We Examined 5,000 Calls to Discover CEOs' True Opinions on Tariffs
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Nov 23 2025
0mins
Source: WSJ
Shift in Business Sentiment: Executives are becoming less anxious about tariffs after a tumultuous year marked by President Trump's trade war.
Reduced Focus on Risks: Business leaders are discussing tariffs with investors in a more relaxed manner, indicating a shift away from the previous focus on risks associated with them.
Earnings Calls Dynamics: The topic of tariffs is no longer dominating earnings calls, suggesting a change in how businesses perceive and address the issue.
Overall Optimism: The general tone among business leaders reflects a growing optimism regarding tariffs compared to earlier in the year.
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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: 12.700
Low
11.00
Averages
13.65
High
16.00
Current: 12.700
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.
BofA Reinstates Coverage of Ford with $17 Price Target
- Sales Decline: Ford reported a 5.5% drop in U.S. vehicle sales in February, driven by a steep 71% decline in EV sales, particularly for the F-150 Lightning pickup, indicating weak market demand that could impact future revenue growth.
- Price Target Setting: Bank of America has set a price target of $17 for Ford, representing a potential upside of about 34% from Tuesday's closing price, reflecting analysts' confidence in Ford's future profitability despite current challenges.
- EV Strategy Adjustment: Ford expects to incur $7 billion in special charges in 2026 and 2027 related to its updated EV strategy, indicating a pullback on several larger EV models due to insufficient demand and high costs, which could reshape its market positioning.
- Market Sentiment Shift: Retail sentiment around F stock shifted from 'bullish' to 'neutral' over the past 24 hours, while message volume remained at normal levels, indicating cautious investor sentiment regarding Ford's future performance.
See More
Ford's February Sales Decline by 5.5%
- Significant EV Sales Drop: Ford's electric vehicle sales plummeted by 71% in February, with only 2,122 units sold, indicating weak market demand that could impact the company's future EV strategy and market share.
- Hybrid Vehicle Struggles: Hybrid vehicle sales fell by 21.8% year-over-year, totaling 12,010 units, reflecting ongoing consumer preference for traditional gas-powered vehicles, which may pose challenges for Ford's transition to greener models.
- Diverse Vehicle Sales Performance: Ford's car sales surged by 54.5%, while truck and SUV sales declined by 9.4% and 2.4%, respectively, highlighting shifting consumer preferences that may require Ford to adjust its product lineup to meet market demands.
- F-Series Truck Sales Decline: Sales of the F-Series trucks dropped by 16.2%, with the F-150 Lightning experiencing a staggering 76.3% decline, putting pressure on Ford's profitability and brand image, necessitating a reevaluation of its electric truck strategy.
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- Market Performance: This figure reflects Ford's ongoing efforts to increase its presence in the electric vehicle market.
See More
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- Electric Vehicle Sales Forecast: EV sales are expected to decline by over 20% by 2026, primarily due to the phaseout of consumer incentives, with 40% of EV programs being canceled, which will pressure market penetration.
- General Motors Rating Upgrade: General Motors received a Buy rating from BofA, benefiting from the removal of CAFÉ penalties and greenhouse gas relief, allowing a shift towards more profitable trucks and SUVs.
- Ford Motor's Positive Outlook: Ford Motor also earned a Buy rating, as a more favorable regulatory backdrop is expected to enable a shift towards higher-margin truck and SUV platforms, contributing to stock price increases.
See More
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- Client Loss Impact: Toyota and Stellantis have exited Tesla's carbon credit pool, indicating they will not purchase credits for 2026, which leads to a significant loss of revenue for Tesla and could adversely affect its future financial performance.
- Self-Reduction Strategy: Toyota aims to reduce emissions through new electric models like the bZ4X and Urban Cruiser, demonstrating confidence in its ability to manage emissions independently, potentially weakening Tesla's competitive edge in the carbon credit market.
- Independent Pool Plans: Stellantis is collaborating with Leapmotor to establish its own carbon credit pool, a move that could further dilute Tesla's market share and impact its standing in carbon credit trading.
- Stock Price Reaction: Tesla's stock fell 2.98% to $392.43 at market close on Tuesday, with an additional decline of 0.29% in after-hours trading, reflecting market concerns over the loss of carbon credit customers.
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- Long-term Performance: Over the past five years, Berkshire's A-shares have appreciated approximately 89%, outperforming the S&P 500's 78% gain during the same period, showcasing its relative strength in the market.
- Employment Data Expectations: The U.S. is expected to add 48,000 jobs, with ADP employment data set to be released at 8:15 a.m., which could significantly influence market sentiment.
