New York, Jan 28, 2026, 09:32 (EST) — Regular session
- Tesla shares slip in early trading as investors await fourth-quarter results, scheduled after the bell
- Investors are eager for news on robotaxi developments, Full Self-Driving progress, and profit margins
- Attention centers on a fresh Semi-charging agreement and rising energy-storage demand, alongside the main EV operations
Tesla shares slipped roughly 1% in early Wednesday trading, falling $4.38 to $430.90. Investors are bracing for the company’s quarterly results, set to drop after the market closes.
The results arrive amid a packed week for U.S. markets, as major earnings reports come through and the Federal Reserve prepares to issue its policy statement Wednesday. When guidance disappoints, it tends to hit big tech and growth stocks hard. 1
Tesla will release its fourth-quarter earnings after the market closes and hold a live Q&A webcast at 5:30 p.m. Eastern. In a filing dated January 2, the company reported delivering 418,227 vehicles during the quarter and hitting a record 14.2 gigawatt-hours in energy storage deployments. 2
Pilot Travel Centers, the largest U.S. travel-center operator, announced a deal with Tesla to put Semi Chargers at certain Pilot locations, with openings planned for summer 2026. “Heavy-duty charging is yet another extension of our exploration into alternative fuel offerings,” said Shannon Sturgil, Pilot’s senior vice president for alternative fuels. 3
The real test remains the upcoming earnings call. “Investors are largely looking past the near-term fundamentals,” said Matt Britzman, senior equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, highlighting the robotaxi platform and hopes that the purpose-built Cybercab will hit full production in 2026. Tesla’s fourth-quarter sales and adjusted profit are forecast to fall 3.6% and 40%, respectively, while automotive gross margin excluding regulatory credits — the emissions credits Tesla sells to other automakers — is expected at 14.3%, according to estimates cited in the report. Ken Mahoney of Mahoney Asset Management added the key question: will “AI become revenue + profit, not just spend” in 2026. 4
Energy remains a key swing factor. Baird analyst Ben Kallo pointed to Tesla’s energy-storage and generation segment as a potential “highlight,” even if the core auto business struggles. Analysts forecast roughly $3.72 billion in revenue for that unit, marking a 21% rise year-over-year, according to FactSet consensus cited by MarketWatch. Tesla’s head of energy and charging, Michael Snyder, noted last year’s “remarkable” demand for Megapack batteries aimed at supporting data centers. 5
Wall Street remains divided on what’s already factored into Tesla’s stock price. JPMorgan warned the shares look “increasingly divorced” from a “rapidly declining earnings outlook.” On the flip side, Wells Fargo sees the stock trading as if “robotaxi domination is inevitable,” according to a summary of analyst notes. The same report listed bearish price targets of $150 from JPMorgan and $130 from Wells Fargo, while UBS sits at $247. Wedbush stuck to a $600 target, suggesting Tesla could “own ~70% of the global autonomous market” within the next decade. 6
But the stock faces a known risk: if Tesla’s margins slip once more or demand continues to weaken, investors could push the narrative back to traditional auto concerns. Missed targets on autonomy or fresh regulatory hurdles might sting even more, given how much the valuation is already stretched.
Next up: Tesla’s earnings, set to drop after Wednesday’s close, with a webcast at 5:30 p.m. Eastern. Investors will zero in on delivery numbers, margin details, and any firm updates on robotaxi, Full Self-Driving, and the Cybercab timeline.
