Tesla Stock: Why I Remain A Buyer

seekingalpha11-05

Tesla, Inc.'s automotive sales are resilient vs. amidst a challenging backdrop in the industry. The rollout of affordable models in H1 FY25 are a key volumes catalyst.Margin performance is at local ...

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zelia
11-05
zelia
Look at the price.....been dropping for past 4 days!
- Barcode:
  Your privates still dropping private? 🤣
zelia
11-05
zelia
How many times u need to publish this????

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The rollout of affordable models in H1 FY25 are a key volumes catalyst.Margin performance is at local ...</p>\n\n<a href=\"https://seekingalpha.com/article/4732731-tesla-stock-why-i-remain-a-buyer\">Source Link</a>\n\n</div>\n\n\n</article>\n</div>\n</body>\n</html>\n","isBrief":false,"type":0,"news_type":1,"symbol":"LU2756315318.SGD","symbol_name":"ALLIANZ INCOME AND GROWTH \"AMG\" (SGDHDG) INC A","start_time":0,"source_url":"https://seekingalpha.com/article/4732731-tesla-stock-why-i-remain-a-buyer","article_id":"2481535034","we_media_id":null,"thumbnails":[],"rights":null,"url":"https://stock-news.laohu8.com/highlight/detail?id=2481535034","pubTimestamp":1730794582,"sourceInfo":{"source_id":"seekingalpha","name":"Seeking Alpha"},"weMediaInfo":null,"summary":"So I think most likely, we'll see a continued decline in interest rates, which helps with the affordability of vehicles. - CEO Elon Musk in the Q3 FY24 earnings call.  Tesla's total deliveries grew 6.4% YoY, outperforming the broader industry, which has seen YoY declines:   Total deliveries YoY  Over the next 6 months, the introduction of affordable Tesla models  in H1 FY25 is expected to boost automotive sales growth aga","collect":0,"end_time":0,"defaultTopTitle":"seekingalpha.com","property":[],"viewcount":null,"language":"en","relate_stocks":{"LU2756315318.SGD":"ALLIANZ INCOME AND GROWTH \"AMG\" (SGDHDG) INC A","BK4592":"伊斯兰概念","LU1720051108.HKD":"ALLIANZ GLOBAL ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE \"AT\" (HKD) ACC","LU0943347566.SGD":"安联收益及增长平衡基金AM H2-SGD","LU2357305700.SGD":"Allianz Global Artificial Intelligence ET H2-SGD","LU0234570918.USD":"高盛全球核心股票组合Acc Close","SG9999015952.SGD":"LIONGLOBAL DISRUPTIVE INNOVATION \"I\" (SGD) ACC","LU1839511570.USD":"WELLS FARGO GLOBAL FACTOR ENHANCED EQUITY \"I\" (USD) ACC","LU1429558221.USD":"Natixis Loomis Sayles US Growth Equity RA USD","LU0053666078.USD":"摩根大通基金-美国股票A（离岸）美元","BK4534":"瑞士信贷持仓","BK4585":"ETF&股票定投概念","LU1435385759.SGD":"Natixis Loomis Sayles US Growth Equity RA SGD-H","LU0082616367.USD":"摩根大通美国科技A（dist）","LU1145028129.USD":"ALLIANZ INCOME AND GROWTH \"AQ\" (USD) INC","LU0719512351.SGD":"JPMorgan Funds - US Technology A (acc) SGD","IE00B1XK9C88.USD":"PINEBRIDGE US LARGE CAP RESEARCH ENHANCED \"A\" (USD) ACC","LU0964807845.USD":"ALLIANZ INCOME & GROWTH \"A\" (USD) INC","IE00BJLML261.HKD":"HSBC GLOBAL EQUITY INDEX \"HCH\" (HKD) ACC","LU0820561909.HKD":"ALLIANZ INCOME AND GROWTH \"AM\" (HKD) INC","LU2249611893.SGD":"BNP PARIBAS ENERGY TRANSITION \"CRH\" (SGD) ACC","LU0234572021.USD":"高盛美国核心股票组合Acc","LU0820562030.AUD":"ALLIANZ INCOME AND GROWTH \"AMH2\" (AUDHDG) H2 INC","BK4550":"红杉资本持仓","BK4588":"碎股","LU2063271972.USD":"富兰克林创新领域基金","SG9999015945.SGD":"LionGlobal Disruptive Innovation Fund A SGD","LU2756315664.SGD":"ALLIANZ INCOME AND GROWTH \"AMI\" (SGDHDG) INC","TSLA":"特斯拉","BK4574":"无人驾驶","BK4551":"寇图资本持仓","SG9999015986.USD":"LIONGLOBAL DISRUPTIVE INNOVATION \"I\" (USD) ACC","LU0823414478.USD":"法巴经典能源转换基金","LU0097036916.USD":"贝莱德美国增长A2 USD","LU0823411888.USD":"法巴消费创新基金 Cap","LU0466842654.USD":"HSBC ISLAMIC GLOBAL EQUITY INDEX \"A\" (USD) ACC","LU2213496289.HKD":"ALLIANZ INCOME AND GROWTH \"AT\" (HKD) ACC","LU0689472784.USD":"安联收益及增长基金Cl AM AT Acc","LU2087621335.USD":"ALLSPRING GLOBAL FACTOR ENHANCED EQUITY \"A\" (USD) ACC","LU2326559502.SGD":"Natixis Loomis Sayles US Growth Equity P/A SGD-H","BK4581":"高盛持仓","LU1852331112.SGD":"Blackrock World Technology Fund A2 SGD-H","LU1720051017.SGD":"Allianz Global Artificial Intelligence AT Acc H2-SGD","LU0316494557.USD":"FRANKLIN GLOBAL FUNDAMENTAL STRATEGIES \"A\" ACC","BK4511":"特斯拉概念","LU1548497426.USD":"安联环球人工智能AT Acc","LU0348723411.USD":"ALLIANZ GLOBAL HI-TECH GROWTH \"A\" (USD) INC","LU1861220033.SGD":"Blackrock Next Generation Technology A2 SGD-H","BK4548":"巴美列捷福持仓","LU2602419157.SGD":"HSBC ISLAMIC GLOBAL EQUITY INDEX \"AC\" (SGD) ACC"},"translate_title":"特斯拉股票：为什么我仍然是买家","themeId":"","isJumpTheme":false,"ttsUrl":null,"symbols_score_info":{"TSLA":0.9},"content_text":"Tesla, Inc.'s automotive sales are resilient vs. amidst a challenging backdrop in the industry. The rollout of affordable models in H1 FY25 are a key volumes catalyst.Margin performance is at local highs but is likely to revert a bit, driven by fluctuations in the nature of energy business projects and lower average selling price pressures.Valuations are at a premium, driven by full self-drive and Optimus expectations. I believe this is acceptable, contingent on the timelines of robotaxis and FSD rollout being intact in FY25.The relative technicals vs. the S&P 500 point bullish after a false breakout down. The ratio prices are basing and forming a support, indicating readiness to move up over the coming months ahead.Prepaid expenses have been creeping up over the past few quarters, eroding cash flow conversion. This is something I am monitoring; a common oversight is for investors to focus on margin movements but ignore erosion in working capital intensity.Performance AssessmentI've had a strong bullish view on Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) since my last update in late September 2024. This investment is yet to yield major returns as it has lagged the S&P 500 (SPY, SPX, IVV, VOO) slightly so far:Performance since Author's Last Article on Tesla (Seeking Alpha, Author's Last Article on Tesla)I still hold Tesla in my portfolio since I remain bullish on the stock:ThesisSince my last update on the stock, Tesla has had a full self-drive (“FSD”) and Optimus update on October 10, which broadly disappointed the market due to a perceived lack of specific data on monetization of the robotaxi vision. The stock fell 11% after this event. However, the Q3 FY24 earnings release was received more positively as the stock rallied up to 28% in 3 days after that.Automotive deliveries and sales are resilient amid a challenging backdropMargin performance is likely to revert a bitValuations are at a premium driven by FSD and Optimus expectationsTechnicals point bullish after a false breakout downPrepaid expenses creep up are a working capital monitorable.Automotive deliveries and sales are resilient amid a challenging backdropI had previously anticipated rate cuts to boost demand. This seems to still be in-play:a helpful macro trend is, if there's a decline in the interest rates, thishas a massive effect on the automotive demand. For the vast majority of people, the demand is driven by the monthly payment. Can they afford monthly payment? So I think most likely, we'll see a continued decline in interest rates, which helps with the affordability of vehicles.- CEO Elon Musk in the Q3 FY24 earnings call.Tesla's total deliveries grew 6.4% YoY, outperforming the broader industry, which has seen YoY declines:Tesla Stock: Why I Remain A BuyerOver the next 6 months, the introduction of affordable Tesla models ($30,000 and below price points) in H1 FY25 is expected to boost automotive sales growth again by 20-30%:Automotive revenue YoY (Company Filings, Author's Analysis)Hence, my assessment is that Tesla is holding well in sales performance so far, with further upside catalysts ahead in the next half-year.Margin performance is likely to revert a bitTesla saw a meaningful +180bps jump in gross margins in the latest quarter:Gross profit margin (Company Filings, Author's Analysis)This is driven by gross profit margin uptick in both automotive (80.6% of gross profit mix) and energy business lines:Automotive vs Energy Business Gross Margins (Company Filings, Author's Analysis)However, management commentary suggests that the current gross profit margin levels may revert down a bit:Energy margins in Q3 were a record at more than 30%. This is a function of mix of projects being deployed in the quarter. Note that there will be fluctuation in margins as we manage through deployments and our inventory.- CFO Vaibhav Taneja in the Q3 FY24 earnings call, Author's bolded highlight.On the automotive side, Tesla's average vehicle sales price has been ticking down, driven primarily by financing incentives:Average vehicle sales price (Company Filings, Author's Analysis)This is one of the factors expected to weigh down on margins in Q4 FY24. Thus, I anticipate the gross profit margin profile in Q4 and beyond to revert toward the 19.0% levels. I am still baking in some improvement as the company has been making structural progress on lowering the cost per vehicle.Valuations are at a premium driven by FSD and Optimus expectationsTesla stock currently trades at a 1-yr fwd P/E of 80.6x, which corresponds to a 32% premium to the recent median 1-yr fwd P/E of 61.1x:1-yr fwd PE and MCAP (Capital IQ, Author's Analysis)I posit that bullish expectations on FSD and Optimus growth vectors are the key determinants of the premium valuation. On FSD, the bullishness seems to be driven by expectations of full autonomy for the existing vehicle fleet in 2025:There's no need to wait for a robotaxi or a Cybercab to experience full autonomy. We expect to achieve that next year with our existing vehicle line.