Latest news with #F80
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
How This Top Luxury Stock Makes a Comeback in a Critical Market
Ferrari's sales have suffered in a challenging Chinese market. Ferrari is preparing to launch its first fully electric vehicle. The automaker's F80 could provide additional growth. 10 stocks we like better than Ferrari › When it comes to Ferrari (NYSE: RACE) the business, or the racing heritage, there isn't much weakness to find in its operations. The company generates ridiculous margins for the auto industry, like other luxury businesses is recession resilient, and even boasts a near $4 million vehicle that's already sold out. One small weakness for the company has been its results in China – but that could be changing soon. Ferrari isn't alone in facing pain in China's automotive market. In fact, it's faring far better than its western peers as it has purposely limited its sales in China to roughly 10% of its total. Meanwhile, peers are struggling with massive sales declines amid a brutal price war in the country. That said, Ferrari's sales in China have hit a speed bump as well and fell 25% during the first quarter to their lowest in nearly four years. Part of that was a shrinking China luxury car market last year due to a broader economic downturn, and weak consumer sentiment and spending. In a way, Ferrari is merely attempting to adapt to the prevailing trend in China that has been a boom and focus on electric vehicles (EVs). That's right, Ferrari is looking to roll out its first fully electric supercar -- don't forget that Ferrari already does roughly half its sales in hybrids -- in hopes of reviving sales in China. Not only will Ferrari benefit from China's rising EV market, but it will also benefit from lower tariffs and taxes. The vehicle, dubbed Elettrica, that Ferrari plans to unveil in October is expected to be taxed at a compound rate of 30% of its manufacturer's suggested retail price, which compares favorably to its vehicles equipped with 12-cylinder engines that can be taxed at nearly four times that rate. Make no mistake, this will be a big launch for Ferrari, which will launch the EV through a three-step process. Ferrari will show the "technological heart" of the new EV at its capital markets day on Oct. 9, per CEO Benedetto Vigna on the company's first-quarter earnings call. Then the world premiere takes place during the spring of 2026, with sales launching that following October. Further, while Ferrari historically limits its sales in China to around 10% of its total, that cap could rise with a potentially more profitable EV due to lower tariffs and taxes. That could mean more growth for a company that always makes sure it has more demand than supply and keeps a lid on sales. It's not the only near-term avenue for growth, either. In fact, Ferrari's upcoming $3.8 million F80 could deliver a significant earnings boost that could help its shares gain another 30%, according to Barron's. The super-luxury vehicle is an example of just how strong the company's pricing power is. Anthony Dick, who covers the automotive market for Paris-based private bank and asset manager ODDO BHF, told Barron's that the vehicle's margins could be high enough to generate 20% of company profit from just 2% of units sold. Ferrari has emerged as not only a top automotive stock, but one of the best-performing stocks over the past few years. Its share gains have trounced the broader S&P 500 index, gaining 158% over the past three years compared to the S&P 500's 47% gain. It has products people dream of owning, incredible margins, impressive pricing power, and best of all, room for growth. If the company's first fully electric EV is a hit in China, and potentially more profitable, it would be another huge win for the company that seems to keep winning. Before you buy stock in Ferrari, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Ferrari wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $598,613!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $753,878!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 922% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 169% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of May 12, 2025 Daniel Miller has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. How This Top Luxury Stock Makes a Comeback in a Critical Market was originally published by The Motley Fool Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Miami Herald
09-05-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Lewis Hamilton Wants to Make a New Ferrari F40: What Could It Look Like?
