General Motors Chair and Chief Executive Officer Mary Barra has sold $46.6 million worth of company stock as the automaker’s share price hovers near a 52-week high, according to regulatory filings.
The transactions, carried out on 23 and 24 September, involved the sale of 777,538 shares at prices between $59.90 and $60.14. Barra also exercised options to acquire 577,538 shares at strike prices of $39.00 and $35.49, representing a total value of $21.2 million. The sales took place as GM’s stock traded close to its yearly peak of $61.24, with the company’s market capitalisation standing at $57.5 billion and a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.68.
Breakdown of the sales shows Barra disposing of 23,818 shares at $59.90, 181,696 shares at $59.95, 372,024 shares at $59.95, and a further 200,000 shares at $59.95. The stock options sold were tied to 2020 performance rewards and shares accrued between 2011 and 2024.
The latest move follows a previous sale in August, when Barra disposed of 994,863 shares and options worth roughly $35.4 million. That transaction included 907,024 GM shares at an average price of $58.24 and 87,839 shares from an annuity trust priced at $58.13.
The timing of the stock sales comes as GM navigates a period of significant strategic activity. UBS recently upgraded GM shares from Neutral to Buy, raising its price target to $81.00. The company is also in early discussions with SAIC Motor Corp. to renew their joint venture in China and has announced plans to scale back production at its Tennessee plant. These moves align with broader shifts in response to increased federal support for electric vehicles and evolving global market conditions.
GM confirmed that Barra’s transactions were executed under a 10B5-1 trading plan, a pre-arranged system that allows executives to sell predetermined blocks of stock and options automatically at set prices. The plan is designed to ensure transparency and compliance with insider trading regulations.
The recent stock activity places renewed attention on GM’s leadership and future direction as it navigates a rapidly evolving automotive landscape. With strong market performance and a growing focus on electrification, Barra’s sales come at a critical moment for the Detroit-based automaker.
