"Ford's Strategic Shift: Boosted Dividends, Low-Cost EV Development"
Ford Motor's shares surged 6% after announcing an increased dividend for the first quarter and scaling back investments in new capacity for electric vehicles (EV). The automaker plans to return an extra 18 cents per share in dividend on top of the regular 15 cents, aiming to enhance the firm's payout ratio and distribute a portion of its substantial automotive cash balance to shareholders. Ford will reduce investments in new EV capacity to align with a decrease in demand, focusing on launching the next generation of EVs only when they can be profitable. The company also reported an adjusted profit of 29 cents per share for the fourth quarter, beating analysts' estimates.