The stock market is in a particularly unpredictable mood right now, with investors seemingly shrugging off the impact of Donald Trump’s tariff threats and other macroeconomic challenges. Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA), in particular, appears almost immune to a laundry list of concerns. These include falling vehicle deliveries, a slide in brand perception, and a string of disappointing earnings forecasts. They have barely dented its share price.
Instead, the market remains fixated on the company’s big promises in autonomous driving and robotics. That’s not surprising, but it means that Tesla’s valuation is defying gravity.
How much would Tesla be worth if it traded like the rest of the industry?
To put things in perspective, let’s strip away the hype and look at Tesla’s valuation through a conventional lens. Tesla’s current price-to-earnings (P/E) ratios are eye-watering compared to the auto industry average.
Its trailing 12-month (TTM) non-GAAP P/E is 151.5 times, while the sector median sits at 14.7. This indicates a premium of more than 930%. The forward P/E is even higher at 177.8 times, versus an industry average of 15.9, a staggering 1,022% difference.
If Tesla were valued like the average consumer discretionary company, its share price would be roughly $31.37. That’s a huge drop from the current $353.
This stark difference highlights just how much Tesla’s current valuation is driven by expectations of future growth in areas like autonomous driving and robotics. All considered, there’s little thought for present earnings.
Why does the market keep giving Tesla a pass?
Tesla’s resilience on the stock market has less to do with its current delivery numbers or earnings and everything to do with what it might become. Investors are betting that Tesla will lead the way in autonomous driving and robotics, with the upcoming launch of its robotaxi fleet seen as a potential game-changer. CEO Elon Musk has been relentlessly promoting these ambitions, and the excitement around the upcoming robotaxi unveiling in Austin, Texas, has helped fuel a recent rally in the shares.
This optimism is not without risk. Tesla’s future valuation is heavily contingent on it delivering on these technological promises. As one prominent analyst put it, the “vast majority of valuation upside” for Tesla stock now hinges on its entry into the autonomous vehicle market.
If the robotaxi launch and other AI-driven initiatives fail to meet expectations, the market could quickly lose patience. In that scenario, Tesla’s share price could tumble towards the sector average. It may never trade as low as $31.37 per share, but down would be the direction of travel.
High risk, high reward
At the end of the year, Tesla’s stock could be worth anywhere from around $50 a share (closer to discretionary average) if things really don’t go to plan, to as high as $500 if investors are truly impressed. Wall Street’s median price target sits at $277.78, with the bullish end at $352.99 and the most optimistic forecasts pushing as high as $500.
Personally, I’m staying out of it. I want Tesla to succeed but can’t throw my money behind it.
This story originally appeared on Motley Fool
