On Thursday, Stifel analysts maintained a Buy rating for Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) stock, with a steady price target of $411.00. They noted that Tesla's fourth-quarter production and delivery figures presented a slight disappointment.
The electric vehicle manufacturer's total deliveries for the quarter reached 495,570 vehicles, falling short of Stifel's projection of 516,961 units. This also marked a slight decline of approximately 1.1% compared to the total deliveries in 2023.
Specifically, Tesla's Model 3 and Model Y deliveries amounted to 471,930, which was below Stifel's expectations. Deliveries for other models, including the S, X, and the much-anticipated Cybertruck, also did not meet forecasts. Despite these setbacks, the company's Energy Storage segment recorded a positive performance, with deployments hitting a record high of 11.0 gigawatt-hours for the quarter, meeting the robust expectations for that division.
The analysts are looking ahead to the January 29 earnings release for additional insights. They are particularly interested in the details of the Auto margins, including the Automotive Sales gross profit per delivery that is not influenced by leasing. This information could provide clarity on the company's pricing strategies and any potential discounts that might have been offered.
Tesla's fourth-quarter production also did not meet Stifel's estimates, with 459,445 units produced, marking a 12.1% shortfall from expectations and a 2.2% sequential decrease. Despite these challenges, Stifel reaffirmed its belief that Tesla's progress in Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology and the launch of the Cybercab will be key factors driving the company's stock performance in 2025.
This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.