Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives is sounding one other loud alarm bell for Tesla Inc., warning that CEO Elon Musk faces his personal fork within the highway as the electrical car maker prepares to report first quarter earnings Tuesday.
“Musk needs to leave the government, take a major step back on DOGE, and get back to being CEO of Tesla full-time,” wrote Ives in a report back to shoppers Sunday. “Tesla is Musk and Musk is Tesla….and anyone that thinks the brand damage Musk has inflicted is not a real thing….spend some time speaking to car buyers in the US, Europe, and Asia…you will think differently after those discussions.”
Two weeks in the past, Ives slashed his value goal for the inventory by 43%, citing a model disaster created by Musk and US President Donald Trump’s commerce insurance policies. Ives’ largest concern has been the potential for Tesla to get caught up within the backlash towards Trump’s tariff insurance policies in China, the place the corporate generated greater than a fifth of its income final yr. Musk has additionally develop into the face of Trump’s efforts to slash the scale and scope of the federal authorities, infuriating progressive customers who’re a key shopper base for the main American electrical car maker.
Learn extra: Tesla Bull Slashes Inventory Worth Goal 43%, Citing Musk and Trump
“Tesla has unfortunately become a political symbol globally of the Trump Administration/DOGE,” wrote Ives on Sunday. He then ticked off a number of factors: Tesla’s inventory has been crushed since inauguration, the corporate’s first quarter supply numbers have been horrible, and protests towards Tesla proceed. Tesla faces “potentially 15%-20% permanent demand destruction for future Tesla buyers due to the brand damage Musk has created with DOGE,” Ives mentioned.
Tesla shares have fallen 43% since January 17. When the corporate experiences earnings Tuesday, it is going to face questions on quantity gross sales for 2025, progress on autonomous driving and plans for a robotaxi community, and the way tariffs will influence profitability. Looming over all the things is Musk’s function within the White Home.
Ives mentioned he stays bullish on Tesla, sustaining an outperform score and calling it one of many “most disruptive technology companies on the globe over the coming years.” But he mentioned Tesla wants its “most important asset” — Musk — again on the firm full time.
“We view this as a fork in the road time: if Musk leaves the White House there will be permanent brand damage, but Tesla will have its most important asset and strategic thinker back as full time CEO,” wrote Ives. “If Musk chooses to stay with the Trump White House it could change the future of Tesla/brand damage will grow.”
This story was initially featured on Fortune.com