According to Fred Smith at Car & Driver, "Lewis Hamilton Says He Wants to Design a Stick-Shift Ferrari Inspired by the F40." To most car enthusiasts, this statement alone is a major blessing, even without an official announcement in sight. With Ferrari developing fully-electric models that will supposedly have simulated engine noises, it's more than refreshing to hear that even top Formula 1 racing drivers are desperate for legacy exotic automakers to bring back truly analog performance cars that aim towards one goal above all else: to evoke an unparalleled emotional response from the driver. That one-of-a-kind adrenaline rush, like the vehicular equivalent of a double espresso martini chased with a shot of reposado, is what cemented the Ferrari F40 as an undisputed automotive legend. While the F40 was certainly no slouch, putting down a 3.8-second 0-60 mph time and producing 471 horsepower from a twin-turbocharged 2.9-liter V8, its performance figures and on-paper statistics are not why collectors and dreamers alike covet the car so greatly to this day. In fact, it's what accompanies those figures–the variables that you might not notice on the brochure, but will be at the forefront of your mind whilst behind the wheel–that make the F40 so breathtakingly captivating. For example, even Ferrari's most basic current mid-engine sports car, the 296 GTB, makes over 800 horsepower using a hybridized, twin-turbocharged V6, and accelerates from 0-60 in just 2.4 seconds–an utter barnstormer compared to the comparably sluggish F40, at least on paper. Despite the 296 GTB's objectively superior statistics, a Ferrari F40 will cost you literal millions of dollars more to own. That's because the magic of the F40 doesn't lie within its statistics, but rather in how well it satisfies the cathartic urges of the die-hard automotive enthusiast. The Ferrari F40 has no stereo, no air conditioning, no driver assist nannies like traction control or stability control (and forget about lane keep assist and adaptive cruise control), weighs almost 500 lbs. less than the 296 GTB, and sends its power to its rear wheels exclusively through a five-speed manual transmission. The F40 does none of the work for you, and in return, doing that work is precisely what makes the F40 such a memorable machine to operate. Upon the reveal of Ferrari's latest entry into its storied lineage of flagship supercars–the Ferrari F80–the Internet was flooded with livid car enthusiasts who were disappointed with the model's lack of panache and uniqueness compared to its many beloved predecessors, such as the hybrid V12-powered LaFerrari, the tantalizing Enzo, the exquisite F50, the timelessly iconic F40, and the groundbreaking 288 GTO. Whether it be the F80's V6 powertrain, its relatively uninspired styling, or its overabundance of computer-controlled driver assistance systems, the F80's diminished appeal echoes throughout the rest of Ferrari's modern lineup. Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge fan of the Ferrari 296, and its use of a V6 engine doesn't bother me in the slightest. If you've ever experienced a Dino 246 GT, then you're well aware that Ferrari is more than capable of executing an emotionally-stirring and engaging six-cylinder engine. For myself, and for many enthusiasts world-over, Ferrari's contemporary monotony can be blamed on stringent government regulations on automakers, forced electrification, too many driver assistance nannies, a shift away from Pininfarina-penned styling, and automatic transmissions that, while shifting much more quickly, remove the driver even further from an experience that's already been diluted by "features" like electronic power steering and adaptive suspension systems. Thankfully, now that Lewis Hamilton has gained a footing at Ferrari, it seems he plans on using his influence to convince Ferrari not to abandon its coveted heritage entirely. Lewis's idea to create a limited production, manually shifted Ferrari inspired by the original F40 isn't actually as radical as it may seem. Aston Martin employed a similar strategy with the Valour, which saw a 110-unit production run of a uniquely styled model that paired the brand's 705-horsepower twin-turbocharged 5.2-liter V12 with a six-speed manual transmission. According to Charlie Martin at Autocar, the Valour "sold out within two weeks of its unveiling." Even Porsche cashed in on the analog hype with their 911 S/T, which saw a 1,963-unit production run and paired the 911 GT3RS's naturally-aspirated 4.0-liter flat-six with a manual transmission and other analog-focused enhancements. It seems like a no-brainer that a spiritually revived Ferrari F40 could achieve similar success in securing sales and skyrocketing brand excitement. Employing a similar strategy to Aston Martin and Porsche, Ferrari could