New York, Feb 14, 2026, 10:01 EST — Market closed
- Tesla finished Friday’s session just a hair higher, closing at $417.44, up 0.1%.
- U.S. markets remain closed Monday in observance of Presidents Day. Trading picks back up Tuesday.
- Rivian’s upbeat forecast sent its shares jumping, drawing attention to the push for more affordable EVs.
Tesla shares wrapped up Friday almost flat, eking out a 0.1% gain to $417.44. The move capped a choppy week for growth stocks.
Wall Street’s doors stay shut Monday for Washington’s Birthday, so the next U.S. session lands on Tuesday. That means a tighter week—less room for macro data drops and shifting rate expectations.
This is a big deal for Tesla, with the stock often behaving more like a rates play than an automaker. Fresh CPI numbers for January showed headline inflation up 2.4% year over year, and core inflation — minus food and energy — at 2.5%.
EV rivalry is heating up again. Rivian soared 25% Friday, buoyed by a forecast calling for a hefty 53% gain in 2026 deliveries, with demand building for less expensive models. The R2—set to arrive in the second quarter—will launch around $45,000, putting it near Tesla’s Model Y price point. Analyst Dan Coatsworth at AJ Bell called Rivian’s latest numbers a sign the company is “finding its groove.” Meanwhile, Reuters highlighted Tesla’s roughly 7% drop this year and flagged the sector’s pivot to more affordable offerings after a major U.S. EV subsidy wound down. Reuters
Tesla barely budged on Friday, coming off a sharp tech downturn a day earlier as traders braced for the inflation data and piled into new “AI disruption” bets that clipped parts of the sector. Reuters
But risks aren’t off the table. Should inflation stall or yields climb again, stocks with lofty valuations could lose favor in a hurry. Any policy tweaks cutting EV incentives would pile on, especially with competitors crowding into Tesla’s price territory.
Markets take a breather Monday, but action resumes Tuesday, as traders eye the direction of rates and wait to see if the Fed gives any signals of approval. The Federal Reserve will release minutes from its January 27-28 meeting at 2 p.m. ET this Wednesday, Feb. 18.
Looking ahead, the February CPI lands March 11. That’s the next inflation print traders are watching.
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