NEW YORK, March 2, 2026, 07:03 ET — Premarket
Ford Motor Company (F) dropped roughly 0.9% to $13.96 before the bell Monday, coming off a lackluster finish last week that pushed shares away from their latest peaks. The stock ended Friday at $14.09, a 2.2% decline, and has ranged from $8.44 to $14.80 in the last 52 weeks, market data show. 1
The timing’s key here—autos tend to mirror the cycle closely. A jump in energy prices or renewed market jitters can squeeze margins and cool off demand fast, particularly if lending standards ratchet up.
Ford’s approach to electric vehicles and pricing is also under the microscope. CEO Jim Farley admitted, “I totally would’ve done it differently” regarding the F-150 Lightning rollout. In his words, “COVID totally was a false signal.” After tearing down a Tesla, Farley noted, “They had no prejudice. We had prejudice.” 2
Broader markets dictated early moves. S&P 500 futures in the U.S. slipped roughly 1% as oil prices rose, investors shifted toward gold and the dollar, and risk appetite took a hit from tensions linked to Iran. “The dollar’s correlation to risk is back,” said Jordan Rochester, head of fixed income and currency strategy EMEA at Mizuho. 3
Brent crude rallied nearly 10%, climbing to about $80 a barrel in over-the-counter action during the weekend. Some analysts aren’t ruling out $100 oil if the turmoil drags on. “While the military attacks are themselves supportive for oil prices, the key factor here is the closing of the Strait of Hormuz,” said Ajay Parmar, director of energy and refining at ICIS. 4
Ford’s board has approved a regular dividend for the first quarter: 15 cents per share. Shareholders of record as of Feb. 13 will get their payment on March 2. 5
Earnings were the last major market jolt. Ford posted a fourth-quarter net loss of $11.1 billion, hit by earlier EV program writedowns, and sees 2026 EBIT landing between $8 billion and $10 billion. The company also warned about $2 billion in extra costs this year from U.S. tariffs. 6
Recalls continue to cast a shadow. Ford announced a recall of 4.3 million pickup trucks and SUVs in the U.S., citing a software glitch that might disable trailer brakes and knock out exterior lights. The fix? Ford’s aiming to push an over-the-air update. 7
Crude could end up driving the action this week. Oil may hold its higher ground for a while, according to analysts, with Goldman Sachs flagging a risk premium already baked into prices as traders brace for surprises. “However, oil prices can rise substantially more,” Goldman’s team wrote, pointing out the potential for longer-lasting hits to supply. 8
Attention now turns to the macro calendar, with traders eyeing whether the oil rally sticks when U.S. cash trading begins. The next big event lands Friday, March 6 at 8:30 a.m. ET, when the U.S. Employment Situation report for February drops—a critical update on jobs and demand that has the potential to move rate bets and shake sentiment in cyclical sectors such as autos. 9