- CEO Elon Musk in the Q3 FY24 earnings call.On the Optimus humanoid, Musk noted a massive improvement in movement dexterity and expressed confidence in scalability to high-volume production.Now, I think it is prudent for any investor to downgrade the timelines of the Tesla CEO's comments, as Musk has a notorious reputation of pushing timelines. Still, I believe a modest relative valuation premium is acceptable at this stage. A key monitorable for it remaining so it would be approvals for the roll-out of ride-hailing services in Texas and California next year.Technicals point bullish after a false breakout downIf this is your first time reading a Hunting Alpha article using Technical Analysis, you may want to read this post, which explains how and why I read the charts the way I do. All my charts reflect total shareholder return as they are adjusted for dividends/distributions.Relative Read of TSLA vs. SPX500TSLA vs SPX500 Technical Analysis (TradingView, Author's Analysis)TSLA stock relative to the S&P500 has posted a false breakout below a strong up-thrust. The ratio prices have stabilized, basing and forming a new support level. I anticipate further expansion toward the upside over the coming months.Prepaid expenses creep up is a working capital monitorableOne thing that has caught my eye is a steady creep up in prepaid expenses and other current assets as a % of revenue:Prepaid expenses and other current assets as % of revenue (Company Filings, Author's Analysis)From prior levels, this is leading to a 200bps detraction in the cash flow conversion profile of the company. I could not find a specific explanation for these movements. However, it is something I am monitoring for further erosion. I believe a common investing oversight is to focus on margin erosion but miss cash flow conversion erosion effects.Takeaway & PositioningTesla's automotive sales performance seems to be holding up well relative to the broader industry. My earlier thesis about demand drivers from increased affordability remains intact. Furthermore, the introduction of affordable models in H1 FY25 is a key volume catalyst.Margins performance has hit a local high in Q3 FY24. However, this is likely to revert down a bit, driven by fluctuations in the energy business and low average selling price headwinds in the automotive business.Valuations are at a 32% premium to 1-yr fwd PE levels. I believe this is acceptable so long as the FY25 timelines of robotaxis and ride-hailing services roll-out in Texas and California remain intact.Technically, vs. the S&P 500, TSLA is basing after a false breakout to the downside. I anticipate it to outperform the broader market over the coming months.How to interpret Hunting Alpha's ratings:Strong Buy: Expect the company to outperform the S&P 500 on a total shareholder return basis, with higher than usual confidence. I also have a net long position in the security in my personal portfolio.Buy: Expect the company to outperform the S&P 500 on a total shareholder return basisNeutral/hold: Expect the company to perform in-line with the S&P 500 on a total shareholder return basisSell: Expect the company to underperform the S&P 500 on a total shareholder return basisStrong Sell: Expect the company to underperform the S&P 500 on a total shareholder return basis, with higher than usual confidenceThe typical time-horizon for my views is multiple quarters to more than a year. It is not set in stone. However, I will share updates on my changes in stance in a pinned comment to this article and may also publish a new article discussing the reasons for the change in view.","kind":"highlight","is_publish_news":true,"is_publish_highlight":true,"is_publish_live":false,"is_publish_wemedia":null,"editions":null,"column":"","sentiment":"1","news_tag":"Product Release,analysis","news_rank":0,"symbols":[],"gpt_button":0},"commentList":[{"id":367731655581920,"gmtCreate":1730796075292,"gmtModify":1730796079221,"author":{"id":"4151941377592162","authorId":"4151941377592162","name":"zelia","avatar":"https://community-static.tradeup.com/news/default-avatar.jpg","vip":1,"crmLevel":1,"crmLevelSwitch":0,"idStr":"4151941377592162","authorIdStr":"4151941377592162"},"htmlText":"Look at the price.....been dropping for past 4 days!","listText":"Look at the price.....been dropping for past 4 days!","text":"Look at the price.....been dropping for past 4 days!","images":[],"top":1,"highlighted":1,"essential":1,"paper":1,"likeSize":3,"commentSize":1,"repostSize":0,"link":"https://ttm.financial/post/367731655581920","repostId":2481535034,"repostType":2,"repost":{"id":"2481535034","kind":"highlight","pubTimestamp":1730794582,"share":"https://ttm.financial/m/news/2481535034?lang=&edition=fundamental","pubTime":"2024-11-05 16:16","market":"sh","language":"en","title":"Tesla Stock: Why I Remain A Buyer","url":"https://stock-news.laohu8.com/highlight/detail?id=2481535034","media":"seekingalpha","summary":"So I think most likely, we'll see a continued decline in interest rates, which helps with the affordability of vehicles. - CEO Elon Musk in the Q3 FY24 earnings call.  Tesla's total deliveries grew 6.4% YoY, outperforming the broader industry, which has seen YoY declines:   Total deliveries YoY  Over the next 6 months, the introduction of affordable Tesla models  in H1 FY25 is expected to boost automotive sales growth aga","content":"<html><head></head><body><ul style=\"\"><li><p>Tesla, Inc.&#39;s automotive sales are resilient vs. amidst a challenging backdrop in the industry. The rollout of affordable models in H1 FY25 are a key volumes catalyst.</p></li><li><p>Margin performance is at local highs but is likely to revert a bit, driven by fluctuations in the nature of energy business projects and lower average selling price pressures.</p></li><li><p>Valuations are at a premium, driven by full self-drive and Optimus expectations. I believe this is acceptable, contingent on the timelines of robotaxis and FSD rollout being intact in FY25.</p></li><li><p>The relative technicals vs. the S&amp;P 500 point bullish after a false breakout down. The ratio prices are basing and forming a support, indicating readiness to move up over the coming months ahead.</p></li><li><p>Prepaid expenses have been creeping up over the past few quarters, eroding cash flow conversion. This is something I am monitoring; a common oversight is for investors to focus on margin movements but ignore erosion in working capital intensity.</p></li></ul><h2 id=\"id_1651983485\">Performance Assessment</h2><p>I&#39;ve had a strong bullish view on <strong>Tesla, Inc.</strong> (NASDAQ:TSLA) since my last update in late September 2024. This investment is yet to yield major returns as it has lagged the S&amp;P 500 (SPY, SPX, IVV, VOO) slightly so far:</p><p class=\"t-img-caption\"><img src=\"https://community-static.tradeup.com/news/d3a4908be92a0fb491c8d03f061f2684\" tg-width=\"281\" tg-height=\"434\"/></p><p>Performance since Author&#39;s Last Article on Tesla (Seeking Alpha, Author&#39;s Last Article on Tesla)</p><p>I still hold Tesla in my portfolio since I remain bullish on the stock:</p><h2 id=\"id_345243706\">Thesis</h2><p>Since my last update on the stock, Tesla has had a full self-drive (“FSD”) and Optimus update on October 10, which broadly disappointed the market due to a perceived lack of specific data on monetization of the robotaxi vision. The stock fell 11% after this event. However, the Q3 FY24 earnings release was received more positively as the stock rallied up to 28% in 3 days after that.</p><ol start=\"1\" style=\"\"><li><p>Automotive deliveries and sales are resilient amid a challenging backdrop</p></li><li><p>Margin performance is likely to revert a bit</p></li><li><p>Valuations are at a premium driven by FSD and Optimus expectations</p></li><li><p>Technicals point bullish after a false breakout down</p></li><li><p>Prepaid expenses creep up are a working capital monitorable.</p></li></ol><h2 id=\"id_4066176264\">Automotive deliveries and sales are resilient amid a challenging backdrop</h2><p>I had previously anticipated rate cuts to boost demand. This seems to still be in-play:</p><blockquote><p>a helpful macro trend is, if there&#39;s a decline in the interest rates, thishas a massive effect on the automotive demand. For the vast majority of people, the demand is driven by the monthly payment. Can they afford monthly payment? So I think most likely, we&#39;ll see a continued decline in interest rates, which helps with the affordability of vehicles.</p><p>- CEO Elon Musk in the Q3 FY24 earnings call.