Tesla stock tumbled on Thursday, falling nearly 9% as the electric-vehicle maker reported gross margins below 20% for the first time in nearly three years.
The margin pressure comes after Tesla has cut the prices of its cars six times since the start of year in an attempt to reinvigorate demand.
“It’s difficult to say what the margin will be,” Tesla CEO Elon Musk said on the company’s earnings call.
Tesla reported first quarter revenue of $23.33 billion, slightly below Wall Street estimates of $23.35 billion, with adjusted earnings per share coming in at $0.85, below estimates of $0.86.
As price cuts weighed on profits, Tesla reported net income of $2.9 billion, $700 million less than the same period a year prior.
In reaction to Wednesday’s report, several Wall Street analysts have slashed their price targets on the stock, which had rallied more than 45% to start the year. While Jefferies maintained a Buy rating on Tesla, the bank cut its price target to $230 from $250, citing the company’s shrinking margins as a primary concern.
“Q1 did not give great confidence on price elasticity or a gross margin floor given priority on volume over near term profitability,” Jefferies wrote in a note to clients.
Tesla has ramped up production and deliveries of its electric vehicles over the last several quarters. Still, production has outpaced demand. The company said it delivered 422,875 units in the first quarter while producing 440,808.
“They’re backed into a corner,” Ronald Jewsikow, Guggenheim Securities vice president of automotive equity Research told Yahoo Finance Live after Wednesday’s report. “They put a lot of supply in place that needs to find a home. And the only tool they really have is cutting prices.”
Wedbush’s Dan Ives, a longtime Tesla bull, also cut his price target on the stock to $215 a share from $225 on the back of the tightening margins.
“Musk & Co. cut prices to further stimulate consumer demand in a shaky macro amidst rising EV competition globally in this EV arms race,” Ives wrote in a note to clients after the release. “With no rose colored glasses: margins are now a delicate issue that are keeping Tesla investors up at night.”
By Josh Shafer and Pras Subramanian
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