GM Q3 earnings beat: $3.70 a share, $50bn revenue, $20bn buyback, shares down 5%

General Motors beat Wall Street's forecasts for July to September, reporting adjusted earnings of $3.70 a share against $3.63 expected and revenue of $50.02 billion (about Rs 13.85 trillion) against $48.7 billion expected, CNBC reported, citing LSEG estimates. It also announced a new $20 billion share buyback, yet its stock fell about 5% in premarket trading.

GM Q3 2026 results in numbers

North America did most of the work: $3.6 billion of the $4.1 billion in adjusted operating profit (EBIT) came from GM's home market.

Guidance narrowed, cash flow raised

GM tightened its 2026 forecast rather than raising it, which is one reason the shares slipped:

• Adjusted EBIT: $14.5 billion to $15.5 billion (July guidance: $14 billion to $16 billion)
• Adjusted EPS: $12.75 to $13.75 (was $12 to $14)
• Adjusted automotive free cash flow: $11.5 billion to $12.5 billion, up from $9.5 billion to $11.5 billion

The $20 billion buyback comes after GM finished a $6 billion programme announced in January. It gave no deadline for the new one.

Costs: memory chips, tariffs and EVs

GM now expects commodity inflation of about $2 billion this year, the top of its earlier range, partly from higher logistics costs and pricier DRAM memory chips, which are squeezing several industries. Tariff costs should land at the low end of its $2.5 billion to $3.5 billion range, while warranty costs are heading for the high end of $1 billion to $1.5 billion.

The cost of GM's retreat from all-electric vehicles is "substantially completed", the company said: $11.2 billion in charges since the second half of last year, of which $4.6 billion of $7.4 billion in cash has been paid.

"GM is performing well, and we are working hard to continue our momentum despite growing inflationary pressures," chief executive Mary Barra wrote to shareholders.

Why it matters here

GM does not sell cars in Pakistan, but its results are an early read on how carmakers worldwide are coping with chip and freight costs. The US market opens at 6:30pm PKT, when GM's share price reaction will be clear. If you are pricing a car loan at home, our car financing calculator shows the monthly instalment, and dollar figures convert at USD/PKR 276.90 (20 October) on our dollar rate page.