Tag: tesla

End of Year Outlook: Is It Time for Investors to Re-evaluate TSLA Stock?

Posted on by The INO.com Team

 

Tesla, Inc. (TSLA) employees initiated a strike in late October when approximately 120 mechanics at 12 TSLA repair shops in seven cities across Sweden protested against TSLA's refusal to endorse a collective bargaining agreement.

Continuing ripple effects were seen across various segments – from custodial and dock workers to postal employees and metalworkers. Sympathy strikes ensued, disrupting the company's operations from unloading vehicles off boats and obtaining vehicle registration plates.

Sweden, boasting one of Europe's most powerful labor movements, stands as the stinging backdrop. The strike is seen as a clash between the Swedish and American ways of doing business and a fight to protect the Swedish union model, covering about 90% of its workforce.

Employees and employers unanimously support this system. This universal approbation is warranted given that the Swedish labor relations model has maintained relative industrial tranquility between corporations and wage earners for decades.

TSLA, on the contrary, is known for opposing unionization in its workplaces and has a different corporate culture and vision. Elon Musk-led TSLA may have inadvertently chosen a contest difficult to win by retorting against this norm. What began as a localized dispute has now escalated to potentially considerable global implications.

Casting wider ripples, there are projections for the labor movements and automotive workers within Europe and extending to the U.S. Arturo Vasquez, an ombudsman in the IF Metall union – the largest in Sweden, has reportedly reached out to counterparts across Europe and the U.S. With this, he aims to gather support, possibly leading to similar moves in their respective domains.

According to car.info data, TSLA reportedly registered 1,516 new cars in November, representing a sales increase of 175.2% year-over-year. This performance is particularly noteworthy given the mounting efforts of IF Metall against the EV manufacturer.

Furthermore, TSLA aims to maintain a growth rate of 50%, with aspirations to sell 2.7 million vehicles by 2024. The automaker plans to augment its production capacity across Fremont, Shanghai, Berlin, and Texas facilities. Additionally, the company aims to enhance its product range and features, including introducing new models – like Model 3 Highland and Model S Plaid, with Cybertruck recently added to the lineup.

However, with no signs of an impending agreement between TSLA and IF Metall, the ongoing strike could disrupt TSLA's ambitious objectives. In September, EVs constituted a 63.4% market share in Sweden, an increase from last year's 55.2%. TSLA’s Model Y was the top-selling vehicle in Sweden year-to-date, underscoring its dominant stance.

The strike could compromise TSLA's market share and customer loyalty in Sweden and other Nordic countries, where the brand has a substantial presence and exciting demand prospects. It could impact the delivery and service of TSLA vehicles, thus potentially undermining the brand's reputation in the region.

TSLA recently filed a lawsuit against the Swedish state via Sweden's Transport Agency due to a strike by postal workers that halted delivery of license plates for the automaker's new vehicles, creating additional regulatory hurdles. The company could face fines, sanctions, or injunctions, which could dent the company’s profitability.

Moreover, TSLA's global supply chain and production network could experience disruptions and delays, affecting the availability and quality of components. Expansion of operations and facilities might also face challenges.

Furthermore, TSLA's capability to attract and retain talent, particularly in Europe, where the company is aggressively investing and recruiting, could be impacted. It could further hamper the morale and motivation of TSLA’s existing employees. Consequently, this could blemish TSLA’s image as a leading pioneer in the EV and clean energy industry, thereby lessening its allure to investors and partners.

Since the issue is unlikely to dissipate soon, the company may experience a downturn in revenue and profit, along with muted growth prospects, thus potentially leading to a fall in its share price. The projected declining cash flow and profitability could impede the company's ability to invest in new ventures and innovations.

Over the past five years, TSLA's impressive rally has resulted in a robust return of over 900% for its shareholders, equivalent to some investors' lifetime returns. Nevertheless, its lofty valuations have set the bar high for expectations.

