Ford, General Motors should lift dividends, Barron’s says

Strikes, new technology, new competition. It all conspires to keep a lid on the stock performance of Ford Motor (F) and General Motors (GM), the last two traditional North American auto makers. But there is a way to boost shareholder returns that has nothing to do with designing the next hit EV. The companies can afford to pay higher dividends, Al Root writes in this week’s edition of Barron’s. Strikes, new technology, new competition. It all conspires to keep a lid on the stock performance of Ford Motor and General Motors, the last two traditional North American auto makers. But there is a way to boost shareholder returns that has nothing to do with designing the next hit EV. The companies can afford to pay higher dividends, the author notes.