Look, I know what you're thinking: "A tire company? Seriously? Why not just write about paint drying or more of those exciting tariffs?" But stick with me here because Goodyear's recent success has me feeling a comeback story like I’m watching Remember the Titans.  

The 127-year-old tiremaker just posted its best retail performance in TWO DECADES. 

When veteran auto exec Mark Stewart took over as CEO in January 2024, he came in swinging… think Gordon Ramsay walking into a failing restaurant on Hell’s Kitchen. Nothing was off-limits. Cost cuts, restructuring… even Goodyear’s iconic blimps were under scrutiny.

At one point, Stewart even asked, "Does the Goodyear blimp actually sell tires?" A fair question… if you ignore the nearly 100-year track record of those floating billboards selling rubber to the masses. (The answer, by the way? A resounding yes. The first Goodyear blimp, Pilgrim, took flight in 1925 and has been hawking tires ever since.)

But Stewart was doing far more than asking questions… he was delivering results. Under his leadership, Goodyear has now posted five straight quarters of margin growth. He’s calling this the "show me" period. In other words: We know investors gave up on us, so we’re proving them wrong, one quarter at a time, until they can’t ignore us anymore.

The transformation plan… called "Goodyear Forward” is about halfway done and apparently AHEAD of schedule. The goal is to double operating income margin to 10%, cut costs by $1.5 billion, and sell off $2 billion in business assets. They're also paying off $1.5 billion in debt.

To get to their goal, they’ve jumped headfirst into AI technology, 3D-printing tire treads, and simulation tech (so, they’ve actually caught up with the rest of the world?). 

Wall Street is starting to take notice. TD Cowen just stamped a $14 price target on Goodyear stock with a Buy rating, calling it an "unloved stock" ripe for a comeback. Investors aren’t fully sold yet, but they’re paying attention… shares jumped 17% after the last earnings report. That said, they’re still down 30.3% since the turnaround plan was first announced.

Elliott Investment Management, the activist investor that pushed for all these changes (and holds about 9% of the company), is staying quiet for now. But you know they're watching closer than a helicopter parent on the first day of kindergarten.

If Stewart can keep delivering on his promises, Goodyear might be the comeback story of the decade. They're adapting to new technologies and fighting off competition from China. The fundamentals are improving, and analysts are finally paying attention. If Stewart can keep executing, the stock could start moving north.

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Stocks.News has positions in Goodyear mentioned in article.