</p></blockquote><p>Tesla&#39;s total deliveries grew 6.4% YoY, outperforming the broader industry, which has seen YoY declines:</p><p class=\"t-img-caption\"><img src=\"https://community-static.tradeup.com/news/3ca7dcc7925e9e3f2314cc72e84d3975\" alt=\"Tesla Stock: Why I Remain A Buyer\" title=\"Tesla Stock: Why I Remain A Buyer\" tg-width=\"557\" tg-height=\"251\"/><span>Tesla Stock: Why I Remain A Buyer</span></p><p>Over the next 6 months, the introduction of affordable Tesla models ($30,000 and below price points) in H1 FY25 is expected to boost automotive sales growth again by 20-30%:</p><p class=\"t-img-caption\"><img src=\"https://community-static.tradeup.com/news/a83ba6c664f253e6bcb6869cd17d014b\" alt=\"Automotive revenue YoY (Company Filings, Author&#39;s Analysis)\" title=\"Automotive revenue YoY (Company Filings, Author&#39;s Analysis)\" tg-width=\"559\" tg-height=\"246\"/><span>Automotive revenue YoY (Company Filings, Author&#39;s Analysis)</span></p><p>Hence, my assessment is that Tesla is holding well in sales performance so far, with further upside catalysts ahead in the next half-year.</p><h2 id=\"id_1162314054\">Margin performance is likely to revert a bit</h2><p>Tesla saw a meaningful +180bps jump in gross margins in the latest quarter:</p><p class=\"t-img-caption\"><img src=\"https://community-static.tradeup.com/news/092b7f2c450f7f13bfbabee80cdead00\" alt=\"Gross profit margin (Company Filings, Author&#39;s Analysis)\" title=\"Gross profit margin (Company Filings, Author&#39;s Analysis)\" tg-width=\"640\" tg-height=\"356\"/><span>Gross profit margin (Company Filings, Author&#39;s Analysis)</span></p><p>This is driven by gross profit margin uptick in both automotive (80.6% of gross profit mix) and energy business lines:</p><p class=\"t-img-caption\"><img src=\"https://community-static.tradeup.com/news/3ae1bf75299feebdee07cb6311835af2\" alt=\"Automotive vs Energy Business Gross Margins (Company Filings, Author&#39;s Analysis)\" title=\"Automotive vs Energy Business Gross Margins (Company Filings, Author&#39;s Analysis)\" tg-width=\"640\" tg-height=\"459\"/><span>Automotive vs Energy Business Gross Margins (Company Filings, Author&#39;s Analysis)</span></p><p>However, management commentary suggests that the current gross profit margin levels may revert down a bit:</p><blockquote><p>Energy margins in Q3 were a record at more than 30%. This is a function of mix of projects being deployed in the quarter. Note that <strong>there will be fluctuation in margins</strong> as we manage through deployments and our inventory.</p><p>- CFO Vaibhav Taneja in the Q3 FY24 earnings call, Author&#39;s bolded highlight.</p></blockquote><p>On the automotive side, Tesla&#39;s average vehicle sales price has been ticking down, driven primarily by financing incentives:</p><p class=\"t-img-caption\"><img src=\"https://community-static.tradeup.com/news/852de65bf54c11e0f166abbffa1005ac\" alt=\"Average vehicle sales price (Company Filings, Author&#39;s Analysis)\" title=\"Average vehicle sales price (Company Filings, Author&#39;s Analysis)\" tg-width=\"640\" tg-height=\"284\"/><span>Average vehicle sales price (Company Filings, Author&#39;s Analysis)</span></p><p>This is one of the factors expected to weigh down on margins in Q4 FY24. Thus, I anticipate the gross profit margin profile in Q4 and beyond to revert toward the 19.0% levels. I am still baking in some improvement as the company has been making structural progress on lowering the cost per vehicle.</p><h2 id=\"id_2514648645\">Valuations are at a premium driven by FSD and Optimus expectations</h2><p>Tesla stock currently trades at a 1-yr fwd P/E of 80.6x, which corresponds to a 32% premium to the recent median 1-yr fwd P/E of 61.1x:</p><p class=\"t-img-caption\"><img src=\"https://community-static.tradeup.com/news/0123e7ae579e1f0bed7c09dae2426cc4\" alt=\"1-yr fwd PE and MCAP (Capital IQ, Author&#39;s Analysis)\" title=\"1-yr fwd PE and MCAP (Capital IQ, Author&#39;s Analysis)\" tg-width=\"640\" tg-height=\"466\"/><span>1-yr fwd PE and MCAP (Capital IQ, Author&#39;s Analysis)</span></p><p>I posit that bullish expectations on FSD and Optimus growth vectors are the key determinants of the premium valuation. On FSD, the bullishness seems to be driven by expectations of full autonomy for the existing vehicle fleet in 2025:</p><blockquote><p>There&#39;s no need to wait for a robotaxi or a Cybercab to experience full autonomy. We expect to achieve that next year with our existing vehicle line.</p><p>- CEO Elon Musk in the Q3 FY24 earnings call.</p></blockquote><p>On the Optimus humanoid, Musk noted a massive improvement in movement dexterity and expressed confidence in scalability to high-volume production.</p><p>Now, I think it is prudent for any investor to downgrade the timelines of the Tesla CEO&#39;s comments, as Musk has a notorious reputation of pushing timelines. Still, I believe a modest relative valuation premium is acceptable at this stage. A key monitorable for it remaining so it would be approvals for the roll-out of ride-hailing services in Texas and California next year.</p><h2 id=\"id_2016154448\">Technicals point bullish after a false breakout down</h2><p><em>If this is your first time reading a Hunting Alpha article using Technical Analysis, you may want to read this post, which explains how and why I read the charts the way I do. All my charts reflect total shareholder return as they are adjusted for dividends/distributions.</em></p><h3 id=\"id_1263218508\">Relative Read of TSLA vs. SPX500</h3><p class=\"t-img-caption\"><img src=\"https://community-static.tradeup.com/news/ff230a557a1a67d0c7c9d011a6741d8c\" alt=\"TSLA vs SPX500 Technical Analysis (TradingView, Author&#39;s Analysis)\" title=\"TSLA vs SPX500 Technical Analysis (TradingView, Author&#39;s Analysis)\" tg-width=\"640\" tg-height=\"391\"/><span>TSLA vs SPX500 Technical Analysis (TradingView, Author&#39;s Analysis)</span></p><p>TSLA stock relative to the S&amp;P500 has posted a false breakout below a strong up-thrust. The ratio prices have stabilized, basing and forming a new support level. I anticipate further expansion toward the upside over the coming months.</p><h2 id=\"id_4033175429\">Prepaid expenses creep up is a working capital monitorable</h2><p>One thing that has caught my eye is a steady creep up in prepaid expenses and other current assets as a % of revenue:</p><p class=\"t-img-caption\"><img src=\"https://community-static.tradeup.com/news/993bae6a89a2ba6e6009505fdb6510ab\" alt=\"Prepaid expenses and other current assets as % of revenue (Company Filings, Author&#39;s Analysis)\" title=\"Prepaid expenses and other current assets as % of revenue (Company Filings, Author&#39;s Analysis)\" tg-width=\"556\" tg-height=\"246\"/><span>Prepaid expenses and other current assets as % of revenue (Company Filings, Author&#39;s Analysis)</span></p><p>From prior levels, this is leading to a 200bps detraction in the cash flow conversion profile of the company. I could not find a specific explanation for these movements. However, it is something I am monitoring for further erosion. I believe a common investing oversight is to focus on margin erosion but miss cash flow conversion erosion effects.</p><h2 id=\"id_3199848458\">Takeaway &amp; Positioning</h2><p>Tesla&#39;s automotive sales performance seems to be holding up well relative to the broader industry. My earlier thesis about demand drivers from increased affordability remains intact. Furthermore, the introduction of affordable models in H1 FY25 is a key volume catalyst.</p><p>Margins performance has hit a local high in Q3 FY24. However, this is likely to revert down a bit, driven by fluctuations in the energy business and low average selling price headwinds in the automotive business.</p><p>Valuations are at a 32% premium to 1-yr fwd PE levels. I believe this is acceptable so long as the FY25 timelines of robotaxis and ride-hailing services roll-out in Texas and California remain intact.</p><p>Technically, vs. the S&amp;P 500, TSLA is basing after a false breakout to the downside. I anticipate it to outperform the broader market over the coming months.</p><h3 id=\"id_438101673\">How to interpret Hunting Alpha&#39;s ratings:</h3><p>Strong Buy: Expect the company to outperform the S&amp;P 500 on a total shareholder return basis, with higher than usual confidence. I also have a net long position in the security in my personal portfolio.</p><p>Buy: Expect the company to outperform the S&amp;P 500 on a total shareholder return basis</p><p>Neutral/hold: Expect the company to perform in-line with the S&amp;P 500 on a total shareholder return basis</p><p>Sell: Expect the company to underperform the S&amp;P 500 on a total shareholder return basis</p><p>Strong Sell: Expect the company to underperform the S&amp;P 500 on a total shareholder return basis, with higher than usual confidence</p><p>The typical time-horizon for my views is multiple quarters to more than a year. It is not set in stone. However, I will share updates on my changes in stance in a pinned comment to this article and may also publish a new article discussing the reasons for the change in view.