(The Epoch Times)—Ford Motor Company on Feb. 10 reported fourth-quarter revenue 2025 of $45.9 billion, a 5 percent year-over-year decline that led to its largest earnings miss since the same quarter in 2021.
Ford posted a net loss of $11.1 billion in the quarter and earnings per share of $0.13, well below analysts’ forecast of $0.18. In the year-ago quarter, Ford posted net income of $1.8 billion and earnings per share of $0.45. The Dearborn, Michigan-based automaker’s full-year revenue of $187.3 billion was up from $185 billion in 2024, marking the fifth straight year of revenue growth despite the challenging fourth quarter.
Its net loss for the year, however, was $8.2 billion, versus net income of $5.9 billion in 2024.
Ford CEO Jim Farley said during a conference call with analysts that the impact from a fire at the Novelis aluminum plant in Oswego, New York—a major aluminum supplier for the automaker’s F-series pickup trucks—and unexpected changes to tariff credits for auto parts resulted in costs of roughly $4 billion.
Ford also announced in December 2025 that it would take a $19.5 billion write-down on its electric vehicle (EV) investments due to decreased consumer demand for EVs. While about $7 billion of the charges are expected to be distributed throughout the year and extend into 2027, the bulk of the write-off was absorbed in the fourth quarter of 2025.
“We dealt decisively with the reality of the market and shifted our focus of our EV business to a high-volume, affordable end-of-the-market,” Farley said.
“We improved our core business and execution, made significant progress in the areas of the business we control—lowering material and warranty costs and making real progress on quality—and made difficult but critical strategic decisions that set us up for a stronger future,” Farley added.
Ford also provided full-year guidance for 2026 of adjusted earnings before interest and taxes of $8–10 billion, up from the $6.8 billion reported in 2025, and in line with the FactSet analyst estimate of $8.78 billion.
Ongoing supply issues from the Novelis plant, which isn’t expected to reopen until June, will continue to drag on Ford’s operations through the first half of the year, Ford CFO Sherry House said.
“We remain relentlessly focused on three key levers to improve margins: improvements in EVs, highly accretive anti-cyclical businesses that grow and change our risk profile, and next-generation core products,” House said.
Ford is also grappling with record number of vehicle recalls and significant warranty costs. The automaker’s total vehicle recalls for both the quarter and year exceeded those of its closest competitors, Toyota and Chrysler, combined.
Ford’s shares fluctuated sharply on Feb. 11. As of 13: 26 p.m. ET, the stock was up by 0.26 percent. Year to date, the stock has been up 3.62 percent.
Why Bullion Beats Numismatics and Collectible for Your Safe or IRA
Precious metals continue to attract Americans seeking reliable ways to protect their wealth amid inflation, geopolitical risks, and stock market swings. Whether stored in a home safe or held inside a self-directed IRA, physical gold and silver deliver tangible value that paper or digital assets often lack. Yet investors must choose carefully between bullion—pure bars and coins valued mainly for their metal content—and numismatics or collectibles, where rarity, history, and collector demand heavily influence pricing.
Advisor Bullion serves as a dependable source for straightforward, high-quality bullion. The company specializes in physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, emphasizing transparent pricing and products that deliver maximum metal content for every dollar spent. This approach makes it ideal for both personal holdings and retirement accounts.
Bullion consists of refined precious metals in standard forms like one-ounce coins (American Gold Eagles, Silver Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs) or bars. Their value tracks closely to the current spot price of the metal. A typical gold bullion coin trades near the live gold spot price plus a small premium. This structure keeps costs clear and predictable.
Numismatic coins and collectibles add substantial value from factors such as age, rarity, minting errors, or historical significance. A pre-1933 U.S. gold coin or graded proof piece can carry premiums of 30%, 50%, or even 200% above melt value. While this appeals to hobbyists, it creates complexity. Pricing depends on subjective grading, collector trends, and auction results instead of daily spot prices.
For investors focused on wealth preservation and retirement security rather than building a collection, bullion often delivers better results.
Lower Costs and Better Liquidity for Home Storage
When keeping metals in a home safe or private vault, liquidity and efficiency count. Bullion offers clear benefits:
- You acquire more actual gold or silver per dollar invested. Numismatics divert a large share of your money into rarity premiums and massive sales commission, reducing your metal exposure.
- Selling bullion involves tight bid-ask spreads, so you recover nearly full spot value with minimal fees. Collectibles require finding the right buyer and may sell at a discount if demand for that specific item weakens.
- Bullion prices remain transparent and update with global spot markets. You can track gold near current levels or silver accordingly and know exactly where your holdings stand. Numismatic values are priced by the Gold IRA companies with hefty margins applied.
- Standardized coins and bars store efficiently and divide easily for partial sales. Rare coins often need protective slabs and controlled conditions, adding hassle and expense.
- Bullion enjoys worldwide acceptance. A 1-oz Gold Maple Leaf or Silver Eagle sells quickly to dealers anywhere. Niche numismatic pieces may appeal only to limited buyers, slowing liquidation when speed matters.
In times when quick access to value becomes important, bullion’s simplicity stands out.
Stronger Fit for Precious Metals IRAs
Precious metals IRAs continue gaining traction as investors diversify retirement portfolios beyond stocks and bonds. IRS rules permit certain bullion products in self-directed IRAs if they meet purity standards (.995 fine for gold, .999 for silver) and are held by an approved custodian. Eligible items include American Gold and Silver Eagles plus many generic bars and rounds from recognized mints.
Numismatic and most collectible coins generally face heavy scrutiny from custodians due to valuation disputes and elevated markups. These higher premiums mean less actual metal ends up working inside the account.
Bullion avoids these issues. Its value links directly to verifiable spot prices, which simplifies reporting and lowers the risk of regulatory challenges. More of your IRA contribution purchases real metal instead of dealer profits or speculative upside. Over time, owning additional ounces that appreciate with the metal itself can create meaningful outperformance compared with high-premium alternatives that deliver fewer ounces.
Regulatory guidance from the CFTC and state securities offices repeatedly cautions against aggressive sales of expensive numismatics or “semi-numismatic” coins for IRAs. For retirement planning, transparent bullion from established providers reduces risk and aligns better with long-term goals.
How to Get Started with Bullion
Begin by clarifying your goals. Are you protecting savings in a safe, or moving part of a retirement account into a precious metals IRA? Focus on the number of ounces you can acquire at current prices rather than chasing marked-up collectibles.
Diversify sensibly: use gold for core preservation and silver for its blend of industrial and monetary qualities. Mix coins for easier divisibility with bars for lower per-ounce costs on larger buys. Arrange secure storage—whether at home with proper insurance or through professional facilities.
As economic uncertainties linger and faith in conventional assets erodes, bullion continues proving its worth as a dependable store of value. Its direct approach avoids the hype that sometimes surrounds collectible markets and keeps the focus on the metal itself.
For investors prepared to strengthen their portfolios, Advisor Bullion supplies the expertise and selection needed to acquire high-quality bullion efficiently. Whether building personal holdings or integrating metals into an IRA, their emphasis on transparent, investment-grade products helps secure more ounces today that support greater financial security tomorrow. In a complicated financial landscape, bullion’s clarity and reliability make it the smarter foundation for protecting what matters most.
