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Tesla (TSLA) bull projects massive growth in 2020 even with conservative estimates

Tesla Model 3 production line in Gigafactory 3, Shanghai, China. (Credit: Tesla)

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This year has been one of Tesla’s most historic yet, with the company’s shares dropping to over two-year lows before recovering and reaching new all-time highs. As 2019 ends with Tesla showing its strength in terms of vehicle production and deliveries, an ardent TSLA bull has stated that the company is on the cusp of even more dramatic growth next year. What’s more, Tesla seems poised for this growth even with conservative estimates. 

Forecasts from Tesla investor-enthusiast Galileo Russell of YouTube’s Hyperchange channel have always been on the more conservative side. For his 2020 financial projections, the investor adopted the same stance. Despite this, results from the Hyperchange host’s research points to Tesla potentially delivering around 600,000 electric cars in 2020, provided that Model Y production hits its stride at the latter half of the year. That’s around a quarter of a million more than the vehicles Tesla will likely deliver this year. 

In a video outlining his thesis, Russell explained that Tesla is now at a point where its core business is seemingly headed towards more stable waters. Cash flow continues to show strength, and the company is sitting on $5 billion in cash. Demand for its vehicles like the Model 3 is validated by sales in the United States, Europe, and China as well, putting the “demand problem” short thesis to rest. Apart from this, Tesla has returned to profitability, and these sentiments are pretty much reflected in the company’s stock, which has broken the $400 per share barrier while hitting all-time-highs. 

(Credit: Hypercharts.co)

In a way, Tesla is in a great place to start producing a vehicle that has the potential to carry it higher: the Model Y. The Model Y is a crossover, which means that it is targeted towards one of the auto industry’s most lucrative segments. If the Model 3, a vehicle that competes in a segment that is showing a decline in several regions, can push Tesla so far up, one can only imagine what the Model Y can do to boost the electric car maker further. Tesla, after all, expects the Model Y to outsell the Model S, Model X, and Model 3 combined

That being said, the TSLA investor expects Tesla Model Y production to be fairly gradual. Russell was optimistic in his projection that a few Model Y can enter production as early as Q1, but he remained conservative for the first half of the year. Overall, the Hyperchange host expects Model Y to hit its stride in the third quarter with a production of about 25,000 units. If Tesla accomplishes this, Russell noted that the crossover’s production could go as high as 75,000 in Q4. This is despite the investor’s prediction that Model S and X sales will drop to their lowest levels as buyers wait for the vehicles’ Plaid variants, and that the Model 3 will see some cannibalization from its crossover sibling. 

(Credit: Hypercharts.co)

It should be noted that Russell’s expectations don’t account for several factors that Tesla could still improve, including efficiencies in its vehicle production process and its gross margins. Considering these factors, Tesla may very well remain profitable while allowing the company to pursue other high-profile projects such as the establishment of the Megacharger Network for the Semi, or the buildout of massive projects such as Gigafactory 4 in Europe. 

It should also be noted that the Hyperchange host’s models do not account for any additional revenue streams that Tesla can tap into, such as its batteries and powertrains that could be sold to OEMs for their own electric cars. Elon Musk has stated that he is open to such ideas, and Fiat-Chrysler, which already buys credits from Tesla, has expressed interest in tapping into the Silicon Valley-based company’s technology. Considering the lead that Tesla continues to establish in terms of range and efficiency, the idea of a veteran automaker utilizing the company’s batteries and powertrains is more than feasible. 

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Tesla stock has been on a massive rally lately, and as shares hit a record high, speculations were abounding that the rise was due to shorts covering, or sentiments improving from investors. Russell argues that the recent stock movement for TSLA is also driven, if not primarily, by the steady improvement in Tesla’s fundamentals. Little by little, Tesla is becoming more and more like a full-fledged business, and as it rakes in the profits amidst its growth, the company may very well be headed towards even more milestones in the near future. 

Watch the Hyperchange host’s full forecasts for Tesla in 2020 in the video below. 

Simon is an experienced automotive reporter with a passion for electric cars and clean energy. Fascinated by the world envisioned by Elon Musk, he hopes to make it to Mars (at least as a tourist) someday. For stories or tips--or even to just say a simple hello--send a message to his email, simon@teslarati.com or his handle on X, @ResidentSponge.

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Investor's Corner

Tesla welcomes Chipotle President Jack Hartung to its Board of Directors

Tesla announced the addition of its new director in a post on social media platform X.

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Credit: @ArthurFromX/X

Tesla has welcomed Chipotle president Jack Hartung to its Board of Directors. Hartung will officially start his tenure at the electric vehicle maker on June 1, 2025.

Tesla announced the addition of its new director in a post on social media platform X.

Jack Hartung’s Role

With Hartung’s addition, the Tesla Board will now have nine members. It’s been a while since the company added a new director. Prior to Hartung, the last addition to the Tesla Board was Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia back in 2022. As noted in a Reuters report, Hartung will serve on the Tesla Board’s audit committee. He will also retire from his position as president and chief strategy officer at Chipotle, and transition into a senior advisor’s role at the restaurant chain, next month.

Hartung has had a long career in the Mexican grill, joining Chipotle in 2002. He held several positions in the company, most recently serving as Chipotle’s President and Chief Strategy Officer. Tesla highlighted Hartung’s accomplishments in a post on its official account on X.