</p></body></html>","source":"seekingalpha","collect":0,"html":"<!DOCTYPE html>\n<html>\n<head>\n<meta http-equiv=\"Content-Type\" content=\"text/html; charset=utf-8\" />\n<meta name=\"viewport\" content=\"width=device-width,initial-scale=1.0,minimum-scale=1.0,maximum-scale=1.0,user-scalable=no\"/>\n<meta name=\"format-detection\" content=\"telephone=no,email=no,address=no\" />\n<title>Tesla Stock: Why I Remain A Buyer</title>\n<style type=\"text/css\">\na,abbr,acronym,address,applet,article,aside,audio,b,big,blockquote,body,canvas,caption,center,cite,code,dd,del,details,dfn,div,dl,dt,\nem,embed,fieldset,figcaption,figure,footer,form,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6,header,hgroup,html,i,iframe,img,ins,kbd,label,legend,li,mark,menu,nav,\nobject,ol,output,p,pre,q,ruby,s,samp,section,small,span,strike,strong,sub,summary,sup,table,tbody,td,tfoot,th,thead,time,tr,tt,u,ul,var,video{ font:inherit;margin:0;padding:0;vertical-align:baseline;border:0 }\nbody{ font-size:16px; line-height:1.5; color:#999; background:transparent; }\n.wrapper{ overflow:hidden;word-break:break-all;padding:10px; }\nh1,h2{ font-weight:normal; line-height:1.35; margin-bottom:.6em; }\nh3,h4,h5,h6{ line-height:1.35; margin-bottom:1em; }\nh1{ font-size:24px; }\nh2{ font-size:20px; }\nh3{ font-size:18px; }\nh4{ font-size:16px; }\nh5{ font-size:14px; }\nh6{ font-size:12px; }\np,ul,ol,blockquote,dl,table{ margin:1.2em 0; }\nul,ol{ margin-left:2em; }\nul{ list-style:disc; }\nol{ list-style:decimal; }\nli,li p{ margin:10px 0;}\nimg{ max-width:100%;display:block;margin:0 auto 1em; }\nblockquote{ color:#B5B2B1; border-left:3px solid #aaa; padding:1em; }\nstrong,b{font-weight:bold;}\nem,i{font-style:italic;}\ntable{ width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:1px;margin:1em 0;font-size:.9em; }\nth,td{ padding:5px;text-align:left;border:1px solid #aaa; }\nth{ font-weight:bold;background:#5d5d5d; }\n.symbol-link{font-weight:bold;}\n/* header{ border-bottom:1px solid #494756; } */\n.title{ margin:0 0 8px;line-height:1.3;color:#ddd; }\n.meta {color:#5e5c6d;font-size:13px;margin:0 0 .5em; }\na{text-decoration:none; color:#2a4b87;}\n.meta .head { display: inline-block; overflow: hidden}\n.head .h-thumb { width: 30px; height: 30px; margin: 0; padding: 0; border-radius: 50%; float: left;}\n.head .h-content { margin: 0; padding: 0 0 0 9px; float: left;}\n.head .h-name {font-size: 13px; color: #eee; margin: 0;}\n.head .h-time {font-size: 11px; color: #7E829C; margin: 0;line-height: 11px;}\n.small {font-size: 12.5px; display: inline-block; transform: scale(0.9); -webkit-transform: scale(0.9); transform-origin: left; -webkit-transform-origin: left;}\n.smaller {font-size: 12.5px; display: inline-block; transform: scale(0.8); -webkit-transform: scale(0.8); transform-origin: left; -webkit-transform-origin: left;}\n.bt-text {font-size: 12px;margin: 1.5em 0 0 0}\n.bt-text p {margin: 0}\n</style>\n</head>\n<body>\n<div class=\"wrapper\">\n<header>\n<h2 class=\"title\">\nTesla Stock: Why I Remain A Buyer\n</h2>\n\n<h4 class=\"meta\">\n\n\n2024-11-05 16:16 GMT+8&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href=https://seekingalpha.com/article/4732731-tesla-stock-why-i-remain-a-buyer><strong>seekingalpha</strong></a>\n\n\n</h4>\n\n</header>\n<article>\n<div>\n<p>Tesla, Inc.'s automotive sales are resilient vs. amidst a challenging backdrop in the industry. The rollout of affordable models in H1 FY25 are a key volumes catalyst.Margin performance is at local ...</p>\n\n<a href=\"https://seekingalpha.com/article/4732731-tesla-stock-why-i-remain-a-buyer\">Web Link</a>\n\n</div>\n\n\n</article>\n</div>\n</body>\n</html>\n","type":0,"thumbnail":"","relate_stocks":{"LU2756315318.SGD":"ALLIANZ INCOME AND GROWTH \"AMG\" (SGDHDG) INC A","BK4592":"伊斯兰概念","LU1720051108.HKD":"ALLIANZ GLOBAL ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE \"AT\" (HKD) ACC","LU0943347566.SGD":"安联收益及增长平衡基金AM H2-SGD","LU2357305700.SGD":"Allianz Global Artificial Intelligence ET H2-SGD","LU0234570918.USD":"高盛全球核心股票组合Acc Close","SG9999015952.SGD":"LIONGLOBAL DISRUPTIVE INNOVATION \"I\" (SGD) ACC","LU1839511570.USD":"WELLS FARGO GLOBAL FACTOR ENHANCED EQUITY \"I\" (USD) ACC","LU1429558221.USD":"Natixis Loomis Sayles US Growth Equity RA USD","LU0053666078.USD":"摩根大通基金-美国股票A（离岸）美元","BK4534":"瑞士信贷持仓","BK4585":"ETF&股票定投概念","LU1435385759.SGD":"Natixis Loomis Sayles US Growth Equity RA SGD-H","LU0082616367.USD":"摩根大通美国科技A（dist）","LU1145028129.USD":"ALLIANZ INCOME AND GROWTH \"AQ\" (USD) INC","LU0719512351.SGD":"JPMorgan Funds - US Technology A (acc) SGD","IE00B1XK9C88.USD":"PINEBRIDGE US LARGE CAP RESEARCH ENHANCED \"A\" (USD) ACC","LU0964807845.USD":"ALLIANZ INCOME & GROWTH \"A\" (USD) INC","IE00BJLML261.HKD":"HSBC GLOBAL EQUITY INDEX \"HCH\" (HKD) ACC","LU0820561909.HKD":"ALLIANZ INCOME AND GROWTH \"AM\" (HKD) INC","LU2249611893.SGD":"BNP PARIBAS ENERGY TRANSITION \"CRH\" (SGD) ACC","LU0234572021.USD":"高盛美国核心股票组合Acc","LU0820562030.AUD":"ALLIANZ INCOME AND GROWTH \"AMH2\" (AUDHDG) H2 INC","BK4550":"红杉资本持仓","BK4588":"碎股","LU2063271972.USD":"富兰克林创新领域基金","SG9999015945.SGD":"LionGlobal Disruptive Innovation Fund A SGD","LU2756315664.SGD":"ALLIANZ INCOME AND GROWTH \"AMI\" (SGDHDG) INC","TSLA":"特斯拉","BK4574":"无人驾驶","BK4551":"寇图资本持仓","SG9999015986.USD":"LIONGLOBAL DISRUPTIVE INNOVATION \"I\" (USD) ACC","LU0823414478.USD":"法巴经典能源转换基金","LU0097036916.USD":"贝莱德美国增长A2 USD","LU0823411888.USD":"法巴消费创新基金 Cap","LU0466842654.USD":"HSBC ISLAMIC GLOBAL EQUITY INDEX \"A\" (USD) ACC","LU2213496289.HKD":"ALLIANZ INCOME AND GROWTH \"AT\" (HKD) ACC","LU0689472784.USD":"安联收益及增长基金Cl AM AT Acc","LU2087621335.USD":"ALLSPRING GLOBAL FACTOR ENHANCED EQUITY \"A\" (USD) ACC","LU2326559502.SGD":"Natixis Loomis Sayles US Growth Equity P/A SGD-H","BK4581":"高盛持仓","LU1852331112.SGD":"Blackrock World Technology Fund A2 SGD-H","LU1720051017.SGD":"Allianz Global Artificial Intelligence AT Acc H2-SGD","LU0316494557.USD":"FRANKLIN GLOBAL FUNDAMENTAL STRATEGIES \"A\" ACC","BK4511":"特斯拉概念","LU1548497426.USD":"安联环球人工智能AT Acc","LU0348723411.USD":"ALLIANZ GLOBAL HI-TECH GROWTH \"A\" (USD) INC","LU1861220033.SGD":"Blackrock Next Generation Technology A2 SGD-H","BK4548":"巴美列捷福持仓","LU2602419157.SGD":"HSBC ISLAMIC GLOBAL EQUITY INDEX \"AC\" (SGD) ACC"},"source_url":"https://seekingalpha.com/article/4732731-tesla-stock-why-i-remain-a-buyer","is_english":true,"share_image_url":"https://static.laohu8.com/5a36db9d73b4222bc376d24ccc48c8a4","article_id":"2481535034","content_text":"Tesla, Inc.'s automotive sales are resilient vs. amidst a challenging backdrop in the industry. The rollout of affordable models in H1 FY25 are a key volumes catalyst.Margin performance is at local highs but is likely to revert a bit, driven by fluctuations in the nature of energy business projects and lower average selling price pressures.Valuations are at a premium, driven by full self-drive and Optimus expectations. I believe this is acceptable, contingent on the timelines of robotaxis and FSD rollout being intact in FY25.The relative technicals vs. the S&P 500 point bullish after a false breakout down. The ratio prices are basing and forming a support, indicating readiness to move up over the coming months ahead.Prepaid expenses have been creeping up over the past few quarters, eroding cash flow conversion. This is something I am monitoring; a common oversight is for investors to focus on margin movements but ignore erosion in working capital intensity.Performance AssessmentI've had a strong bullish view on Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) since my last update in late September 2024. This investment is yet to yield major returns as it has lagged the S&P 500 (SPY, SPX, IVV, VOO) slightly so far:Performance since Author's Last Article on Tesla (Seeking Alpha, Author's Last Article on Tesla)I still hold Tesla in my portfolio since I remain bullish on the stock:ThesisSince my last update on the stock, Tesla has had a full self-drive (“FSD”) and Optimus update on October 10, which broadly disappointed the market due to a perceived lack of specific data on monetization of the robotaxi vision. The stock fell 11% after this event. However, the Q3 FY24 earnings release was received more positively as the stock rallied up to 28% in 3 days after that.Automotive deliveries and sales are resilient amid a challenging backdropMargin performance is likely to revert a bitValuations are at a premium driven by FSD and Optimus expectationsTechnicals point bullish after a false breakout downPrepaid expenses creep up are a working capital monitorable.Automotive deliveries and sales are resilient amid a challenging backdropI had previously anticipated rate cuts to boost demand. This seems to still be in-play:a helpful macro trend is, if there's a decline in the interest rates, thishas a massive effect on the automotive demand. For the vast majority of people, the demand is driven by the monthly payment. Can they afford monthly payment? So I think most likely, we'll see a continued decline in interest rates, which helps with the affordability of vehicles.- CEO Elon Musk in the Q3 FY24 earnings call.Tesla's total deliveries grew 6.4% YoY, outperforming the broader industry, which has seen YoY declines:Tesla Stock: Why I Remain A BuyerOver the next 6 months, the introduction of affordable Tesla models ($30,000 and below price points) in H1 FY25 is expected to boost automotive sales growth again by 20-30%:Automotive revenue YoY (Company Filings, Author's Analysis)Hence, my assessment is that Tesla is holding well in sales performance so far, with further upside catalysts ahead in the next half-year.Margin performance is likely to revert a bitTesla saw a meaningful +180bps jump in gross margins in the latest quarter:Gross profit margin (Company Filings, Author's Analysis)This is driven by gross profit margin uptick in both automotive (80.6% of gross profit mix) and energy business lines:Automotive vs Energy Business Gross Margins (Company Filings, Author's Analysis)However, management commentary suggests that the current gross profit margin levels may revert down a bit:Energy margins in Q3 were a record at more than 30%. This is a function of mix of projects being deployed in the quarter. Note that there will be fluctuation in margins as we manage through deployments and our inventory.