Tesla share price: Is the automaker undervalued at $567?
We look back at the company’s recent share price performance as well as examine what analysts currently think of the stock.
Tesla closed out Monday’s session at $567 per share. At those price levels, the automaker boasts a market capitalisation of $538 billion.
At that valuation, Tesla is larger than Volkswagen Group ($90.02 billion), Daimler AG ($72.43 billion), Toyota Motor Corporation ($186.58 billion), and General Motors ($62.75 billion) – combined.
Tesla’s valuation is indeed high, with the stock trading on an earnings multiple of 1,124x. Despite that, investors continue to push the stock higher: TSLA has risen 40% in the last month and 747% in the last year. Investors, it seems, simply cannot get enough of TSLA.
To be sure, Tesla’s operational performance has improved dramatically in recent quarters. In Q3 the company's automotive revenues rose 47% to $7.6 billion, total gross profits climbed 63%, net income (GAAP) gained 218%, while total vehicle production hit 145,036, up 76%.
While that is undeniably strong growth, one is left wondering if this operational performance merits the stratospheric share price run up. Wall Street analysts appear sceptical.
Tesla share price: What does Wall Street think?
Of the 33 analysts covering Tesla, the stock has 11 Sell ratings, 11 Hold ratings, 10 Buy ratings and 1 Strong Buy rating. Despite that mixed set of ratings, the average analyst price target stands at $277.78 per share. This suggests that the sell side, in aggregate, believe that Tesla is overvalued at current price levels.
A $277.78 price target, after all, implies downside of around 51%.
The short of it
Tesla and Chief Executive Elon Musk has long relished defying expectations and outsmarting Wall Street and other investment veterans.
In fact, Tesla may be known as much for its sleek cars as for a trail of short sellers that have been crushed betting against Musk and his grand vision for the automaker.
The opening section from this February MarketWatch article highlights a general mood that often hovers around Tesla, with the article opening with the declaration that:
‘Andrew Left is breaking a promise, and very few people would blame him.
Left, the legendary short seller behind Citron Research, is back at shorting Tesla […] stock, which on Tuesday rose nearly 14% to close at a record $887.06, its sixth straight session of gains.’
It should be noted that the above references a pre-split price. At Tesla’s current after-hours price of $592 per share, the stock trades closer to $3,000 per share, in pre-split terms. Or over 200% higher than when that article was published.
Do you have a view on the Tesla share price?
Bullish or bearish, you can use CFDs to trade both rising and falling markets, through IG’s world-class trading platform now.
For example, to buy (long) or sell (short) Tesla using CFDs, follow these easy steps:
- Create an IG Trading Account or log in to your existing account
- Enter ‘Tesla’ in the search bar and select it
- Choose your position size
- Click on ‘buy’ or ‘sell’ in the deal ticket
- Confirm the trade
This information has been prepared by IG, a trading name of IG Limited. In addition to the disclaimer below, the material on this page does not contain a record of our trading prices, or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instrument. IG accepts no responsibility for any use that may be made of these comments and for any consequences that result. No representation or warranty is given as to the accuracy or completeness of this information. Consequently any person acting on it does so entirely at their own risk. Any research provided does not have regard to the specific investment objectives, financial situation and needs of any specific person who may receive it. It has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such is considered to be a marketing communication. Although we are not specifically constrained from dealing ahead of our recommendations we do not seek to take advantage of them before they are provided to our clients.
CFDs are a leveraged products. CFD trading may not be suitable for everyone and can result in losses that exceed your initial deposit, so please ensure that you fully understand the risks involved.
Act on stock opportunities today
Go long or short on thousands of international stocks with CFDs.
- Get full exposure for a comparatively small deposit
- Trade on spreads from just 0.1%
- Get greater order book visibility with direct market access
See opportunity on a stock?
Try a risk-free trade in your demo account, and see whether you’re on to something.
- Log in to your demo
- Try a risk-free trade
- See whether your hunch pays off
See opportunity on a stock?
Don’t miss your chance – upgrade to a live account to take advantage.
- Trade a huge range of popular stocks
- Analyse and deal seamlessly on fast, intuitive charts
- See and react to breaking news in-platform
See opportunity on a stock?
Don’t miss your chance. Log in to take advantage while conditions prevail.
Live prices on most popular markets
- Forex
- Shares
- Indices
Prices above are subject to our website terms and agreements. Prices are indicative only. All shares prices are delayed by at least 15 mins.
