Firing on many cylinders at GM

It’s not crazy to be wary of investing in General Motors (NYSE: GM), due to its significant debt load and the fact that it was forced to declare bankruptcy during the Great Recession. It’s doing a lot of things right lately, though, and is worth considering for your portfolio.

General Motors’ cars are garnering much more favorable reviews, it has the greatest market share in America of any automaker, and it will likely stop losing money in Europe within the next 12 months. The company’s sales in China rose 7.5 percent in April, due chiefly to solid sales growth for its SUVs and premium Buick and Cadillac cars.

U.S. sales fell in April, but the drop was more than accounted for by a planned reduction in low-profit sales to rentalcar fleets, while sales of its profitable trucks and SUVs continued to shine. The company is working to increase its sales to commercial and government fleets, typically more profitable sales channels. It’s also investing in future growth, taking a stake in ride-hailing company Lyft and buying a self-drivingcar startup. Sales dipped in the last quarter, but profitability rose.

GM is a cyclical company, so investors should expect ups and downs. But it’s offering long-term believers a dividend yield recently near 5 percent, an attractive stock price and a good chance of growth. (The Motley Fool has recommended GM.)