Group 1 - Tesla Inc. has announced updates to its Semi truck, with CEO Elon Musk confirming that production will be scaled this year [1][4] - The Semi will be available in two trim levels: Standard and Long Range, with the Standard trim offering a range of 325 miles and energy consumption of 1.7 kWh per mile [2] - The Long Range trim has a range of 500 miles and a curb weight of 23,000 lbs, likely due to a larger battery, and both trims can recover 60% of driving range from a 30-minute charge [3] Group 2 - Tesla has delivered the first unit of the Semi to DHL, which operates the truck in California, traveling 100 miles per day and requiring charging once a week [5] - Tesla's stock price surged 3.50% to $411.11 at market close, with an additional gain of 0.66% to $413.83 during the overnight session [6]

Group 1: Electric Vehicle Market Overview - Electric vehicles (EVs) continue to present a strong growth opportunity, with worldwide sales increasing by 20% last year [1] - The next significant area for investment in EVs is lithium-based batteries, which require improvements in durability and driving range [1] Group 2: QuantumScape's Position - QuantumScape has been developing solid-state lithium batteries since 2010 and has recently perfected a crucial battery production process, leading to a rise in its stock [2] - The company is currently shipping prototypes to PowerCo, a subsidiary of Volkswagen, and aims to begin large-scale commercial production by 2027 [3] Group 3: Competitive Landscape - A number of competitors have emerged in the solid-state lithium battery space, indicating that commercialization timelines may be similar to QuantumScape's [4] - BYD has begun testing solid-state battery packs capable of 900 miles on a single charge, positioning itself favorably due to its larger scale [5] - Toyota has committed to introducing its own solid-state batteries by 2027, with plans to install them in EVs by 2028 [6] - Geely has announced that its first fully integrated solid-state lithium battery will be completed this year, with testing in its electric vehicles to follow [6][7]

We're here at Rivian's engineering labs in Palo Alto, and right behind me was their first product, the R1T. Rivian makes high end electric vehicles. The trouble is they start above $70,000.They want to change that. They're making now a vehicle that hits right at the center of the market, the R2, which starts at $45,000. This is what Rivian says will take it from being a niche automaker of high end vehicles to a truly mainstream and profitable company.The R2 is a test to show Wall Street that they can actual ...

ACC has scrapped plans to build battery gigafactories in Germany and Italy, ending projects in Kaiserslautern and Termoli that were put on hold last year, as European automakers retreat from electric-vehicle investments. https://t.co/AaR6nyV0tE ...

Core Viewpoint - Volkswagen is adapting its electric vehicle (EV) strategy to address short-term challenges while maintaining a focus on long-term growth in the EV market [1][4]. Group 1: Current EV Market Landscape - Many large automakers have delayed or canceled their EV plans due to declining sales and rising lithium prices, but there remains optimism for the future of EVs [2][6]. - The percentage of consumers likely to buy a fully electric car has decreased from 25% in 2022 to 16% in 2025, while those unlikely to buy has increased from 51% to 63% in the same period [6][7]. Group 2: Volkswagen's Strategy - Volkswagen has scaled back its aggressive EV goals, reinvesting $64 billion into developing new gas-powered cars and delaying its next-generation EV architecture until the late 2020s [3][4]. - The company is exploring extended-range EVs, which combine an electric powertrain with a small gas engine to alleviate range anxiety and reduce costs [8][9]. Group 3: Financial Performance and Valuation - Volkswagen has shown steady growth with a revenue compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.25% over the past decade and is currently valued attractively with a trailing-12-month price-to-earnings ratio of 7.6 [10].

This is Wall Street Week. I'm David Westin, bringing you stories of capitalism. Gold is all over the place, from setting new records to plummeting, to a partial recovery. What does it mean for investors and for those getting the gold out of the ground? Plus, the US had its China shock 20 years ago. Is Europe in store for its own version this time as China looks to find new markets for its exports? And investing in art can be fun. It can be satisfying. But like any investment, it can go down as well as up. W ...

