F-Series trucks # 1 for 40 years

Fordlover wrote:

proxim2020 wrote:

Thomas/NH wrote:
Ford has been good for me... Back during the recession when the big three were looking for a bailout, I was impressed by Ford's position and decided to back them. I bought 5000 shares at $1.59 (against my broker's better judgment, "you're throwing your money away") now it's $13.17 (now back to investment grade and paying dividends again). I know I should be shrewd and divest, but with the new models coming out and the investment in electrics I'm going to let it ride.

I've alway owned Fords both personally and in my company, they've served me well.

You do know Ford ended up taking money from the government right? Originally they approached the government like all others asking for $9 Billion, but changed their mind when they got a slick idea. They instead borrowed almost $6 Billion from the Energy Department instead of going through TARP (The Bailout Program). They could then say that they didn't have to take bailout money. Ford Credit received almost $16 billion from the government. Ford's financial arm borrowed more than any other competitor. The fact is everybody got bailed out in one way or another.

You can split this any way you want, but the reality is a loan and a bailout aren't the same, even if they have similar effects.
Loan-noun. 1. A thing that is borrowed, especially a sum of money that is expected to be paid back with interest. (this is Ford's case)
Bailout-noun. 1. An act of giving financial assistance to a failing business or economy to save it from collapse. (GM/Chrysler)

I love when people try to make a bailout/bankruptcy that screwed over the bondholders of old GM equivalent to the government loan Ford took (loan, paid back with interest, meaning the Government is poised to make money), and bond holders aren't screwed over. It just makes that person look small and agenda driven.