New York, Jan 27, 2026, 11:22 EST — Regular session underway.
- Tesla shares barely moved in late morning trading, underperforming the stronger broader market.
- The electric-vehicle maker is set to release its quarterly earnings after the bell on Wednesday.
- Investors await fresh details on robotaxi deployment, Full Self-Driving progress, and demand projections for 2026.
Tesla shares slipped 0.1% to $434.76 by late Tuesday morning, even as the S&P 500 ETF climbed roughly 0.5% and the Nasdaq 100 tracker edged up close to 1%. Rivian dropped around 3%, while General Motors surged about 9% in a choppy day for auto stocks.
Tesla hit pause a day before releasing its fourth-quarter results after U.S. markets close on Wednesday. A live Q&A webcast is set for that evening. The company has reported delivering over 418,000 vehicles in the quarter and deploying 46.7 GWh of energy storage in 2025. (Tesla Investor Relations)
Why it matters now: Wall Street is hunting for proof that CEO Elon Musk’s long-touted self-driving plans can boost Tesla’s stock, even as the core vehicle business hits tougher comparisons and fiercer competition. Tesla’s Q4 revenue and adjusted profit are forecast to drop 3.6% and 40%, respectively, according to LSEG data cited by Reuters. Investors also want fresh details on the robotaxi platform and the purpose-built Cybercab. “Market sentiment is being driven by Tesla’s broader autonomy ambitions,” said Matt Britzman, senior equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, to Reuters. (Reuters)
Musk has pushed the autonomy story hard. On X, he announced Tesla kicked off robotaxi runs in Austin “with no safety monitor in the car.” (X (formerly Twitter))
Traders often focus more on guidance than the past quarter. Comments about 2026 deliveries, pricing strategies, and how much margin Tesla might sacrifice to sustain volume can quickly shift sentiment.
New investors often get confused by Tesla’s terminology. “Full Self-Driving,” or FSD, refers to the company’s driver-assistance software—not a hands-free system. Drivers still need to stay alert. Meanwhile, “regulatory credits” are earned by automakers who meet emissions standards and can be sold to competitors that don’t.
There’s a risk here beyond disappointing earnings. A recent Business Insider road test of Tesla’s newest FSD revealed camera issues like condensation and glare that forced drivers to intervene. Critics warn this could hinder any push toward fully autonomous service on a large scale. The report also pointed out that competitors such as Waymo rely on lidar and multi-sensor arrays, which tend to perform better in tricky conditions.
Tesla’s update focuses a lot on the long-term outlook, but without clear signs of a more stable car business, investors might lose patience. The stock’s current valuation is tight, offering little wiggle room for a hit to demand or another sharp drop in automotive gross margin — the profit Tesla earns on every vehicle sold.
Right now, the setup is straightforward: investors want the numbers, but the tone will drive the moves. They’ll be keyed in on details about robotaxi rollout, the Cybercab schedule, FSD pricing and regulatory green lights, plus whether Tesla can hold onto profits while scaling up its installed base.
Wednesday after the bell brings Tesla’s earnings report, followed by a webcast where the company answers investor questions. That’s when the stock will probably settle on a clear direction.
