Ford (F) to Cut Salaried Workforce for Better Efficiency

F TM GM

Per Bloomberg, Ford Motor Company (F - Free Report) has announced that it is mulling over downsizing its workforce in a bid to reorganize according to the company’s plans. The move is in sync with this Dearborn, MI-based auto giant’s strategy to lower costs for enhancing efficiency and jacking up its stock price. Notably, year to date, shares of the company have plunged 27%.

The second-largest U.S. automaker, currently not enjoying a robust health, has informed its employees that they will encounter unspecified job cuts as part of the company’s $11-billion restructuring program. Per reports, some of these lay-offs will be effected by lessening the company’s salaried staff. More details on job retrenchments are likely to emerge by second-quarter 2019. Regions mostly suffering on the monetary front such as, Europe, Asia and South America, are likely to witness the deepest slashes.

 

Ford’s Recent Ordeals

During second-quarter earnings release, Ford trimmed its 2018 profit forecast due to a sharp decline in the bottom line. At that point of time, chief executive officer Jim Hackett announced the company’s $11-billion cost restructuring initiative but kept details of the plan under wraps.

Crippled with its aging vehicles’ line-up, Ford’s U.S. sales in September dropped below the figures posted by General Motors Company (GM - Free Report) , Toyota Motor Corporation (TM - Free Report) and even Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. . Investors are avoiding the Ford stock and its credit rating has been downgraded.

Currently, Ford has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) and shares its weak rank with General Motors'. While Toyota carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), Fiat Chrysler has a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).  

You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Ford, Toyota, General Motors and Fiat Chrysler have an expected long-term growth rate of 5.3%, 6%, 8.2% and 25.3%, respectively.

Looking for Stocks with Skyrocketing Upside?

Zacks has just released a Special Report on the booming investment opportunities of legal marijuana.

     

Ignited by new referendums and legislation, this industry is expected to blast from an already robust $6.7 billion to $20.2 billion in 2021. Early investors stand to make a killing, but you have to be ready to act and know just where to look.

 

See the pot trades we're targeting>>

Zacks Names "Single Best Pick to Double"

From thousands of stocks, 5 Zacks experts each have chosen their favorite to skyrocket +100% or more in months to come. From those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all.

It’s a little-known chemical company that’s up 65% over last year, yet still dirt cheap. With unrelenting demand, soaring 2022 earnings estimates, and $1.5 billion for repurchasing shares, retail investors could jump in at any time.

This company could rival or surpass other recent Zacks’ Stocks Set to Double like Boston Beer Company which shot up +143.0% in little more than 9 months and NVIDIA which boomed +175.9% in one year.

Free: See Our Top Stock and 4 Runners Up >>