Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

An 18-year-old from Savannah called Dave Ramsey thinking he had just made his first smart financial move, and within seconds Ramsey told him the hard truth about what trading in a paid-off car really cost him.

This post may contain links from our sponsors and affiliates, and Flywheel Publishing may receive compensation for actions taken through them.

“Honey, you got screwed.” That was Dave Ramsey’s verdict on October 7, 2026 to an 18-year-old caller from Savannah, Georgia, who had just found Ramsey’s Facebook page and started doubting his first big purchase.

His numbers are blunt. He works as an embroidery technician and makes about $2,200 a month. He financed $24,260 on a car priced around $27,000.

The minimum payment is $430, and he pays about $550.

To get it, he traded in a paid-off 2007 Pilot from Honda Motor (NYSE:HMC | HMC Price Prediction) with a failing transmission. Ramsey said he went “from a fifteen hundred dollar car to a $30,000 dollar car” and estimated he had already lost five or six thousand dollars. Ramsey is right, and the used-car market is making his advice more important every month.

A Car Priced at Twice His Spending Limit Ramsey’s rule: “about half your annual income is the most you want to spend on cars.” At $2,200 a month, half a year’s income is $13,200. This car cost roughly 2 times that ceiling.

The payment tells the same story. At $550, he sends 25% of his gross pay to the lender. Even the minimum eats about 20%. Insurance, gas and repairs come on top. As Ramsey put it, “It’s very difficult to prosper when you own a car that costs as much as you make in a year.”

What This Loan Costs at Today’s Rates The caller’s rate wasn’t mentioned, so use the benchmark. The average 48-month new-car loan at commercial banks was 7% in August 2026, up from 5% in November 2021. An 18-year-old with a thin credit file likely pays more, so treat this as the best case.

At that rate and his current payment, the balance takes about 52 months to clear and costs roughly $4,190 in interest. Paying only the minimum extends it to about 70 months and roughly $5,718 in interest. Either way, he pays thousands for the privilege of owning a depreciating asset.

Falling Used-Car Prices Are Deepening the Hole The used-car and truck price index stood at 181 in August 2026. That’s down 2% from a year earlier and about 17% below the February 2022 peak of 217. CNBC reported this week that used car prices fell in the third quarter.

Falling prices reduce the collateral under his loan. What determines whether waiting helps or hurts is simple: does his loan balance fall faster than the car’s value?

Run the first month at that rate. Interest takes about $151 of his payment, leaving roughly $399 to cut the balance. If the car loses more than that in resale value per month, his gap grows every time he pays. If it loses less, the gap narrows slowly. Late-model cars typically shed value fastest in their first years, in a market already slipping, so the first case is the likely one.

The same slide helps on the other end. A falling market makes the cheap, paid-for car Ramsey prescribed easier to find.

He Already Had the Asset Clark Howard Says to Keep On September 21, 2026, Clark Howard noted that with more drivers facing car payments over $1,000 a month, keeping a paid-off, reliable vehicle on the road can make a huge difference for your finances. The caller owned a paid-off vehicle. A transmission repair on the Pilot was a one-time bill. The trade turned it into years of payments.

Run These Numbers Before Your Next Payment Find your exact gap. Get a 10-day payoff quote from your lender, then collect cash offers from at least three buyers, including a dealer and an online buyer. The difference is the real number you’re solving for. Compare the gap to your principal paydown. Check your statement for how much of each payment hits principal. Compare it with how fast offers on your car are dropping. If value falls faster, waiting costs money. Cover the shortfall cheaply. If you can’t pay the gap in cash, a small credit union loan beats the full balance. Avoid a credit card, where the average APR is 21%. Start the cash ladder. Ramsey’s plan: save $500 a month, buy a $5,000 car with cash in about 10 months. Then step up to $10,000 and later $15,000, selling each car toward the next. Every month a car loan’s balance trails the car’s falling value, you’re paying to dig the hole deeper, so measure the gap now and get out while it’s smallest.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

The proven Zacks Rank system focuses on earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find winning stocks. Nevertheless, we know that our readers all have their own perspectives, so we are always looking at the latest trends in value, growth, and momentum to find strong picks.

Considering these trends, value investing is clearly one of the most preferred ways to find strong stocks in any type of market. Value investors use fundamental analysis and traditional valuation metrics to find stocks that they believe are being undervalued by the market at large.

In addition to the Zacks Rank, investors looking for stocks with specific traits can utilize our Style Scores system. Of course, value investors will be most interested in the system's "Value" category. Stocks with "A" grades for Value and high Zacks Ranks are among the best value stocks available at any given moment.

One company to watch right now is Honda Motor Co. (HMC - Free Report) . HMC is currently sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and an A for Value.

We should also highlight that HMC has a P/B ratio of 0.63. The P/B ratio pits a stock's market value against its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. This stock's P/B looks solid versus its industry's average P/B of 1.09. Within the past 52 weeks, HMC's P/B has been as high as 0.66 and as low as 0.44, with a median of 0.55.

Value investors also frequently use the P/S ratio. This metric is found by dividing a stock's price with the company's revenue. This is a preferred metric because revenue can't really be manipulated, so sales are often a truer performance indicator. HMC has a P/S ratio of 0.34. This compares to its industry's average P/S of 0.37.

Finally, we should also recognize that HMC has a P/CF ratio of 5.08. This metric focuses on a firm's operating cash flow and is often used to find stocks that are undervalued based on the strength of their cash outlook. This company's current P/CF looks solid when compared to its industry's average P/CF of 6.35. HMC's P/CF has been as high as 5.31 and as low as 3.12, with a median of 4.11, all within the past year.

These are just a handful of the figures considered in Honda Motor Co.'s great Value grade. Still, they help show that the stock is likely being undervalued at the moment. Add this to the strength of its earnings outlook, and we can clearly see that HMC is an impressive value stock right now.

Honda Motor (7267.T) aims to cut costs by as much as a fifth and halve development times under its new partnership ​in India with Tata Technologies (TATE.NS), according to two people familiar with the matter, as pressure from rivals forces the Japanese automaker to rethink its go-it-alone approach.

Reeling from electric vehicle (EV)-related losses that ‌it expects to reach more than $12 billion, Honda is pivoting to gasoline-electric hybrids and slashing expenses. Last month, Reuters reported that it is seeking to cut more than $9 billion in costs over the next four years and has told suppliers to drastically reduce prices.

In May, engineering firm Tata Technologies said it was selected to develop vehicles for a Japanese automaker. It declined to name the partner, but the two people and another person familiar with the matter said it was Honda.

Under the outsourcing agreement, Tata Technologies will develop cars for ​the Indian market, while Honda expects to see up to 20% in cost reductions and halve its development times from around five years at present, two people said.

Honda decided to bring in Tata Technologies ​after the automaker's Japanese and Indian managers failed to agree on which suppliers to use for upcoming vehicles in India, two of the people said.

All three sources declined ⁠to be identified because the information has not been made public. The cost-cutting and development targets in India, as well as the internal deadlock over supplier strategy, are being reported for the first time.

In a statement, Honda said ​it has not been able to offer a sufficient product line-up in India that allows customers "value for money." To that end, it was "redefining" its offerings in India and planned to introduce vehicles that strike a balance between quality ​and price, it said.

It denied there were disagreements between the Japanese and Indian teams over supplier selection.

In a separate statement, Honda India said product development involved close collaboration between different teams, adding that it was inaccurate to characterise collaborative discussions as disagreements.

Tata Technologies did not respond to a request for comment.

