We recently compiled a list of the 11 Best EV Stocks To Buy For The Long Term. In this article, we are going to take a look at where General Motors Company (NYSE:GM) stands against the other EV stocks to buy for the long term.
The Challenges of EV Adoption and the Promise of Solid-State Batteries
On August 30, Mark Fields, former Ford CEO and President joined CNBC’s ‘Squawk Box’ to discuss the challenges facing electric vehicle (EV) adoption. Fields pointed out that early enthusiasm for EVs was driven by automakers and government regulations, but mass adoption is proving more difficult. Consumers are hesitant due to several factors including the high cost of EVs, the lack of visible and convenient charging infrastructure, and the slow charging times compared to gas refueling.
Fields suggested that automakers need to offer more affordable EVs and expand hybrid offerings while working towards breakthroughs in battery technology, especially solid-state batteries. These batteries could eventually reduce charging times to match the convenience of filling up at a gas station.
Fields commended his former company’s strategy as it involves focusing on hybrid models to ease consumers into EV technology without the range anxiety that comes with current models. He noted that automakers are also facing financial challenges in the EV space, as shown by his former company’s recent writedowns.
He emphasized that while automakers are working on delivering low-cost EVs, the real game-changer will be the development of solid-state batteries, which could significantly improve charging times and consumer convenience.
Exploring Three Scenarios for the Future of EVs
Despite the challenges, the EV industry seems inevitable and is poised to grow over the next few decades. We discussed the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) EV outlook in our article about the best EV stocks according to short sellers. Here is an excerpt from it:
“The IEA’s Global EV Outlook 2024 examined the potential paths to electrifying road transport by 2035. The report presents three scenarios: the Stated Policies Scenario (STEPS), the Announced Pledges Scenario (APS), and the Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario (NZE). The STEPS considers current policies and market trends, the APS assumes that all government pledges will be fully implemented on time, and the NZE outlines a pathway to achieve net zero CO2 emissions by 2050.
The projections show that the global EV fleet could grow significantly by 2035. Under the STEPS, the number of EVs is expected to increase from less than 45 million in 2023 to 525 million by 2035. In the APS, this number could reach 585 million, while the NZE Scenario projects a more ambitious growth to 790 million EVs by 2035.
The report also discussed the growth of electric light-duty vehicles (LDVs), buses, and two/three-wheelers (2/3Ws). LDVs, which include passenger cars and light commercial vehicles, are expected to remain the largest segment of the EV market. Electric buses and 2/3Ws are also projected to see significant growth, especially in regions like China and India, where policy support is strong. However, achieving full electrification of these segments will require continued policy support and technological advancements.”
Moreover, governments worldwide are pushing for increased EV production due to environmental concerns, with the U.S. making significant moves in this direction. On July 11, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced $1.7 billion in grants to support the conversion of 11 auto manufacturing plants in eight states to produce electric vehicles and their components. This is part of President Biden’s “Investing in America” initiative, which is aimed at protecting union jobs and giving a boost to EV manufacturing.
The program is funded by the Inflation Reduction Act and will preserve over 15,000 union jobs and create nearly 3,000 new ones, which will support the production of EV components like batteries and electric motorcycle parts.
Our Methodology
For this article, we used screeners and ETFs to identify 22 EV manufacturers with a market cap of above $50 million and narrowed our list to 11 stocks with the highest average analyst price target upside, as of September 11. We took analyst comments mostly from The Fly and TipRanks. We also added the hedge fund sentiment around each stock which was taken from Insider Monkey’s database of over 900 elite hedge funds.
Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).
A group of technicians in a garage, inspecting car parts and ensuring safety compliance.
General Motors Company (NYSE:GM)
Average Analyst Price Target Upside as of September 11: 22.01%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 72
General Motors Company (NYSE:GM) is one of the biggest car manufacturers in the world. The company owns popular brands like Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac, and Buick. Besides these American brands, GM has important stakes in Chinese car brands Baojun and Wuling through a partnership with SAIC. The company also makes delivery vans, defense vehicles, and auto parts.
General Motors (NYSE:GM) is steering toward a fully electric future with its Ultium Platform, which is designed to offer exceptional power, range, and performance across a diverse lineup of vehicles including cars, SUVs, and trucks.
Some important innovations in the company’s electric technology include Ultifi, a software platform that delivers over-the-air updates, in-car subscription services, and app integrations to keep vehicles up-to-date and tailored to individual preferences.
Features such as One Pedal Driving simplify the driving experience by allowing the vehicle to slow down and stop using only the accelerator, while Regen on Demand captures and stores kinetic energy during deceleration to extend battery life and reduce brake wear. Additionally, the myChevrolet Mobile App offers tools for managing range and locating charging stations, which further support the transition to electric driving.
In addition, General Motors’ (NYSE:GM) subsidiary, BrightDrop is transforming the delivery industry through electric vehicles and innovative logistics solutions. It offers a suite of products designed to enhance efficiency in first- and last-mile delivery operations. Its flagship offerings include the Zevo 600, a state-of-the-art all-electric delivery van, and the Trace, an electrically powered cart designed for short-distance transport.
General Motors (NYSE:GM) is also investing its resources in the EV charging industry. The company has long collaborated with EVgo (NASDAQ:EVGO) in the sector and has recently announced the expansion of their collaboration to significantly enhance EV charging.
The companies recently announced the installation of 400 high-speed charging stalls at key locations across the U.S. The flagship stations will be equipped with advanced features including 350kW chargers, lighting, canopies, and pull-through access, in order to create a more convenient and secure charging experience for electric vehicle drivers. The new charging hubs, co-branded by EVgo and GM Energy, will be strategically located near amenities such as retail centers and dining options.
General Motors (NYSE:GM) is one of the best EV stocks to buy for long term as it has been covered by 30 analysts with a median price target of $54.50. The median shows an upside of 22.01% from current levels on September 11.
In the second quarter, the company’s stock was owned by 72 hedge funds at a combined stake value of $4.07 billion. As of June 30, Harris Associates is the stock’s largest shareholder with 34.36 million shares worth $1.6 billion.
Diamond Hill Large Cap Strategy stated the following regarding General Motors Company (NYSE:GM) in its first quarter 2024 investor letter:
“Other top contributors included Allstate, Caterpillar and General Motors Company (NYSE:GM). Automobile manufacturer General Motors continues capitalizing on the shift to electric vehicles (EVs) while maintaining the strength of its core gas-engine truck and SUV business. Though it has experienced some setbacks — such as needing to roll back its Cruise driverless car project — we believe the company remains well-positioned relative to secular tailwinds within the automobile business.”
Overall GM ranks 10th on our list of the best EV stocks to buy for the long term. While we acknowledge the potential of GM as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than GM but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.