"It will be watched closely, " says David Leibowitz, a managing director of Burnham Securities in New York.

FORBES: The Perfect Combo

"The only one so far is the Focus, and that isn't very profitable, " says Burnham Securities analyst David Healy of Ford's popular small sedan.

FORBES: Behind Kirk Kerkorian's Ford Bet

Burnham Securities analyst David Bennet Healy said Kerkorian is "stirring the pot by attracting attention to Ford with an implied takeover, " something that is not possible with Ford because the namesake family still has 40% voting power.

FORBES: Magazine Article