** Shares of Ford F.N rise 1.2% to about $13.70 premarket after co forecasts strong annual results

** CEO Jim Farley predicts strong performance this year as the automaker slashes costs and works to produce globally competitive models

** Co projects earnings before interest and taxes of $8 billion to $10 billion for 2026, within analysts' mean expectation of $8.78 billion - data compiled by LSEG

** Misses fourth-quarter earnings forecast due to higher-than-expected costs from a fire at an aluminum supplier

** 3 of 23 brokerages rate the stock "buy" or higher, 18 "hold" and 2 "sell" or lower; median PT is $13.5 - LSEG data

** As of last close, shares up about 3.4% YTD