General Motors Company (GM) & American International Group, Inc. (AIG): Why These 2 Bailout Stocks Are Up Today

U.S. stocks opened up this morning, with the S&P 500 and the narrower, price-weighted Dow Jones Industrial Average (INDEXDJX:.DJI) gaining 0.24% and 0.15%, respectively, at 10:05 a.m. EDT.

2 bailout babies mature
Call it a comeback! After yesterday’s market close, S&P Dow Jones Indices announced that it will add automaker General Motors Company (NYSE:GM) to the S&P 500 and the megacap S&P 100 index after Thursday’s close. GM will replace H.J. Heinz Company (NYSE:HNZ), which is being acquired by a group that includes Berkshire Hathaway. The index provider will also add another bailout stock, insurer American International Group, Inc. (NYSE:AIG), to the S&P 100. This is a big deal, particularly for General Motors Company (NYSE:GM) — $1.3 trillion in assets are indexed on the S&P 500. Little wonder the stock is up 1.8% this morning.

While American International Group, Inc. (NYSE:AIG)’s shares traded on the New York Stock Exchange throughout the crisis, General Motors Company (NYSE:GM)’s were de-listed after the company declared bankruptcy in June 2009. In November 2010, the company offered new shares to the public in one of the largest IPOs in U.S. history. However, the stock is roughly flat since then — in a roaring bull market:

GM Total Return Price data by YCharts.

Worse yet, investors have had to endure substantial downside swings without the sort of upside compensation that American International Group, Inc. (NYSE:AIG) shareholders have enjoyed. Indeed, AIG, has absolutely demolished the S&P 500 since the latter put in its low on March 9, 2009:

AIG Total Return Price data by YCharts.

Still, reaping that return would have required nerves of tempered steel, as the shares produced stomach-churning volatility: During that period, the stock suffered a peak-to-trough loss exceeding 50% three times!

That’s the past; what of the future? Neither General Motors Company (NYSE:GM) nor American International Group, Inc. (NYSE:AIG) is an outstanding business, but they do have a franchise. Valued at 10 times the next 12 months’ estimated earnings per share versus AIG’s 12.5 times, GM now looks the better-positioned stock to deliver market-beating returns.

The article Why These 2 Bailout Stocks Are Up Today originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Alex Dumortier, CFA has no position in any stocks mentioned; you can follow him on LinkedIn. The Motley Fool recommends American International Group, Inc. (NYSE:AIG) and General Motors Company (NYSE:GM). The Motley Fool owns shares of American International Group and has the following options: Long Jan 2014 $25 Calls on American International Group.

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