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Tesla’s shares experienced a significant setback, closing down 12% on Thursday, marking the most substantial one-day drop in over a year. The decline came on the heels of Tesla reporting fourth-quarter earnings that failed to meet market expectations and issuing a cautionary outlook for 2024.
While the stock narrowly avoided its steepest decline since 2020 at the close, Tesla’s financial results played a major role in the market response. The electric carmaker reported revenue and earnings that missed market expectations. In the fourth quarter of 2023, Tesla’s automotive revenue, a closely monitored metric, reached $21.6 billion, reflecting only a 1% year-on-year increase.
However, the primary concern for investors was Tesla’s future outlook. The company signaled that vehicle volume growth in 2024 might be significantly lower than the rate observed the previous year. This slowdown is attributed to Tesla’s focus on launching its “next-generation vehicle” in Texas, placing the company “between two major growth waves.”
Short sellers capitalized on Tesla’s challenges, making more than $2 billion since the close of Wednesday, according to financial analytics firm Ortex Media. The stock is now down 27% for the year after experiencing substantial growth in 2023 when it more than doubled.
Tesla delivered 1.8 million cars in the previous year, and the company has responded to heightened competition by cutting prices in key markets across Europe and China. This strategy, while intended to maintain market share, has impacted Tesla’s margin.
The downward trend in Tesla’s stock prompted various brokers to lower their price targets for the company. Barclays, for instance, reduced its price target from $250 to $225, citing a “cloudy path ahead” and potential downside risks. RBC analysts adjusted their price target from $300 to $297, while Canaccord Genuity lowered its target to $234 from $267.
While Tesla’s stock experienced a significant dip, analysts are closely monitoring the company’s strategies and performance as it navigates challenges in an evolving electric vehicle market.