general motors stock: complete guide

General Motors stock (GM)

This article explains general motors stock — the common equity of General Motors Company — and why investors, analysts, and industry observers track it. You will get a concise data snapshot, company background, listing history and corporate actions, trading identifiers, historical price context, valuation and analyst coverage, major events affecting the share price (including EV strategy and Cruise developments), ownership and market structure, dividend and capital-return detail, risk factors, peer comparisons, and practical guidance for trading. Data and event context are dated to ensure timeliness.

Key facts / Quick reference

• Ticker: GM (Common stock)
• Primary exchange: New York Stock Exchange (NYSE)
• As of January 22–23, 2026, sample price snapshot: Last traded around $78.80 on NYSE (reported in market activity lists on Jan. 22, 2026); please verify live quotes for the current price. (Sources: NYSE trading tape, Yahoo Finance, TradingView.)
• Market capitalization: Varies with price; as of the snapshot above market cap was in the tens of billions (check live market-data pages for exact current market cap). (Sources: Yahoo Finance, Google Finance.)
• Typical US trading hours (regular session): 9:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. ET; pre-market and after-hours liquidity available on many broker platforms.
• ISIN / CUSIP: ISIN and CUSIP are available in the company’s investor-relations materials and SEC filings. (Source: GM Investor Relations / SEC filings.)
• Dividend: GM has paid regular dividends in recent years — consult the company’s dividend history for ex-dividend dates and yield. (Sources: GM filings, Yahoo Finance.)
• Average daily volume: Variable; multi-million-share daily volume is common. (Source: NYSE, Yahoo Finance.)

As of Jan. 23, 2026, according to FactSet and market coverage summarized by Yahoo Finance, the fourth-quarter earnings reporting season was underway and General Motors (GM) was among major companies scheduled to report; readers should confirm exact reporting dates and results with the company’s investor-relations releases and filings.

Company background (context for the stock)

General Motors Company is a U.S.-based multinational automobile manufacturer headquartered in Detroit, Michigan. The company designs, manufactures and sells vehicles and vehicle parts, and offers financing, mobility and software services through business units including:

• GM North America (GMNA) — core manufacturing, sales and distribution in the U.S. and Canada.
• GM International (GMI) — operations outside North America, including manufacturing and distribution partners.
• Cruise — GM’s majority-owned autonomous vehicle and robotaxi business (strategic for future mobility growth).
• GM Financial — captive finance subsidiary providing loans and leasing services.

The common equity represented by general motors stock gives holders an ownership interest in General Motors Company, exposure to auto-industry cycles, and (for some investors) dividend and total-return potential through buybacks and payouts.

Listing history and corporate actions

IPO and listing

The current public listing of General Motors follows the company’s 2009–2010 bankruptcy, restructuring and reorganization. The post-bankruptcy General Motors Company completed a new listing on the New York Stock Exchange in 2010. That modern listing represents the restructured enterprise and its common shares that now trade under the ticker GM. Historical corporate reorganizations prior to 2009 mean earlier pre-bankruptcy GM securities are not the same as the modern GM common stock.

Stock splits, dividends and dividend policy

• Stock splits: GM’s modern listing has not featured frequent ordinary stock splits commonly seen in some other issuers; historical corporate reorganizations mean older split history is tied to predecessor entities.
• Dividends: General Motors has a history of paying quarterly dividends when its board deems appropriate. Dividend frequency, per-share amount and yield change over time; investors should check the latest dividend declaration on GM’s investor-relations site and in SEC filings. The board may alter dividends based on earnings, cash flow, capital allocation priorities and regulatory considerations, especially given investments in EVs and Cruise.

Share buybacks and capital return programs

GM has used share repurchases as part of its capital-return toolkit in periods of strong cash generation. Management announcements of repurchase authorizations and actual repurchase execution are important because buybacks reduce shares outstanding and can increase per-share metrics. For up-to-date repurchase authorizations, consult GM press releases and the latest 10‑Q/10‑K filings.

