Investor's Corner
Tesla's capital raise unlocks a new chapter in the TSLA growth story
Tesla’s (NASDAQ:TSLA) recently-announced $2 billion capital raise may be surprising to some considering CEO Elon Musk’s statements during the company’s Q4 2019 earnings call, but the additional funding does point to one notion. Following this funding round, Tesla will have more cash than ever before, and this makes the company primed to go full speed into its upcoming high-profile initiatives.
It has been less than a year since Tesla last raised capital. Yet a lot of things have happened and a lot of things have changed since the company’s funding round in May 2019. While it could be argued that Tesla opted to raise money last year at a time when the company was at a low point, the electric car maker seems intent on increasing its cushion from a position of strength this time around.
Arguments about Elon Musk’s apparent opposition to a funding round aside, there are several compelling arguments for Tesla’s $2 billion capital raise. With this latest funding round, Tesla’s cash position would be at its highest in the company’s history at around $8 billion. That provides a lot of runway, and it’s probably enough to kickstart several high-profile projects.
Tesla’s press release about its new funding round was very understated, with the company merely stating that the additional capital will be used to “strengthen” its balance sheet. Tesla also noted that the funds would be used for “general corporate purposes.” These statements provide a pretty open interpretation of what the additional funding could be used for, though considering the company’s upcoming projects, it’s quite difficult to argue against Tesla’s additional funds at this stage.
The electric car maker, after all, has several high-profile projects that are ongoing. Giga Shanghai is reportedly on its second phase of construction, with the facility now being prepared for its eventual production of the Model Y crossover. Giga Berlin is set to break ground soon, and construction of Phase 1 is expected to commence soon after. The Model Y is also set to enter production fully, followed by the Semi later this year. The Cybertruck is also set to be produced next year, and perhaps the next-gen Roadster as well. A ramp of the Semi’s Megacharger Network is also yet to begin.
These are but part of the company’s projects for its electric car business. Tesla also intends to pursue a serious ramp of its energy division, propelled by its flagship Solarglass Roof tiles. The company’s battery storage products, such as the Megapack and Powerwall, are yet to be fully ramped as well.
Amidst all these initiatives, it is pertinent to note that for the longest time, Tesla was operating pretty much like a stereotypical Silicon Valley startup: cash-strapped at times and spending extremely frugally to survive. Yet with Model 3 demand proving consistent and more high-volume vehicles like the Model Y coming soon, the story seems to have changed for Tesla. This time around, the company is pursuing its trademark ambitious goals more equipped than before. This is quite an encouraging sign.
After all, a cash-strapped Tesla is what brought the Model S to the market, and that changed the very perception of what a premium sedan could be like. A cash strapped Tesla is also what created the Model 3, a vehicle so disruptive it is thriving at a time when sedans are a dying breed in a number of key markets. One can only imagine what a well-funded, well-equipped Tesla could do, especially when it’s about to release its most mainstream vehicles yet.
Disclosure: I have no ownership in shares of TSLA and have no plans to initiate any positions within 72 hours.
Investor's Corner
Tesla analyst maintains $500 PT, says FSD drives better than humans now
The team also met with Tesla leaders for more than an hour to discuss autonomy, chip development, and upcoming deployment plans.
Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) received fresh support from Piper Sandler this week after analysts toured the Fremont Factory and tested the company’s latest Full Self-Driving software. The firm reaffirmed its $500 price target, stating that FSD V14 delivered a notably smooth robotaxi demonstration and may already perform at levels comparable to, if not better than, average human drivers.
The team also met with Tesla leaders for more than an hour to discuss autonomy, chip development, and upcoming deployment plans.
Analysts highlight autonomy progress
During more than 75 minutes of focused discussions, analysts reportedly focused on FSD v14’s updates. Piper Sandler’s team pointed to meaningful strides in perception, object handling, and overall ride smoothness during the robotaxi demo.
The visit also included discussions on updates to Tesla’s in-house chip initiatives, its Optimus program, and the growth of the company’s battery storage business. Analysts noted that Tesla continues refining cost structures and capital expenditure expectations, which are key elements in future margin recovery, as noted in a Yahoo Finance report.
Analyst Alexander Potter noted that “we think FSD is a truly impressive product that is (probably) already better at driving than the average American.” This conclusion was strengthened by what he described as a “flawless robotaxi ride to the hotel.”
Street targets diverge on TSLA
While Piper Sandler stands by its $500 target, it is not the highest estimate on the Street. Wedbush, for one, has a $600 per share price target for TSLA stock.
Other institutions have also weighed in on TSLA stock as of late. HSBC reiterated a Reduce rating with a $131 target, citing a gap between earnings fundamentals and the company’s market value. By contrast, TD Cowen maintained a Buy rating and a $509 target, pointing to strong autonomous driving demonstrations in Austin and the pace of software-driven improvements.
