Morgan Stanley ups GM rating, Tesla target

Investing.com -- Morgan Stanley upgraded General Motors (NYSE:GM) to Equal-Weight in a note Tuesday and raised its price target for the stock to $54 a share, citing improved fundamentals and strategic adjustments in its operations.

Analysts highlighted a higher assumption for normalized earnings, driven by lower losses in GM's China joint ventures and Cruise division, as well as robust margins in ICE (NYSE:ICE) vehicles.

"There have been several material developments on GM since our September downgrade that have demonstrated improved execution and capital discipline," said Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS).

Those developments include strong Q3 results with an improved outlook, the sale of a 50% stake in a Michigan battery plant, the impairment/restructuring of its Chinese JV, the announcement of an MOU with Hyundai (OTC:HYMTF) to explore a wide range of collaboration and the U.S. election results that may extend the useful life of ICE-related assets.

The bank also increased its bull case target for GM to $80 from $72, reflecting potential long-term gains.

Meanwhile, Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) remained Morgan Stanley's Top Pick, with its price target raised to $400 from $310 per share.

The investment bank noted investor enthusiasm around Tesla's role in AI, renewable energy, and onshoring trends, emphasizing its potential to expand into broader markets beyond automotive.

"Elon Musk's entry into the political sphere has expanded investor thinking around Tesla's fundamental outlook," said the bank.

They anticipate Tesla's leadership in the autonomous and electric mobility sectors will grow amid evolving U.S. policies, cementing its position in the industrial landscape.

Overall, Morgan Stanley anticipates a turbulent 2025 for the auto sector, citing evolving U.S. policies, tariff impacts, and the transition to electric and autonomous vehicles.

They expect U.S. auto sales to grow modestly, projecting a base case SAAR of 16.3 million units, while EV penetration is forecast to dip slightly before rebounding.