Tesla Stock Daily Drive

May 24, 2025 • Finance

Hosted by Dusty

About This Episode

Generated finance podcast with host Dusty based on prompt: Daily stock movements for Tesla. Focus on the stock, but provide any important background information that is necessary.

Transcript

Welcome to "Tesla Stock Daily Drive," where we take you through the twists and turns of Tesla’s financial road, one day at a time. I’m your host, Dusty, bringing you a calm and thoughtful guide through today’s market meanderings.

Now, let's take a look at Tesla's journey on Friday, May 23, 2025. The stock opened at $331.90 and closed at $339.34, showing a modest rise from its opening price, despite mixed reports suggesting small fluctuations throughout the day. Although some sources hinted at minor dips, it was Tesla’s broader market context that captured much of the attention.

The key highlight was the exciting news from Wedbush analysts, who upped Tesla's price target to $500, thanks to optimistic forecasts about the launch of fully autonomous Teslas in Austin next month. Elon Musk’s commitment to remain at the helm for the next five years only added to investor confidence. His plans to scale back political endeavors and focus on Tesla’s ambitious projects brought a sense of reassurance to stakeholders.

Furthermore, investor enthusiasm is bubbling over Tesla’s upcoming Robotaxi service. Musk teased that by next year, we might see a massive expansion in self-driving Teslas across the U.S. This new venture isn’t just a potential goldmine; it could really recharge demand for Tesla’s wheels.

However, the road wasn't entirely smooth. The atmosphere was clouded with concerns over potential new tariffs as President Trump threatened action against the European Union. This spurred broader market jitters and contributed to a downward tug, with major indexes like the Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq ending the day with losses. Although the Nasdaq managed a slight gain, the overall sentiment marked a cautious close to the week.

On the economic front, the U.S. saw a contraction in the first quarter, shrinking by 0.3% due to increased imports ahead of the anticipated tariffs. But not all the news was bleak—jobless claims decreased, offering a glimmer of positive movement in an otherwise challenging landscape. Meanwhile, existing home sales remained relatively stable in April at four million units.

It's intriguing how global affairs intertwine with our local markets. Germany's GDP saw better-than-expected growth, hinting at stronger manufacturing and export activities, which provided a slight counterbalance to international uncertainties. This only adds to the complex tapestry investors must navigate.

For those looking to chart their course through Tesla’s stock landscape, keep an eye on the potential bumps and boosts ahead. The optimism surrounding Tesla’s autonomous future is palpable, though cautious navigation remains wise given the volatile backdrop of trade tensions and market swings.

Thank you for joining me on this journey through today's Tesla stock tale. Remember, whether cloudy or clear, when the dust settles, only the truth remains. Until next time!

On Friday, May 23, 2025, Tesla Inc. (TSLA) stock experienced some fluctuations amidst broader market unease and company-specific news. Here's a summary of the key financial news, market data, stock performance, and economic indicators relevant to Tesla:

Tesla Stock Performance on May 23, 2025:

* Closing Price: Tesla's stock (TSLA) closed at $339.34.
* Opening Price: The stock opened at $331.90.
* Daily Movement: This represented a gain of 2.73% compared to the opening price. However, other sources indicate a slight decline for the day, with one mentioning a -0.50% change and a closing price of $339.34. Another reported the stock fell slightly, and was little changed at around $341 in late trading. A further source mentioned a price of $339.93 with a change of -0.33% or -$1.11. Nasdaq historical data shows a close of $341.04 on May 22nd and does not yet list May 23rd data, but pre-market data for May 23rd showed a price of $345.26.
* Trading Range: The daily high and low were not consistently reported across all initial sources, but one source indicated a high of $347.27 and a low of $331.39 for May 22nd, with pre-market on May 23rd reaching $345.44 (ask).
* Volume: Share volume was reported as 96,573,946 by one source for the day (though the specific date for this volume is tied to a "Today's High/Low" which can be ambiguous). Nasdaq historical data showed a volume of 97,113,420 for May 22nd.

