Tesla's Robotaxi Event: What Wall Street Expects
Tesla's robotaxi event is scheduled for Thursday, October 10. Here's what Wall Street expects to see and how analysts feel about the stock ahead of the event.
Tesla's (TSLA) highly anticipated robotaxi event is just days away, with the big reveal slated for Thursday, October 10. TSLA stock has been gaining ground in the weeks leading up to the event, rising 17% in the past month, and investors are hopeful the robotaxi event will create another catalyst to drive shares higher.
The event has been dubbed "We, Robot" and will give Wall Street its first look at the Tesla Cybercab prototype and the platform that owners and riders will use to book rides. In addition, Tesla is expected to release an update to its Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology, which will enable the robotaxis to function, as well as a timeline to the production of the Cybercab and the launch of the service.
However, some analysts on Wall Street think Tesla is simply playing catch-up at this point.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
"While Tesla is clearly focused on launching a robotaxi, Waymo and Cruise are already operating robotaxis in the U.S. today," says Bernstein analyst Toni Sacconaghi Jr. "The available data is clearly imperfect, but as of today Tesla appears to be lagging behind the leaders in the space."
Sacconaghi adds that Waymo, which is owned by Google's parent company Alphabet (GOOGL), has been working with regulators on its self-driving cars for over 10 years, while Tesla has not even begun the process.
Other Tesla news
On Wednesday, October 2, Tesla released its delivery numbers for the third quarter. Deliveries totaled 426,890, an increase of 4% from the prior quarter and 6% from the prior year.
Meanwhile, in a separate announcement on Thursday, October 3, Tesla said it recalled 27,000 Cybertrucks due to an issue with the rearview camera image not immediately activating when the vehicles were placed in reverse, according to the Associated Press.
Is TSLA stock a buy, sell or hold?
Wall Street is on the sidelines when it comes to the Magnificent 7 stock. According to S&P Global Market Intelligence, the average analyst target price for TSLA stock is $208.64, representing a discount of more than 15% to current levels. Additionally, the consensus recommendation is a Hold.
Financial services firm CFRA Research is one of those with a Hold rating on Tesla stock, along with a $240 price target.
"We think the stakes are high, and there is more risk to the downside than upside given the stock's recent run-up and the likelihood that the event could disappoint," says CFRA Research analyst Garrett Nelson. "We also note the stock price run-up and then 'sell the news' pattern of major Tesla events historically. Specifically, we are looking for more visibility regarding intermediate-term earnings growth."
Related Content
Get Kiplinger Today newsletter — free
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.
Joey Solitro is a freelance financial journalist at Kiplinger with more than a decade of experience. A longtime equity analyst, Joey has covered a range of industries for media outlets including The Motley Fool, Seeking Alpha, Market Realist, and TipRanks. Joey holds a bachelor's degree in business administration.
-
Election 2024: Politics and Your Portfolio
Who wins the White House matters — but only at the margins when it comes to your investment portfolio.
By Anne Kates Smith Published
-
Four Social Security Myths Debunked
With so many headlines surrounding Social Security these days, what is fact and what is fiction? For instance, will the program really run out of money?
By Tony Drake, CFP®, Investment Advisor Representative Published
-
Election 2024: Politics and Your Portfolio
Who wins the White House matters — but only at the margins when it comes to your investment portfolio.
By Anne Kates Smith Published
-
Four Social Security Myths Debunked
With so many headlines surrounding Social Security these days, what is fact and what is fiction? For instance, will the program really run out of money?
By Tony Drake, CFP®, Investment Advisor Representative Published
-
Can You List From Memory Everything That's in Your House?
That's what you'd have to do if something happened to destroy it all. It's important to make a record of your belongings so you can be reimbursed by insurance.
By Karl Susman, CPCU, LUTCF, CIC, CSFP, CFS, CPIA, AAI-M, PLCS Published
-
Stock Market Today: Stocks Drop Ahead of September Jobs Report
Stocks were choppy Thursday as investors took in a higher-than-expected rise in jobless claims and strong growth in the services sector.
By Karee Venema Published
-
When Should Retirees Consider a Donor-Advised Fund?
Charitable giving in retirement isn't right for everybody. But in certain situations, a tax-efficient donor-advised fund (DAF) may be well worth considering.
By Evan T. Beach, CFP®, AWMA® Published
-
Four Things to Know About Your Collectibles and Homeowners Insurance
If you're crazy about collectibles, and your hoard is growing in value, you may need to consider specialized insurance to protect your investment.
By Thomas Ruggie, ChFC®, CFP® Published
-
Stock Market Today: Stocks Waver on Resilient Employment Data
A private reading on payrolls had markets rethinking rate-cut bets just days ahead of the monthly jobs report.
By Dan Burrows Published
-
Lamb Weston Stock Gains After Earnings Beat, Layoff News
Lamb Weston stock is higher after the french fry maker reported earnings and unveiled a restructuring plan that includes job cuts. Here's what you need to know.
By Joey Solitro Published