- CFO Vaibhav Taneja in the Q3 FY24 earnings call, Author's bolded highlight.On the automotive side, Tesla's average vehicle sales price has been ticking down, driven primarily by financing incentives:Average vehicle sales price (Company Filings, Author's Analysis)This is one of the factors expected to weigh down on margins in Q4 FY24. Thus, I anticipate the gross profit margin profile in Q4 and beyond to revert toward the 19.0% levels. I am still baking in some improvement as the company has been making structural progress on lowering the cost per vehicle.Valuations are at a premium driven by FSD and Optimus expectationsTesla stock currently trades at a 1-yr fwd P/E of 80.6x, which corresponds to a 32% premium to the recent median 1-yr fwd P/E of 61.1x:1-yr fwd PE and MCAP (Capital IQ, Author's Analysis)I posit that bullish expectations on FSD and Optimus growth vectors are the key determinants of the premium valuation. On FSD, the bullishness seems to be driven by expectations of full autonomy for the existing vehicle fleet in 2025:There's no need to wait for a robotaxi or a Cybercab to experience full autonomy. We expect to achieve that next year with our existing vehicle line.- CEO Elon Musk in the Q3 FY24 earnings call.On the Optimus humanoid, Musk noted a massive improvement in movement dexterity and expressed confidence in scalability to high-volume production.Now, I think it is prudent for any investor to downgrade the timelines of the Tesla CEO's comments, as Musk has a notorious reputation of pushing timelines. Still, I believe a modest relative valuation premium is acceptable at this stage. A key monitorable for it remaining so it would be approvals for the roll-out of ride-hailing services in Texas and California next year.Technicals point bullish after a false breakout downIf this is your first time reading a Hunting Alpha article using Technical Analysis, you may want to read this post, which explains how and why I read the charts the way I do. All my charts reflect total shareholder return as they are adjusted for dividends/distributions.Relative Read of TSLA vs. SPX500TSLA vs SPX500 Technical Analysis (TradingView, Author's Analysis)TSLA stock relative to the S&P500 has posted a false breakout below a strong up-thrust. The ratio prices have stabilized, basing and forming a new support level. I anticipate further expansion toward the upside over the coming months.Prepaid expenses creep up is a working capital monitorableOne thing that has caught my eye is a steady creep up in prepaid expenses and other current assets as a % of revenue:Prepaid expenses and other current assets as % of revenue (Company Filings, Author's Analysis)From prior levels, this is leading to a 200bps detraction in the cash flow conversion profile of the company. I could not find a specific explanation for these movements. However, it is something I am monitoring for further erosion. I believe a common investing oversight is to focus on margin erosion but miss cash flow conversion erosion effects.Takeaway & PositioningTesla's automotive sales performance seems to be holding up well relative to the broader industry. My earlier thesis about demand drivers from increased affordability remains intact. Furthermore, the introduction of affordable models in H1 FY25 is a key volume catalyst.Margins performance has hit a local high in Q3 FY24. However, this is likely to revert down a bit, driven by fluctuations in the energy business and low average selling price headwinds in the automotive business.Valuations are at a 32% premium to 1-yr fwd PE levels. I believe this is acceptable so long as the FY25 timelines of robotaxis and ride-hailing services roll-out in Texas and California remain intact.Technically, vs. the S&P 500, TSLA is basing after a false breakout to the downside. I anticipate it to outperform the broader market over the coming months.How to interpret Hunting Alpha's ratings:Strong Buy: Expect the company to outperform the S&P 500 on a total shareholder return basis, with higher than usual confidence. I also have a net long position in the security in my personal portfolio.Buy: Expect the company to outperform the S&P 500 on a total shareholder return basisNeutral/hold: Expect the company to perform in-line with the S&P 500 on a total shareholder return basisSell: Expect the company to underperform the S&P 500 on a total shareholder return basisStrong Sell: Expect the company to underperform the S&P 500 on a total shareholder return basis, with higher than usual confidenceThe typical time-horizon for my views is multiple quarters to more than a year. It is not set in stone. However, I will share updates on my changes in stance in a pinned comment to this article and may also publish a new article discussing the reasons for the change in view.","news_type":1},"isVote":1,"likeStatus":false,"favoriteStatus":false,"reportStatus":false,"tweetType":1,"comments":[{"id":368069680320592,"gmtCreate":1730878513743,"gmtModify":1730878722065,"authorId":4171900329979952,"author":{"id":4171900329979952,"idStr":"4171900329979952","authorId":4171900329979952,"name":"Barcode","avatar":"https://community-static.tradeup.com/news/6688d8fb4c2a255e3b901e79755e56df","vip":1,"currentWearingBadge":{"badgeId":"9427a906234c4b18a82ec3d7730b7fa8-1","templateUuid":"9427a906234c4b18a82ec3d7730b7fa8","name":"Star Contributor","description":"Have published 3 or more picked posts, and have published at least one picked post and participated in comments within 30 days","bigImgUrl":"https://community-static.tradeup.com/news/1866dcf97a73be1c330f85862546aedc","smallImgUrl":"https://community-static.tradeup.com/news/4f5c5fa8e2c7683bb5a7fce8753ee456","redirectLinkEnabled":1,"redirectLink":"https://ttm.financial/activity/market/2023/star-contributors/","hasAllocated":1,"isWearing":1,"stampPosition":0,"hasStamp":0,"allocationCount":1,"allocatedDate":"2024.10.30","individualDisplayEnabled":1,"backgroundColor":{"dark":"#675a37","tint":"#f9ebc2"},"fontColor":{"dark":"#ffffff","tint":"#ab7a0e"},"individualDisplaySort":0,"categoryType":2007},"crmLevel":1,"crmLevelSwitch":0,"individualDisplayBadges":[{"badgeId":"9427a906234c4b18a82ec3d7730b7fa8-1","templateUuid":"9427a906234c4b18a82ec3d7730b7fa8","name":"Star Contributor","description":"Have published 3 or more picked posts, and have published at least one picked post and participated in comments within 30 days","bigImgUrl":"https://community-static.tradeup.com/news/1866dcf97a73be1c330f85862546aedc","smallImgUrl":"https://community-static.tradeup.com/news/4f5c5fa8e2c7683bb5a7fce8753ee456","redirectLinkEnabled":1,"redirectLink":"https://ttm.financial/activity/market/2023/star-contributors/","hasAllocated":1,"isWearing":1,"stampPosition":0,"hasStamp":0,"allocationCount":1,"allocatedDate":"2024.11.25","individualDisplayEnabled":1,"backgroundColor":{"dark":"#675a37","tint":"#f9ebc2"},"fontColor":{"dark":"#ffffff","tint":"#ab7a0e"},"individualDisplaySort":0,"categoryType":2007}]},"repliedAuthorId":0,"objectId":367731655581920,"type":1,"supId":0,"prevId":0,"content":"Your privates still dropping private? 🤣","text":"Your privates still dropping private? 🤣","html":"Your privates still dropping private? 🤣"}],"langContent":"EN"},{"id":367731903901872,"gmtCreate":1730796049915,"gmtModify":1730796053908,"author":{"id":"4151941377592162","authorId":"4151941377592162","name":"zelia","avatar":"https://community-static.tradeup.com/news/default-avatar.jpg","vip":1,"crmLevel":1,"crmLevelSwitch":0,"idStr":"4151941377592162","authorIdStr":"4151941377592162"},"htmlText":"How many times u need to publish this????","listText":"How many times u need to publish this????","text":"How many times u need to publish this????","images":[],"top":1,"highlighted":1,"essential":1,"paper":1,"likeSize":2,"commentSize":0,"repostSize":0,"link":"https://ttm.financial/post/367731903901872","repostId":2481535034,"repostType":2,"repost":{"id":"2481535034","kind":"highlight","pubTimestamp":1730794582,"share":"https://ttm.financial/m/news/2481535034?lang=&edition=fundamental","pubTime":"2024-11-05 16:16","market":"sh","language":"en","title":"Tesla Stock: Why I Remain A Buyer","url":"https://stock-news.laohu8.com/highlight/detail?id=2481535034","media":"seekingalpha","summary":"So I think most likely, we'll see a continued decline in interest rates, which helps with the affordability of vehicles. - CEO Elon Musk in the Q3 FY24 earnings call.  Tesla's total deliveries grew 6.4% YoY, outperforming the broader industry, which has seen YoY declines:   Total deliveries YoY  Over the next 6 months, the introduction of affordable Tesla models  in H1 FY25 is expected to boost automotive sales growth aga","content":"<html><head></head><body><ul style=\"\"><li><p>Tesla, Inc.&#39;s automotive sales are resilient vs. amidst a challenging backdrop in the industry. The rollout of affordable models in H1 FY25 are a key volumes catalyst.</p></li><li><p>Margin performance is at local highs but is likely to revert a bit, driven by fluctuations in the nature of energy business projects and lower average selling price pressures.