STRATEGY DEADLOCK
Japanese managers wanted to retain established suppliers to ensure quality and consistency, while Honda's team in India pushed for greater use of local suppliers to lower costs and speed up development in the world's third-largest car market, ​two of the people said.

Reuters could not determine how long the deadlock lasted but the disagreement was enough to delay work on some products, the two people said. The partnership had been under discussion for about two ​years before being finalised, one of them added.

Tata Technologies, which was spun off from Indian automaker Tata Motors (TAMO.NS), was chosen because of its access to a broad network of local suppliers and because Honda managers believed it could design vehicles in line ‌with consumer tastes ⁠and spending preferences, the person said.

Honda will oversee the process to ensure quality standards are met and will retain control over areas like technology, connectivity and driver-assistance systems, the person added.

FAMOUS INDEPENDENCE
Honda has long carried the imprint of its famously independent late founder, Soichiro Honda. It developed two of the world's best-selling cars, the Civic and the Accord, along with the most popular motorcycle of all time, the Super Cub.

Like other Japanese automakers, Honda faces the difficult balancing act of defending its legacy business in places like the US while developing new technologies to compete with Chinese firms elsewhere. India, a fast-growing market that remains closed to Chinese EV makers, has become more important.

But Honda's market ​share there has slumped to 1.3% from a peak ​of 7.3% more than a decade ago. Its portfolio ⁠has shrunk to four models and it is losing to affordable, feature-packed rivals like Tata Motors and Mahindra (MAHM.NS). It also has little to offer in the biggest and fastest-growing SUV segment.

"Honda is already late and behind competitors," one of the people said.

Honda President Toshihiro Mibe is under pressure to turn around the automaker, which recorded its first-ever ​annual loss in the last financial year.

In May, Mibe said that while India was a "key focus" for Honda, the automaker had not always been successful there.

"We need ​to rebuild the business on ⁠an entirely different footing," he said.

Previously, Honda adapted for India cars that were originally designed for Japan or other global markets. That resulted in it offering vehicles that were seen as over-engineered and pricey.

The first vehicle under development with Tata Technologies is a small SUV that is less than 4 metres (13.1 feet) in length, a segment that accounts for a large portion of India's car market and where Honda has limited presence. It is targeted for launch in 2028, two of the ⁠people said.

A second, ​mid-size SUV is expected to follow, with Honda later trying to revive its strength in sedans, one of them added.

In its statement, ​Honda said it planned to launch vehicles in India in the sub-4-metre category and the larger midsize category from 2028 onwards.

India is Honda's only major emerging market and it wants to make manufacturing and sourcing there more competitive.

If the first product under the deal is successful in ​terms of quality, sales and profitability, it will open opportunities for Honda to export from India, one of the people said.

Consumer advocate Clark Howard called out Ford and GM for choosing profit over sales volume, and then GM released numbers that seemed to prove his point. Here is what that strategy costs a buyer who walks into a showroom without…

This post may contain links from our sponsors and affiliates, and Flywheel Publishing may receive compensation for actions taken through them.

On his September 21 podcast, consumer advocate Clark Howard accused Ford (NYSE:F | F Price Prediction) and General Motors (NYSE:GM) of shrinking supply on purpose: “Ford and GM had both made a decision along with some of the European brands, that they would rather sell a lot less metal. They call it metal. A lot fewer cars for a lot more money than get market share.”

GM reported its sales ten days later. According to CNBC’s coverage of GM’s third-quarter sales, unit sales fell 6% from a year earlier and are down 6% year to date. In the same report, GM said the industry sales rate stayed strong in the upper 16 million range. So GM is selling fewer vehicles in a healthy market.

This matters to anyone walking into a showroom. Howard said the average American-brand vehicle now sells for 50 plus thousand, while Subaru and Honda (NYSE:HMC) average 37 grand. If you expect the market to hand you a discount, you will overpay.

GM’s Own Earnings Back Up Howard’s Charge Howard is right, and GM’s quarterly results show it. In the first quarter of 2026, North American wholesale volume fell to 793,000 units from 827,000. Even so, adjusted EBIT rose 22% to $4.3 billion. Fewer trucks left the factory, and GM made more money on each one.

Management described the strategy itself on its July call. GM said its incentives run one and a half to two points below the industry average. It also said per-unit profit on full-size pickups is up over 25% since 2020.

To be fair, part of the third-quarter fall has another explanation. EV sales dropped more than 50%. GM blames the EV tax credit that expired in September 2025, which pulled demand forward, plus discontinued models like the Chevrolet Malibu. Gas-powered sales were up fractionally. Pricing discipline is still stated policy, though. It added 600 million in first-half profit.

Shareholders got the “more money” half of the deal. GM’s quarterly dividend went from $0.12 to $0.15, then to $0.18. That’s a 50% increase.

Even so, shares sit near $79, down about 8% over the past month.

How a $13,000 Sticker Gap Turns Into $15,000 Here’s an example. Say you compare a $50,000 domestic SUV with a $37,000 rival. The sticker gap is $13,000.

Assume both are financed over 60 months at an sample 7% APR.

The pricier vehicle costs about $990 a month, compared with about $733. That’s an extra $257 every month.

You’d pay roughly $9,404 in interest on the first loan and $6,959 on the second.

Over the full loan, the real gap is about $15,445, and interest grows it every month. Small incentives add to the gap. Two points of MSRP on a $50,000 vehicle is $1,000 in discounts you’d likely see at a brand that discounts like the rest of the industry.

Your Loan Rate Decides How Much the Premium Hurts The variable that matters most is your interest rate. On that same $13,000 premium, a 1.9% loan makes the total gap about $13,638. A 10% loan drives it to about $16,573.

Borrowers with excellent credit pay roughly the sticker difference. Borrowers with weaker credit pay the premium plus thousands more in interest. If your rate is high, buying from an automaker that limits supply costs you the most.

How to Shop When Automakers Limit Supply Compare across brands in the same category. Howard’s list includes Buick at 36 grand and Kia at 38. Price at least two of them against any vehicle you’re considering, and compare total loan cost instead of the monthly payment. Get a preapproved rate before you visit a dealer. Enter that rate into a loan calculator for each vehicle. Seeing the total cost over five years makes the true price gap clear. Skip the end-of-model clearance plan for trucks. New Silverado and Sierra pickups arrive in December, but GM says it hasn’t seen the “typical heavy discounting at the end of the cycle.” Don’t build your budget around a markdown that may never come. Negotiate the out-the-door price by email. Ask several dealers for a written total that includes fees. This avoids the showroom pressure tactics Howard has criticized for years, and it makes dealers compete on the one number that matters. GM decided to sell fewer vehicles at higher prices, so the savings come from comparing total costs before you sign.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

Honda multi-fingered robotic hand combined with Redwire STAARK robotic arm could automate experiment handling and other research operations in orbit Robotics solution aims to increase research capacity while reducing crew time for lab tasks Honda and Redwire to meet with commercial station developers and prospective partners at the 2026 International Astronautical Congress , /PRNewswire/ -- Honda today announced efforts to develop a robotics solution for future commercial space stations that could reduce the time needed for astronauts to conduct experiments and laboratory operations in space. To advance its space station robotics concept, the U.S.-based Honda space development team is engaging with experts at Redwire (NYSE:RDW), a global leader in space and defense technology solutions. The concept would combine the Honda multi-fingered robotic hand with Redwire's STAARK robotic arm and experiment locker technology into an integrated system for research operations in orbit.