even use existing parts and running gear to get the job done. Perhaps the most obvious powertrain for the job would be the twin-turbocharged, flat-plane crankshaft 4.0-liter V8 found in the contemporary SF90, sans the heavy batteries and electric motors. Rid of its electrification, the SF90's V8 produces up to 769 horsepower on its own–more than enough to overshadow the likes of the 705-horsepower Aston Martin Valour or the 518-horsepower Porsche 911 S/T. Paired with a gated manual transmission and rear-wheel drive, such a configuration sounds like an immediate recipe for success. With Lewis Hamilton behind the wheel on the test track, the spiritually revived F40 would undoubtedly be set up not with track performance or efficiency prioritized in mind, but rather tuned to provide the most physically and emotionally exhilarating experience possible. We're rooting for Lewis Hamilton here, because his idea seems like an utter no-brainer for Ferrari. With a record seven Formula 1 world championship titles, Hamilton is tied only with Michael Schumacher in his racing championship success. Schumacher himself was heavily involved with the development of the Ferrari Enzo–a more than respectable entry in the F40's familial lineage that set the stage for the brand's 21st-century pursuits. We're eager to see how Hamilton contributes to a spiritual revival of the legendary Ferrari F40, but as nothing has been officially confirmed as of yet, we'll just have to wait and see what kind of magic Ferrari and Hamilton can concoct collectively. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Ferrari's luxury game plan takes on Trump's auto tariffs
Luxury automakers like Ferrari (RACE) may be insulated from tariff-fueled price hikes due to their ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) clientele, but even those well-heeled buyers may have their limits. Typically, UHNW buyers aren't dissuaded by price hikes; when demand for a product is strong or in limited supply — for instance, during the pandemic — they are willing to pay premiums for products like Rolex watches, fine scotches, and of course, Ferrari sports cars. It's why Maranello-based Ferrari didn't decrease or fully withdraw its profit guidance for the year during its latest earnings report. The Italian automaker did say, however, that profit metrics like EBIT and EBITDA margins could see a potential 50 basis point hit, depending on how President Trump's trade war plays out, though the possibility of 'offsets' in operations may diminish the impact, management said. Currently, foreign auto imports are subject to 25% tariffs. In response, Ferrari's pricing strategy is noteworthy and two-fold. For its ultra-premium cars like the $1 million+ Daytona SP3, upcoming F80 hypercar, and the new 12Cilindri coupe, the company will hike prices by a maximum of 10%. The thinking is these buyers will at least pay some of the tariff — in some cases, an additional $100,000 — because this 'marginal' amount won't dissuade them from a purchase of a limited-edition Ferrari. All buyers of these highest-end Ferraris are multi-repeat clientele and generally don't balk when Ferrari comes asking. For Ferrari's lower-priced cars, such as the Roma coupe, 296 sports car, and SF90 hybrid sports car, the company will hold prices steady. The thinking here is that these buyers are more price sensitive, and Ferrari faces more competitors in the space, including Aston Martin (ARGGY), Bentley (VWAGY), and Ferrari's regional rival Lamborghini (VWAGY). Ferrari's CEO Benedetto Vigna says his clients appreciate two aspects of Ferrari's pricing strategy. 'No. 1, we've been clarifying right away what we intend to do; and two, that we contribute, OK? We contribute to this price increase,' Vigna said on Ferrari's analyst call on Tuesday, citing talks he's had with customers. 'We don't ask them to pay all the bill, but we were very clear telling [them] that some models will have no price increase, some others up to … a maximum 10%. So they appreciate it a lot.' Vigna said the company will remain 'vigilant' in response to changes in purchasing behavior, but at the moment the company hasn't seen any shift post-tariffs. Lamborghini also reported stellar first quarter results, though it noted the 'uncertain' background in international trade remains. The company said it will 'closely monitor the situation and evaluate potential future scenarios and implications for its business,' but at the moment, business remains robust with a 'strong order book' of future sales. A spokesperson for Lamborghini said the automaker would not discuss pricing at this time, other saying the automaker was "carefully evaluating all possible scenarios." Compared to Q1 last year, both Ferrari and Lamborghini did quite well, with revenue up 13% and 30%, respectively, as well