NEW YORK, Feb 17, 2026, 06:19 EST — Premarket
- Ford shares up about 0.7% in premarket trade after the U.S. market holiday
- Investors still digest Ford’s latest outlook, including tariff-related costs and EV losses
- A small Transit recall enters the owner-notification window this week
Ford Motor shares rose about 0.7% to $14.12 in premarket trading on Tuesday. U.S. markets reopen after a Presidents Day closure. (Nyse)
The tick up comes as investors return from the long weekend to a skittish tape, with U.S. stock futures sliding as the tech selloff drags on. Traders are also bracing for a busy run of economic data and central bank signals that could reset rate bets. (MarketWatch)
Ford’s last big catalyst was its quarterly report a week ago, when it missed profit expectations and logged a steep net loss tied to earlier disclosed writedowns in its electric-vehicle programs. Chief Executive Jim Farley told analysts the company’s push toward cheaper EVs and partnerships was “the right allocation of capital,” while the automaker flagged about $2 billion of tariff costs in 2026; CFO Sherry House said a late change to tariff relief added roughly $900 million in costs last year. (Reuters)
Investors have been leaning on signs that Ford can tame quality and warranty expenses, a chronic sore point. Farley told employees last week that companywide bonuses would be set to 130%, people familiar with the matter said, after early-life repair rates improved. (Reuters)
Pricing power is the other hinge. In the U.S., buyers are drifting toward cheaper trims as affordability tightens, and Ford has pointed to stronger demand for lower-priced variants such as the base Maverick; “No need to get the most powerful engine” for basic commuting, AutoForecast Solutions’ Sam Fiorani said. (Reuters)
Recalls remain a steady drumbeat, and they are not just a headline issue: they can swell warranty bills and pressure margins. NHTSA documents show Ford is recalling 1,403 Transit vehicles over an engine crossmember that may not be secured properly, with interim owner notification letters planned to begin mailing this week and wrap up by Feb. 20; dealers are to replace fasteners, the filings said.
Still, it’s not hard to sketch a downside case. If tariff costs climb again, or if Ford’s EV and software losses linger longer than expected, the company’s profit bridge into 2026 looks thinner, and the stock’s recent run could fade.
For now, the next near-term market test is macro: traders are watching the Federal Reserve’s January meeting minutes this week for any shift in tone on rate cuts. (Reuters)