Concept rendering of a robotics solution that combines the Honda multi-fingered robotic hand with Redwire's STAARK robotic arm and experiment locker technology to automate research activities aboard future commercial space stations As NASA transitions from the International Space Station (ISS) to commercially operated stations in low Earth orbit, station developers are evaluating how research and routine laboratory activities will be performed in this new operating environment. Future commercial stations are being designed around smaller crews and shorter astronaut stays, increasing the need for automation to support station operations and scientific investigations while reducing demands on crew time.

Dexterous Robotics for In-Orbit Research

Many research activities conducted in orbit require astronauts to retrieve experiments, transfer samples, operate laboratory equipment, and move materials between workstations. These routine tasks consume valuable crew time aboard today's space stations. A robotic system capable of performing these activities could help reduce operational costs while enabling greater use of research facilities and supporting more scientific and commercial research.

Over decades of development, Honda has advanced robotics technologies capable of performing tasks that require human-like dexterity and is now exploring their applications for future space operations. The Honda multi-fingered robotic hand combines actively controlled joints with force and tactile sensing throughout the fingertips and palm, enabling precise contact detection and delicate manipulation. Its design is flexible enough for precise laboratory work, including handling research samples, manipulating small objects, and operating laboratory equipment. The Honda multi-fingered robotic hand has also completed extensive durability testing under varied fingertip loads, demonstrating a practical combination of dexterity, power and durability.

"Honda space initiatives, including our robotic hand, are focused on enabling practical operations in orbit," said Tom Sladek, chief engineer, Space Development Division, Honda Development & Manufacturing of America, LLC. "Working with Redwire, Honda is evaluating how robotics with human-like dexterity could support research activities aboard the next generation of commercial space stations, helping crews accomplish more in an environment with fewer personnel while improving operational efficiency."

With eight facilities currently on the ISS, Redwire has decades of experience on the ISS developing facilities hardware, as well as operating science and technology experiments. Additionally, Redwire has extensive space robotics expertise with STAARK, an affordable, modular, and easily customized robotic system designed for various on-orbit robotics applications. Recent testing successfully demonstrated that the STAARK robotic arm is capable of autonomously tracking and grasping dynamic objects, providing the reach and positioning capability needed to move equipment and access work throughout a station.

"Redwire is excited to explore opportunities with Honda that leverage our proven track record and expertise in robotics and in-space manufacturing technology development to advance the next generation of commercial research in orbit," said Shawn Buckley, executive vice president and chief operating officer at Redwire Space. "Commercial space stations will transform Low-Earth orbit, and advanced space robotics are critical in enabling technologies that will help us unlock the value for our customers."

Together, the technologies could support the full experiment workflow, combining Redwire's robotic reach and station infrastructure with the Honda multi-fingered robotic hand, capable of precise manipulation and adaptable grasping across a wide range of objects and tasks. Such an integrated system has the potential to automate portions of the research workflow, ranging from sample handling and materials transfer to equipment operation and laboratory support tasks. Additional applications may include inventory management, cargo movement, inspection activities, and other station support functions.

Partner Discussions at IAC 2026

Honda and Redwire representatives will attend the International Astronautical Congress (IAC), October 5-9, 2026, in Antalya, Türkiye to discuss potential applications for the combined robotics solution with commercial station developers and prospective industry partners. Organizations interested in learning more about the concept or scheduling a meeting at IAC may contact [email protected].

About Honda Research & Development in America
Honda has been conducting research & development operations in America for 50 years, beginning with the establishment of a research facility in California in 1975. Today, Honda conducts R&D activities at 23 facilities across the country responsible for creating advanced products and technologies that provide new value to Honda and Acura customers.

Honda conducts all facets of product development in the U.S., including market and technology research, product styling, engineering design, prototype fabrication and testing, collaboration with parts suppliers, and support for mass production. With major R&D facilities in California, Ohio, and North Carolina, U.S. Honda associates are engaged in the development and testing of Honda and Acura automobiles, Honda powersports and power equipment products, and also play a lead role in the development of leading-edge safety, driver-assistive and environmental technologies.

Explore more of Honda in the Digital FactBook.

Notice: Although the information included in this press release is accurate as of the date of publication, this information is subject to change at any time without notice. American Honda Motor Co., Inc. assumes no responsibility for updating this information.

SOURCE American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

Japan's ​Honda Motor (7267.T) is ‌in the final stages of ​preparations to ​build a new hybrid ⁠vehicle production ​plant in ​Ohio, the Nikkei business daily said on ​Thursday.

Honda plans ​to invest about 300 ‌billion ⁠yen to 400 billion yen ($1.90 billion to $2.53 ​billion) ​in ⁠the new plant, expected ​to start ​production ⁠in 2030, the daily said.

($1 = ⁠157.8800 ​yen)

While the proven Zacks Rank places an emphasis on earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find strong stocks, we also know that investors tend to develop their own individual strategies. With this in mind, we are always looking at value, growth, and momentum trends to discover great companies.

Looking at the history of these trends, perhaps none is more beloved than value investing. This strategy simply looks to identify companies that are being undervalued by the broader market. Value investors use fundamental analysis and traditional valuation metrics to find stocks that they believe are being undervalued by the market at large.

On top of the Zacks Rank, investors can also look at our innovative Style Scores system to find stocks with specific traits. For example, value investors will want to focus on the "Value" category. Stocks with high Zacks Ranks and "A" grades for Value will be some of the highest-quality value stocks on the market today.

Honda Motor Co. (HMC - Free Report) is a stock many investors are watching right now. HMC is currently holding a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and a Value grade of A.

We should also highlight that HMC has a P/B ratio of 0.63. The P/B ratio is used to compare a stock's market value with its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. HMC's current P/B looks attractive when compared to its industry's average P/B of 1.14. Over the past 12 months, HMC's P/B has been as high as 0.66 and as low as 0.44, with a median of 0.55.

Value investors also use the P/S ratio. The P/S ratio is calculated as price divided by sales. Some people prefer this metric because sales are harder to manipulate on an income statement. This means it could be a truer performance indicator. HMC has a P/S ratio of 0.34. This compares to its industry's average P/S of 0.39.

Finally, investors will want to recognize that HMC has a P/CF ratio of 5.08. This metric takes into account a company's operating cash flow and can be used to find stocks that are undervalued based on their solid cash outlook. HMC's P/CF compares to its industry's average P/CF of 6.61. Over the past year, HMC's P/CF has been as high as 5.31 and as low as 3.12, with a median of 4.11.

These are just a handful of the figures considered in Honda Motor Co.'s great Value grade. Still, they help show that the stock is likely being undervalued at the moment. Add this to the strength of its earnings outlook, and we can clearly see that HMC is an impressive value stock right now.

Here at Zacks, our focus is on the proven Zacks Rank system, which emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find great stocks. Nevertheless, we are always paying attention to the latest value, growth, and momentum trends to underscore strong picks.

Considering these trends, value investing is clearly one of the most preferred ways to find strong stocks in any type of market. Value investors use a variety of methods, including tried-and-true valuation metrics, to find these stocks.

Luckily, Zacks has developed its own Style Scores system in an effort to find stocks with specific traits. Value investors will be interested in the system's "Value" category. Stocks with both "A" grades in the Value category and high Zacks Ranks are among the strongest value stocks on the market right now.

One company to watch right now is Honda Motor Co. (HMC - Free Report) . HMC is currently holding a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and a Value grade of A. The stock is trading with P/E ratio of 9.87 right now. For comparison, its industry sports an average P/E of 10.48. Over the last 12 months, HMC's Forward P/E has been as high as 10.44 and as low as 5.17, with a median of 6.92.

