Tesla’s Deliveries Bounce Back in Second Quarter

Source: Tesla By Brian Nelson, CFA On July 2, Tesla (TSLA) released its production and delivery numbers for the second quarter of 2024. Production of Model 3/Y and other models totaled 410,831, while total deliveries came in at 443,956 units, consisting of 422,405 Model 3/Y and the balance coming from other models. The results were better than expected and helped to propel shares of the electric-vehicle maker higher. Tesla’s equity has shot up past the high end of our fair value estimate range, and while we liked the better-than-feared news regarding its deliveries, we continue to be on the sidelines with respect to Tesla’s shares. The next big catalysts for Tesla’s shares are its earnings release on July 23 and … Read more

There Will Be Volatility

By Brian Nelson, CFA Last year, 2022, was a big test for equity investors, and the downside volatility that we witnessed during the year wasn’t comfortable, to say the least. Following the COVID-19 crash and rebound during 2020, and then the market surge in 2021, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say many investors’ heads are probably still spinning from all the volatility witnessed to start this decade. That said, part of what we’ve been warning about the past few years with respect to the equity market, especially in Value Trap, is that the proliferation of price-agnostic trading (e.g. quant, machine/algorithmic trading, etc.) will only lead to more and more market volatility, so while we were somewhat surprised by last … Read more

Shares of Lithium Producer Albemarle Are Soaring So Far In 2022

  Image: Albemarle’s shares have rocketed higher the past few years and are soaring during 2022. By Brian Nelson, CFA On November 2, Albemarle Corp. (ALB) reported mixed third-quarter results that showed a modest miss on the top line versus consensus estimates, but a strong showing on the bottom line that beat what most analysts were looking for. Through the close of November 4, Albemarle’s shares have advanced more than 20% so far this year, and we think there may be more room to run based on the high end of our fair value estimate range ($300 per share). For those just getting familiar with key ideas in the simulated ESG Newsletter portfolio, here is some background on Albemarle’s operations … Read more

Net Cash Rich Tesla Reports Solid Free Cash Flow, Closes Out 2021 on a High Note

Image Shown: A look at Tesla Inc’s new ‘Gigafactory’ manufacturing facility in Austin, Texas, that is currently under development. Image Source: Tesla Inc – Fourth Quarter of 2021 IR Shareholder Deck By Callum Turcan On January 26, Tesla Inc (TSLA) reported that it had produced ~306,000 vehicles and delivered ~309,000 vehicles during the final quarter of 2021. The electric vehicle (‘EV’) and battery maker beat both consensus top- and bottom-line estimates in the fourth quarter as it continued to successfully ramp its production capabilities. We plan to fine-tune our cash flow valuation model covering Tesla to take its latest earnings report into account, but we still expect the point fair value estimate to be below where shares are trading at … Read more