LMR battery chemistry is expected to lead to EV profitability within three to five years, reversing billions in annual losses and significantly enhancing the company's overall financial performance.
- Market Valuation Increase: GM's price-to-earnings ratio is around 30x, significantly higher than the typical 10x for traditional automakers, reflecting market recognition of its future growth potential, and it is expected to continue outperforming the broader market over the next three to five years.
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- Significant Buyback Strategy: Over the past five years, GM has repurchased approximately 500 million shares valued at $30 billion, significantly enhancing earnings per share and boosting investor confidence, with expectations for continued stock price appreciation.
- Software Revenue Growth: GM generated about $2.7 billion in revenue from OnStar and Super Cruise last year, with projections to increase to $3.1 billion this year, highlighting its potential in high-margin software services.
- Electric Vehicle Profitability Outlook: GM anticipates achieving profitability in electric vehicles within three to five years, as management focuses on LMR battery chemistry to reduce costs, potentially reversing billions in annual losses and improving overall financial performance.
- Market Valuation Increase: GM's price-to-earnings ratio has reached 30x, significantly higher than the typical 10x for traditional automakers, reflecting market recognition of its growth potential and expectations to continue outperforming the broader market.
See More
- Shareholder Return Strategy: General Motors has repurchased approximately 500 million shares valued at $30 billion over the past five years, and while its 0.9% dividend yield is lower than Ford's 4.2%, its total shareholder yield stands at an impressive 7.6%, showcasing the strength of its buyback strategy.
- Software Revenue Growth: GM's OnStar and Super Cruise services generated about $2.7 billion in revenue last year, with expectations to reach $3.1 billion this year, alongside $5.4 billion in deferred revenue, indicating that its software business is becoming a significant source of recurring income.
- Electric Vehicle Profitability Outlook: Despite ongoing profitability challenges in the EV sector, GM's investment in LMR battery chemistry is expected to lead to EV profitability within three to five years, reversing billions in annual losses and enhancing overall financial performance.
- Market Valuation Increase: GM's price-to-earnings ratio is around 30x, significantly higher than the typical 10x for traditional automakers, reflecting market recognition of its growth potential and suggesting it will continue to outperform the broader market.
See More
- Market Share Forecast: Morgan Stanley analysts predict that sodium-ion batteries will capture 20% of the battery market share by 2030 and 37% by 2035, highlighting their significant role in the future battery landscape.
- Cost Advantage: Sodium-ion batteries are 30% to 40% cheaper than lithium iron phosphate batteries and perform better in cold weather, providing a competitive edge that accelerates their adoption in the market.
- Market Size Expansion: The global market for sodium-ion batteries is expected to reach 830 gigawatt-hours by 2030 and balloon to 2.4 terawatt-hours by 2035, indicating substantial growth potential and investment opportunities.
- Optimistic Investment Outlook: Morgan Stanley anticipates that approximately $800 billion in new investments will be required by 2035 for the sodium-ion battery market, driving rapid growth for related companies and reshaping the energy security landscape.
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- Market Contraction Warning: Bain & Company forecasts a decline of over 2 million vehicles sold in the U.S. by 2040, driven by falling birth rates and high car prices, indicating that automakers will face fierce competition in a shrinking market.
- Changing Driving Habits Among Youth: Data shows that only 50% of 16-year-olds in the U.S. will have a driver's license by 2025, a significant drop from nearly 70% between 1966 and 1984, reflecting a weakening demand for cars among younger generations, which could impact future vehicle registrations.
- High Prices Affecting Purchasing Power: New vehicle monthly payments have risen by 30% over four years, with nearly one in five new vehicles costing over $1,000 a month, leading younger consumers to prefer ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft, further compressing the potential customer base for new cars.
- Intensifying Competition and Market Consolidation: As competition intensifies, the U.S. auto market is expected to face consolidation pressures, particularly among the 450 brands, as manufacturers must devise new strategies to cope with diverse consumer choices and market contraction.
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- Sales Growth Forecast: According to a joint forecast from JD Power and GlobalData, U.S. new vehicle sales are expected to rise 3.6% year-over-year in June to 1,363,800 units, indicating signs of market recovery despite last year's demand pull-forward due to tariffs affecting year-over-year comparability.
- Annual Sales Rate Increase: The seasonally adjusted annualized rate for new vehicle sales is projected to reach 16.5 million units, up 80,000 units from June 2025, reflecting a gradual restoration of consumer confidence in the market, although structural affordability pressures remain.
- Price and Financing Pressures: The average transaction price for a new vehicle has risen to $46,387, a 0.8% increase from a year ago, while average monthly finance payments have climbed 3.4% to $813, marking the highest ever for June, indicating ongoing financial pressures faced by buyers.
- Increased Incentives: To attract buyers, automakers have ramped up average incentive spending per vehicle by nearly 13% year-over-year to $3,217, highlighting intensified market competition as manufacturers strive to maintain sales while increasing promotional efforts.
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