Big factories, big trucks and big Musk: Tesla Q4 earnings expectations
TechCrunchNov 23, 2022
The Facts
On Wednesday, Elon Musk's electric vehicle maker Tesla reported nearly $3.7B in fourth-quarter profit, up 59% from the year prior and a record profits report for the company.
The company also announced that its revenue in the last three months of 2022 was $24.32B — up from some analysts' predictions of $24.16B — and its automotive operation margin was the lowest in two years at 25.9%.
The Spin
Narrative A
Musk can brag about setting another record for profits, but the positive news might not be enough to quell the anxiety of investors. Aside from what might be going on with Musk away from Tesla, the company could be facing softening demand, and the dip in its usually competitive automotive gross margin could lead to a major drop in its stock price.
Narrative B
Musk's success with all his businesses makes him a Wall Street favorite, and there’s no reason to shy away from believing in him now. The latest report paints an optimistic picture for 2023 and signals plenty of upside for the electric vehicle maker's stock, regardless of what else Musk is dabbling in.