Tesla(US:TSLA) Benzinga·2025-12-24 05:52Core Insights - Investor Gary Black views Tesla as the "most profitable EV business model on the planet," highlighting the company's upcoming Optimus production, enhanced autonomous driving technology, and CEO Elon Musk's commitment as positive factors for the company [2]. Valuation Concerns - Despite the positive outlook, Black expresses concerns over Tesla's valuation, noting a Price/Earnings ratio of 220x against a long-term forward EPS growth of +35% and declining earnings estimates [3]. - He emphasizes the importance of focusing on financials rather than solely on technology, warning that neglecting financial metrics can lead to poor investment decisions [3]. Autonomous Driving Developments - Black mentions the removal of safety monitors as a potential catalyst for Tesla, indicating that the technology is ready for broader deployment [3]. - Musk's promise of advancements in autonomous driving by year-end is seen as a factor contributing to the recent stock price increase [3]. Robotaxi Service Doubts - Concerns have been raised regarding the scale of Tesla's Austin Robotaxi service, with reports indicating that the service was unavailable over 60% of the time and only 32 vehicles identified in the fleet, significantly lower than Musk's target of 1,000 [4]. - In contrast, Waymo, backed by Alphabet Inc., is leading the autonomous taxi sector with over 14 million paid Robotaxi rides recorded in 2025 [5]. Performance Metrics - Tesla scores well on Momentum and Quality metrics but is rated poorly on Value, with a favorable price trend observed in the short, medium, and long term [6]. - As of the latest market close, TSLA shares slid 0.11% to $485.03 during after-hours trading [6].