Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) Shares Up 1.9% – Still a Buy?

Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) shares shot up 1.9% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The company traded as high as $420.34 and last traded at $417.2610. 53,775,718 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 13% from the average session volume of 61,800,594 shares. The stock had previously closed at $409.38.

Tesla News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Tesla this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Tesla says FSD and Cybercab could roll out in Europe soon and Elon Musk has flagged Optimus/Cybercab production at the German factory — a regulatory approval or tangible European launch would be a material growth catalyst. Elon Musk: Tesla FSD Coming To Europe, Alongside Cybercab, Optimus Production
• Positive Sentiment: Commercial energy business wins: Tesla Megapack will power a 400MW AI data‑center campus in Brazil — strengthens non‑auto revenue pipeline and recurring project opportunities. Tesla’s Megapack Will Power 400MW AI Data Center in Brazil
• Positive Sentiment: Tesla preparing to bring the Semi truck to Europe — expansion of commercial vehicle market could add revenue optionality beyond passenger EVs. Tesla (TSLA) Is Getting Ready to Bring Its All-Electric Semi Truck to Europe
• Neutral Sentiment: Labor noise eased in Germany after a truce with unions — reduces near‑term operational disruption risk at Giga Berlin but doesn’t change demand/technology concerns. German union says settlement reached dispute with Tesla
• Negative Sentiment: Victor Nechita, program manager for Cybercab, announced his departure — investors view this as execution risk for the robo‑taxi initiative and it has pressured the stock. Tesla Stock Slips After Cybercab Chief Exits Ahead of Robo-Taxi Launch
• Negative Sentiment: China demand softening: delivery lead times collapsed to 1–3 weeks and Tesla extended financing offers again — signals inventory/pricing pressure and intensifying competition in its largest market. Tesla (TSLA) China delivery times collapse to 1-3 weeks as it extends financing again
• Negative Sentiment: Regulatory and legal headwinds: Tesla sued the California DMV over alleged false advertising around FSD/Autopilot — increases litigation risk and highlights regulatory scrutiny of its autonomy claims. Elon Musk’s Tesla Sues California DMV Following False Advertising Row Around FSD, Autopilot
• Negative Sentiment: Robotaxi progress questioned: multiple reports say Tesla has logged zero California test miles for commercial robotaxis, no major US permits, and safety metrics that have drawn scrutiny — this undermines the premium valuation narrative tied to future robotaxi revenue. Musk touts California robotaxis; Tesla does nothing to get permits

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Barclays reissued a “neutral” rating on shares of Tesla in a research note on Wednesday, February 18th. CICC Research raised their price target on Tesla from $450.00 to $500.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, December 18th. New Street Research upped their price objective on Tesla from $520.00 to $600.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 6th. The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and set a $405.00 price objective on shares of Tesla in a research note on Thursday, January 29th. Finally, BNP Paribas Exane boosted their target price on shares of Tesla from $307.00 to $313.00 in a research note on Monday, December 1st. Eighteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, fourteen have assigned a Hold rating and nine have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $408.09.

Tesla Stock Performance

The firm has a market capitalization of $1.51 trillion, a PE ratio of 372.69, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 14.54 and a beta of 1.86. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.08, a quick ratio of 1.77 and a current ratio of 2.16. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $433.46 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $420.43.

Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 28th. The electric vehicle producer reported $0.50 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.45 by $0.05. The firm had revenue of $24.90 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $24.75 billion. Tesla had a net margin of 4.00% and a return on equity of 4.86%. Tesla’s revenue for the quarter was down 3.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $0.73 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts expect that Tesla, Inc. will post 2.56 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Transactions at Tesla

In related news, Director Kimbal Musk sold 56,820 shares of Tesla stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $450.66, for a total value of $25,606,501.20. Following the transaction, the director owned 1,391,615 shares in the company, valued at approximately $627,145,215.90. This trade represents a 3.92% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CFO Vaibhav Taneja sold 2,637 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $443.93, for a total value of $1,170,643.41. Following the sale, the chief financial officer owned 13,757 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,107,145.01. This represents a 16.09% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 145,188 shares of company stock valued at $64,193,919. Corporate insiders own 19.90% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Networth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Tesla in the fourth quarter valued at about $26,000. Chapman Financial Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Tesla in the second quarter valued at about $26,000. Davidson Capital Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Tesla by 79.4% during the 4th quarter. Davidson Capital Management Inc. now owns 61 shares of the electric vehicle producer’s stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 27 shares during the period. Manning & Napier Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Tesla during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $29,000. Finally, CoreFirst Bank & Trust purchased a new position in Tesla in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $30,000. 66.20% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Tesla

Tesla, Inc (NASDAQ: TSLA) is an American company that designs, manufactures and sells electric vehicles, energy generation and energy storage products. Founded in 2003 by Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning, Tesla grew into a vertically integrated mobility and clean‑energy company with Elon Musk serving as its chief executive officer. The company’s stated mission is to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy, reflected in its combined focus on electric drivetrains, battery technology, renewable energy products and software.

Tesla’s automotive business includes a lineup of battery‑electric vehicles and related services.