as 23% and 33% growth in EBIT. One area that Lamborghini highlighted is the strength of its key commercial regions — the Americas, EMEA (Europe & Middle East), and Asia — which allows it to spread the risk of trade tensions, though the US is still its top market. Like Lamborghini, Ferrari has a strong presence across a number of key regions, with a big wrinkle in its favor: a smaller dependency on China. Lagging China sales have hit other luxury brands, including Mercedes, BMW, and Audi. Wall Street is onboard with Ferrari's game plan for fighting tariffs and limiting China exposure. Morgan Stanley's Adam Jonas reiterated the bank's Overweight rating on the stock, citing Ferrari's 'uniquely positioned, defensive business' with an order book extending well into 2026, relatively low volatility to earnings, and strategic regional exposure, for example, low China risk. 'We are not aware of any other global luxury brand with anywhere near as low exposure to China as Ferrari,' Jonas wrote. 'We believe the company's strong pricing power (ultra-premium luxury consumer) and low exposure to China (1Q Greater China shipments represented 6.6% of total shipments) offer relative safety vs. many other names under our coverage.' A high-net-worth consumer, low exposure to China, and a surprisingly 'defensive' business in an uncertain economic environment could be Ferrari's key to success. 'Despite the surge of the uncertainty and volatility, our indistinctive business model provides us with solid confidence and the necessary agility for our future,' Ferrari CFO Antonio Picca Piccon said during the earnings call. Pras Subramanian is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. You can follow him on X and on Instagram.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Ferrari 296 Speciale revealed with 868bhp and radical aero set-up
The new Ferrari 296 Speciale is billed as the 'most fun to drive, emotionally charged' car the marque has built yet, with its 868bhp claimed to be 'very close' to the limit of what a rear-wheel-drive car can offer. Priced from €407,000 (£349,000) in Italy and offered in both coupé and spider forms, it packs 49bhp more than the 296 GTB, has 20% more downforce and is 60kg lighter. However, it is 'not just an exercise where we put a few additional horsepower', said Ferrari marketing chief Enrico Galliera. The Speciale instead represents a more comprehensive engineering effort. For instance, its twin-turbo V6 uses aluminium pistons and the titanium conrods from the new F80 hypercar, and the head is secured to the block with titanium bolts. This has allowed an increase in combustion chamber pressure of 7%, boosting the V6's output from the previous 654bhp to 690bhp. Moreover, the crankcase has been shaved down to save 1.2kg and the turbo design has been reworked to shed another 1.2kg. Ferrari has also doubled the size of the 'hot tube' – the sound pipe linking the engine bay and cabin – to improve the sound quality and volume of the V6. Revised cooling for the hybrid system has unlocked a further 13bhp, independent of the V6. 'We are very, very close to the limit of the maximum horsepower that we can manage for a rear-wheel-drive car,' said development chief Gianmaria Fulgenzi. With that in mind, an aerodynamic overhaul has resulted in a redesign of the 296's rear end, inspired by the Challenge and GT3 racers. This has brought about the fitment of two winglets atop the car's rear haunches and a small active spoiler that rises from the back end – from just above the Prancing Horse badge. The spoiler has three possible positions and adjusts based on the steering angle and throttle position. It plays a key role in boosting the car's maximum downforce by 20% compared with the 296 GTB, with 435kg at 155mph. The damper and spring set-up has been revised, bringing a 5mm drop in ride height and a claimed 13% reduction in maximum body lean when cornering. The cockpit has been reworked to minimise weight, with new seats that are said to be 5kg lighter than those in the 296 GTB. There is more carbonfibre than before, including on a new single-piece door card, and the new steering wheel swaps the previous unit's touchsensitive control pads for traditional buttons. Ferrari said the Speciale will not be strictly limited in number but by the time it spends in production, which will be significantly shorter than for the GTB. It will be 'very exclusive', said Galliera. Ferrari will offer the car only to what it calls 'active' clients: those who have bought a new or approved-used car (or maintained an older car) through an official dealer within the past five years. ]]>
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
2 Recession-Resilient Stocks to Drive Your Portfolio
