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General Motors Co.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 28 April 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 raised, 6 lowered, 3 new, 2 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Adjusted EPS rose on prior-year comparison: Adjusted diluted EPS was $3.70 against $2.78. The prior-year figure excluded a $593 million return from preferred shareholders tied to Cruise. Source
  • GMNA profit and margin both rose: GMNA EBIT-adjusted was $3.66 billion against $3.29 billion, up 11.4%. GMNA margin was 10.1% against 8.8%. GMNA revenue was $36.4 billion against $37.4 billion. Source
  • Gross tariff cost estimate lowered: The company now expects 2026 gross tariff costs of $2.5 billion to $3.5 billion, down from the original $3.0 billion to $4.0 billion estimate. Source
  • Tariff refund lifts 2026 EBIT guidance: A Supreme Court decision on IEEPA tariffs produced an adjustment of about $0.5 billion, which the company cites as the reason for raising 2026 EBIT-adjusted guidance. Source
  • Automotive operating cash flow fell: Automotive operating cash flow was $533 million against $2,404 million, down 77.8%. Source
  • EV capacity realignment excluded from EBIT: The company excluded EV-related adjustments of $1,077 million, which relate to realigning EV capacity and manufacturing footprint, including Ultium's realignment. Source

“The company is raising its full-year 2026 EBIT adjusted guidance due to a favorable adjustment of approximately $0.5 billion resulting from the U.S. Supreme Court decision regarding certain U.S. tariffs”

General Motors Co., press release

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net income attributable to stockholders SourceFull year 2026$9.9 billion - $11.4 billionLowered from $10.3 billion - $11.7 billion
EBIT-adjusted SourceFull year 2026$13.5 billion - $15.5 billionRaised from $13.0 billion - $15.0 billion
Automotive operating cash flow SourceFull year 2026$16.8 billion - $20.8 billionLowered from $19.0 billion - $23.0 billion
Adjusted automotive free cash flow SourceFull year 2026$9.0 billion - $11.0 billionKept
EPS-diluted SourceFull year 2026$10.62 - $12.62Lowered from $11.00 - $13.00
EPS-diluted-adjusted SourceFull year 2026$11.50 - $13.50Raised from $11.00 - $13.00
Gross tariff costs SourceFull year 2026$2.5 billion to $3.5 billionLowered from $3.0 billion to $4.0 billion
Capital expenditures SourceFull year 2026$10.0 billion - $12.0 billionKept
Income tax expense SourceFull year 2026$2.6 billion - $3.1 billionLowered from $2.6 billion - $3.2 billion
Automotive interest expense, net SourceFull year 20260.0 billionLowered from 0.1 billion
Adjustments to EBIT-adjusted SourceFull year 2026$1.0 billionNew
Adjustments to EPS-diluted-adjusted SourceFull year 2026$0.88 per shareNew
Adjustments to adjusted automotive free cash flow SourceFull year 2026$2.2 billionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: EBIT-adjusted guidance raised to $13.5 billion to $15.5 billion, from $13.0 billion to $15.0 billion, citing a tariff-related adjustment of about $0.5 billion. Source
  • Guidance raised: Adjusted diluted EPS guidance raised to $11.50 to $13.50, from $11.00 to $13.00. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Net income attributable to stockholders guidance lowered to $9.9 billion to $11.4 billion, from $10.3 billion to $11.7 billion. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Automotive operating cash flow guidance lowered to $16.8 billion to $20.8 billion, from $19.0 billion to $23.0 billion. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Diluted EPS guidance lowered to $10.62 to $12.62, from $11.00 to $13.00. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Gross tariff cost estimate for 2026 lowered to $2.5 billion to $3.5 billion, from $3.0 billion to $4.0 billion. Source
  • Guidance kept: Adjusted automotive free cash flow guidance and capital expenditure guidance are both unchanged. Source
  • New: The company reports a favorable adjustment of about $0.5 billion from a U.S. Supreme Court decision on tariffs paid under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net income and GAAP EPS declined: Net income attributable to stockholders was $2.6 billion, down 5.7%. Diluted EPS was $2.82 against $3.35, down 15.9%. Source
  • Adjusted EPS rose on prior-year comparison: Adjusted diluted EPS was $3.70 against $2.78. The prior-year figure excluded a $593 million return from preferred shareholders tied to Cruise. Source

Segments and regions

  • GMNA profit and margin both rose: GMNA EBIT-adjusted was $3.66 billion against $3.29 billion, up 11.4%. GMNA margin was 10.1% against 8.8%. GMNA revenue was $36.4 billion against $37.4 billion. Source
  • GMI and China equity income increased: GMI EBIT-adjusted was $123 million against $30 million. China equity income was $165 million against $45 million. Source
  • Cruise posted no segment loss: Cruise segment profit was nil in the quarter, against a $273 million loss in the first quarter of 2025. Source
  • GM Financial profit was flat: GM Financial EBT-adjusted was $688 million against $685 million, up 0.5%. Source

“The company now expects gross tariff costs of $2.5 billion to $3.5 billion in 2026, down from the original estimate of $3.0 billion to $4.0 billion.”