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BofA Reinstates Coverage of Ford with $17 Price Target
- Sales Decline: Ford reported a 5.5% drop in U.S. vehicle sales in February, driven by a steep 71% decline in EV sales, particularly for the F-150 Lightning pickup, indicating weak market demand that could impact future revenue growth.
- Price Target Setting: Bank of America has set a price target of $17 for Ford, representing a potential upside of about 34% from Tuesday's closing price, reflecting analysts' confidence in Ford's future profitability despite current challenges.
- EV Strategy Adjustment: Ford expects to incur $7 billion in special charges in 2026 and 2027 related to its updated EV strategy, indicating a pullback on several larger EV models due to insufficient demand and high costs, which could reshape its market positioning.
- Market Sentiment Shift: Retail sentiment around F stock shifted from 'bullish' to 'neutral' over the past 24 hours, while message volume remained at normal levels, indicating cautious investor sentiment regarding Ford's future performance.
See More
Ford's February Sales Decline by 5.5%
- Significant EV Sales Drop: Ford's electric vehicle sales plummeted by 71% in February, with only 2,122 units sold, indicating weak market demand that could impact the company's future EV strategy and market share.
- Hybrid Vehicle Struggles: Hybrid vehicle sales fell by 21.8% year-over-year, totaling 12,010 units, reflecting ongoing consumer preference for traditional gas-powered vehicles, which may pose challenges for Ford's transition to greener models.
- Diverse Vehicle Sales Performance: Ford's car sales surged by 54.5%, while truck and SUV sales declined by 9.4% and 2.4%, respectively, highlighting shifting consumer preferences that may require Ford to adjust its product lineup to meet market demands.
- F-Series Truck Sales Decline: Sales of the F-Series trucks dropped by 16.2%, with the F-150 Lightning experiencing a staggering 76.3% decline, putting pressure on Ford's profitability and brand image, necessitating a reevaluation of its electric truck strategy.
See More
FORD: U.S. ELECTRIFIED VEHICLE SALES REACH 14,132 UNITS IN FEBRUARY
- Sales Figures: Ford reported total electric vehicle sales of 14,132 units in February.
- Market Performance: This figure reflects Ford's ongoing efforts to increase its presence in the electric vehicle market.
See More
Bank of America Optimistic on Auto Industry Outlook
- Industry Performance Outlook: Bank of America analysts predict that the auto industry will outperform expectations under a new regulatory environment, particularly as higher-margin internal combustion engine vehicles drive growth, with Ford and General Motors highlighted as top picks.
- Electric Vehicle Sales Forecast: EV sales are expected to decline by over 20% by 2026, primarily due to the phaseout of consumer incentives, with 40% of EV programs being canceled, which will pressure market penetration.
- General Motors Rating Upgrade: General Motors received a Buy rating from BofA, benefiting from the removal of CAFÉ penalties and greenhouse gas relief, allowing a shift towards more profitable trucks and SUVs.
- Ford Motor's Positive Outlook: Ford Motor also earned a Buy rating, as a more favorable regulatory backdrop is expected to enable a shift towards higher-margin truck and SUV platforms, contributing to stock price increases.
See More
Tesla Loses Carbon Credit Revenue Stream as Major Clients Exit
- Client Loss Impact: Toyota and Stellantis have exited Tesla's carbon credit pool, indicating they will not purchase credits for 2026, which leads to a significant loss of revenue for Tesla and could adversely affect its future financial performance.
- Self-Reduction Strategy: Toyota aims to reduce emissions through new electric models like the bZ4X and Urban Cruiser, demonstrating confidence in its ability to manage emissions independently, potentially weakening Tesla's competitive edge in the carbon credit market.
- Independent Pool Plans: Stellantis is collaborating with Leapmotor to establish its own carbon credit pool, a move that could further dilute Tesla's market share and impact its standing in carbon credit trading.
- Stock Price Reaction: Tesla's stock fell 2.98% to $392.43 at market close on Tuesday, with an additional decline of 0.29% in after-hours trading, reflecting market concerns over the loss of carbon credit customers.
See More
Berkshire Hathaway Shares Decline Amid Market Volatility
- Stock Volatility: Berkshire Hathaway's A-shares closed at $721,044.89 and B-shares at $481.36, reflecting an 11% decline from their peak, indicating the impact of market uncertainty on its stock performance.
- Long-term Performance: Over the past five years, Berkshire's A-shares have appreciated approximately 89%, outperforming the S&P 500's 78% gain during the same period, showcasing its relative strength in the market.
- Employment Data Expectations: The U.S. is expected to add 48,000 jobs, with ADP employment data set to be released at 8:15 a.m., which could significantly influence market sentiment.
- Industry Dynamics: CrowdStrike's CEO will discuss cybersecurity issues on
See More