Another notable valuation metric for HMC is its P/B ratio of 0.63. The P/B ratio pits a stock's market value against its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. This stock's P/B looks attractive against its industry's average P/B of 1.11. Over the past year, HMC's P/B has been as high as 0.66 and as low as 0.44, with a median of 0.55.

Value investors also frequently use the P/S ratio. This metric is found by dividing a stock's price with the company's revenue. This is a popular metric because sales are harder to manipulate on an income statement, so they are often considered a better performance indicator. HMC has a P/S ratio of 0.35. This compares to its industry's average P/S of 0.41.

Finally, we should also recognize that HMC has a P/CF ratio of 5.08. This metric takes into account a company's operating cash flow and can be used to find stocks that are undervalued based on their solid cash outlook. This stock's P/CF looks attractive against its industry's average P/CF of 7.12. HMC's P/CF has been as high as 5.31 and as low as 3.12, with a median of 4.11, all within the past year.

These figures are just a handful of the metrics value investors tend to look at, but they help show that Honda Motor Co. is likely being undervalued right now. Considering this, as well as the strength of its earnings outlook, HMC feels like a great value stock at the moment.

Japan's Honda (7267.T) aims to cut more than $9 billion in ​costs over the next four years and has instructed suppliers to drastically reduce their prices, according to internal documents and one person familiar with ‌the matter.

The plan, reported here for the first time, is one of the most striking examples yet of how Japanese automakers are scrambling to deal with intensifying competition from China. BYD (002594.SZ) and other Chinese electric vehicle (EV) makers are capturing sizeable market share in Southeast Asia, Latin America and Europe, powered by advanced software and battery technology — and prices that are by far the industry's lowest.

Honda, the world's ​largest motorcycle manufacturer, is trying to fix its struggling car business. It expects EV-related losses to ultimately total more than $12 billion, one of the biggest hits ​among global automakers, and is now shifting its focus to gasoline-electric hybrids. In May it reported its first-ever annual loss as ⁠a publicly traded company.

The maker of the CR-V sport-utility vehicle now aims to save 1.5 trillion yen ($9.4 billion) by 2030, according to the documents and the person.

This story is ​based on a Reuters review of internal company documents and interviews with two people familiar with the matter, both of whom declined to be identified because the information is ​not public.

In a written response to questions, a Honda spokesperson declined to comment on specific cost-reduction targets or details of discussions with suppliers.

The automaker was working with suppliers globally to improve competitiveness and reduce costs, including through the use of standardised parts, the spokesperson said.

SPRING MEETING
In spring of this year, Honda managers met with major suppliers at a convention centre in Utsunomiya, a city north of ​Tokyo near the automaker's R&D facility, according to the documents and the people. It was not clear how many suppliers attended.

Honda managers briefed suppliers on the plan and ​said it would also look to source more components from Chinese suppliers, one of the people said. Each supplier was later presented with company-specific targets to cut costs, the people said.

Honda is ‌aiming to ⁠reduce costs by 30% in three key parts categories: pressed and forged components, electrical parts and parts related to software-defined vehicles (SDVs), according to the documents. Such a reduction would allow Japanese suppliers to better compete with Chinese rivals, the documents said.

Honda's direct suppliers, or "tier-one" suppliers, were also asked to review how they procured materials and were urged to make use of standardised parts sourced from second- and third-tier suppliers, to help keep costs down, the documents showed.

Honda managers also asked suppliers to expand their own use of Chinese-made ​components where possible, according to the documents.

The cost-reduction ​targets were "extremely large" and it was ⁠not immediately clear whether they would be achievable, one of the sources said.

The other person said that up until the spring meeting, Honda had not given the impression that it needed aggressive cost cuts. Now, the situation appeared to leave "no room for delay," ​the person added.

Honda shares were down 2.5% in afternoon trading on Wednesday. Those in several Honda-affiliated suppliers also traded lower, with ​seat maker TS Tech (7313.T) ⁠down 1.3%, frame maker H-One (5989.T) off 2.3%, and auto body parts maker G-Tekt (5970.T) 2.0% lower.

On Monday, Honda and Nissan (7201.T) said they would jointly develop standardised electronic control units for SDVs and aim to roll out an architecture built around them from the 2029 financial year.

Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe won support for his reappointment to the company's board in June. He has faced pressure from ⁠former executives to ​step down over the company's performance.

Last year, Honda and Nissan ended merger talks that would have created ​one of the world's largest automakers.

In addition to Chinese competition, Honda and other automakers are being squeezed by U.S. President Donald Trump's import tariffs and higher labour expenses. They also face the growing need to invest in ​research and development of technology as cars become more advanced, raising costs across the industry.

1.67K Followers

Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of TSLA either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

HMC Capital Limited (HMCLF) Q4 2026 Earnings Call Transcript

Japanese automakers Nissan (7201.T) and Honda (7267.T) said on Monday they would jointly develop standardised electronic ​control units (ECUs) for software-defined vehicles (SDVs), deepening their collaboration on ‌more advanced car technology.

The companies plan to introduce an architecture incorporating the jointly developed ECUs and software in next-generation vehicles from ​the 2029 financial year onwards, they said in a ​joint statement.

Software has become a key battleground for ⁠automakers as vehicles take on more autonomous-driving and connected ​functions. Carmakers are investing heavily in operating systems that support ​features ranging from driver assistance and entertainment to over-the-air updates, increasing development costs.

The move also reflects growing competitive pressure from Chinese automakers ​such as BYD (002594.SZ), which have gained ground in markets ​including Europe and Southeast Asia with electric and hybrid cars packed with ‌advanced ⁠software features.

The agreement stems from talks that began in 2024, when Honda and Nissan said they would jointly research next-generation software platforms. It comes more than a year after they ​abandoned merger ​talks that would ⁠have created the world's fourth-largest automaker.

Honda and Nissan said they aim to establish common ​specifications for core ECUs within their vehicles' ​electrical and ⁠electronic architecture, as well as operating systems and parts of the middleware and vehicle-control software.

Nissan's alliance partner Mitsubishi Motors (7211.T) said ⁠it ​was considering joining the collaboration and ​remained in discussions with the two automakers on potential areas of collaboration.

Investors interested in Auto-Tires-Trucks stocks should always be looking to find the best-performing companies in the group. Is Honda Motor (HMC - Free Report) one of those stocks right now? A quick glance at the company's year-to-date performance in comparison to the rest of the Auto-Tires-Trucks sector should help us answer this question.

Honda Motor is one of 104 companies in the Auto-Tires-Trucks group. The Auto-Tires-Trucks group currently sits at #12 within the Zacks Sector Rank. The Zacks Sector Rank considers 16 different sector groups. The average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups is measured, and the sectors are listed from best to worst.

The Zacks Rank is a proven system that emphasizes earnings estimates and estimate revisions, highlighting a variety of stocks that are displaying the right characteristics to beat the market over the next one to three months. Honda Motor is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy).

Over the past 90 days, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for HMC's full-year earnings has moved 550% higher. This signals that analyst sentiment is improving and the stock's earnings outlook is more positive.

According to our latest data, HMC has moved about 8.2% on a year-to-date basis. Meanwhile, stocks in the Auto-Tires-Trucks group have lost about 13.5% on average. As we can see, Honda Motor is performing better than its sector in the calendar year.

Another stock in the Auto-Tires-Trucks sector, Hyliion Holdings Corp. (HYLN - Free Report) , has outperformed the sector so far this year. The stock's year-to-date return is 99.5%.

