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The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: General Motors, Toyota, Ford, Fiat and Daimler

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For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL –October 4, 2019 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: General Motors (GM - Free Report) , Toyota Motor (TM - Free Report) , Ford (F - Free Report) , Fiat Chrysler and Daimler AG .

Here are highlights from Thursday’s Analyst Blog:

Auto Stock Roundup: GM, TM, F & More

The United Auto Workers’ (“UAW”) nationwide strike against General Motors has completed its 17th day. The strike was called after the company’s four-year contract with workers expired on Sep 15 without any agreement on replacement. Notably, this marks the first major work stoppage at the company in the last 12 years and the longest national strike in the United States since 1970.

Notably, General Motors’ latest comprehensive offer was rejected by UAW as it once again failed to meet the latter’s demands. With many issues remaining unresolved, UAW responded with a counterproposal over disagreements on health care, wages, temporary workers, etc. Negotiations are again expected to resume today.

Due to the impact of strike that led to parts shortage, the U.S. auto giant recently idled a pickup plant in Mexico, temporarily laying off 6,000 workers. The job cuts at the Silao facility in the United States has brought the total count of layoffs for non-UAW represented laborers in North America with the company to about 10,000.

Meanwhile, U.S. light-vehicle sales decreased 12% year over year in September, with total sales coming in at 1,268,871. Notably, Japan’s auto biggies — Honda Motors, Toyota Motor, and Nissan — recorded lower year-over-year U.S. sales in the month. Moreover, the Big 3 automakers, namely Ford, GM and Fiat Chrysler came up with quarterly sales figures. General Motors, Ford and Fiat Chrysler recorded sales of 738,638, 580,251 and 565,045 vehicles, respectively. While General Motors holds a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), Ford and Fiat Chrysler are #3 (Hold) Ranked firms. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

(Read the Last Auto Stock Roundup here).

Recap of the Week’s Most Important Stories

1.Daimler AG has been slapped a fine of $960 million (870 million euros) by German prosecutors for selling about 684,000 vehicles that did not adhere to regulations on emission of Nitrogen Oxide, one of the key ingredients in smog. The fine includes 4 million euros for “negligent violation of supervisory duties” and another 866 million euros from profit.

Notably, the fine is the result of tightened scrutiny since Volkswagen’s Group diesel emission cheating scandal jolted Germany’s automotive industry four years back. Volkswagen’s former and current CEOs, as well as current Chairman have been accused of market manipulation for not informing investors about the rigged engines. (Read more: Daimler to Pay $960M for Diesel Car Probe in Germany)

2. Fiat Chrysler has agreed to pay $40-million penalty to the U.S Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for misleading investors by inflating monthly sales figures over five years (from 2012 to 2016). The SEC noticed that Fiat Chrysler violated the reporting and internal accounting control provisions of the Securities Exchange Act, 1934, and anti-fraud provisions of the Securities Act, 1933.

The company inflated new-vehicle sales by paying dealers to report fake sales numbers. Fiat Chrysler overstated sales numbers and reported an unbroken streak of growth in months between 2012 and 2016, while in reality, the streak ended in September 2013. (Read more: Fiat Chrysler Fined $40M for Inflating Sales Numbers)

3. In a bid to develop latest technologies and gain economies of scale, Toyota Motor and Subaru Corporation have expanded their partnership. The collaboration is aimed at developing electric vehicles, which will combine Toyota’s electrification tech with Subaru’s all-wheel drive hardware. The alliance is likely to aid the companies to create second-generation Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ.

Toyota intends to increase its stake in Subaru from 16.83% to 20% to strengthen ties with the latter. The move will expand Toyota’s voting rights and Subaru will become an affiliated company. The deal will give Subaru the right to expand the use of Toyota hybrid technology beyond Crosstrek Hybrid. (Read more: Toyota to Collaborate With Subaru to Develop 86 and BRZ Cars)

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Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit http://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.


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