TSLA has historically foregone dividend payments, choosing instead to reinvest profits into the organization to fuel future growth. While some analysts and investors anticipate it could begin issuing dividends as the company matures and turns profitable, the ongoing strike and its impacts could delay or even nullify these possibilities due to declining cash flow and earnings.

Let’s look at some that may prompt investors to proceed with caution:

Deteriorating Financials

Although TSLA’s revenue grew 9% year-over-year to $23.35 billion in the third quarter of 2023, the company’s total gross profits fell 22% year-over-year. Its non-GAAP net income declined 37% from the year-ago quarter to $2.32 billion despite robust Model 3 and Model Y sales.

Despite a 9% year-over-year revenue increase to $23.35 billion in the third quarter of 2023, TSLA’s total gross profits declined 22%. This decline was accompanied by a 37% decrease in non-GAAP net income to $2.32 billion despite robust sales from Model 3 and Model Y vehicles.

According to Cox Automotive, TSLA’s market share fell to the lowest ever at 50%, a stark contrast from the previous year's near 65%. Furthermore, the firm does not project any imminent revenue surge following the Cybertruck launch.

Price Slashing

TSLA initiated a competitive pricing battle earlier this year, sparking enthusiasm among industry observers who perceived it as a manifestation of its production efficiencies. However, the company later confirmed that this strategy was primarily demand-driven.

Implementing over six decisive price reductions across its four vehicle models unequivocally demonstrates that the market competition is intensifying, and customer demand is not keeping pace with the company's inventories.

This dynamic is unfavorable and offers a cogent explanation as to why TSLA's operating margin substantially shrunk to 7.6% in the third quarter, down from its prior-year quarter level of 17.2%.

Unfavorable Analyst Estimates

Analysts expect TSLA’s revenue for the fourth quarter (ending December 2023) to come in at $25.62 billion, suggesting an increase of 5.1% year-over-year. However, the consensus EPS estimate of $0.74 for the quarter reflects an alarming 38.1% year-over-year decline.

Moreover, for the fiscal year 2023, the company’s EPS is expected to decrease 21.4% year-over-year to $3.20, while revenue is expected to come at $97.31 billion.

Bottom Line

Over the previous decade, TSLA has emerged as one of the top performers on the expansive S&P 500, delivering massive returns.

The company's robust progress has positioned it among the most significant publicly traded bodies, boasting an immense market cap of approximately $763 billion. As such, TSLA secured a crucial position in the so-called 'Magnificent Seven,' significantly driving the broader market to greater heights in 2023.

Furthermore, the automaker is looking to broaden its revenue streams beyond the traditional sales and leases of EVs. There lies a sizeable opportunity for TSLA to amplify its profit margins by selling full self-driving subscriptions.

Moreover, TSLA's presence within the energy storage sphere continues to expand, with the company poised to become the principal supercharger network provider for EVs across the U.S.

Despite the laudable accomplishments of Elon Musk as a leader and innovator, there are concerns regarding the potential pitfalls of his management style. Notably, there has been criticism surrounding persistent issues with adhering to initially set timelines, which cast shadows of doubt moving forward. The ongoing strike adds to the woes.

Concurrently, the company faces financial headwinds with high-interest rates, a facet exacerbating financing costs and suppressing consumer discretionary purchasing behavior. TSLA’s assertive actions toward price reduction in response to weakened demand and intensifying competition have failed to resonate as intended.

Moreover, TSLA's non-GAAP forward P/E multiple sits at a lofty 75.04, significantly surpassing the industry average of 14.87. Should TSLA's market cap decline to meet this industry average, shareholders may find their confidence dented considerably.

Additional trepidation stems from analyst skepticism surrounding the company's prospects. This is a concern for current or potential investors considering TSLA stock. Therefore, investors may wish to reassess their stance before investing in the stock.

Is NIO (NIO) Stock a Ticking Time Bomb?

Posted on by The INO.com Team

Nio Inc. (NIO), a leading China-based electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, has performed poorly over the past few months. Shares of NIO have plunged more than 5.4% over the past month and 17% year-to-date.

