Tesla stocks (TSLA) rise as Model 3 production tracker nears 2.4k per week

Tesla shares (NASDAQ:TSLA) opened strong on Monday, up 2.58% and trading at $307.05 as of writing. Tesla’s stocks seem to be continuing its rise after a remarkable recovery last week, which included a 20% surge in three days that gained $9 billion back for its market cap.

As noted in a MarketWatch report, TSLA’s performance in the stock market last week ended with gains of 14.5%. This is Tesla’s best weekly advance since February 28, 2014, when the company’s shares rose 17%. TSLA’s recovery last week also ended a 5-week dive that culminated in a 12% slide — the worst that the company has seen since February 2010.  

Despite continued reservations about its ability to deliver the Model 3, an ongoing recall for the Model S sedan, an NTSB investigation into a fatal Model X crash, and the new tariffs announced by China, the sentiments of Tesla’s investors appear to have improved amid the company’s release of its first-quarter production and delivery report.

Tesla did not reach its goal of producing 2,500 Model 3 per week during the first three months of 2018. What the company did accomplish, however, was hit a production rate that equaled 2,020 Model 3 in a seven-day period during the final week of March. Tesla noted that it is expecting to replicate and exceed this pace in the weeks to come. The Elon Musk-led company also stated that it would not need an equity or debt raise this year.

While Tesla has failed to reach its production targets for the mass market compact electric car so far, Bloomberg’s Tesla Model 3 tracker has shown a significant uptick recently. Bloomberg’s Model 3 tracker uses data from official US government resources, social media reports, and direct communication with Tesla owners to estimate the production rate of the company. So far, the publication’s tracker is estimating that Tesla is manufacturing the Model 3 at a rate of 2,394 per week — well in line with the company’s statements. 

As we noted in a previous report, Tesla CEO Elon Musk provided a brief update on the release of the dual-motor AWD option for the Model 3 last Saturday. In a series of tweets, Musk stated that the highly-anticipated configuration would probably be available on July, considering that Tesla would need to hit a production pace of 5,000 Model 3 a week before it can introduce new versions of the vehicle. The car’s popular white seats will probably be available in the same month as well.

Overall, TSLA shares have gained 0.2% over the past 12 months. The S&P 500 index, on the other hand, has gained 11% so far, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average has gained 16% over the same period.

Disclosure: I have no ownership in shares of TSLA and have no plans to initiate any positions within 72 hours.