Core Viewpoint The U.S. electric vehicle (EV) industry is facing a significant crisis as American automakers retreat from EV production, while Chinese manufacturers rapidly advance in the global market, raising concerns about the future competitiveness of U.S. companies in the automotive sector. Group 1: U.S. Automakers' Challenges - Stellantis announced a $26 billion charge due to a major business overhaul, including a reduction in EV production, leading to a stock drop of over 20% [2] - U.S. automakers like General Motors and Ford have lost billions on EVs and are shifting focus back to larger gas-powered vehicles due to the loss of federal tax credits and weak consumer demand [3] - Tesla has been surpassed by BYD in EV sales, indicating a decline in its market share and appeal, particularly in Europe [4] Group 2: Chinese Automakers' Growth - Chinese automakers have increased their global market share from less than 3% to an estimated 11.1% from 2019 to 2025, while U.S. automakers' share has dropped from 21.4% to 15.7% [12] - The global market share of Chinese brands has surged nearly 70% in five years, with significant growth in EV sales, which increased from approximately 572,300 in 2020 to 4.95 million in 2025 [5][11] - Chinese EV sales outside of China have also seen a remarkable increase of over 1,300%, from less than 33,000 to more than 474,000 [11] Group 3: Market Dynamics and Future Outlook - The U.S. automotive industry, which constitutes about 5% of the country's GDP, is concerned about the long-term implications of Chinese competition, especially as Chinese brands expand into markets traditionally dominated by U.S. automakers [6] - Experts highlight that the combination of government support, vertically integrated supply chains, and rapid execution in China poses an existential threat to traditional U.S. automakers [8] - GlobalData forecasts that Chinese EV sales will continue to grow, reaching approximately 6.5 million units by 2030 and nearly 8.5 million by 2035 [16] Group 4: Strategic Responses from U.S. Automakers - GM is adjusting its EV strategy to align with natural demand rather than regulatory pressures, while Ford is pivoting towards smaller, more affordable electric models to compete with Chinese manufacturers [22][24] - The Alliance for Automotive Innovation is advocating for protective measures against Chinese government-backed auto manufacturers to maintain competitiveness in the U.S. market [19] - The U.S. EV market saw a peak of 10.3% in September, but demand has since plummeted to an estimated 5.2% in the fourth quarter [21]

Core Viewpoint - Freeport-McMoRan Inc.'s shares have increased by 47.4% over the past six months, primarily due to rising copper prices driven by supply concerns, tariff uncertainties, and strong demand [1]. Group 1: Stock Performance - Freeport has underperformed compared to the Zacks Mining - Non Ferrous industry's increase of 86.7%, while outperforming the S&P 500's rise of 11.2% during the same period [2]. - The stock has been trading above the 50-day and 200-day simple moving averages since late November 2025, indicating a bullish trend following a golden crossover on July 8, 2025 [5]. Group 2: Growth Opportunities - Freeport is focused on organic growth opportunities to enhance long-term production and cash flow, with significant expansions planned at its Cerro Verde operation in Peru and El Abra in Chile [10]. - The company is advancing pre-feasibility studies in Arizona to define a significant sulfide expansion opportunity and has potential to double the concentrator capacity at Bagdad [11]. - A new greenfield smelter in Eastern Java has been completed, with operations starting in Q2 2025, and gold production began at a new refinery in late 2024 [12]. Group 3: Financial Health - Freeport generated operating cash flows of approximately $5.6 billion in 2025, ending the year with about $3.8 billion in cash and cash equivalents [13]. - The company has a net debt of $2.3 billion, below its targeted range, and maintains a policy of distributing 50% of available cash to shareholders [14]. - The dividend yield is around 0.5%, with a payout ratio of 17%, indicating a sustainable dividend [15]. Group 4: Copper Market Dynamics - Copper prices remained favorable, averaging above $5 per pound in Q4 2025, supported by strong demand from China and the U.S. [16][17]. - Freeport's average realized copper price increased by approximately 28% year-over-year to $5.33 per pound in Q4 [19]. Group 5: Cost and Volume Challenges - The average unit net cash cost per pound of copper rose sharply to $2.22 in Q4 2025, a 59% increase from the prior quarter [20]. - Copper sales volumes fell by about 29% year-over-year in Q4 to 709 million pounds, primarily due to operational suspensions at the Grasberg Block Cave mine [22]. - The outlook for Q1 2026 suggests further declines in sales volumes and higher costs, impacting the company's margins [21][23]. Group 6: Earnings Estimates and Valuation - Earnings estimates for Freeport have been revised upward over the past 60 days for 2026 and 2027 [25]. - The stock is currently trading at a forward price/earnings ratio of 26.43X, slightly above the industry average [26]. Group 7: Investment Considerations - Freeport is positioned to benefit from expansion projects and supportive copper prices, but caution is advised due to lower sales volume expectations and rising costs [29].

The US now has more than 600,000 EVs that can feed power to houses during an emergency. https://t.co/Q2osBJxiSb ...

Chrysler Parent Stellantis’ Shares Fall 25% As It Takes $26.5 Billion Write Off Amid EV Retreathttps://t.co/nbVSxkQm6A https://t.co/1aKs1wGLLU ...