But, as per the latest headlines, it may appear that the situation will improve from here for the EV maker. On November 1, NIO announced its October 2023 delivery results. The company delivered 16,074 vehicles in October, growing by 59.8% year-over-year. The deliveries comprised 11,086 premium smart electric SUVs and 4,988 premium smart electric sedans.

Although deliveries surged by a high double-digit figure last month, growth was not as impressive sequentially. In September 2023, NIO delivered 15,641 vehicles. So, October’s deliveries represented a sequential increase of just 2.8%.

The company’s figures are lackluster compared to China-based peers such as Li Auto Inc. (LI) and Xpeng Inc. (XPEV) and past expectations.
LI’s October deliveries totaled 40,422 vehicles, increasing by 302.1% year-over-year and a sequential growth of 12.1% (based on 36,060 vehicle deliveries in September). Further, XPEV’s deliveries came in at 20,000 in October, an increase of 292% year-over-year and up 31% on a sequential basis.

While NIO’s stock did soar after the release of its delivery results, the rise was modest (nearly 2.1%) compared to LI (almost up 3.5%) and XPEV (up 7%). Moreover, the broad market rally on November 1 may have played a larger role than the vehicle deliveries news in NIO's rally.

Although NIO found support in recent trading days, the stock will likely suffer immensely in the upcoming months. So, we maintain a bearish stance on this EV stock.

Now, let’s review in detail what has happened in the past few months and discuss several factors that could impact NIO’s performance in the near term:

Poor Financial Performance

For the second quarter that ended June 30, 2023, NIO reported revenue of $1.21 billion, missing analysts’ estimate of $1.27 billion. The revenue translates to a decline of 14.8% from the second quarter of 2022. Its vehicle sales came in at $990.90 million, down 24.9% from the second quarter of 2022. The company’s gross profit decreased 93.5% from the year-ago value to $12 million.

NIO’s operating expenses grew 47.2% year-over-year to $849.65 million. Its non-GAAP loss from operations was $753.50 million, an increase of 132% year-over-year. The company’s non-GAAP net loss widened by 140.2% from the prior year’s quarter to $751 million. Furthermore, the automaker’s loss per share came in at $0.51 versus the consensus loss per share estimate of $0.24.

Unfavorable Analyst Expectations

Analysts expect NIO’s revenue for the third quarter (ended September 2023) to increase 47.2% year-over-year to $2.66 billion. However, the company is estimated to report a loss per share of $0.23 for the same period. NIO has also missed the consensus revenue estimate in three of the trailing four quarters and the consensus EPS estimates in all four trailing quarters, which is disappointing.

In addition, the Chinese EV maker’s EPS is expected to remain negative for at least two fiscal years.

High Levels of Indebtedness

On September 25, NIO closed its offering of $500 million in aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes due 2029 and $500 million in aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes due 2030. The issuance of a $1 billion convertible senior notes sent ripples of concern among investors and led to a significant drop in NIO’s stock price.

A debt offering generally indicates the company’s need for cash. Although issuing shares can be dilutive, a debt offering results in increased scrutiny by investors as excessive debt is often considered to hinder the company’s ability to generate a cash surplus.
Thus, higher levels of indebtedness due to additional debt offerings can be alarming as they potentially undermine the position of common stockholders. This apprehension potentially influences behavior toward NIO, reflecting concerns about the EV maker’s debt strategy and its implications for future financial stability and long-term viability.

NIO’s total liabilities were $9.52 billion as of June 30, 2023.

Struggling to Boost Sales in Europe

The Chinese EV manufacturer NIO is scrambling to drive sales in Europe, its first area of international expansion. The company is considering building a dealer network across Europe to speed up sales growth despite China-based EVs facing potential tariffs in the region.

NIO, an aspiring competitor to a world-class EV brand, Tesla, Inc. (TSLA), launched in Norway in 2021 and entered Germany, Sweden, Denmark, and the Netherlands in October 2022, enabling customers to purchase directly from its stores or online.

