Tesla Stock Just Reported Record Free Cash Flow. Does That Make TSLA a Buy for November 2025?

Core Insights - Tesla's third-quarter earnings report revealed a record free cash flow of nearly $4 billion, a significant increase from $146 million in the second quarter and $2.7 billion in Q3 2024 [1][3] - Despite a 10% increase in shares this year, Tesla's stock still lags behind the S&P 500 Index, which is up 17% [2] - Tesla's trailing price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio stands at 259, with a forward P/E of 172, indicating high expectations for the stock [2] Financial Performance - Tesla's revenue for Q3 was $28.10 billion, exceeding estimates of $26.37 billion, but earnings per share were only $0.37, missing the expected $0.41 [3] - Automotive revenue increased by 6% to $21.2 billion, driven by a rush of purchases before the expiration of a $7,500 federal tax credit for EVs [4] - Tesla deliveries rose 9% year-over-year to 481,166 units, but the absence of the tax credit may hinder Q4 performance [4] Cost and Margin Analysis - Operating expenses surged by 50% year-over-year to $3.43 billion as Tesla invests in robotaxi technology and Optimus robots [5] - The operating margin decreased to 5.8% from 10.8% a year ago, while gross profits only increased by 1% despite a 12% rise in revenues [5]