The market punished General Motors on Tuesday. The stock dropped 6.8% to about US$77 by the close, even as the automaker posted record Q3 2026 revenue of US$50b and adjusted earnings per share of US$3.70.

Traders focused on fear. The mood reflected worries about costs and leverage, while the printed numbers showed robust earnings power and US$4.1b in adjusted earnings before interest and taxes for the quarter. That clash between anxiety and arithmetic set the stage for a real sentiment reckoning in GM today.

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