Tesla's Optimus Robot Could Reach Human-Level Proficiency in 2026. Is It Time to Buy?

Core Viewpoint - Tesla is positioning itself to become a leader in the emerging humanoid robotics market, which could reach $5 trillion by 2050, as CEO Elon Musk emphasizes the importance of the Optimus robot for the company's future [1][4]. Group 1: Transition to Robotics - Tesla is shifting focus from traditional electric vehicles to autonomous vehicles and humanoid robotics, with Musk asserting that Optimus is central to the company's future [2][3]. - The company plans to discontinue legacy models like the Model S and Model X to prioritize the production of Optimus at its Fremont factory [3][4]. Group 2: Market Potential and Financials - The humanoid robotics market is projected to be worth $5 trillion by 2050, indicating significant upside for Tesla if it successfully develops and deploys Optimus and its Robotaxi service [4]. - Tesla's current stock price is $430 per share, with a market cap of $1.4 trillion, and the company reported non-GAAP earnings of $1.66 per share for the recently concluded fiscal year, resulting in a high price-to-earnings ratio of 259 [6][7]. - Analysts predict earnings growth to $2.12 per share this year and $3.00 by 2027, but the stock may already reflect much of Tesla's potential upside, suggesting that investors may need to see substantial performance improvements for short- to medium-term rewards [8].