Hold on tight, Tesla investors!
“Prepare yourselves for a tumultuous journey,” warned Autotrader analyst Michelle Krebs, in a candid dialogue with CNNMoney. For those wielding Tesla stock, she paints a vivid picture of the volatility that looms ahead.
On a fateful Thursday, the Securities and Exchange Commission unleashed a lawsuit against Elon Musk, alleging he had made “false and misleading” statements to unsuspecting investors via his audacious tweet on August 7. Musk boldly claimed he had secured funding to take Tesla private at an ambitious $420 a share. The SEC, however, paints a different story, contending that no such funds were actually secured.
The market reacted swiftly and harshly; Tesla’s stock plummeted by a staggering 12%, landing at $270 a share by Friday’s close.
As Teslas’ future teeters precariously, Cowen analyst Jeff Osborne succinctly stated, “It’s now in the board’s court,” leaving investors clutching their breath in anticipation of the next chapter. In a stark move, the firm drastically slashed its price target to a mere $200 per share.
In Osborne’s estimation, Tesla must amass a whopping $2 billion in the fourth quarter to sidestep the looming specter of bankruptcy in 2019. Yet, with Musk’s position now shrouded in uncertainty, the path to that $2 billion seems fraught with challenges.
The firm did not mince words, calling out Tesla as a corporation that consistently “over promises and under delivers.” A biting critique, no doubt.
Barclays analyst Brian Johnson posited an interesting notion: Tesla’s stock carries a hefty “Musk premium” of about $130. Should the unthinkable happen—Musk being ousted by a judge—investors would likely shift their focus back to viewing Tesla as merely a niche automaker, rather than a dynamic, founder-led disruptor captivating multiple industries. He aptly titled his note to clients “Lawsuit Secured,” adding a layer of irony to the situation.
In a further demonstration of skepticism, Citigroup pulled Tesla’s stock down to a “sell” rating, slashing the price target to $225, underscoring growing concerns in Wall Street’s corridors.