Over the past three months, Hyliion Holdings Corp.'s consensus EPS estimate for the current year has increased 6.1%. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Looking more specifically, Honda Motor belongs to the Automotive - Foreign industry, which includes 24 individual stocks and currently sits at #166 in the Zacks Industry Rank. On average, this group has lost an average of 15.4% so far this year, meaning that HMC is performing better in terms of year-to-date returns.

In contrast, Hyliion Holdings Corp. falls under the Automotive - Original Equipment industry. Currently, this industry has 52 stocks and is ranked #165. Since the beginning of the year, the industry has moved +6.7%.

Going forward, investors interested in Auto-Tires-Trucks stocks should continue to pay close attention to Honda Motor and Hyliion Holdings Corp. as they could maintain their solid performance.

Aston Martin Lagonda Global (OTCMKTS:ARGGD – Get Free Report) and Honda Motor (NYSE:HMC – Get Free Report) are both consumer discretionary companies, but which is the superior investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their profitability, risk, earnings, analyst recommendations, valuation, dividends and institutional ownership.

Profitability This table compares Aston Martin Lagonda Global and Honda Motor’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Aston Martin Lagonda Global N/A N/A N/A Honda Motor -0.73% -1.30% -0.49% Insider and Institutional Ownership 5.3% of Honda Motor shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.0% of Honda Motor shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Analyst Ratings This is a summary of current recommendations and price targets for Aston Martin Lagonda Global and Honda Motor, as reported by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Aston Martin Lagonda Global 0 0 0 0 0.00 Honda Motor 2 2 0 1 2.00 Honda Motor has a consensus target price of $25.00, suggesting a potential downside of 21.51%. Given Honda Motor’s stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Honda Motor is more favorable than Aston Martin Lagonda Global.

Earnings & Valuation This table compares Aston Martin Lagonda Global and Honda Motor”s revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Aston Martin Lagonda Global N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Honda Motor $144.79 billion 0.34 -$2.80 billion ($0.70) -45.50 Aston Martin Lagonda Global has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Honda Motor.

Summary Honda Motor beats Aston Martin Lagonda Global on 6 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks.

(Get Free Report)

Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings plc designs, develops, manufactures, markets, and sells luxury sports cars under the Aston Martin and Lagonda brands in the United Kingdom, the Americas, the Rest of Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. It also engages in the sale of parts; and motor sport activities. The company sells its vehicles through a network of dealers. Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings plc was incorporated in 2018 and is headquartered in Gaydon, the United Kingdom.

About Honda Motor (Get Free Report)

Honda Motor Co., Ltd. develops, manufactures, and distributes motorcycles, automobiles, power, and other products in Japan, North America, Europe, Asia, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Motorcycle Business, Automobile Business, Financial Services Business, and Power Product and Other Businesses. The Motorcycle Business segment produces motorcycles, including sports, business, and commuter models; and various off-road vehicles, such as all-terrain vehicles and side-by-sides. The Automobile Business segment offers passenger cars, light trucks, and mini vehicles. The Financial Services Business segment provides various financial services, including retail lending and leasing services to customers, as well as wholesale financing services to dealers. The Power Product and Other Businesses manufactures and sells power products, such as general purpose engines, lawn mowers, generators, water pumps, brush cutters, tillers, outboard marine engines, and snow throwers. This segment also offers HondaJet aircraft. The company also sells spare parts; and provides after-sale services through retail dealers directly, as well as through independent distributors and licensees. Honda Motor Co., Ltd. was founded in 1946 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.

Receive News & Ratings for Aston Martin Lagonda Global Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Aston Martin Lagonda Global and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.

Key Takeaways Honda's Q1 FY27 earnings jumped, while revenues increased to $38.04 billion from $37 billion.Automobile revenues rose 9.5%, with operating profit reaching 192 billion versus a prior loss.Honda forecasts FY27 revenues up 10.8% and operating profit of 650 billion. Honda (HMC - Free Report) reported quarterly earnings of $2.18 per share for the first quarter of fiscal 2027, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 90.2%. The bottom line also rose from the year-ago quarter’s earnings of 97 cents per share. Quarterly revenues totaled $38.04 billion, which rose from the year-ago period’s figure of $37 billion.

Segmental HighlightsFor the three-month period, which ended on June 30, 2026, revenues from the Automobile segment increased 9.5% year over year to ¥3.88 trillion ($24.3 billion). The segment registered an operating profit of ¥192 billion ($1.2 billion) against an operating loss of ¥29.6 billion in the corresponding quarter of fiscal 2026.

Revenues from the Motorcycle segment came in at around ¥1.14 trillion ($7.15 billion), which increased 19.9% year over year. The unit’s operating profit came in at ¥233.9 billion ($2.1 billion), up 23.8% year over year.

Revenues from the Financial Services segment totaled ¥1.03 trillion ($6.44 billion), up 23.3% year over year. The unit’s operating profit totaled ¥105.8 billion ($658.8 million), up 24.5% year over year.

Revenues from Power Product and Other Businesses came in at ¥94.5 billion ($592.7 million), up 1.8% year over year. The segment reported an operating loss of ¥1.12 billion (7.03 million) compared with the operating loss of ¥219 million incurred in the same period last year.

Financials & FY27 ViewConsolidated cash and cash equivalents were ¥5.3 trillion ($32.94 billion) as of June 30, 2026. Long-term debt was around ¥8.7 trillion ($54.1 billion) as of June 30, 2026.

Honda projects fiscal 2027 consolidated sales volumes from the Motorcycle, Automobile and Power Products segments to be 15.19 million units, 2.82 million units and 3.65 million units, respectively. The forecast implies growth of 3.5% year over year in the Motorcycles unit, while it implies a year-over-year rise of 4% and 1.7% for the Automobile and Power Product unit sales, respectively.

For fiscal 2027, Honda forecasts revenues of ¥24.15 trillion, implying a rise of 10.8% year over year. Operating profit is envisioned at ¥650 billion, indicating an improvement from the operating loss of ¥414.3 billion incurred in fiscal 2026. Pretax profit is forecasted to be ¥660 billion, suggesting an improvement from a pretax loss of ¥403 billion incurred in fiscal 2026. The company will pay an interim and year-end dividend of ¥35 per share each in fiscal 2027.

HMC currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Key Releases From Auto SpaceGeneral Motors Company (GM - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $3.57 per share, up 41.3% year over year. The figure beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.13 by 14.06%. Revenues increased 1.9% to $48.03 billion and surpassed the consensus estimate of $46.56 billion by 3.15%. Strong pricing, lower costs and disciplined incentives supported results. General Motors raised its full-year adjusted EBIT guidance to $14-$16 billion from $13.5-$15.5 billion. Adjusted earnings are now projected at $12-$14 per share, up from the prior range of $11.50-$13.50.

Tesla, Inc. (TSLA - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of 33 cents per share, which declined 17.5% year over year. The figure missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 50 cents by 34%. Revenues advanced 25.5% to $28.24 billion and surpassed the consensus estimate of $25.81 billion by 9.41%. Tesla expects 2026 capital expenditures to exceed $25 billion and rise further over the next two to three years.

Genuine Parts Company (GPC - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $2.15 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.10 by 2.38%. The bottom line increased 2.4% from $2.10 in the year-ago quarter. Revenues rose 6% year over year to $6.54 billion and surpassed the consensus estimate of $6.39 billion by 2.36%. Genuine Parts reaffirmed its 2026 adjusted earnings guidance of $7.50-$8 per share and total sales growth outlook of 3-5.5%. Genuine Parts ended June with $2.3 billion of liquidity, including $559 million in cash.

The Japanese automaker is aiming to improve its hybrid EV offerings to shore up its car business's profitability.

