Chrysler Could Add Value to Fiat, Analysts Say
TURIN – Chrysler Group's fortunes will be crucial in creating value for shareholders of the new automotive-focused Fiat S.p.A.
Chrysler could add between 2.75 euros and 5.40 euros (about $3.70 to $7.20) per share to Fiat's basic value, according to financial analysts polled by Automotive News Europe.
Fiat's 20 percent stake in Chrysler, currently with a zero book value, is the biggest positive element seen by analysts for the new Fiat S.p.A, which will comprise the Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Ferrari and Maserati car brands when it starts trading on Jan. 3. Fiat's truck and tractor units will be spun off on the same day into a new unit called Fiat Industrial S.p.A.
Analysts expect Fiat's shares to be worth about 6.10 euros per share while Fiat Industrial shares will trade at 8.20 euros.
Fiat's automotive business represents 63 percent of the group's expected 2010 total revenues, but analysts give a higher value to the industrial unit's shares because the auto business will have bigger investments to fund and will have lower profit margins.
Fiat shares have traded slightly above 10 euros in recent weeks.
Here are analysts' views:
Morgan Stanley's Stuart Pearson said Fiat's stake in Chrysler and increasing synergies and business between the two automakers could add another 5.40 euros per share to 7.30 euros value he currently envisages for the new Fiat S.p.A.
Max Warburton at Bernstein Research factors in the value of the Chrysler stake at 2.75 euros per share -- more than half of the 5.20 euros he predicts for the new Fiat.
Banca IMI's Monica Bosio factors in 4.50 euros per share related to Chrysler – that is 3.30 euros for the value of Fiat's stake and 1.20 euros in potential synergies – in her 7.40 euro price target for the new Fiat.
More Industry

Kia Closes Out Summer With a Bang
Its U.S. subsidiary broke multiple records in August, in part due to a surge of demand for hybrids models.
Read More →
Indiana Dealership Changes Hands
A 30-year-old Ford dealership in Indiana has a new owner and will soon be undergoing renovations to meet manufacturer requirements.
Read More →
Texas Dealership No Longer in the Family
The Ford store, a longtime cornerstone of the Houston market, is now part of one of the fastest-growing U.S. auto groups.
Read More →
Genesis Grows California Presence
The Cardinale Automotive Group opened its third Genesis rooftop in the Golden State, Genesis of San Bruno, a stand-alone dealership serving the San Francisco Bay Area.
Read More →
August Auto Sales a Mixed Bag
An early forecast shows strong business despite consumer hurdles, and hybrids are a big piece of their affordability coping strategy.
Read More →
EV Market Humming Along
July sales show steady growth as the segment stabilizes from last year’s artificial surge following pullback of federal support.
Read More →
Auto Loan Delinquency Rates Stabilize
Auto loans are a main driver of nonmortgage consumer debt, but delinquency rates stabilized in the second quarter across all credit risk tiers.
Read More →
EV Sales Recover in Q2
The EV sales roller coaster continues as numbers show improvement, but industry experts predict a year-over-year third-quarter decline and fourth-quarter jump.
Read More →
The Cheapest Hybrids to Fuel
The powertrain is increasing in popularity, in no small part due to its fuel economy. A new report lists the most efficient hybrids on the market.
Read More →
Hybrids and SUVs Gaining Ground
The most recent Kelley Blue Book Brand Watch found that only two nonluxury brands increased in shopper consideration, buoyed by their hybrid and SUV offerings.
Read More →