</p></li><li><p>Valuations are at a premium, driven by full self-drive and Optimus expectations. I believe this is acceptable, contingent on the timelines of robotaxis and FSD rollout being intact in FY25.</p></li><li><p>The relative technicals vs. the S&amp;P 500 point bullish after a false breakout down. The ratio prices are basing and forming a support, indicating readiness to move up over the coming months ahead.</p></li><li><p>Prepaid expenses have been creeping up over the past few quarters, eroding cash flow conversion. This is something I am monitoring; a common oversight is for investors to focus on margin movements but ignore erosion in working capital intensity.</p></li></ul><h2 id=\"id_1651983485\">Performance Assessment</h2><p>I&#39;ve had a strong bullish view on <strong>Tesla, Inc.</strong> (NASDAQ:TSLA) since my last update in late September 2024. This investment is yet to yield major returns as it has lagged the S&amp;P 500 (SPY, SPX, IVV, VOO) slightly so far:</p><p class=\"t-img-caption\"><img src=\"https://community-static.tradeup.com/news/d3a4908be92a0fb491c8d03f061f2684\" tg-width=\"281\" tg-height=\"434\"/></p><p>Performance since Author&#39;s Last Article on Tesla (Seeking Alpha, Author&#39;s Last Article on Tesla)</p><p>I still hold Tesla in my portfolio since I remain bullish on the stock:</p><h2 id=\"id_345243706\">Thesis</h2><p>Since my last update on the stock, Tesla has had a full self-drive (“FSD”) and Optimus update on October 10, which broadly disappointed the market due to a perceived lack of specific data on monetization of the robotaxi vision. The stock fell 11% after this event. However, the Q3 FY24 earnings release was received more positively as the stock rallied up to 28% in 3 days after that.</p><ol start=\"1\" style=\"\"><li><p>Automotive deliveries and sales are resilient amid a challenging backdrop</p></li><li><p>Margin performance is likely to revert a bit</p></li><li><p>Valuations are at a premium driven by FSD and Optimus expectations</p></li><li><p>Technicals point bullish after a false breakout down</p></li><li><p>Prepaid expenses creep up are a working capital monitorable.</p></li></ol><h2 id=\"id_4066176264\">Automotive deliveries and sales are resilient amid a challenging backdrop</h2><p>I had previously anticipated rate cuts to boost demand. This seems to still be in-play:</p><blockquote><p>a helpful macro trend is, if there&#39;s a decline in the interest rates, thishas a massive effect on the automotive demand. For the vast majority of people, the demand is driven by the monthly payment. Can they afford monthly payment? So I think most likely, we&#39;ll see a continued decline in interest rates, which helps with the affordability of vehicles.</p><p>- CEO Elon Musk in the Q3 FY24 earnings call.</p></blockquote><p>Tesla&#39;s total deliveries grew 6.4% YoY, outperforming the broader industry, which has seen YoY declines:</p><p class=\"t-img-caption\"><img src=\"https://community-static.tradeup.com/news/3ca7dcc7925e9e3f2314cc72e84d3975\" alt=\"Tesla Stock: Why I Remain A Buyer\" title=\"Tesla Stock: Why I Remain A Buyer\" tg-width=\"557\" tg-height=\"251\"/><span>Tesla Stock: Why I Remain A Buyer</span></p><p>Over the next 6 months, the introduction of affordable Tesla models ($30,000 and below price points) in H1 FY25 is expected to boost automotive sales growth again by 20-30%:</p><p class=\"t-img-caption\"><img src=\"https://community-static.tradeup.com/news/a83ba6c664f253e6bcb6869cd17d014b\" alt=\"Automotive revenue YoY (Company Filings, Author&#39;s Analysis)\" title=\"Automotive revenue YoY (Company Filings, Author&#39;s Analysis)\" tg-width=\"559\" tg-height=\"246\"/><span>Automotive revenue YoY (Company Filings, Author&#39;s Analysis)</span></p><p>Hence, my assessment is that Tesla is holding well in sales performance so far, with further upside catalysts ahead in the next half-year.</p><h2 id=\"id_1162314054\">Margin performance is likely to revert a bit</h2><p>Tesla saw a meaningful +180bps jump in gross margins in the latest quarter:</p><p class=\"t-img-caption\"><img src=\"https://community-static.tradeup.com/news/092b7f2c450f7f13bfbabee80cdead00\" alt=\"Gross profit margin (Company Filings, Author&#39;s Analysis)\" title=\"Gross profit margin (Company Filings, Author&#39;s Analysis)\" tg-width=\"640\" tg-height=\"356\"/><span>Gross profit margin (Company Filings, Author&#39;s Analysis)</span></p><p>This is driven by gross profit margin uptick in both automotive (80.6% of gross profit mix) and energy business lines:</p><p class=\"t-img-caption\"><img src=\"https://community-static.tradeup.com/news/3ae1bf75299feebdee07cb6311835af2\" alt=\"Automotive vs Energy Business Gross Margins (Company Filings, Author&#39;s Analysis)\" title=\"Automotive vs Energy Business Gross Margins (Company Filings, Author&#39;s Analysis)\" tg-width=\"640\" tg-height=\"459\"/><span>Automotive vs Energy Business Gross Margins (Company Filings, Author&#39;s Analysis)</span></p><p>However, management commentary suggests that the current gross profit margin levels may revert down a bit:</p><blockquote><p>Energy margins in Q3 were a record at more than 30%. This is a function of mix of projects being deployed in the quarter. Note that <strong>there will be fluctuation in margins</strong> as we manage through deployments and our inventory.</p><p>- CFO Vaibhav Taneja in the Q3 FY24 earnings call, Author&#39;s bolded highlight.</p></blockquote><p>On the automotive side, Tesla&#39;s average vehicle sales price has been ticking down, driven primarily by financing incentives:</p><p class=\"t-img-caption\"><img src=\"https://community-static.tradeup.com/news/852de65bf54c11e0f166abbffa1005ac\" alt=\"Average vehicle sales price (Company Filings, Author&#39;s Analysis)\" title=\"Average vehicle sales price (Company Filings, Author&#39;s Analysis)\" tg-width=\"640\" tg-height=\"284\"/><span>Average vehicle sales price (Company Filings, Author&#39;s Analysis)</span></p><p>This is one of the factors expected to weigh down on margins in Q4 FY24. Thus, I anticipate the gross profit margin profile in Q4 and beyond to revert toward the 19.0% levels. I am still baking in some improvement as the company has been making structural progress on lowering the cost per vehicle.</p><h2 id=\"id_2514648645\">Valuations are at a premium driven by FSD and Optimus expectations</h2><p>Tesla stock currently trades at a 1-yr fwd P/E of 80.6x, which corresponds to a 32% premium to the recent median 1-yr fwd P/E of 61.1x:</p><p class=\"t-img-caption\"><img src=\"https://community-static.tradeup.com/news/0123e7ae579e1f0bed7c09dae2426cc4\" alt=\"1-yr fwd PE and MCAP (Capital IQ, Author&#39;s Analysis)\" title=\"1-yr fwd PE and MCAP (Capital IQ, Author&#39;s Analysis)\" tg-width=\"640\" tg-height=\"466\"/><span>1-yr fwd PE and MCAP (Capital IQ, Author&#39;s Analysis)</span></p><p>I posit that bullish expectations on FSD and Optimus growth vectors are the key determinants of the premium valuation. On FSD, the bullishness seems to be driven by expectations of full autonomy for the existing vehicle fleet in 2025:</p><blockquote><p>There&#39;s no need to wait for a robotaxi or a Cybercab to experience full autonomy. We expect to achieve that next year with our existing vehicle line.</p><p>- CEO Elon Musk in the Q3 FY24 earnings call.</p></blockquote><p>On the Optimus humanoid, Musk noted a massive improvement in movement dexterity and expressed confidence in scalability to high-volume production.</p><p>Now, I think it is prudent for any investor to downgrade the timelines of the Tesla CEO&#39;s comments, as Musk has a notorious reputation of pushing timelines. Still, I believe a modest relative valuation premium is acceptable at this stage. A key monitorable for it remaining so it would be approvals for the roll-out of ride-hailing services in Texas and California next year.</p><h2 id=\"id_2016154448\">Technicals point bullish after a false breakout down</h2><p><em>If this is your first time reading a Hunting Alpha article using Technical Analysis, you may want to read this post, which explains how and why I read the charts the way I do. All my charts reflect total shareholder return as they are adjusted for dividends/distributions.</em></p><h3 id=\"id_1263218508\">Relative Read of TSLA vs. SPX500</h3><p class=\"t-img-caption\"><img src=\"https://community-static.tradeup.com/news/ff230a557a1a67d0c7c9d011a6741d8c\" alt=\"TSLA vs SPX500 Technical Analysis (TradingView, Author&#39;s Analysis)\" title=\"TSLA vs SPX500 Technical Analysis (TradingView, Author&#39;s Analysis)\" tg-width=\"640\" tg-height=\"391\"/><span>TSLA vs SPX500 Technical Analysis (TradingView, Author&#39;s Analysis)</span></p><p>TSLA stock relative to the S&amp;P500 has posted a false breakout below a strong up-thrust. The ratio prices have stabilized, basing and forming a new support level. I anticipate further expansion toward the upside over the coming months.