Trading information and identifiers

• Ticker symbol: GM
• Exchange: NYSE (primary)
• Market hours: Regular session 9:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. ET; extended trading available.
• ISIN / CUSIP: Published in investor-relations and SEC records (check EDGAR or GM’s IR site for exact codes).
• Real-time vs delayed quotes: Free public sites often display delayed quotes (15 or 20 minutes). Professional terminals and some brokerages (including the Bitget trading platform) offer real-time quotes and streaming data for active traders.

Note: When trading US equities, choose a regulated brokerage platform and confirm trading hours, order types and margin/derivatives availability. For crypto-native users seeking an integrated experience, Bitget provides market-data tools and custody options via Bitget Wallet for related digital asset needs.

Historical price performance

Long-term price history

general motors stock historically reflects the auto industry's long cycles, corporate restructuring events and transformative shifts such as electrification and autonomous driving. Following the 2009–2010 bankruptcy and relisting, multi-year performance has been shaped by product cycles, macroeconomic demand, commodity costs, labor and supply-chain dynamics, and strategic investments (for example, EV platforms and Cruise).

Notable long-term milestones include:

• The post-bankruptcy NYSE listing in 2010, which established the modern share base.
• Multi-year responses to gasoline/energy price cycles and macro recessions.
• Valuation inflections tied to major strategic announcements (EV investment plans, Ultium platform, Cruise milestones) and large recalls or legal settlements.

Short-term and recent performance

• As of January 22, 2026, reported market activity listed GM at approximately $78.80 per share on NYSE trading summaries; daily and YTD returns can vary significantly during earnings season and macro events. (Source: NYSE most-active lists and Yahoo Finance coverage, Jan. 22–23, 2026.)
• Short-term volatility for general motors stock tends to rise around quarterly earnings, guidance changes, product recalls, and major regulatory developments (e.g., investigations relating to Cruise or high-profile safety issues).

Investors tracking recent returns should compare year-to-date (YTD), trailing 12‑month (TTM), and longer rolling windows and use volatility measures such as beta and historical standard deviation — these are provided on market-data platforms like Morningstar, TradingView and Yahoo Finance.

Financial metrics and valuation

Key financial ratios

Commonly used metrics for evaluating general motors stock include:

• Market capitalization: (price × shares outstanding) — updates every trading day.
• Earnings per share (EPS): GAAP and adjusted measures reported quarterly.
• Price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio: current price divided by TTM EPS; useful for relative valuation.
• Price-to-sales (P/S) and price-to-book (P/B): helpful when earnings are volatile or during heavy investment periods.
• Revenue and net income: foundation of profitability analysis.
• Free cash flow (FCF): critical for assessing capital return capacity (dividends and buybacks) and funding for EV and Cruise investments.
• Debt metrics: total debt, net debt, and leverage ratios versus operating earnings (e.g., net debt/EBITDA).
• Beta: measures sensitivity of general motors stock to broader market moves.

For exact numeric values (current P/E, EPS, market cap, revenue, net income, P/B), consult up-to-date pages on Yahoo Finance, Morningstar, TradingView, Google Finance or GM’s SEC filings. As of the Jan. 22–23, 2026 snapshot, analyst consensus and platform-specific ratios can show differences depending on trailing vs forward measures.

Analyst price targets and ratings

Coverage of general motors stock is provided by many equity research analysts. Consensus ratings typically range across Buy/Overweight, Hold/Neutral and Sell/Underweight categories. Analyst notes respond to quarterly results, EV rollout progress (Ultium partnerships and factory ramp), Cruise regulatory milestones, macro auto demand, and cost pressures like material and semiconductor costs.

As of late January 2026, the broader earnings season commentary (reported Jan. 23, 2026 by FactSet/Yahoo Finance) indicated improving earnings expectations for the S&P 500, which can affect cyclical names including automakers. Individual analyst price targets for GM vary; consult aggregator pages on financial-data sites and read analysts’ notes for rationale behind upgrades or downgrades. Representative coverage sources include CNBC, Yahoo Finance, Morningstar and brokerage reports.