Stifel analysts also lifted their price target for Tesla to $508 per share over the company’s ongoing robotaxi and FSD programs.
Investor's Corner
Tesla wins $508 price target from Stifel as Robotaxi rollout gains speed
The firm cited meaningful progress in Tesla’s robotaxi roadmap, ongoing Full Self-Driving enhancements, and the company’s long-term growth initiatives.
Tesla received another round of bullish analyst updates this week, led by Stifel, raising its price target to $508 from $483 while reaffirming a “Buy” rating. The firm cited meaningful progress in Tesla’s robotaxi roadmap, ongoing Full Self-Driving enhancements, and the company’s long-term growth initiatives.
Robotaxi rollout, FSD updates, and new affordable cars
Stifel expects Tesla’s robotaxi fleet to expand into 8–10 major metropolitan areas by the end of 2025, including Austin, where early deployments without safety drivers are targeted before year-end. Additional markets under evaluation include Nevada, Florida, and Arizona, as noted in an Investing.com report. The firm also highlighted strong early performance for FSD Version 14, with upcoming releases adding new “reasoning capabilities” designed to improve complex decision-making using full 360-degree vision.
Tesla has also taken steps to offset the loss of U.S. EV tax credits by launching the Model Y Standard and Model 3 Standard at $39,990 and $36,990, Stifel noted. Both vehicles deliver more than 300 miles of range and are positioned to sustain demand despite shifting incentives. Stifel raised its EBITDA forecasts to $14.9 billion for 2025 and $19.5 billion for 2026, assigning partial valuation weightings to Tesla’s FSD, robotaxi, and Optimus initiatives.
TD Cowen also places an optimistic price target
TD Cowen reiterated its Buy rating with a $509 price target after a research tour of Giga Texas, citing production scale and operational execution as key strengths. The firm posted its optimistic price target following a recent Mobility Bus tour in Austin. The tour included a visit to Giga Texas, which offered fresh insights into the company’s operations and prospects.
Additional analyst movements include Truist Securities maintaining its Hold rating following shareholder approval of Elon Musk’s compensation plan, viewing the vote as reducing leadership uncertainty.
@teslarati Tesla Full Self-Driving yields for pedestrians while human drivers do not…the future is here! #tesla #teslafsd #fullselfdriving ♬ 2 Little 2 Late – Levi & Mario
Investor's Corner
Tesla receives major institutional boost with Nomura’s rising stake
The move makes Tesla Nomura’s 10th-largest holding at about 1% of its entire portfolio.
Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) has gained fresh institutional support, with Nomura Asset Management expanding its position in the automaker.
Nomura boosted its Tesla holdings by 4.2%, adding 47,674 shares and bringing its total position to more than 1.17 million shares valued at roughly $373.6 million. The move makes Tesla Nomura’s 10th-largest holding at about 1% of its entire portfolio.
Institutional investors and TSLA
Nomura’s filing was released alongside several other fund updates. Brighton Jones LLC boosted its holdings by 11.8%, as noted in a MarketBeat report, and Revolve Wealth Partners lifted its TSLA position by 21.2%. Bison Wealth increased its Tesla stake by 52.2%, AMG National Trust Bank increased its position in shares of Tesla by 11.8%, and FAS Wealth Partners increased its TSLA holdings by 22.1%. About 66% of all outstanding Tesla shares are now owned by institutional investors.
The buying comes shortly after Tesla reported better-than-expected quarterly earnings, posting $0.50 per share compared with the $0.48 consensus. Revenue reached $28.10 billion, topping Wall Street’s $24.98 billion estimate. Despite the earnings beat, Tesla continues to trade at a steep premium relative to peers, with a market cap hovering around $1.34 trillion and a price-to-earnings ratio near 270.
Recent insider sales
Some Tesla insiders have sold stock as of late. CFO Vaibhav Taneja sold 2,606 shares in early September for just over $918,000, reducing his personal stake by about 21%. Director James R. Murdoch executed a far larger sale, offloading 120,000 shares for roughly $42 million and trimming his holdings by nearly 15%. Over the past three months, Tesla insiders have collectively sold 202,606 shares valued at approximately $75.6 million, as per SEC disclosures.
Tesla is currently entering its next phase of growth, and if it is successful, it could very well become the world’s most valuable company as a result. The company has several high-profile projects expected to be rolled out in the coming years, including Optimus, the humanoid robot, and the Cybercab, an autonomous two-seater with the potential to change the face of roads across the globe.
@teslarati Tesla Full Self-Driving yields for pedestrians while human drivers do not…the future is here! #tesla #teslafsd #fullselfdriving ♬ 2 Little 2 Late – Levi & Mario
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Tesla analyst maintains $500 PT, says FSD drives better than humans now
