Stock of the Day

September 23, 2020

Honda Motor (HMC)

$34.25
+$0.19 (+0.5%)
Market Cap: $53.16B

About Honda Motor

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.

Honda Motor Bull Case

Here are some ways that investors could benefit from investing in Honda Motor Co., Ltd.:

  • Honda Motor Co., Ltd. is currently trading at $32.69, which is significantly below the consensus price target of $34.00 set by sell-side analysts. This valuation gap suggests that the stock may be undervalued relative to its expected future performance, offering potential upside for investors who align with the "Moderate Buy" consensus rating recently issued by five ratings firms.
  • The company is actively pursuing significant cost efficiencies and strategic partnerships to enhance its competitive position. Specifically, Honda Motor Co., Ltd. has entered a partnership with Tata Technologies in India aimed at cutting costs by as much as 20% and halving development times. This strategic shift addresses previous cost pressures and positions the company to respond more effectively to market competition.
  • Honda Motor Co., Ltd. is expanding its manufacturing footprint in the United States with plans to build a new hybrid vehicle plant in Ohio, with an investment of up to $2.5 billion. This move is a direct response to tightening US capacity and allows the company to localize production, potentially reducing supply chain risks and capturing a larger share of the growing hybrid vehicle market in North America.
  • The company is at the forefront of innovative electric vehicle technology, having developed a wireless road-charging system for electric vehicles, including large trucks. Honda Motor Co., Ltd. plans to test this technology on a Japanese highway, which could differentiate its EV offerings by addressing range anxiety and charging convenience, key barriers to EV adoption.
  • Honda Motor Co., Ltd. offers a dividend yield of 3.07%, providing a steady income stream for investors. This yield is attractive in the current market environment and reflects the company's commitment to returning value to shareholders, supported by its stable business operations across automobiles, motorcycles, and power products.

Honda Motor Bear Case

Investors should be bearish about investing in Honda Motor Co., Ltd. for these reasons:

  • Short interest in Honda Motor Co., Ltd. has increased significantly, with 3,380,686 shares shorted as of September 30, 2026, representing a 70.5% growth from the previous month. This surge in short selling indicates that a substantial portion of the market is betting against the stock's future performance, which could signal underlying concerns about the company's financial health or strategic direction.
  • The company reported a negative net margin of 0.73% and a negative return on equity of 1.30% in its most recent quarterly earnings. These metrics suggest that Honda Motor Co., Ltd. is currently operating at a loss on a net basis and is not generating positive returns for its equity holders, which is a significant red flag for profitability-focused investors.
  • Honda Motor Co., Ltd. is facing intense cost pressures and strategic deadlocks, particularly in its India market, which has forced the company to rework its strategy. This indicates that the company is struggling to maintain its competitive edge in key markets and may face continued margin compression as it navigates these challenges.
  • The company's P/E ratio is listed as 0.00 in the current quote data, which typically indicates that the company is not generating positive earnings. This is consistent with the negative net margin and return on equity reported in recent quarters, suggesting that Honda Motor Co., Ltd. is currently unprofitable and may take time to return to a state of consistent earnings growth.
  • Institutional investors have shown mixed signals, with some major holders like Envestnet Asset Management Inc. reducing their stakes significantly. Envestnet sold 235,163 shares in the second quarter, a 36.3% reduction in its position. This divestment by a large institutional investor could indicate a lack of confidence in the company's near-term prospects.

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