Tesla faces further downturn with another downgrade

Tesla, the pioneering electric vehicle manufacturer, is experiencing a turbulent period as it faces yet another downgrade from a prominent Wall Street analyst.

Mr. Langan, an analyst, downgraded Tesla to underweight and slashed its price target to $US125 from $US200, citing concerns about declining EV sales volumes despite price cuts.

The downgrade underscores a growing sentiment among investors that Tesla’s near-term prospects may not be as promising as once believed.

Gary Black, managing partner at The Future Fund, said, “When a Wall Street analyst downgrades a growth stock to a sell, it’s more often than not a reflection that near-term expectations (volumes, revenues, earnings) are too high, rather than a longer-term view that valuation is too rich.”

Tesla boss Elon Musk.

Even long-time Tesla supporters are adjusting their positions. The Future Fund recently reduced its Tesla holdings and revised its price target downwards to $US250 from $US290.

Mr. Black admitted, “We’ve been wrong on Tesla for three years now. It’s been our worst-performing stock.”

Temporary shutdown

While Mr. Black acknowledges potential catalysts for Tesla, such as production resumption at its Berlin assembly plant following a temporary shutdown due to a suspected arson attack, he remains critical of the company’s efforts to persuade US consumers to adopt EVs.

READ MORE: Elon Musk cancels Don Lemon’s show on X right after interview

However, not all analysts share the pessimism. Dan Ives of Wedbush Securities believes that the negative sentiment surrounding Tesla is exaggerated.

He maintains an outperform recommendation and a $US315 price target, emphasizing that recent EV price wars in China are easing, which could benefit Tesla and the wider EV industry.

Furthermore, Gene Munster of Deepwater Asset Management views Apple’s decision to abandon its EV development plans as a positive development for Tesla.

Despite these varying perspectives, Tesla finds itself at a crossroads, grappling with challenges ranging from fluctuating sales to scrutiny over its market positioning.