General Motors Co., press release

Products and customers

  • Wholesale volume edged lower: Wholesale vehicle sales were 899 thousand against 912 thousand. GMNA sold 793 thousand against 827 thousand, and GMI sold 106 thousand against 85 thousand. 24.9% of volume was outside the U.S. Source
  • Fleet share of sales rose: Fleet sales were 266 thousand against 239 thousand. Fleet sales were 20.6% of total vehicle sales, against 16.5% a year earlier. Source
  • Fleet sales earn less than retail: The company states that certain fleet transactions, particularly sales to daily rental car companies, are generally less profitable than retail sales to end customers. Source

Costs, margins and tariffs

  • Gross tariff cost estimate lowered: The company now expects 2026 gross tariff costs of $2.5 billion to $3.5 billion, down from the original $3.0 billion to $4.0 billion estimate. Source
  • Tariff refund lifts 2026 EBIT guidance: A Supreme Court decision on IEEPA tariffs produced an adjustment of about $0.5 billion, which the company cites as the reason for raising 2026 EBIT-adjusted guidance. Source
  • Quarter adjustments totalled $999 million: Total adjustments excluded from EBIT-adjusted were $999 million in the quarter, against $26 million a year earlier, led by a $1,077 million EV strategic realignment charge. Source

Demand and market share

  • Worldwide GM share fell: GM worldwide total vehicle sales were 1,295 thousand against 1,449 thousand. Industry sales were 20,786 thousand against 21,706 thousand, and GM share was 6.2% against 6.7%. Source
  • U.S. share declined year on year: U.S. GM sales were 626 thousand against 693 thousand, and GM share was 16.5% against 17.2%. Source
  • China share declined: China GM sales, including the Automotive China JVs, were 349 thousand against 443 thousand, and share was 6.9% against 7.6%. Source

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Automotive operating cash flow fell: Automotive operating cash flow was $533 million against $2,404 million, down 77.8%. Source
  • Adjusted free cash flow rose: Adjusted automotive free cash flow was $1,269 million against $811 million, up 56.4%. Adjustments added back $2,232 million for the EV strategic realignment. Source
  • Capital spending declined: Capital expenditures were $1.5 billion against $1.8 billion in the prior-year quarter. Source
  • Share repurchases were lower: Payments to purchase common stock were $800 million against $2,012 million in the prior-year quarter. Source
  • Returns on capital shown: Trailing four-quarter ROE was 4.0% against 8.6%. ROIC-adjusted was 20.8% against 20.7%. Source

Strategy and investment

  • EV capacity realignment excluded from EBIT: The company excluded EV-related adjustments of $1,077 million, which relate to realigning EV capacity and manufacturing footprint, including Ultium's realignment. Source
  • Ultium equity earnings fell sharply: Equity earnings from Ultium Cells Holdings were insignificant in the quarter, against $241 million a year earlier. Source
  • China restructuring reduced adjustments: China restructuring actions reduced adjustments by $78 million in the quarter, relating to Automotive China JVs. Source

Coming up, as management said on 28 April 2026

  • Quarterly dividend payable June 18: The Board declared a $0.18 per share quarterly dividend, payable June 18, 2026, to holders of record at the close of trading on June 5, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Wholesale vehicle sales (units) Source899 thousand against 912 thousand
Total vehicle sales (deliveries, worldwide) Source1,295 thousand against 1,449 thousand

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: Gross tariff costs for 2026 are expected at $2.5 billion to $3.5 billion, the estimate the company has revised. Source
  • Operational: The company is realigning EV capacity and manufacturing footprint, including Ultium's realignment, which produced $1,077 million of excluded adjustments in the quarter. Source
  • Demand: Fleet sales carry lower profitability than retail sales, and fleet share of total vehicle sales rose to 20.6%. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The original tariff estimate for 2026 was $3.0 billion to $4.0 billion; the company now expects $2.5 billion to $3.5 billion. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.