Depending on whom you ask or what financial institution you listen to, the current odds of a U.S. recession in the near term fall roughly between 45% to 60%. The probability has been on the rise of late thanks largely to increased trade policy uncertainty and a potential slowdown in global growth due to U.S. tariffs. That said, here are two recession-resilient stocks to keep on your radar and found in the unlikeliest of places: the auto industry. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue » Ferrari (NYSE: RACE) is well-known for its racing heritage as well as its ultra-luxury vehicles, but it's not as well-known for its high-flying stock gains -- and that's a shame. As you can see in the graphic above, Ferrari has not only trounced industry peers with its gains, it's also lapped the S&P 500. The great news for investors is that the company is darn near recession-proof as well. One reason is because the automaker's consumers simply aren't your average earners, and their wealth enables them to continue buying Ferraris even amid economic uncertainty or downturns. These are committed consumers, too. There are long waiting lists, a mandatory holding policy for vehicle reselling, and a pretty strict approval policy -- and many consumers don't buy just one Ferrari. Another reason Ferrari is near recession proof is because it purposely keeps the sales volume of its vehicles in check, always ensuring there's more demand than supply. This helps support pricing power and also provides a little wiggle room for demand in the event of a significant economic downturn. But don't let its limited sales fool you, Ferrari is a cash printing machine with margins that more closely resemble ultra-luxury companies rather than mainstream automakers. Further, if you're craving growth, take the company's new F80, which was unveiled in October, and its hefty $3.9 million starting price tag to the bank. Ferrari instantly sold out of the limited models and Anthony Dick, who covers the auto sector for the Paris-based private bank ODDO BHF, told Barron's that it might only generate 2% of units sold but up to 20% of Ferrari's profit. In other words, investors can come for the pricing power, lucrative margins, or stock price gains, but you might find yourself staying for its recession resiliency. If you thought Ferrari was a nice find, AutoZone (NYSE: AZO) takes it a step further. In fact, AutoZone operates in what's called a countercyclical industry; meaning demand for auto parts increases when demand for new vehicles falls. That's why AutoZone has performed so well during recessions as consumers hold onto their cars longer and opt to repair rather than replace. But really AutoZone stock performs well in just about any market; you can see its consistency in the graphic below. "This is a defensive, resilient distribution business you can buy at a market multiple with the chance for earnings acceleration," says Andrew Choi, a portfolio manager at Parnassus Investments, according to Barron's. "But the multiple doesn't reflect the durability of its growth, despite the stock's outperformance." There is a long list of things that AutoZone does well, including its superior distribution model that has over 7,000 stores across the U.S., Mexico, and Brazil. A typical AutoZone store may carry 20,000 to 25,000 SKUs, but is backed up by larger hub stores that can carry twice that amount, and then mega-stores that can carry up to 4 times the SKUs. As a bonus for investors, the retailer also returns massive value to shareholders through share buybacks. In fact, over the past decade AutoZone has reduced its shares outstanding by roughly half. And if you're worried about all the tariff drama, AutoZone should be resilient to that as well because consumers need their car working, period. It's not a question of if, but when a recession will arrive. Owning stocks with durable businesses and competitive advantages could provide resiliency or, in AutoZone's case, even upside if the economy lulls. For those reasons, investors would be wise to keep AutoZone and Ferrari on their watch list regardless of what's happening with the economy or tariffs. Before you buy stock in AutoZone, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and AutoZone wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $524,747!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $622,041!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 792% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 153% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of April 14, 2025 Daniel Miller has positions in Ford Motor Company. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Tesla. The Motley Fool recommends Stellantis. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 2 Recession-Resilient Stocks to Drive Your Portfolio was originally published by The Motley Fool Sign in to access your portfolio