However, Nio began assessing dealers in key European markets after the company’s President said sales in Europe were missing expectations.
A source said that dealers were being considered both for Nio-branded cars sold in Europe and for project “Firefly,” a new affordable EV brand that the company plans to export to Europe from 2025.

Another reason to use dealers would be to ease cash pressure on NIO, which is prioritizing spending on research and battery swapping stations in China, that source added.

Job Cuts in the Face of Heightened Competition

Shanghai-based EV company Nio will reduce job positions in November and cut or defer some investment, strategic moves aimed at boosting the company’s viability as it grapples with widening losses and intense competition.

Demand for EVs has dampened in China as consumers prefer more economical plug-in hybrids, sales of which grew nearly 84.5% in the first nine months of 2023, helping automakers LI and BYD Co. Ltd (BYDDY) to gain market share.

Also, a price war started by world EV leader TSLA a year ago is dragging down the profitability of other EV makers, which have also stepped up efforts to cut costs and build partnerships to survive the escalating competition.

According to an internal letter signed by CEO William Li seen by Bloomberg News, NIO will slash its staff by 10% this month.

“Duplicate” and “inefficient” roles will be eliminated, and project investment that won’t contribute to the company’s financial performance within three years will be cut or differed, Li said.

Nio has been in a fight for survival amid fierce competition in the nation’s automotive industry over the past two years. Li wrote that to “qualify for the next round of competition,” the company must reduce costs and ensure resources for critical business areas. Also, he apologized to the colleagues who will be affected by the adjustments, as per the memo.

Price War in the EV Market

A price war instigated by Tesla a year ago increased the pressure in the EV industry, with other companies following by cutting prices in a race to attract customers as their sales showed signs of slowing.

Earlier this year, NIO slashed prices for its cars and announced delaying plans to spend on expansion and research. The Chinese electric car brand cut car prices by the equivalent of $4,200 and ended free battery swaps for new buyers.

Bottom Line

Once considered one of the dominant players in China’s EV market, NIO has poorly fallen short of its sales estimates and continued to post massive losses. The company’s revenue and earnings missed analysts’ expectations in the last reported quarter. Further, analysts and investors appear bearish about its growth prospects.

While its strategic initiatives, including job cuts and lower investment, could boost profitability in the long run, the EV maker continues to face near-term challenges with consumer preferences, fierce competition in the EV market, pricing power, widening losses, and lower margins.
Given its deteriorating financials, declining market share, lower profitability, and short-term uncertain outlook, NIO is best avoided now.

Troubling Signs for Tesla (TSLA): Is the Era of EVs Coming to an End?

Posted on by The INO.com Team

Hertz, a rental car company, once envisioned itself as the ultimate EV broker, offering battery-powered vehicles to ride-hail drivers, business travelers, and tech newbies in an ambitious plan to capitalize on the EV revolution. The company signed deals with the world’s leading automaker,Tesla, Inc. (TSLA) and the Swedish EV startup Polestar to purchase more than 200,000 EVs.

However, the company’s IEV plans are running into some challenges Last week, Hertz stated that the declining resale value of its EVs and higher repair costs are forcing it to put brakes on its EV rollout.

TSLA has been rapidly slashing its prices to boost sales as it struggles with weakened demand and heightened competition. The price cuts have further lowered the resale value of the EVs in Hertz’s fleet by nearly one-third. Also, repair costs have been higher than anticipated, almost double what the company pays to repair gasoline cars, CEO Stephen Scherr said in an interview with Bloomberg.

A part of the problem concerns Hertz’s plans to rent EVs to ride-hail drivers. Of the 100,000 Tesla vehicles acquired by Hertz, almost half were to be allocated to Uber drivers as part of an agreement with the ride-hail company. As Uber drivers tend to drive their vehicles into the ground, the higher utilization rate can lead to more damage than Hertz expected.

Hertz will slow the pace of buying EVs while it learns how to manage costs, Scherr added.

This news, coupled with several other headwinds, hints at the bearish sentiment surrounding TSLA lately. Shares of the electric vehicle maker have plunged more than 11% over the past month.

