Tesla’s shares fell 3% before the bell on Thursday, as the electric vehicle maker’s quarterly profit fell short of market estimates despite record sales, hit by rising costs and fading regulatory credits.
The company’s fourth consecutive profit miss shows that even Tesla isn’t immune to the cost crunch gripping the auto sector, as President Donald Trump radically overhauls U.S. policy.
Tesla shares have swung wildly in 2025, falling as much as 39% through March as weak demand and CEO Elon Musk’s ties to the Trump administration sparked political backlash and boycott calls.
Musk’s repeated pitch for a future built on AI, robotics, and self-driving tech has helped fuel investor enthusiasm and lift Tesla’s stock since then, with the company gaining nearly 9% so far this year.
Yet, the stock is still largely among the laggards in the ‘Magnificent 7’ group of mega-cap stocks.
“Near-term sentiment was always going to be fragile after the run-up over the past 6 months, so the relatively small pullback feels like a non-event by Tesla’s standards,” said Matt Britzman, senior equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, who holds shares in Tesla.