</p><h2 id=\"id_4033175429\">Prepaid expenses creep up is a working capital monitorable</h2><p>One thing that has caught my eye is a steady creep up in prepaid expenses and other current assets as a % of revenue:</p><p class=\"t-img-caption\"><img src=\"https://community-static.tradeup.com/news/993bae6a89a2ba6e6009505fdb6510ab\" alt=\"Prepaid expenses and other current assets as % of revenue (Company Filings, Author&#39;s Analysis)\" title=\"Prepaid expenses and other current assets as % of revenue (Company Filings, Author&#39;s Analysis)\" tg-width=\"556\" tg-height=\"246\"/><span>Prepaid expenses and other current assets as % of revenue (Company Filings, Author&#39;s Analysis)</span></p><p>From prior levels, this is leading to a 200bps detraction in the cash flow conversion profile of the company. I could not find a specific explanation for these movements. However, it is something I am monitoring for further erosion. I believe a common investing oversight is to focus on margin erosion but miss cash flow conversion erosion effects.</p><h2 id=\"id_3199848458\">Takeaway &amp; Positioning</h2><p>Tesla&#39;s automotive sales performance seems to be holding up well relative to the broader industry. My earlier thesis about demand drivers from increased affordability remains intact. Furthermore, the introduction of affordable models in H1 FY25 is a key volume catalyst.</p><p>Margins performance has hit a local high in Q3 FY24. However, this is likely to revert down a bit, driven by fluctuations in the energy business and low average selling price headwinds in the automotive business.</p><p>Valuations are at a 32% premium to 1-yr fwd PE levels. I believe this is acceptable so long as the FY25 timelines of robotaxis and ride-hailing services roll-out in Texas and California remain intact.</p><p>Technically, vs. the S&amp;P 500, TSLA is basing after a false breakout to the downside. I anticipate it to outperform the broader market over the coming months.</p><h3 id=\"id_438101673\">How to interpret Hunting Alpha&#39;s ratings:</h3><p>Strong Buy: Expect the company to outperform the S&amp;P 500 on a total shareholder return basis, with higher than usual confidence. I also have a net long position in the security in my personal portfolio.</p><p>Buy: Expect the company to outperform the S&amp;P 500 on a total shareholder return basis</p><p>Neutral/hold: Expect the company to perform in-line with the S&amp;P 500 on a total shareholder return basis</p><p>Sell: Expect the company to underperform the S&amp;P 500 on a total shareholder return basis</p><p>Strong Sell: Expect the company to underperform the S&amp;P 500 on a total shareholder return basis, with higher than usual confidence</p><p>The typical time-horizon for my views is multiple quarters to more than a year. It is not set in stone. However, I will share updates on my changes in stance in a pinned comment to this article and may also publish a new article discussing the reasons for the change in view.</p></body></html>","source":"seekingalpha","collect":0,"html":"<!DOCTYPE html>\n<html>\n<head>\n<meta http-equiv=\"Content-Type\" content=\"text/html; charset=utf-8\" />\n<meta name=\"viewport\" content=\"width=device-width,initial-scale=1.0,minimum-scale=1.0,maximum-scale=1.0,user-scalable=no\"/>\n<meta name=\"format-detection\" content=\"telephone=no,email=no,address=no\" />\n<title>Tesla Stock: Why I Remain A Buyer</title>\n<style type=\"text/css\">\na,abbr,acronym,address,applet,article,aside,audio,b,big,blockquote,body,canvas,caption,center,cite,code,dd,del,details,dfn,div,dl,dt,\nem,embed,fieldset,figcaption,figure,footer,form,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6,header,hgroup,html,i,iframe,img,ins,kbd,label,legend,li,mark,menu,nav,\nobject,ol,output,p,pre,q,ruby,s,samp,section,small,span,strike,strong,sub,summary,sup,table,tbody,td,tfoot,th,thead,time,tr,tt,u,ul,var,video{ font:inherit;margin:0;padding:0;vertical-align:baseline;border:0 }\nbody{ font-size:16px; line-height:1.5; color:#999; background:transparent; }\n.wrapper{ overflow:hidden;word-break:break-all;padding:10px; }\nh1,h2{ font-weight:normal; line-height:1.35; margin-bottom:.6em; }\nh3,h4,h5,h6{ line-height:1.35; margin-bottom:1em; }\nh1{ font-size:24px; }\nh2{ font-size:20px; }\nh3{ font-size:18px; }\nh4{ font-size:16px; }\nh5{ font-size:14px; }\nh6{ font-size:12px; }\np,ul,ol,blockquote,dl,table{ margin:1.2em 0; }\nul,ol{ margin-left:2em; }\nul{ list-style:disc; }\nol{ list-style:decimal; }\nli,li p{ margin:10px 0;}\nimg{ max-width:100%;display:block;margin:0 auto 1em; }\nblockquote{ color:#B5B2B1; border-left:3px solid #aaa; padding:1em; }\nstrong,b{font-weight:bold;}\nem,i{font-style:italic;}\ntable{ width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:1px;margin:1em 0;font-size:.9em; }\nth,td{ padding:5px;text-align:left;border:1px solid #aaa; }\nth{ font-weight:bold;background:#5d5d5d; }\n.symbol-link{font-weight:bold;}\n/* header{ border-bottom:1px solid #494756; } */\n.title{ margin:0 0 8px;line-height:1.3;color:#ddd; }\n.meta {color:#5e5c6d;font-size:13px;margin:0 0 .5em; }\na{text-decoration:none; color:#2a4b87;}\n.meta .head { display: inline-block; overflow: hidden}\n.head .h-thumb { width: 30px; height: 30px; margin: 0; padding: 0; border-radius: 50%; float: left;}\n.head .h-content { margin: 0; padding: 0 0 0 9px; float: left;}\n.head .h-name {font-size: 13px; color: #eee; margin: 0;}\n.head .h-time {font-size: 11px; color: #7E829C; margin: 0;line-height: 11px;}\n.small {font-size: 12.5px; display: inline-block; transform: scale(0.9); -webkit-transform: scale(0.9); transform-origin: left; -webkit-transform-origin: left;}\n.smaller {font-size: 12.5px; display: inline-block; transform: scale(0.8); -webkit-transform: scale(0.8); transform-origin: left; -webkit-transform-origin: left;}\n.bt-text {font-size: 12px;margin: 1.5em 0 0 0}\n.bt-text p {margin: 0}\n</style>\n</head>\n<body>\n<div class=\"wrapper\">\n<header>\n<h2 class=\"title\">\nTesla Stock: Why I Remain A Buyer\n</h2>\n\n<h4 class=\"meta\">\n\n\n2024-11-05 16:16 GMT+8&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href=https://seekingalpha.com/article/4732731-tesla-stock-why-i-remain-a-buyer><strong>seekingalpha</strong></a>\n\n\n</h4>\n\n</header>\n<article>\n<div>\n<p>Tesla, Inc.'s automotive sales are resilient vs. amidst a challenging backdrop in the industry. The rollout of affordable models in H1 FY25 are a key volumes catalyst.Margin performance is at local ...</p>\n\n<a href=\"https://seekingalpha.com/article/4732731-tesla-stock-why-i-remain-a-buyer\">Web Link</a>\n\n</div>\n\n\n</article>\n</div>\n</body>\n</html>\n","type":0,"thumbnail":"","relate_stocks":{"LU2756315318.SGD":"ALLIANZ INCOME AND GROWTH \"AMG\" (SGDHDG) INC A","BK4592":"伊斯兰概念","LU1720051108.HKD":"ALLIANZ GLOBAL ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE \"AT\" (HKD) ACC","LU0943347566.SGD":"安联收益及增长平衡基金AM H2-SGD","LU2357305700.SGD":"Allianz Global Artificial Intelligence ET H2-SGD","LU0234570918.USD":"高盛全球核心股票组合Acc Close","SG9999015952.SGD":"LIONGLOBAL DISRUPTIVE INNOVATION \"I\" (SGD) ACC","LU1839511570.USD":"WELLS FARGO GLOBAL FACTOR ENHANCED EQUITY \"I\" (USD) ACC","LU1429558221.USD":"Natixis Loomis Sayles US Growth Equity RA USD","LU0053666078.USD":"摩根大通基金-美国股票A（离岸）美元","BK4534":"瑞士信贷持仓","BK4585":"ETF&股票定投概念","LU1435385759.SGD":"Natixis Loomis Sayles US Growth Equity RA SGD-H","LU0082616367.USD":"摩根大通美国科技A（dist）","LU1145028129.USD":"ALLIANZ INCOME AND GROWTH \"AQ\" (USD) INC","LU0719512351.SGD":"JPMorgan Funds - US Technology A (acc) SGD","IE00B1XK9C88.USD":"PINEBRIDGE US LARGE CAP RESEARCH ENHANCED \"A\" (USD) ACC","LU0964807845.USD":"ALLIANZ INCOME & GROWTH \"A\" (USD) INC","IE00BJLML261.HKD":"HSBC GLOBAL EQUITY INDEX \"HCH\" (HKD) ACC","LU0820561909.HKD":"ALLIANZ INCOME AND GROWTH \"AM\" (HKD) INC","LU2249611893.SGD":"BNP PARIBAS ENERGY TRANSITION \"CRH\" (SGD) ACC","LU0234572021.USD":"高盛美国核心股票组合Acc","LU0820562030.AUD":"ALLIANZ INCOME AND GROWTH \"AMH2\" (AUDHDG) H2 INC","BK4550":"红杉资本持仓","BK4588":"碎股","LU2063271972.USD":"富兰克林创新领域基金","SG9999015945.SGD":"LionGlobal Disruptive Innovation Fund A SGD","LU2756315664.SGD":"ALLIANZ INCOME AND GROWTH \"AMI\" (SGDHDG) INC","TSLA":"特斯拉","BK4574":"无人驾驶","BK4551":"寇图资本持仓","SG9999015986.USD":"LIONGLOBAL DISRUPTIVE INNOVATION \"I\" (USD) ACC","LU0823414478.USD":"法巴经典能源转换基金","LU0097036916.USD":"贝莱德美国增长A2 USD","LU0823411888.USD":"法巴消费创新基金 Cap","LU0466842654.USD":"HSBC ISLAMIC GLOBAL EQUITY INDEX \"A\" (USD) ACC","LU2213496289.HKD":"ALLIANZ INCOME AND GROWTH \"AT\" (HKD) ACC","LU0689472784.USD":"安联收益及增长基金Cl AM AT Acc","LU2087621335.USD":"ALLSPRING GLOBAL FACTOR ENHANCED EQUITY \"A\" (USD) ACC","LU2326559502.SGD":"Natixis Loomis Sayles US Growth Equity P/A SGD-H","BK4581":"高盛持仓","LU1852331112.SGD":"Blackrock World Technology Fund A2 SGD-H","LU1720051017.SGD":"Allianz Global Artificial Intelligence AT Acc H2-SGD","LU0316494557.USD":"FRANKLIN GLOBAL FUNDAMENTAL STRATEGIES \"A\" ACC","BK4511":"特斯拉概念","LU1548497426.USD":"安联环球人工智能AT Acc","LU0348723411.USD":"ALLIANZ GLOBAL HI-TECH GROWTH \"A\" (USD) INC","LU1861220033.SGD":"Blackrock Next Generation Technology A2 SGD-H","BK4548":"巴美列捷福持仓","LU2602419157.SGD":"HSBC ISLAMIC GLOBAL EQUITY INDEX \"AC\" (SGD) ACC"},"source_url":"https://seekingalpha.com/article/4732731-tesla-stock-why-i-remain-a-buyer","is_english":true,"share_image_url":"https://static.laohu8.com/5a36db9d73b4222bc376d24ccc48c8a4","article_id":"2481535034","content_text":"Tesla, Inc.'s automotive sales are resilient vs. amidst a challenging backdrop in the industry. The rollout of affordable models in H1 FY25 are a key volumes catalyst.Margin performance is at local highs but is likely to revert a bit, driven by