Tesla earnings coming up: can profits keep pace with the hype?

Record deliveries, but fading tailwinds

Tesla’s third quarter was flattered by a surge in demand ahead of the 30 September expiry of US federal EV tax credits. Nearly 500,000 vehicles were delivered, a new record, helped by buyers rushing to benefit before incentives disappeared.

The question is what happens next. With those credits gone, the fourth quarter will offer a cleaner read on underlying demand and pricing power. European order data already hint at some softening, while reports from China suggest rising competition and renewed price skirmishes in the mid-range segment.

Investors have seen this movie before. Tesla has often sacrificed margins to chase volume, betting that lower costs from higher production will eventually make up the difference. That wager now faces its toughest test.

All eyes on margins

Gross margin is the figure that will matter most on the night. Analysts expect it to hover around 17.2%, down sharply from the levels that once made Tesla the envy of the industry.

Excluding regulatory credits, the underlying profitability of Tesla’s cars has been squeezed by price cuts, higher input costs and the complexity of new models. The company argues that factory efficiencies and cheaper raw materials will restore margins in the quarters ahead. Investors will be listening closely for evidence that these cost improvements are finally flowing through.

But even as investors dissect the car margins, the next phase of the Tesla story may already be taking shape elsewhere.

From cars to code

Tesla’s future value is increasingly tied to businesses beyond cars. Energy storage, software and autonomy are the pillars that could one day justify its premium valuation.

The company deployed 12.5 gigawatt-hours of energy storage last quarter, another record that could make its battery and power segment a genuine profit contributor. Analysts will look for signs that this growth is not just high volume but also high margin.

Meanwhile, all eyes will be on updates about Full Self-Driving (FSD) subscriptions and the wider robotaxi rollout. Elon Musk has repeatedly promised that Tesla’s self-driving software will transform the economics of car ownership, but details remain elusive. Even a few tangible metrics such as subscriber numbers, safety data, or early ride statistics could help investors assess how real the promise is.

If energy and software can show meaningful profit potential, Tesla’s story broadens from carmaker to diversified energy-tech platform. If not, the company remains hostage to the brutal economics of car manufacturing.

New models, old challenges

Tesla’s latest product updates fell flat with investors. In early October, the company launched lower-priced “Standard” versions of the Model Y and Model 3, priced at USD 39,990 and USD 34,990, aimed at offsetting the end of the USD 7,500 federal EV tax credit. Both trims began limited production mid-year and will reach customers by early 2026.

The new versions strip out features such as the glass roof, rear display and power mirrors to cut costs, offering around a USD 5,000 price reduction. But markets were underwhelmed and shares slipped as investors saw the move as a tactical patch rather than the affordable EV breakthrough many had hoped for.

The end of incentives in the US, ongoing trade tensions and the threat of new tariffs on Chinese components all cloud the near-term picture. And with competition heating up from both legacy automakers and Chinese EV specialists, Tesla’s dominance looks less assured than it did a few years ago.

What could move the stock

For now, the market seems positioned for a solid report rather than a blowout. A beat on gross margin, or tangible progress on energy and software earnings, could spark another rally. But a weak outlook or vague promises on autonomy might reverse recent gains just as quickly.

It’s important to note that the Tesla stock has never traded purely on results. It trades on belief, and belief can turn in an instant.

What investors should watch

For investors, the coming days will test not only Tesla’s fundamentals but also its narrative strength. Key things to watch on the call:

1. Gross margin excluding regulatory credits. Are cost improvements showing up yet?
2. Order trends after the US credit expiry. Early signs from October will shape Q4 expectations.
3. Energy storage profitability. Can this segment offset automotive compression?
4. FSD and robotaxi metrics. Any measurable data could shift sentiment dramatically.
5. Guidance and cash flow. A steady capex and R&D plan could show discipline amid big ambitions.

For long-term holders, the bigger question is whether Tesla can evolve from a story stock into a mature, multi-pillar business that earns its valuation rather than simply inspiring it. Because for all the talk of autonomy, batteries and AI, this quarter may come down to something far more traditional: execution.

The road ahead for Tesla

Tesla’s earnings on Wednesday will not just reveal how the company performed last quarter, they will hint at how sustainable its story has become. If margins recover, energy scales, and the robotaxi dream starts to look real, the stock’s momentum could find fresh fuel. But if profit pressure persists and promises remain vague, belief alone may no longer be enough.

The next few quarters will determine whether Tesla’s evolution from carmaker to technology ecosystem is gaining traction or losing charge. For investors, that answer will shape not only Tesla’s trajectory but also sentiment across the entire EV and tech sector heading into 2026.

And as always with Tesla, the real question is not only about the numbers, but also about conviction.

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