General Motors Co. (NYSE:GM)

The analysis of the financial data reveals several notable trends concerning share price, operating profit per share, and the price-to-operating profit ratio over the observed periods.

Share Price

The share price exhibited fluctuations throughout the timeline. Starting at $32.95, it decreased to a low point near $26.46 in early 2012. Following this, a gradual upward trajectory was observed, with peaks at approximately $41.86 in early 2018 and reaching a significant high of $54.88 in early 2021. However, post-2021, a decline ensued, with the price dropping to $39.32 by early 2023 before rebounding moderately to $50.04 at the latest date of early 2025. This indicates periods of market optimism interspersed with corrections and some volatility in investor sentiment or company performance perception.

Operating Profit per Share

The operating profit per share displayed considerable variation, including a notable negative value of -$22.22 in early 2013, marking a significant downturn. Except for this anomaly, the metric showed a general upward trend. Initially around $3.26 in 2011, it increased to moderate levels with some dips and surges, reaching $8.05 by early 2024 and then rising sharply to $12.85 by early 2025. This overall positive trend suggests improving operational efficiency or profitability over time, despite cyclical challenges and one significant downturn.

Price-to-Operating Profit Ratio (P/OP)

The P/OP ratio has been variable, reflecting changes in market valuation relative to operating profit. The ratio began above 10 in 2011, declined to a low around 5.51 by early 2017, then fluctuated within a moderate range. A marked increase was seen in 2015, peaking near 37.71, which corresponds with a low operating profit per share that year, indicating that investors valued the shares relatively high despite weak profitability. In more recent years, the ratio declined to below 4 by early 2025, signifying that the price is becoming more aligned with rising operating profits and may point to a more balanced market valuation.

Collectively, these patterns highlight a company experiencing variability in profitability and share price valuation, with recent years evidencing enhanced operational performance and a convergence toward lower valuation multiples. The sharp recovery in operating profit per share alongside a falling P/OP ratio implies improving earnings quality and potentially more attractive stock valuation.