fluctuations in the nature of energy business projects and lower average selling price pressures.Valuations are at a premium, driven by full self-drive and Optimus expectations. I believe this is acceptable, contingent on the timelines of robotaxis and FSD rollout being intact in FY25.The relative technicals vs. the S&P 500 point bullish after a false breakout down. The ratio prices are basing and forming a support, indicating readiness to move up over the coming months ahead.Prepaid expenses have been creeping up over the past few quarters, eroding cash flow conversion. This is something I am monitoring; a common oversight is for investors to focus on margin movements but ignore erosion in working capital intensity.Performance AssessmentI've had a strong bullish view on Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) since my last update in late September 2024. This investment is yet to yield major returns as it has lagged the S&P 500 (SPY, SPX, IVV, VOO) slightly so far:Performance since Author's Last Article on Tesla (Seeking Alpha, Author's Last Article on Tesla)I still hold Tesla in my portfolio since I remain bullish on the stock:ThesisSince my last update on the stock, Tesla has had a full self-drive (“FSD”) and Optimus update on October 10, which broadly disappointed the market due to a perceived lack of specific data on monetization of the robotaxi vision. The stock fell 11% after this event. However, the Q3 FY24 earnings release was received more positively as the stock rallied up to 28% in 3 days after that.Automotive deliveries and sales are resilient amid a challenging backdropMargin performance is likely to revert a bitValuations are at a premium driven by FSD and Optimus expectationsTechnicals point bullish after a false breakout downPrepaid expenses creep up are a working capital monitorable.Automotive deliveries and sales are resilient amid a challenging backdropI had previously anticipated rate cuts to boost demand. This seems to still be in-play:a helpful macro trend is, if there's a decline in the interest rates, thishas a massive effect on the automotive demand. For the vast majority of people, the demand is driven by the monthly payment. Can they afford monthly payment? So I think most likely, we'll see a continued decline in interest rates, which helps with the affordability of vehicles.- CEO Elon Musk in the Q3 FY24 earnings call.Tesla's total deliveries grew 6.4% YoY, outperforming the broader industry, which has seen YoY declines:Tesla Stock: Why I Remain A BuyerOver the next 6 months, the introduction of affordable Tesla models ($30,000 and below price points) in H1 FY25 is expected to boost automotive sales growth again by 20-30%:Automotive revenue YoY (Company Filings, Author's Analysis)Hence, my assessment is that Tesla is holding well in sales performance so far, with further upside catalysts ahead in the next half-year.Margin performance is likely to revert a bitTesla saw a meaningful +180bps jump in gross margins in the latest quarter:Gross profit margin (Company Filings, Author's Analysis)This is driven by gross profit margin uptick in both automotive (80.6% of gross profit mix) and energy business lines:Automotive vs Energy Business Gross Margins (Company Filings, Author's Analysis)However, management commentary suggests that the current gross profit margin levels may revert down a bit:Energy margins in Q3 were a record at more than 30%. This is a function of mix of projects being deployed in the quarter. Note that there will be fluctuation in margins as we manage through deployments and our inventory.- CFO Vaibhav Taneja in the Q3 FY24 earnings call, Author's bolded highlight.On the automotive side, Tesla's average vehicle sales price has been ticking down, driven primarily by financing incentives:Average vehicle sales price (Company Filings, Author's Analysis)This is one of the factors expected to weigh down on margins in Q4 FY24. Thus, I anticipate the gross profit margin profile in Q4 and beyond to revert toward the 19.0% levels. I am still baking in some improvement as the company has been making structural progress on lowering the cost per vehicle.Valuations are at a premium driven by FSD and Optimus expectationsTesla stock currently trades at a 1-yr fwd P/E of 80.6x, which corresponds to a 32% premium to the recent median 1-yr fwd P/E of 61.1x:1-yr fwd PE and MCAP (Capital IQ, Author's Analysis)I posit that bullish expectations on FSD and Optimus growth vectors are the key determinants of the premium valuation. On FSD, the bullishness seems to be driven by expectations of full autonomy for the existing vehicle fleet in 2025:There's no need to wait for a robotaxi or a Cybercab to experience full autonomy. We expect to achieve that next year with our existing vehicle line.- CEO Elon Musk in the Q3 FY24 earnings call.On the Optimus humanoid, Musk noted a massive improvement in movement dexterity and expressed confidence in scalability to high-volume production.Now, I think it is prudent for any investor to downgrade the timelines of the Tesla CEO's comments, as Musk has a notorious reputation of pushing timelines. Still, I believe a modest relative valuation premium is acceptable at this stage. A key monitorable for it remaining so it would be approvals for the roll-out of ride-hailing services in Texas and California next year.Technicals point bullish after a false breakout downIf this is your first time reading a Hunting Alpha article using Technical Analysis, you may want to read this post, which explains how and why I read the charts the way I do. All my charts reflect total shareholder return as they are adjusted for dividends/distributions.Relative Read of TSLA vs. SPX500TSLA vs SPX500 Technical Analysis (TradingView, Author's Analysis)TSLA stock relative to the S&P500 has posted a false breakout below a strong up-thrust. The ratio prices have stabilized, basing and forming a new support level. I anticipate further expansion toward the upside over the coming months.Prepaid expenses creep up is a working capital monitorableOne thing that has caught my eye is a steady creep up in prepaid expenses and other current assets as a % of revenue:Prepaid expenses and other current assets as % of revenue (Company Filings, Author's Analysis)From prior levels, this is leading to a 200bps detraction in the cash flow conversion profile of the company. I could not find a specific explanation for these movements. However, it is something I am monitoring for further erosion. I believe a common investing oversight is to focus on margin erosion but miss cash flow conversion erosion effects.Takeaway & PositioningTesla's automotive sales performance seems to be holding up well relative to the broader industry. My earlier thesis about demand drivers from increased affordability remains intact. Furthermore, the introduction of affordable models in H1 FY25 is a key volume catalyst.Margins performance has hit a local high in Q3 FY24. However, this is likely to revert down a bit, driven by fluctuations in the energy business and low average selling price headwinds in the automotive business.Valuations are at a 32% premium to 1-yr fwd PE levels. I believe this is acceptable so long as the FY25 timelines of robotaxis and ride-hailing services roll-out in Texas and California remain intact.Technically, vs. the S&P 500, TSLA is basing after a false breakout to the downside. I anticipate it to outperform the broader market over the coming months.How to interpret Hunting Alpha's ratings:Strong Buy: Expect the company to outperform the S&P 500 on a total shareholder return basis, with higher than usual confidence. I also have a net long position in the security in my personal portfolio.Buy: Expect the company to outperform the S&P 500 on a total shareholder return basisNeutral/hold: Expect the company to perform in-line with the S&P 500 on a total shareholder return basisSell: Expect the company to underperform the S&P 500 on a total shareholder return basisStrong Sell: Expect the company to underperform the S&P 500 on a total shareholder return basis, with higher than usual confidenceThe typical time-horizon for my views is multiple quarters to more than a year. It is not set in stone. However, I will share updates on my changes in stance in a pinned comment to this article and may also publish a new article discussing the reasons for the change in view.","news_type":1},"isVote":1,"likeStatus":false,"favoriteStatus":false,"reportStatus":false,"tweetType":1,"langContent":"EN"}],"isCommentEnd":false,"newsSizeData":{"likeSize":9,"commentSize":2,"repostSize":2,"favoriteSize":2,"likeStatus":false,"favoriteStatus":false},"APP":{"userAgent":"Mozilla/5.0 AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko; compatible; ClaudeBot/1.0; +claudebot@anthropic.com)","isDev":false,"isTTM":true,"deviceId":"web-server-community-laohu8-v3","version":"4.29.3","shortVersion":"4.29.3","platform":"web","vendor":"web","appName":"ttm","isIOS":false,"isAndroid":false,"isTiger":false,"isTHS":false,"isWeiXin":false,"isWeiXinMini":false,"isWeiBo":false,"isQQ":false,"isBaiduSwan":false,"isBaiduBox":false,"isDingTalk":false,"isToutiao":false,"isOnePlus":false,"isHuaWei":false,"isXiaomi":false,"isXiaomiWebView":false,"isOppo":false,"isVivo":false,"isSamsung":false,"isMobile":false},"href":"/m/news/2481535034"}