Now, let’s review in detail what has happened in the past few months and discuss several factors that could impact TSLA’s performance in the near term:

Deteriorating Financial Performance

For the third quarter that ended September 30, 2023, TSLA reported revenue of $23.35 billion, missing analysts’ expectations of $24.14 billion. The company’s gross profit declined 22.4% from the year-ago value to $4.18 billion. Its operating expenses increased 42.5% year-over-year to $2.41 billion. Its income from operations was $1.76 billion, down 52.2% year-over-year.

Furthermore, the automaker’s adjusted EBITDA decreased 24.4% from the prior year’s quarter to $3.76 billion. Its adjusted net income attributable to common stockholders came in at $2.32 billion, a decline of 36.6% year-over-year. The company posted an adjusted EPS of $0.66, below the consensus estimate of $0.73. This compared to $1.05 a year ago.

TSLA’s net cash provided by operating activities was $3.31 billion, down 35.1% from the previous year’s quarter. Also, the company’s free cash flow declined 74.3% year-over-year to $848 million.

Misses on Quarterly Delivery Expectations

Tesla missed market estimates for third-quarter deliveries due to production constraints caused by planned factory shutdowns. TSLA’s total deliveries dropped 6.7% sequentially and 35.6% year-over-year to 435,059 vehicles in the third quarter. The company’s deliveries missed analysts’ estimate of 461,640.

Further, the company reported total vehicle production of 430,488, compared to $479,700 during the prior quarter and 365,923 in the same period of 2022, respectively.

“A sequential decline in volumes was caused by planned downtimes for factory upgrades, as discussed on the most recent earnings call,” the company said. “Our 2023 volume target of around 1.8 million vehicles remains unchanged.”

Continued Price Cuts

On October 6, TSLA slashed the prices of its top-selling models in the U.S. again after the EV giant reported third-quarter deliveries that missed Wall Street expectations. The starting price for the Model 3 is listed at $38,990 on Tesla’s website, a drop from $40,240. The long-range Model 3 price declined from $47,240 to $45,990.

Also, the price of the Model 3 Performance fell from $53,240 to $50,990. The company’s Model Y Performance sports utility vehicle’s price now starts at $52,490, down from the prior price of $54,490.

Beginning at the end of 2022, TSLA started cutting the prices of its vehicles worldwide to drive demand amid concerns over eroding consumer spending in markets such as the U.S. and China and heightened competition in the EV space.

Elon Musk, CEO of TSLA, has earlier hinted at the company’s desire to chase higher volume over bigger margins this year.

Panasonic Battery Warning

Panasonic Holdings Corp., a longtime partner and supplier to Tesla, announced that it had reduced battery cell production in Japan during the period that ended September 2023. Panasonic cells have been used in TSLA’s older and higher-priced vehicles, including Model X SUVs and Model S sedans.
The recent update from Panasonic stoked investor concerns over softening demand for EVs, especially for high-priced EVs that may not qualify for tax breaks or other incentives from the government in and beyond the U.S.

Tesla Cybertruck Concerns

Elon Musk also mentioned in Tesla’s third-quarter earnings call that the company was facing severe challenges with the production of its long-awaited Cybertruck. He cautioned that Cybertruck won’t deliver considerable positive cashflow for 12 to 18 months after production starts.
The EV maker announced on X (formerly Twitter), now owned by Musk, that “Cybertruck production remains on track for later this year, with first deliveries scheduled for November 30th at Giga Texas.”

On the earnings call, Musk said, “It is going to require immense work to reach volume production and be cashflow positive at a price that people can afford” with the Cybertruck. He added, “I just want to temper expectations for Cybertruck. It’s a great product, but financially, it will take a year to 18 months before it is a significant positive cash flow contributor.”

Growing Risk of Smart Money Exit

An analyst recently warned of potential mass exit by big institutional investors.

GLJ Research’s Gordon Johnson said that the last time (the second quarter of 2022) when Tesla missed analyst estimates was just a fraction of what the company reported for the third quarter of 2023, and over the next six months, the stock dropped nearly 50% as the “smart money” existed.
“It's not weak demand. It's poor results… that are getting worse,” Johnson added.