Key News and Factors Influencing Tesla:

* Analyst Target Price Increase: Wedbush analysts significantly raised their price target for Tesla to $500 from $350. They cited the upcoming June launch of fully autonomous Teslas in Austin, Texas, as a key factor, believing the "vast majority of valuation upside" lies in the success of Tesla's autonomous vision. Analyst Dan Ives noted a "recommitted Musk leading Tesla as CEO into this autonomous and robotics future" as his involvement with the Department of Government Efficiency appeared to be lessening.
* Elon Musk's Commitment: In interviews during the week, Elon Musk stated his intention to remain Tesla CEO for the next five years and confirmed that plans for paid autonomous rides and a more affordable vehicle are on track. He also indicated he would do "a lot less" political spending in the future. These comments seemed to reassure some investors.
* Robotaxi Platform Excitement: There's significant investor optimism surrounding Tesla's upcoming Robotaxi service, planned for an initial launch in Austin in June. Musk predicted that by the end of next year, there could be hundreds of thousands, if not over a million, Teslas doing self-driving in the U.S. This new service is seen as a potential major new revenue stream and a way to reinvigorate demand for Tesla vehicles.
* Tariff Concerns: Broader market sentiment was negatively impacted by renewed trade concerns, specifically President Trump threatening new tariffs on the European Union. This weighed on stocks, including Tesla, which turned lower in midday trading despite premarket gains.
* Recent Performance Context: Despite any daily dip, Tesla's stock was noted to be on a four-week winning streak leading up to this day, though Friday's performance was on track to snap this streak. Year-to-date, however, Tesla's stock was reported to be down about 16%, underperforming the S&P 500.
* Reputation: A report from O'Dwyer's on May 23, 2025, stated that Tesla's reputation had dropped significantly.
* Q1 Earnings Recap (Context): While not news from May 23rd, it's relevant background that Tesla's Q1 2025 earnings, reported in April, showed a significant drop in profit and sales. The company had been upgrading factories for the refreshed Model Y.

Broader Market and Economic Indicators on May 23, 2025:

* Overall Market Performance: U.S. stock markets were generally down on May 23rd, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500, and Nasdaq Composite all posting losses. This was attributed to revived trade concerns after President Trump's tariff threats. The major indexes also posted losses for the week. Some sources indicated a mixed close, with the Nasdaq managing a slight gain while the Dow and S&P 500 fell. Market participants were also concerned about the potential impact of a proposed tax-cut bill on the U.S. fiscal deficit and a spike in long-dated U.S. sovereign bond yields.
* Economic Data:
* The U.S. economy contracted at an annualized rate of 0.3% in the first quarter of 2025, largely due to a surge in imports as companies stockpiled goods before anticipated tariffs.
* Initial jobless claims for the week ended May 17th decreased to 227,000.
* Existing home sales in April came in at 4 million units.
* The U.S. Census Bureau released data on New Homes For Sale and New Homes Sold, and revised the value of Residential Construction Permits. Their Index of Economic Activity stood at -0.68.
* Gallup's U.S. Economic Confidence Index for May was -18, reflecting a gradual recovery but still negative overall sentiment, with a majority stating the economy is worsening. President Trump's job approval was steady at 43%.
* German GDP for Q1 2025 rose by 0.4% compared to Q4 2024, slightly higher than initial estimates, with manufacturing and exports showing stronger growth.
* Market Sentiment: Investors ended the week on a cautious note, weighing recent tariff news, mixed economic data, and ongoing global trade policy uncertainty. While a U.S.-China tariff reduction agreement in early May had provided some relief, underlying economic signals suggested subdued growth momentum.
* Currency and Commodities: The U.S. dollar index was down, trading at its lowest level of the month. Gold futures were up as investors turned to the safe-haven asset.

In summary, while Tesla saw some positive analyst commentary regarding its autonomous driving future, its stock movement on May 23rd was also influenced by broader market anxieties stemming from potential new tariffs. The company's long-term growth prospects, particularly tied to its Robotaxi ambitions, remain a key focus for investors.

Tesla Stock Daily Drive