It doesn't matter your age or experience: taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for all investors. Luckily, Zacks Premium offers several different ways to do both.

The popular research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor, giving you access to daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens.

Zacks Premium includes access to the Zacks Style Scores as well.

What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores, developed alongside the Zacks Rank, are complementary indicators that rate stocks based on three widely-followed investing methodologies; they also help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.

Each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics. Just like in school, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on -- that means the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.

The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:

Value ScoreFor value investors, it's all about finding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value before the broader market catches on. The Value Style Score utilizes ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to help pick out the most attractive and discounted stocks.

Growth ScoreGrowth investors are more concerned with a stock's future prospects, and the overall financial health and strength of a company. Thus, the Growth Style Score analyzes characteristics like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will see sustainable growth over time.

Momentum ScoreMomentum trading is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook, and these investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." The Momentum Style Score can pinpoint good times to build a position in a stock, using factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates.

VGM ScoreIf you want a combination of all three Style Scores, then the VGM Score will be your friend. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, helping you find the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum. It's also one of the best indicators to use with the Zacks Rank.

How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank is a proprietary stock-rating model that harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to help investors build a successful portfolio.

#1 (Strong Buy) stocks have produced an unmatched +23.94% average annual return since 1988, which is more than double the S&P 500's performance over the same time frame. However, the Zacks Rank examines a ton of stocks, and there can be more than 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, and another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.

With more than 800 top-rated stocks to choose from, it can certainly feel overwhelming to pick the ones that are right for you and your investing journey.

That's where the Style Scores come in.

To maximize your returns, you want to buy stocks with the highest probability of success. This means picking stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you find yourself looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, make sure they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.

The direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should always be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy, since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank.

A stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, for instance, even one with Scores of A and B, will still have a declining earnings forecast, and a greater chance its share price will fall too.

Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.

Stock to Watch: Honda Motor (HMC - Free Report) Honda Motor Co., Ltd. is a leading manufacturer of automobiles and the largest producer of motorcycles in the world. The company is recognized internationally for its wide variety of products, ranging from small general-purpose engines to specialty sports cars, which incorporate its efficient internal combustion engine technologies. Honda operates through four business segments:

HMC is a #2 (Buy) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.

Momentum investors should take note of this Auto-Tires-Trucks stock. HMC has a Momentum Style Score of B, and shares are up 9.6% over the past four weeks.

For fiscal 2027, two analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $1.45 to $1.65 per share. HMC boasts an average earnings surprise of +90.2%.

With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Momentum and VGM Style Scores, HMC should be on investors' short list.

Posted by Defense World Staff on Jul 29th, 2026

First Trust Advisors LP lifted its position in shares of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (NYSE:HMC – Free Report) by 16.5% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 1,395,747 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 197,431 shares during the quarter. First Trust Advisors LP owned approximately 0.09% of Honda Motor worth $33,931,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in HMC. Auto Owners Insurance Co grew its holdings in Honda Motor by 5,004.4% in the 4th quarter. Auto Owners Insurance Co now owns 8,583,102 shares of the company’s stock valued at $25,303,000 after buying an additional 8,414,952 shares during the period. Bank of America Corp DE lifted its position in Honda Motor by 34.8% during the 3rd quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 4,200,280 shares of the company’s stock worth $129,369,000 after acquiring an additional 1,083,245 shares in the last quarter. Donald Smith & CO. Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Honda Motor by 28.7% in the fourth quarter. Donald Smith & CO. Inc. now owns 2,648,828 shares of the company’s stock valued at $78,087,000 after purchasing an additional 590,128 shares during the period. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. purchased a new position in Honda Motor in the 2nd quarter valued at about $12,987,000. Finally, Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. boosted its holdings in Honda Motor by 1,421.0% in the fourth quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 416,848 shares of the company’s stock valued at $12,289,000 after purchasing an additional 389,442 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 5.32% of the company’s stock.

Honda Motor Stock Up 3.9% NYSE HMC opened at $30.27 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $47.25 billion, a P/E ratio of -15.85, a PEG ratio of 5.03 and a beta of 0.43. Honda Motor Co., Ltd. has a 12 month low of $23.25 and a 12 month high of $34.89. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $27.29 and its 200 day simple moving average is $27.35. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.70, a current ratio of 1.28 and a quick ratio of 1.03.

Honda Motor (NYSE:HMC – Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 14th. The company reported ($4.24) earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($5.74) by $1.50. Honda Motor had a negative return on equity of 3.07% and a negative net margin of 1.75%.The business had revenue of $36.81 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $32.99 billion. Honda Motor has set its FY 2027 guidance at 1.278-1.278 EPS. Equities research analysts expect that Honda Motor Co., Ltd. will post 0.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of research firms have commented on HMC. Zacks Research upgraded shares of Honda Motor from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, June 19th. Weiss Ratings downgraded Honda Motor from a “sell (d+)” rating to a “sell (d)” rating in a research note on Wednesday, June 3rd. Finally, Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Honda Motor from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Saturday, May 16th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have issued a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $25.00.

Read Our Latest Research Report on HMC

Honda Motor Profile (Free Report)

Honda Motor Co, Ltd. is a global manufacturer and mobility company headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan, founded in 1948 by Soichiro Honda and Takeo Fujisawa. The company’s core businesses include the design, manufacture and sale of automobiles and motorcycles, along with a diverse portfolio of power products, engines and related components. Honda also operates in aviation through Honda Aircraft Company and offers financial services that support vehicle sales and leasing.

In automobiles, Honda is known for a range of passenger cars, crossovers and light trucks, and in motorcycles it is one of the world’s leading producers by volume and model breadth.

Recommended Stories Five stocks we like better than Honda Motor These 3 Stocks Have Soared in 2026—Can They Keep Climbing? Hasbro’s Earnings Beat Shows Why This Is No Longer Just a Toy Story Rambus: Another AI Phoenix Ready to Rise From the Ashes of Correction Chips & Clips: Memory Tariffs Rewire Tech Supply Chains Want to see what other hedge funds are holding HMC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (NYSE:HMC – Free Report).

Receive News & Ratings for Honda Motor Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Honda Motor and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.

« PREVIOUS HEADLINEAmundi Has $3.28 Billion Stock Holdings in Johnson & Johnson $JNJ

NEXT HEADLINE »Absolute Gestao de Investimentos Ltda. Buys Shares of 9,000 JPMorgan Chase & Co. $JPM

By You're currently following this author! Want to unfollow? Unsubscribe via the link in your email.

Honda is discontinuing its Prologue. Owners noticed their recent monthly statement told them to "consider a hybrid." Honda Honda sold Prologue owners on going electric. Now, it wants them to consider a hybrid.

A blurb at the bottom of all Honda auto statements in July includes a section titled "Consider What's Next," which promotes the automaker's hybrid lineup and tells customers to "consider a hybrid" for their next vehicle.

The message landed awkwardly for Prologue owners. The SUV, Honda's only EV, was discontinued for 2027. The car company will have no fully-electric cars in its lineup next year.

Business Insider spoke with seven Prologue owners and lessees, including several who found the message frustrating — or darkly funny.

"The 'consider a hybrid' note on our statements is somewhat laughable," Oklahoma-based Benjamin Crabtree, who has owned a Prologue for a year, told Business Insider. "With very few exceptions, anyone who has gone fully electric would never want to downgrade to a gas or hybrid vehicle going forward."

Honda said the pitch was part of its effort to retain Prologue customers.

"Our focus is on Customer Lifetime Loyalty and retaining all of our existing customers by moving them into new Honda models," the company said. "We believe these would be great options for our returning Prologue customers."

