GM beats on earnings, raises guidance amid 'resilient' consumer, pricing

• General Motors raised several key 2026 earnings forecasts Tuesday after beating Wall Street's second-quarter expectations.
• Its guidance change was assisted by consistent vehicle transaction prices, lower warranty costs and narrowing all-electric vehicle losses.
• GM CFO Paul Jacobson said the company's "momentum is palpable," while referring to the its stock as a "bargain" at roughly $75 a share.

DETROIT — General Motors raised several key 2026 earnings forecasts Tuesday after beating Wall Street's second-quarter expectations as the company's North American operations continue to drive its results.

The Detroit automaker attributed its guidance change to consistent vehicle transaction prices, lower warranty costs and narrowing all-electric vehicle losses as it wraps up a multibillion-dollar pullback in EVs.

"These results are very consistent with what we've been doing for the last several years," GM CFO Paul Jacobson said Tuesday on CNBC's "Squawk Box." "Our first-half earnings per share is 25% higher than the first half at any time in our history."

Jacobson said GM's "momentum is palpable," while referring to the company's stock as a "bargain" at roughly $75 a share, up more than 40% compared with a year ago. He described the company's consumer demand as "resilient."

Shares of GM were up roughly 5% during midday trading Tuesday.

Here's how GM performed in the first quarter, compared with average estimates compiled by LSEG:

• Earnings per share: $3.57 adjusted vs. $3.20 expected
• Revenue: $48.03 billion vs. $47.01 billion expected

The raised guidance includes full-year adjusted earnings before interest and taxes of between $14 billion and $16 billion, or $12 and $14 adjusted EPS, up from previous guidance of $13.5 billion to $15.5 billion, or $11.50 to $13.50 adjusted EPS, previously. It also raised its expectations for adjusted automotive free cash flow to $9.5 billion to $11.5 billion, up from $9 billion to $11 billion.

The automaker, however, lowered its expectations for net income attributable to stockholders to between $8.4 billion and $9.8 billion, down from previously lowered guidance of between $9.9 billion and $11.4 billion.

This is the second consecutive quarter GM has lowered its net income attributable to stockholders guidance while raising other forecasts. In April, GM altered its guidance to reflect a $500 million tariff rebate.

The company's North American operations led GM's results, which also include expanding its digital services revenue and improving its EV losses by between $1 billion to $1.5 billion this year compared with 2025.

"Our 8.6% EBIT-adjusted margin in North America was up 2.5 points from a year ago, and we continue to lower our warranty costs, reduce EV losses, and increase operating efficiency. In addition, GM International, inclusive of our China joint ventures, was profitable," GM CEO and Chair Mary Barra said in a letter to shareholders.

Barra also noted consistent vehicle pricing and that a "very attractive lineup" of pickup trucks and SUVs contributed to its results. The automaker said its average vehicle transaction price was $52,000 during the quarter as it remains disciplined regarding incentives.

The company said Tuesday it has "substantially" completed material charges involving its pullback in all-electric vehicles, which have included recording $10.9 billion in EV-related charges since the second half of last year.

GM on Tuesday said it has paid $4.5 billion of an expected $7.2 billion in cash charges related to its EV pullback through the second quarter.

The company's second-quarter results included net income attributable to stockholders of $1.3 billion, down 31.1% compared with a year earlier, while adjusted earnings increased about 30% to more than $3.9 billion, or an 8.2% adjusted profit margin. Its revenue was up 1.9% from a year earlier.

GM's 2025 second-quarter results included $47.12 billion in revenue, net income attributable to stockholders of $1.9 billion, and adjusted earnings before interest and taxes of $3.04 billion.