Major events affecting the stock price

Earnings reports and guidance

Quarterly earnings and management guidance are primary drivers of short-term moves in general motors stock. Key items investors monitor include vehicle deliveries, margins (particularly for trucks and SUVs), profitability of electrified models, GM Financial credit performance, and guidance on capital expenditures for EVs and Cruise. Special items — restructuring charges, one‑time impairments or legal settlements — can also cause sharp stock reactions. Always check the company’s press release, 8‑K filings and earnings-call transcripts for the most accurate detail.

Product / strategy developments (EV pivot, Ultium, Cruise)

• Electrification (Ultium platform): GM’s Ultium battery platform and partnerships with suppliers and OEMs are central to investor expectations about future growth and long‑term margins. Progress on factory ramps, vehicle launches, battery costs and consumer reception are material for general motors stock.
• Cruise (autonomous vehicles): Cruise is strategically important and a headline driver for sentiment. Safety incidents, regulatory reviews, funding changes and revenue milestones for robotaxi or commercial services can swing investor views materially.

Investors track production volume ramps, cost-per-kilowatt-hour for batteries, and order/backlog metrics where available. Positive progress on EV adoption, improved unit economics, or commercial autonomous deployments can be seen as upside; operational setbacks or regulatory fines create downside pressure.

Recalls, regulatory actions and legal matters

Safety recalls, civil or regulatory investigations, and high-profile legal actions have historically driven volatility in auto stocks. For general motors stock, material recalls or legal settlements (including those linked to Cruise operations) have direct market implications. Timely disclosure in SEC filings (Form 8‑K) and company press releases is the authoritative source for investor assessment.

Macroeconomic and industry factors

Macro and industry variables that affect general motors stock include:

• Consumer demand and credit conditions (auto loans and lease markets).
• Commodity prices: steel, aluminum, copper and battery metals (lithium, nickel, cobalt).
• Semiconductor supply availability and lead times.
• Tariffs, trade policy, and geopolitical conditions affecting global manufacturing and exports.
• Interest-rate environment, which affects auto financing demand and discount rates in valuation models.

These external drivers can move the stock independently of company-specific news and are monitored by equity analysts and macro desks.

Ownership and market structure

Major shareholders

Institutional ownership typically accounts for a large portion of general motors stock. Mutual funds, pension funds, and other institutional investors often hold significant positions. Insider holdings (executive officers and directors) represent a smaller share. For an accurate list of top institutional holders and percent ownership, check the latest 13‑F and proxy filings as well as data on Morningstar or Yahoo Finance.

Float, shares outstanding and short interest

• Shares outstanding and public float are disclosed in SEC filings and updated with each quarter.
• Short interest is reported bi‑monthly and signals bearish positioning; changes in short interest can influence volatility and potential for short-covering rallies. Market-data platforms provide current short-interest figures and days-to-cover metrics.

Dividends, payouts and total return

Dividends and buybacks together determine cash-return to shareholders. General Motors has used quarterly dividends and buybacks at different times depending on profitability and capital priorities. Total shareholder return (TSR) combines share-price appreciation and cash returned via dividends and repurchases. For precise yield, payout ratios and historical payout changes, consult GM’s investor-relations pages and financial-data providers.

Risks and controversies

Key risks specific to general motors stock include:

• Execution risk on the EV transition: battery costs, factory ramp quality, and competitive pricing pressures.
• Cruise-related liability and regulatory risk: safety incidents, investigations, or restrictions could materially affect valuation.
• Cyclical demand risk: consumer spending, economic slowdowns and credit tightening impact vehicle sales.
• Supply-chain and commodity risk: semiconductor shortages, battery-material supply bottlenecks and commodity price swings.
• Legal and recall risk: high-cost recalls or settlements harm margins and reputation.
• Capital allocation tension: high capex needs for EVs and autonomous technology may limit dividends or buybacks if cash flow is constrained.