The Prologue was supposed to bridge Honda into its next generation of EVs. The car was part of a joint effort with GM that also produced the Cadillac Lyriq, Chevy Blazer EV, and Chevy Equinox EV. The automakers scrapped their EV partnership in 2023 as costs rose and EV sales failed to meet expectations.

Honda's own electric ambitions have since unraveled.

The company confirmed in mid-July that Prologue production will end after the 2026 model year, with sales continuing into early 2027 with existing inventory. In March, Honda scrapped its planned US-built 0 Series EVs, while its joint venture with Sony ended before it could build the roughly $90,000 Afeela sedan.

Instead, Honda has said it's focusing on a new lineup of hybrid vehicles, including a 15-vehicle global slate by 2030.

That pivot disappointed some Prologue drivers — including Kevin Simpson, a California-based 2025 Prologue lessee — who had expected to remain with Honda for their next EV. He called the hybrid model pitch "mildly annoying and sadly ironic."

"I was following the development of the 0 Series Honda EVs, and intended one of those to be my next car," he said. "When Honda pulled the rug out from under me and other Prologue owners, I felt very let down by a company I have long admired."

Simpson said he is now considering the Rivian R2 or one of the electric vehicles developed jointly by Toyota and Subaru.

An EV rebound?

US EV sales have had a rough go in 2026. There are signs that high gas prices are giving them new momentum.  Bloomberg/Getty Images Honda has said its broader reassessment of its electrification strategy could result in write-downs of $15.7 billion. The cancellations leave Honda without a new battery-electric model in its US lineup for 2027.

The Japanese automaker is not alone in reworking its electric ambitions. Automakers — including Jeep-maker Stellantis, Ford, Volkswagen, and General Motors — have canceled vehicles, delayed projects, or recorded billions of dollars in charges as they respond to slower demand, high development costs, and the loss of federal EV incentives. The federal tax credit of up to $7,500 was no longer available for vehicles acquired after September 30, 2025.

However, signs indicate that the US EV market is stabilizing amid skyrocketing gas prices.

Americans bought an estimated 247,226 new EVs in the second quarter, up 14.7% from the first three months of 2026, according to Kelley Blue Book. Sales remained well below the same period last year.

Work at Honda? We want to hear from you. Contact Ben Shimkus at [email protected] or Signal at bshimkus.41. Use a personal email address and a nonwork device.

Read next

Ben Shimkus You're currently following this author! Want to unfollow? Unsubscribe via the link in your email.

Ben Shimkus is a reporter for the Business News desk. He writes about cars, transportation, retail, and jobs. Ben's reporting has appeared in Rolling Stone, The Verge, Automotive News, USA Today, AutoBody News, LGBTQ Nation, TopSpeed, and Out Magazine. He's also held staff writing positions at The U.S. Sun and the Daily Mail. He graduated from NYU with a Master's in journalism in 2024. Email Ben at [email protected] or message him privately on Signal at bshimkus.41. 

While the proven Zacks Rank places an emphasis on earnings estimates and estimate revisions to find strong stocks, we also know that investors tend to develop their own individual strategies. With this in mind, we are always looking at value, growth, and momentum trends to discover great companies.

Of these, perhaps no stock market trend is more popular than value investing, which is a strategy that has proven to be successful in all sorts of market environments. Value investors use tried-and-true metrics and fundamental analysis to find companies that they believe are undervalued at their current share price levels.

On top of the Zacks Rank, investors can also look at our innovative Style Scores system to find stocks with specific traits. For example, value investors will want to focus on the "Value" category. Stocks with high Zacks Ranks and "A" grades for Value will be some of the highest-quality value stocks on the market today.

One company to watch right now is Honda Motor Co. (HMC - Free Report) . HMC is currently sporting a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and an A for Value.

We should also highlight that HMC has a P/B ratio of 0.63. The P/B ratio pits a stock's market value against its book value, which is defined as total assets minus total liabilities. This stock's P/B looks attractive against its industry's average P/B of 1.01. Over the past year, HMC's P/B has been as high as 0.66 and as low as 0.44, with a median of 0.55.

Value investors also frequently use the P/S ratio. This metric is found by dividing a stock's price with the company's revenue. This is a popular metric because sales are harder to manipulate on an income statement, so they are often considered a better performance indicator. HMC has a P/S ratio of 0.3. This compares to its industry's average P/S of 0.39.

Finally, our model also underscores that HMC has a P/CF ratio of 5.08. This metric focuses on a firm's operating cash flow and is often used to find stocks that are undervalued based on the strength of their cash outlook. HMC's current P/CF looks attractive when compared to its industry's average P/CF of 6.50. Over the past 52 weeks, HMC's P/CF has been as high as 5.31 and as low as 3.12, with a median of 4.11.

Value investors will likely look at more than just these metrics, but the above data helps show that Honda Motor Co. is likely undervalued currently. And when considering the strength of its earnings outlook, HMC sticks out as one of the market's strongest value stocks.

It doesn't matter your age or experience: taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for all investors. Luckily, Zacks Premium offers several different ways to do both.

Featuring daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, the research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor.

Zacks Premium also includes the Zacks Style Scores.

What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores is a unique set of guidelines that rates stocks based on three popular investing types, and were developed as complementary indicators for the Zacks Rank. This combination helps investors choose securities with the highest chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.

Each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics. Just like in school, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on -- that means the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.

The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:

Value ScoreValue investors love finding good stocks at good prices, especially before the broader market catches on to a stock's true value. Utilizing ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and many other multiples, the Value Style Score identifies the most attractive and most discounted stocks.

Growth ScoreGrowth investors, on the other hand, are more concerned with a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score examines things like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will experience sustainable growth over time.

Momentum ScoreMomentum investors, who live by the saying "the trend is your friend," are most interested in taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Utilizing one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, among other factors, the Momentum Style Score can help determine favorable times to buy high-momentum stocks.

VGM ScoreWhat if you like to use all three types of investing? The VGM Score is a combination of all Style Scores, making it one of the most comprehensive indicators to use with the Zacks Rank. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, which helps narrow down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.

How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank, which is a proprietary stock-rating model, employs earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to make building a winning portfolio easier.

#1 (Strong Buy) stocks have produced an unmatched +23.94% average annual return since 1988, which is more than double the S&P 500's performance over the same time frame. However, the Zacks Rank examines a ton of stocks, and there can be more than 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, and another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.

With more than 800 top-rated stocks to choose from, it can certainly feel overwhelming to pick the ones that are right for you and your investing journey.

That's where the Style Scores come in.

To maximize your returns, you want to buy stocks with the highest probability of success. This means picking stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you find yourself looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, make sure they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.

Since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank, the direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy.

For instance, a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one that boasts Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings forecast, and a much greater likelihood its share price will decline as well.

Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.

Stock to Watch: Honda Motor (HMC - Free Report) Honda Motor Co., Ltd. is a leading manufacturer of automobiles and the largest producer of motorcycles in the world. The company is recognized internationally for its wide variety of products, ranging from small general-purpose engines to specialty sports cars, which incorporate its efficient internal combustion engine technologies. Honda operates through four business segments:

HMC is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.

It also boasts a Value Style Score of A thanks to attractive valuation metrics like a forward P/E ratio of 30.25; value investors should take notice.

Two analysts revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for fiscal 2027, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $1.21 to $0.92 per share. HMC also boasts an average earnings surprise of +90.2%.

With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Value and VGM Style Scores, HMC should be on investors' short list.

