GM jumps as 2026 guidance tops expectations and $6B buyback boosts returns
General Motors shares are rallying after the company paired upbeat 2026 profit guidance with stepped-up shareholder returns. GM lifted its quarterly dividend to $0.18 and authorized a new $6.0 billion share repurchase program, reinforcing a capital-return narrative as the stock trades near record levels.
1. What’s driving the stock today
General Motors is moving higher as investors re-price the stock around a shareholder-returns catalyst paired with a stronger-than-expected 2026 outlook. GM’s board increased the quarterly dividend by $0.03 to $0.18 per share and approved a fresh $6.0 billion share repurchase authorization, signaling confidence in cash generation and extending the company’s ongoing buyback-driven equity story.
2. The numbers investors are reacting to
GM reported full-year 2025 EBIT-adjusted of $12.7 billion and issued 2026 guidance calling for EBIT-adjusted of $13.0 billion to $15.0 billion, with net income attributable to stockholders guided at $10.3 billion to $11.7 billion. GM also guided to automotive operating cash flow of $19.0 billion to $23.0 billion and adjusted automotive free cash flow of $9.0 billion to $11.0 billion, keeping the focus on cash conversion and the company’s capacity to keep returning capital.
3. Why the market likes the setup from here
The combination of a higher dividend rate and another large repurchase authorization supports an acceleration in per-share financial metrics, especially after GM’s already sizable share-count reduction in recent years. With the stock trading strongly into 2026, today’s rally reflects renewed confidence that GM can defend profitability while funding strategic priorities and still deliver meaningful capital returns.