TSLA exhibits substantial institutional ownership, with institutions owning around a 42.75% stake. Moreover, the total value of these holdings amounts to $295.96 billion. However, disappointing financial results and other factors could result in a mass exodus by smart money.

Unfavorable Analyst Estimates

Analysts expect TSLA’s revenue for the fourth quarter (ending December 2023) to come in at $25.57 billion, indicating an increase of 5.1% year-over-year. However, the consensus EPS estimate of $0.73 for the current quarter reflects an alarming 38.4% year-over-year decline. Moreover, the company has missed the consensus revenue estimates in three of the trailing four quarters.

For the fiscal year 2023, the company’s EPS is expected to decrease 21% year-over-year to $3.22.

Bottom Line

TSLA grapples with high-interest rates pushing up financing costs and discouraging consumers from making discretionary purchases. The company, in response, has aggressively cut prices this year as it aims to grow its user base to battle weakened demand and increased competition.

The company’s third-quarter revenue and earnings missed Wall Street expectations. The company reported a significant drop in earnings and thinner profit margins. Also, due to factory upgrades that led to planned downtimes, it missed vehicle delivery expectations in the last reported quarter.

Further, analysts seem bearish about TSLA’s prospects as the company will continue to face headwinds, including immense challenges in scaling production, lower margins due to price cuts, sharp competition in the EV market, and persistent soft consumer spending amid the rising interest rate environment.
Therefore, avoiding this EV stock for now could be wise.

4 Stocks to Buy Instead of TSLA as Its Downtrend Continues

Posted on by The INO.com Team

Tesla, Inc. (TSLA) aims to sell 20 million EVs a year by the end of this decade. However, the company faces steep competition from other manufacturers as they launch their battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and invest in ramping up their EV manufacturing capabilities.

To ward off competition and economic uncertainty, TSLA has cut the prices of its vehicles this year. Recently, the company cut the prices for Model 3, Model S, and Model X in the United States. In China, TSLA reduced Model S and X prices. The company has been focusing on boosting volume growth by lowering prices, but it is affecting its gross margins.

Due to price cuts, discounts, and tax credits, the company reported delivering a record-setting 466,140 vehicles during the second quarter. However, Wall Street analysts have cut TSLA’s third-quarter delivery estimates by 2%. They expect the EV maker to deliver 462,000 vehicles during the third quarter.

TSLA CEO Elon Musk had said during the second-quarter earnings call that although it was sticking to its target of producing 1.8 million vehicles, third-quarter production would take a hit due to essential factory upgrades that would take place during the quarter.

Some analysts have forecasted that delivery numbers will be less than 460,000 units. Deutsche Bank analyst Emmanuel Rosner lowered his delivery expectations to 440,000, down from his previous forecast of 455,000. Baird analyst Ben Kallo has projected that the third quarter deliveries would be 439,200 units.

Rosner said, “Tesla’s 3Q 2023 deliveries and production could miss Street expectations, but more important, we see meaningful downside risk to 2024 consensus due to limited volume growth next year.” The analyst has cut its target price on TSLA to $285 from $300.

Amid the confusion over the third-quarter deliveries and production figures, many analysts are worried that TSLA’s production next year will be lower than the previous estimates. Deutsche Bank believes the EV maker’s earnings could face headwinds in 2024. In an investor meeting, they said that TSLA suggested that it was not looking to ramp up production at its Austin and Berlin factories to 10,000 units per week next year.

The bank has forecasted that TSLA will produce 2.1 million units next year, down from the previous consensus estimate of 2.3 million units. They also reduced the price target of TSLA to $285 per share from $300.

Moreover, TSLA is currently trading at an expensive valuation. In terms of forward EV/EBITDA, TSLA’s 42.58x is 364% higher than the 9.18x industry average. Likewise, its 7.47x forward EV/Sales is 564.3% higher than the 1.12x industry average. Its 70.97x forward non-GAAP P/E is 410.1% higher than the 13.91x industry average.

