Key Highlights Tesla shares climbed 1.2% to $362.21 in early trading Thursday, building on Wednesday’s momentum Goldman Sachs reduced its Q3 delivery forecast to approximately 435,000 vehicle
Tesla stock advanced 1.2% to reach $362.21 in early Thursday trading, dismissing concerns raised by Goldman Sachs regarding softer third-quarter electric vehicle delivery figures.
Goldman’s Mark Delaney projects Tesla will ship approximately 435,000 vehicles during Q3, falling below Wall Street’s 456,000-unit consensus. His Hold rating comes with a $360 price objective.
This conservative outlook follows a challenging year for Tesla. Shares were trading down roughly 20% year-to-date entering Thursday’s session, with a 16% decline over the trailing twelve months.
Tesla managed to deliver close to 500,000 vehicles in Q3 2025, a figure boosted by customers rushing to secure the $7,500 federal EV tax credit before its September 2025 sunset. Shipments subsequently fell to 418,000 units in the fourth quarter.
Looking ahead to 2026, Wall Street projects Tesla will ship approximately 1.8 million vehicles for the full year, improving from roughly 1.6 million in 2025. This would mark the first growth after two consecutive years of declining deliveries.
However, delivery forecasts have plummeted from their zenith. In March 2022, projections called for Tesla to ship as many as 4.9 million vehicles in 2026.
The investment community appears to have shifted its attention away from delivery metrics. Market participants are increasingly focused on Tesla’s artificial intelligence ventures, particularly its robotaxi service and humanoid robot development.
Among institutional players, Pinnacle Wealth Management expanded its Tesla allocation by 9.5% during the second quarter, pushing its holdings to 17,256 shares worth approximately $7.26 million.
Additional firms joined the buying activity. NewEdge Advisors boosted its position by 4.6% to 409,932 shares. GFG Capital increased its stake by 20.3%. Institutional ownership now represents 66.2% of Tesla’s outstanding shares.
Regarding insider moves, CFO Vaibhav Taneja divested 2,606 shares on September 8 at an average price of $360.13, netting approximately $938,499. This transaction was executed to cover tax withholding obligations on vested equity compensation rather than being a voluntary sale. Company insiders control roughly 19.9% of outstanding shares.
Wall Street analyst opinions remain divided. According to MarketBeat data, 21 analysts rate the stock as Buy, 19 recommend Hold, and 5 suggest Sell. The average price target stands at $412.25.
Tesla is generating excitement around multiple imminent developments. The automaker recently established a sales subsidiary in Vietnam, entering a rapidly expanding EV market where VinFast currently holds the dominant position.
CEO Elon Musk has characterized the October 1 Roadster unveiling as a significant milestone, stating the demonstration will surpass market expectations.
Samsung has initiated trial manufacturing of Tesla’s AI5 processor as part of a reported $16.5 billion foundry contract, a move that could significantly enhance Tesla’s artificial intelligence computing infrastructure.
In its latest quarterly report issued on July 23, Tesla posted revenue of $28.24 billion, exceeding the $26.42 billion consensus forecast. Earnings per share registered at $0.33, missing the $0.50 estimate. Revenue increased 25.5% compared to the prior-year period.
Tesla’s 52-week trading range extends from $297.38 to $498.83, with a current market capitalization of approximately $1.41 trillion.
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