about 1 month ago • 4 mins
Electric vehicle (EV) maker Tesla detailed earnings below Wall Street forecasts due to a combination of reduced vehicle prices and factory upgrade costs linked to its new cybertruck.
Third-quarter adjusted earnings fell 37% to $0.66, missing analyst hopes for $0.73, with head Elon Musk also expressing caution about both the near-term financial contribution of the cybertruck and the health of the global economy.
Shares in the Nasdaq-listed company fell by close to 5% in after-hours US trading having doubled in 2023 coming into this latest news. Strike-affected General Motors is down around a tenth this year, while Europe's Volkswagen has fallen just over 15%. The Nasdaq Composite has gained by just over a quarter year-to-date, helped by hopes for a peak in US interest rates.
Total Tesla sales for the period to the end of September rose 9% year-over-year to $23.35 billion, pushed higher by 30%-plus gains for both auto service-related sales and demand for its energy generation and storage business. Vehicle-related revenues climbed 5% to $19.63 billion, with deliveries during the quarter declining to 435,059 vehicles, down from 466,140 in the second quarter.
Intense industry competition and the hindrance to potential buyers from higher borrowing costs have convinced Tesla to reduce vehicle prices. Future management plans include building a new lower-cost factory in Mexico as well as possibly starting production in India. Tesla hopes to begin deliveries of its new cybertruck in late November.
Broker Morgan Stanley reiterated its “overweight” stance on the shares post the results, flagging Tesla as a “top pick” and highlighting an estimated fair value target price of $380 per share.
Started in 2003, Tesla today makes both electric vehicles and energy generation and storage systems. With a stock market value of over $750 billion, it competes against rivals such as Ford and Mercedes-Benz, each with stock market valuations under $100 billion. Chief executive Elon Musk previously added to his interests, with the acquisition of social media company Twitter, now rebranded as X, a platform he believes can assist with marketing for Tesla.
For investors, competitors such as VW, Ford, and BMW all have Tesla in their sights when it comes to EVs. The challenging economic backdrop, including higher borrowing costs to buy a car, should not be ignored. Costs generally for businesses are now elevated, the full environmental impact of battery production remains open to debate, while Tesla’s estimated price-to-net asset value (NAV) of over 15 times contrasts with estimates at under two times for many of its competitors, meaning the valuation question is unlikely to go away.
On the upside, climate change concerns remain more relevant than ever, factory numbers have increased to produce and sell more vehicles, while the geographical spread of its plants, including a relatively new German factory, has reduced shipping costs. Tesla's cybertruck is also soon to hit US roads, development of its vehicle software and network of supercharging stations continues, while sales for its energy generation and storage business also offer further potential.
For now, and despite ongoing risks, this pioneering EV manufacturer will likely retain loyal investors, while its volatility will remain popular with traders.
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Learn MoreDisclaimer: These articles are provided for information purposes only. Occasionally, an opinion about whether to buy or sell a specific investment may be provided. The content is not intended to be a personal recommendation to buy or sell any financial instrument or product, or to adopt any investment strategy as it is not provided based on an assessment of your investing knowledge and experience, your financial situation or your investment objectives. The value of your investments, and the income derived from them, may go down as well as up. You may not get back all the money that you invest. The investments referred to in this article may not be suitable for all investors, and if in doubt, an investor should seek advice from a qualified investment advisor.
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