Is Tesla stock a buy before January 28 earnings?

Core Viewpoint - Tesla's stock performance may be significantly impacted by the upcoming Q4 2025 earnings report, scheduled for January 28, 2026, following a year of evading business-side issues [1] Group 1: Delivery Performance - Tesla's recent delivery report showed underperformance, with 418,227 cars shipped and 434,358 produced, falling short of the expected 426,000 for the quarter [2] - The company's expansion efforts in new markets have been mixed, exemplified by only 227 vehicle registrations in India throughout 2025 [2] Group 2: Leadership and Innovation Concerns - Concerns persist regarding Elon Musk's divided attention among multiple companies, which may affect Tesla's performance [3] - The trademark for Tesla's 'Cybercab' was suspended due to a late filing, allowing a French beverage company to secure it first [4] - Musk's history of overpromising on autonomous vehicles and humanoid robots continues, with both the 'Cybercab' and 'Optimus' android reportedly still years away from production [5] Group 3: Business Model Changes - A potential positive development for Tesla is the shift from a one-time purchase option for the self-driving system, priced at $9,000, to a subscription model at $99 per month starting February 14, 2026 [6] Group 4: Market Sentiment and Stock Performance - Wall Street's consensus on Tesla stock has shifted towards 'Hold' or 'Sell' ratings, with the average 12-month price target at $394.12, which is 10.26% below the latest close [7][9] - Despite various challenges, Tesla stock closed at $439.20 on January 14, 2026, representing a 104.99% increase from its 52-week low of $214.25, and has rallied 41% in the last six months [10][13]