General Motors stock rises on more than reductions in global vehicle platforms

Since morphing its operations as a new company in July 2009, General Motors Company (NYSE: GM) has definitely made good progress toward its goal of long-term sustainable performance, delivering six consecutive profitable quarters and improving global market share, while maintaining a strong balance sheet. Now as the the stock languishes (see weekly chart) well below its IPO price, GM is focusing on streamlining its processes for the sake of better margins.

“More of our components will be common, and more of our vehicles will be on global architectures,” GM CEO Dan Akerson told analysts today. His remarks came as GM kicked off a series of presentations online, billed as its 2011 Global Business Conference.

Fundamental news like this is usually the cause for most long-term moves in stock prices; but it doesn’t get much more fundamental than a drop in a national credit rating, followed by a FOMC announcement a few days later that it will keep interest rates low through 2013, just beyond the next election.

That is why the recent sell-off by General Motors stock was not alone, as all stocks fell, including Toyota (ADR: TM) and Ford (NYSE: F). Likewise, GM stock was not alone when most stocks rose to close higher today.

Question is, does today’s higher close with support at the new low of 23.79 define the beginning of a long or short-term bull pattern for General Motors stock?

Either way, the news today by GM CEO, Dan Ackerson along with Mary Barra, GM’s senior vice president of global product development, was still welcomed by auto stock sector analysts and investors alike, because GM intends to drive costs down by reducing vehicle architectures, thus increasing profit margins.

This is something that GM has not always managed well in the past. For example, before the bankruptcy, it took me six years just to convince engineering management that reproducing the same design criteria data in CAD files for each program was a wasteful venture. So I invented Inherent Criteria, the meta-data that stayed with each reusable part CAD file. When the part was repositioned in the body of the next architecture or the next vehicle within the same architecture, so followed the 3D criteria data.

This followed suit for reuse items like shifters, steering wheels, radio, HVAC controls, switches, etc. The idea was to build it once, then attach it to the part digitally so that it would be reused around the globe. In the meantime, the company lost $1.92 million per year while it decided what to do.

Now GM aims to cut its engine platforms as well, from nearly 20 in 2009 to fewer than a 12 in 2018 with an eventual target of 10.

Another area for improvement is program churn. That’s where the company spends time designing a vehicle almost to the production design stage, then cancels the program. All the man-hours are lost, not to mention the time reorganizing the teams within the matrix, including transferring personnel to other parts of the globe. Sometimes, the program merely goes to another part of the globe where it is likely redesigned to suit regional requirements.

GM Stock

Many do not realize how much consolidation aimed at eliminating inefficiencies in GM’s product-development system can contribute to the bottom line. Good news is, GM is now coming alive with a new mindset when it comes to margins; and that’s good for the long-term view of the stock.

Nonetheless, the general market and perception can drive a stock to heights as well as depths beyond reason. That's the power of emotional investing.

For sure, the stock has not done well since its IPO in November of 2010. The new low at 23.79 is now significant support that can and might be broken given a market inclined to discount all assets. Recall that an earlier article by me noted no techncial support based on previous price dynamics existed at all below the IPO price of 33, except for percentages of the IPO price, or squares of the book price. Read Will General Motors stock now test the June low?. Well, GM stock not only tested the June low but broke it handily. Hopefully for GM stock investor's the fundamental news on Tuesday can overcome the next wave of malaise after the emotions wear off.

Post Market Update: While the close was 25.54, post-market trading as measured at 18:08 did not deviate but a few cents from that price.

Wednesday, 08/10 Market Open Update: GM opened lower at 24.77 as the futures were once again toward the downside.

Full Disclosure: At time of publication, Sherosky, creator of the auto sector charts for TN, is neither long or short with the mentioned stocks for futures, though positions can change at any time. None of the information in this article constitutes a recommendation, but an assessment or opinion.

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About the Reporter: After 39 years in the auto industry as a design engineer, Frank Sherosky now trades stocks, futures and writes articles, books and ebooks like, "Perfecting Corporate Character," "Awaken Your Speculator Mind", and "Millennial World Order" via authorfrank.com. He may be contacted here by email: [email protected]

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