Honda Motor America, a unit of Honda ​Motor Co Ltd , ‌is recalling 325,588 Odyssey vehicles in the U.S. due ​to issues with ​the display of the ⁠rearview image, the National ​Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) ​said on Wednesday.

Honda this week began production of batteries destined for energy storage systems, according to a report from Nikkei Asia. The milestone makes Honda the latest car company to dive into the red-hot energy market.

The automaker’s shift toward energy storage comes three months after Honda canceled its EV programs in the U.S. Batteries for the EVs were slated to be made at a factory in Ohio, which Honda operates under a joint venture with LG Energy Solution. Now, those cells are headed to data centers instead of driveways. 

Honda’s pivot comes as demand for EVs in the U.S. remains soft following the GOP’s cancellation of tax credits, which were intended to spur EV and battery production in the U.S. Sales of new EVs remain down year-over-year, in part because consumers pulled forward their purchases to take advantage of the tax credits, which disappeared last September.

That uncertainty led Honda to dramatically shift gears, canceling three EVs that were destined for the U.S. market. The automaker wrote down $15.7 billion last fiscal year, in part to restructure its EV strategy. Its weakening China business, where EVs have soared, also contributed to the write-down.

But despite the restructuring, Honda didn’t dissolve its joint venture with LG Energy. And like seemingly every other automaker, including Tesla, Ford, and GM, Honda decided that batteries are a big business on their own.

The market for stationary storage has been booming, growing 32% year-over-year, according to a report from SEIA and Benchmark Minerals. In the first quarter of this year, 9.7 gigawatt-hours of energy storage systems were installed. That’s enough batteries to build roughly 120,000 EVs. 

The breakneck growth is expected to continue. By the end of the decade, the report estimates that 110 gigawatt-hours of energy storage will be installed every year, nearly tripling the size of the market. 

It’s been a profitable market, too. Tesla, which has claimed the majority of sales so far, rakes in 30% gross profits on its Megapacks and Powerwalls, about twice its margin on vehicles. 

Many stationary batteries have been installed at data centers, but a large chunk of them end up connected to the grid. As battery prices have fallen, they’ve carved out a sizable niche stabilizing the grid while also augmenting wind and solar installations, making them more predictable generating sources. 

Honda may not be sure how to approach the EV market in the U.S., but it’s clear it wants in on the energy transition in one form or another.

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.

Tim De Chant is a senior climate reporter at TechCrunch. He has written for a wide range of publications, including Wired magazine, the Chicago Tribune, Ars Technica, The Wire China, and NOVA Next, where he was founding editor.

De Chant is also a lecturer in MIT’s Graduate Program in Science Writing, and he was awarded a Knight Science Journalism Fellowship at MIT in 2018, during which time he studied climate technologies and explored new business models for journalism. He received his PhD in environmental science, policy, and management from the University of California, Berkeley, and his BA degree in environmental studies, English, and biology from St. Olaf College.

You can contact or verify outreach from Tim by emailing [email protected].

Honda Motor’s CEO and President, Toshihiro Mibe attends a media briefing about financial results in Tokyo, Japan, May 14, 2026. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

CompaniesTOKYO, June 26 (Reuters) - Honda Motor (7267.T), opens new tab Chief Executive Toshihiro Mibe secured support for his reappointment to the Japanese automaker's board at its annual ​meeting on Friday after apologising to shareholders for the company's poor financial ‌performance.

Honda is seeking to recover from costly strategic missteps after posting its first annual loss in seven decades last month, hurt by more than $9 billion in restructuring costs for its electric-vehicle business and ​competition from Chinese rivals.

Jumpstart your morning with the latest legal news delivered straight to your inbox from The Daily Docket newsletter. Sign up here.

"I would like to express my deepest apologies to our ​shareholders for the significant concern and inconvenience caused by the net ⁠loss recorded in the previous fiscal year's financial results," Mibe told shareholders at the ​start of the meeting.

Aside from backing Mibe, Honda shareholders approved the company's 10 other ​board nominees, including nine who were up for reappointment and one new director.

Amid an EV subsidy rollback, Honda decided on its EV-linked writedown with market share of battery-powered cars in the U.S. sharply ​below the company's forecasts, meaning sales of its planned models would have required ​big incentives, Mibe said.

If it would have gone ahead with selling its planned EVs, "it would mean the ‌automotive ⁠business itself staying in the red for at least five years, possibly as long as seven," Mibe said, adding that it would have created an extremely critical situation at the company.

In recent months, Mibe has drawn scorn from retired Honda executives over ​the mishaps, with former ​chief executive Nobuhiko ⁠Kawamoto visiting Tokyo headquarters in April to urge him to resign, people familiar with the matter have told Reuters.

The former executives have criticised ​Mibe for neglecting China, the world's biggest auto market, and ​for the ⁠company's failed bet on EVs that caused Honda's loss and highlighted a growing dependence on its profitable motorcycle division.

Near the end of the meeting, a shareholder proposed filing a motion ⁠that ​called for Mibe's dismissal, but the chief executive declined ​to put it to a vote, saying the issue was not on the agenda and the proposal ​could therefore not be considered.

Reporting by Daniel Leussink; Editing by Thomas Derpinghaus and Kevin Buckland

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

It doesn't matter your age or experience: taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for all investors. Luckily, Zacks Premium offers several different ways to do both.

The research service features daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, all of which will help you become a smarter, more confident investor.

It also includes access to the Zacks Style Scores.

What are the Zacks Style Scores? Developed alongside the Zacks Rank, the Zacks Style Scores are a group of complementary indicators that help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.

Each stock is given an alphabetic rating of A, B, C, D or F based on their value, growth, and momentum qualities. With this system, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on, meaning the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.

The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:

Value ScoreFinding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value, are what value investors like to focus on. So, the Value Style Score takes into account ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to highlight the most attractive and discounted stocks.

Growth ScoreGrowth investors, on the other hand, are more concerned with a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score examines things like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will experience sustainable growth over time.

Momentum ScoreMomentum traders and investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." This investing style is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Employing factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, the Momentum Style Score can indicate favorable times to build a position in high-momentum stocks.

VGM ScoreIf you want a combination of all three Style Scores, then the VGM Score will be your friend. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, helping you find the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum. It's also one of the best indicators to use with the Zacks Rank.

How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank, which is a proprietary stock-rating model, employs earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to make building a winning portfolio easier.

Investors can count on the Zacks Rank's success, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +24% average annual return since 1988, more than double the S&P 500's performance. But the model rates a large number of stocks, and there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.

This totals more than 800 top-rated stocks, and it can be overwhelming to try and pick the best stocks for you and your portfolio.

That's where the Style Scores come in.

To maximize your returns, you want to buy stocks with the highest probability of success. This means picking stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you find yourself looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, make sure they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.

The direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should always be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy, since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank.

Here's an example: a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one with Style Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings outlook, and a bigger chance its share price will decrease too.

Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.

Stock to Watch: Honda Motor (HMC - Free Report) Honda Motor Co., Ltd. is a leading manufacturer of automobiles and the largest producer of motorcycles in the world. The company is recognized internationally for its wide variety of products, ranging from small general-purpose engines to specialty sports cars, which incorporate its efficient internal combustion engine technologies. Honda operates through four business segments:

HMC is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.

It also boasts a Value Style Score of A thanks to attractive valuation metrics like a forward P/E ratio of 28.34; value investors should take notice.

For fiscal 2027, two analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $1.22 to $0.93 per share. HMC boasts an average earnings surprise of +90.2%.

With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Value and VGM Style Scores, HMC should be on investors' short list.