Tesla Q3 Highlights: Record EV Deliveries, Falling Profits, AI Ambitions Ahead

Core Insights - Tesla reported third-quarter revenue of $28.095 billion, a 12% year-over-year increase, surpassing the consensus estimate of $26.239 billion, marking the first revenue beat after four consecutive misses [1] - Automotive revenue reached $21.21 billion, up 6% year-over-year, driven by delivery increases, while earnings per share were 50 cents, missing the consensus estimate of 54 cents [2] - Operating income fell 40% year-over-year to $1.6 billion, with an operating margin of 5.8%, despite record deliveries of 497,099 vehicles and production of 447,450 vehicles [3] Financial Performance - The company reported a significant increase in digital assets, totaling $1.315 billion, primarily from Bitcoin holdings, up from $1.235 billion in the previous quarter [4] - Tesla ended the quarter with $41.6 billion in cash, indicating strong liquidity [4] Future Outlook - Tesla plans to launch new products, including the Model YL, Model Y Performance, and affordable versions of Model 3 and Model Y, aiming to leverage its scale and cost structure to navigate market dynamics [5] - The company is focused on long-term growth, with plans for volume production of the Cybercab, Tesla Semi, and Megapack 3 scheduled for 2026, and the Optimus Bot's production lines being installed [6] Market Reaction - Following the earnings report, Tesla's stock declined by 1.1% to $434.20 in after-hours trading, within a 52-week trading range of $212.11 to $488.54 [7]