This list is illustrative, not exhaustive; investors should read the Form 10‑K risk factors and other filings for a full description.

Comparative peers and index inclusion

Primary peers include Ford Motor Company, Stellantis, Toyota, Tesla and other global automakers and mobility businesses. Key differences across peers relate to EV focus, margin structure, global footprint and capital intensity. GM is included in major US indices and many auto/industrial sector ETFs; check fund holdings for precise ETF inclusion. Peer valuation comparisons often use P/E, P/B, P/S and EV/EBITDA metrics.

As of Jan. 23, 2026, market commentary noted that the broader earnings season (including large tech names) set the tone for index breadth; cyclical names such as automakers were monitored for guidance clarity. (Source: Yahoo Finance / FactSet, Jan. 23, 2026.)

How to trade GM stock

• Brokerage access: GM trades on the NYSE under ticker GM. Use a regulated brokerage for stock access; Bitget also provides equity trading services and market-data tools for users seeking an integrated trading experience.
• Order types: market, limit, stop, and conditional orders are common; confirm with your broker.
• Derivatives: options on GM are typically available on US options exchanges (check your broker for availability and margin/approval requirements).
• Liquidity: GM generally has substantial daily volume, but liquidity can tighten in pre-market and after-hours sessions.

Caution: This article is informational and not an investment recommendation. Always review official company filings and consult licensed professionals for investment decisions.

Notable recent developments (timeline)

• Jan. 22–23, 2026: Earnings season context — as of Jan. 23, 2026, FactSet/Yahoo Finance reported that roughly 13% of S&P 500 companies had reported fourth-quarter results and Wall Street expected an 8.2% increase in EPS for the quarter, with GM among the companies in the reporting calendar. This macro backdrop affects cyclical names including GM. (Source: Yahoo Finance / FactSet, Jan. 23, 2026.)

• January 2026 (White House disclosure): A recent White House financial-disclosure filing noted purchases in late 2025 that included corporate bonds from several companies including General Motors; disclosures like this provide public context on notable institutional or high-profile investor activity. (Source: White House disclosure summary as reported in January 2026.)

• Ongoing (2024–2026): EV product launches and Ultium platform ramps have been central to GM’s strategic announcements; milestones in factory buildouts and supply partnerships remain material.

• Ongoing: Cruise regulatory developments and safety reviews continue to draw attention and can lead to swift stock reactions when new information emerges.

For precise, dated entries on GM-specific news (earnings releases, buyback authorizations, or Cruise regulatory filings), consult the company’s investor-relations press release archive and SEC filings.

See also

• General Motors Company (corporate overview and SEC filings)
• Cruise (autonomous vehicle unit)
• Ultium (EV battery platform and strategy)
• Automotive industry dynamics and electric-vehicle transition
• NYSE (exchange listing details)

References and data sources

This article uses public market-data and reporting sources to compile an overview. Key sources for price and financial metrics include GM Investor Relations, SEC filings (EDGAR), Yahoo Finance, Google Finance, TradingView, Morningstar, CNBC, Macrotrends and market-news coverage summarized by FactSet and Yahoo Finance. Specific dated references in the narrative note Jan. 22–23, 2026 for earnings-season context.

External links

• Official investor-relations page for the company (consult GM’s corporate site for press releases and filings).
• SEC EDGAR filings for definitive financial and risk disclosures.
• Real-time and delayed market-data pages on major platforms (search for ticker GM on your broker or market-data provider).

Further exploration: to check live prices, up-to-the-minute analyst notes, filings and trade GM, use a regulated brokerage. For users who prefer an integrated trading and custody experience, consider Bitget and Bitget Wallet for market access and wallet custody options.

Note on timeliness: As of Jan. 22–23, 2026, market summaries and earnings-season reporting (FactSet and Yahoo Finance) were cited for context. For current values (market cap, share price, dividend yield, short interest, and analyst consensus), always verify with the company’s IR materials and live market-data pages.

This article is neutral and informational. It does not provide investment advice or recommend buying or selling securities.