“Over the past 20+ years under Jack’s financial leadership, Chipotle has seen significant growth with over 3,700 restaurants today across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. Jack was named ‘CFO of the Year’ by Orange County Business Journal and Best CFO in the restaurant category by Institutional Investor,” Tesla wrote in its post on X.

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Tesla Board and Musk

Tesla is a controversial company with a controversial CEO, so it is no surprise that the Board of Directors tend to get flak as well. Two weeks ago, for example, Tesla Board Chair Robyn Denholm slammed The Wall Street Journal for publishing an article alleging that company directors had considered a search for a potential successor to Elon Musk. Denholm herself has also been criticized for offloading her TSLA shares.

More recently, news emerged suggesting that the Tesla Board of Directors had formed a special committee aimed at exploring a new pay package for CEO Elon Musk. The committee is reportedly comprised of Tesla board Chair Robyn Denholm and independent director Kathleen Wilson-Thompson, and they would be exploring alternative compensation methods for Musk’s contributions to the company.

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Rivian stock rises as analysts boost price targets post Q1 earnings

Rivian impressed with smaller-than-expected losses & strong revenue, pushing analysts to raise price targets.

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(Credit: Rivian)

Rivian stock is gaining traction as Wall Street analysts raise price targets following the electric vehicle (EV) maker’s first-quarter earnings report. Despite a dip after the announcement, optimism surrounds Rivian’s cost control and upcoming lower-priced cars.

Last week, Rivian reported a better-than-expected Q1 gross profit, surpassing Wall Street’s forecasts with adjusted losses of $0.48 per share against expectations of $0.92 per share. The company also reported a revenue of $1.24 billion compared to the $1.01 billion anticipated.

However, the EV automaker cut its 2025 delivery forecast and capital spending due to President Donald Trump’s tariffs. It explained that it is “not immune to the impacts of the global trade and economic environment.” RIVN stock dropped nearly 6% post-earnings, closing at $12.72 per share.

Wall Street remains upbeat about Rivian, citing progress toward launching lower-priced vehicles in 2026 and effective cost management. On Monday, Stifel analyst Stephen Gengaro raised his RIVN price target to $18 from $16, maintaining a “Buy” rating. He highlighted Rivian’s “solid progress” toward key milestones.

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Conversely, Bernstein’s Daniel Roeska gave RIVN a “Sell” rating. However, Roeska also lifted his Rivian price target to $7.05 from $6.10, acknowledging “better” Q1 results. He warned that profitability remains distant and hinges on multiple product launches by the decade’s end.

Overall, Wall Street’s average price target for RIVN climbed from $14.18 to $14.31, a modest 13-cent increase reflecting positive sentiment. About one-third of analysts covering Rivian rate it a Buy, compared to the S&P 500’s average Buy-rating ratio of 55%.

On Monday, Rivian stock rose 2.7% to $14.64, slightly trailing the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average, which gained 3.3% and 2.8%, respectively. The uptick may also stem from broader market gains tied to news of a temporary U.S.-China tariff suspension.

As Rivian navigates trade challenges and scales production at its Illinois factory, its Q1 performance and analyst support signal resilience. With lower-priced EVs on the horizon, Rivian’s strategic moves could bolster its position in the competitive EV market, offering investors cautious optimism for long-term growth.

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Tesla (TSLA) poised to hit $1 trillion valuation again amid reports of Trump China deal

TSLA stock was up about 8% at $322.56 per share on Monday’s premarket.

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tesla-model-y-giga-texas-logo
(Credit: Tesla)

Tesla shares (NASDAQ:TSLA) are on a tear on Monday’s premarket amidst reports that the United States and China have agreed to significantly roll back tariffs on each other’s goods for an initial 90-day period.

As of writing, the premarket price of TSLA shares suggests that the electric vehicle maker might end Monday with a $1 trillion valuation once more.

Tesla and China

TSLA stock was up about 8% at $322.56 per share on Monday’s premarket. As noted in a report from Barron’s, these prices suggest that the company could achieve a trillion-dollar valuation again, a level not seen since late February. Similar to Tesla, the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average were also up 2.8% and 2.1%, respectively, on Monday’s premarket.

The United States and China’s decision to roll back its tariffs would likely be appreciated by CEO Elon Musk. Despite working for the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and despite Tesla being least affected by the Trump administration’s tariffs due to its strong domestic supply chains in the United States, China, and Europe, Musk has noted that he is a supporter of non-predatory tariffs.

The United States and China’s Agreement

In a joint statement from the United States and China posted on the White House’s official website, the two countries agreed to lower reciprocal tariffs on each other by 115% for 90 days. This means that the United States will temporarily lower its overall tariffs on Chinese goods from 145% to 30%, as noted in an ABC 12 report. China, on the other hand, will also lower its tariffs on American goods from 125% to 10%.

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The talks were led by Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, as per the joint statement. Bessent shared his thoughts about the matter in a comment in Geneva. “The consensus from both delegations is neither side wants to be decoupled, and what have occurred with these very high tariffs … was an equivalent of an embargo, and neither side wants that. We do want trade. We want more balance in trade. And I think both sides are committed to achieving that,” he said. 

A spokesperson from China’s Commerce Ministry also shared a statement about the matter. As per the spokesperson, the deal was an “important step by both sides to resolve differences through equal-footing dialogue and consultation, laying the groundwork and creating conditions for further bridging gaps and deepening cooperation.”

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