For this particular assignment, I have chosen to analyze General Motors Corporation in order to evaluate its suitability for investment. To start, a brief history of the corporation will be discussed along with some product line information. Certain aspects of both fundamental and technical analysis techniques will be used to estimate where GM's stock price may be in approximately one year from today. A target price will be identified and a recommendation to either buy, sell, or hold this particular stock will be made. These predictions will be made by researching various statistics, trends, and other company related news and data however; unforeseen tragedies such as the September 11th attacks can by no means be taken into consideration when making such predictions. .
The history of General Motors is linked back to the Olds Motor Vehicle Company, the oldest unit of General Motors. Ransom E. Olds organized Olds Motor Vehicle Company in 1896. It wasn't until September 16, 1908 that Olds Motor Vehicle Company became General Motors. GM designs, manufactures, and markets vehicles in North America, Europe, Latin America, and other parts of the world. They are the world's largest manufacturer of automobiles with a worldwide market share of approximately 17%. The individual companies that make-up General Motors include: GMC, Pontiac, Chevrolet, Oldsmobile, Buick, Cadillac, Saturn, and Hummer. However the fate of the Oldsmobile product line is a delicate situation. Outside North America GM owns Opel, Vauxhall, Holden, Isuzu, and Saab. Aside from automotive production, GM also engages in non-automotive operations. These operations include: Hughes Electronics (DIRECTV, communications), Allison Transmissions (heavy-duty automatic transmissions), GM Locomotive (locomotives, diesel engines), and GMAC Financial Services. GM's mission statement can be summarized as putting customers and stockholders first with key focuses on producing innovative products while increasing global growth and market share.