Given the uncertainty surrounding TSLA’s near-term prospects, it could be wise to buy fundamentally strong auto stocks Ferrari N.V. (RACE), General Motors Company (GM), Li Auto Inc. (LI), and NIO Inc. (NIO).

Let’s discuss these stocks in detail.

Ferrari N.V. (RACE)

Headquartered in Maranello, Italy, RACE designs, designs, produces, and sells luxury sports cars worldwide. The company offers a range, special series, Icona, and supercars; limited edition supercars and one-off cars; and track cars. It also provides racing cars, spare parts and engines, and after-sales, repair, maintenance, and restoration services for cars.

RACE’s revenue grew at a CAGR of 18.2% over the past three years. Its EBITDA grew at a CAGR of 24.2% over the past three years. In addition, its EPS grew at a CAGR of 29.1% in the same time frame.

In terms of the trailing-12-month net income margin, RACE’s 19.46% is 342.8% higher than the 4.40% industry average. Likewise, its 30.86% trailing-12-month EBITDA margin is 180.3% higher than the industry average of 11.01%. Furthermore, the stock’s 6.73% trailing-12-month Capex/Sales is 109.4% higher than the industry average of 3.22%.

RACE’s net revenues for the second quarter ended June 30, 2023, increased 14.2% year-over-year to €1.47 billion ($1.55 billion). Its adjusted EBITDA rose 32.1% over the prior-year quarter to €589 million ($620.54 million). The company’s adjusted EBIT increased 35.3% year-over-year to €437 million ($460.40 million).

Its adjusted net profit rose 33.1% year-over-year to €334 million ($351.89 million). Also, its adjusted EPS came in at €1.83, representing an increase of 34.6% year-over-year.

Analysts expect RACE’s revenue for the quarter ending September 30, 2023, to increase 25.8% year-over-year to $1.55 billion. Its EPS for the fiscal period ending March 2024 is expected to increase 8.8% year-over-year to $1.94. It surpassed the consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters.

General Motors Company (GM)

GM designs, builds, and sells trucks, crossovers, cars, and automobile parts; and provides software-enabled services and subscriptions worldwide. The company operates through GM North America, GM International, Cruise, and GM Financial segments.

On August 16, 2023, GM invested $60 million in a Series B financing round of AI and battery materials innovator Mitra Chem. The company’s AI-powered platform and advanced research and development facility in Mountain View, California, will help accelerate GM’s commercialization of affordable EV batteries.

Gil Golan, GM vice president, Technology Acceleration and Commercialization, said, “This is a strategic investment that will further help reinforce GM’s efforts in EV efforts in EV batteries, accelerate our work on affordable battery chemistries like LMFP, and support our efforts to build a U.S.-focused battery supply chain.

On April 25, 2023, GM and Samsung SDI announced that they plan to invest more than $3 billion to build a new battery cell manufacturing plant in the United States, slated to start operations in 2026.

GM Chair and CEO Mary Barra said, “GM’s supply chain strategy for EVs is focused on scalability, resiliency, sustainability, and cost-competitiveness. Our new relationship with Samsung SDI will help us achieve all these objectives. The cells we will build together will help us scale our EV capacity in North America well beyond 1 million units annually.”

GM’s revenue grew at a CAGR of 13.6% over the past three years. Its EBIT grew at a CAGR of 46.6% over the past three years. In addition, its net income grew at a CAGR of 82.4% in the same time frame.

In terms of the trailing-12-month levered FCF margin, GM’s 7.27% is 42.3% higher than the 5.11% industry average. Likewise, its 15% trailing-12-month Return on Common Equity is 34.2% higher than the industry average of 11.17%. Furthermore, the stock’s 5.95% trailing-12-month Capex/Sales is 84.9% higher than the industry average of 3.22%.

For the second quarter ended June 30, 2023, GM’s total revenues increased 25.1% year-over-year to $44.75 billion. Its net income attributable to stockholders rose 51.7% year-over-year to $2.57 billion. The company’s adjusted EBIT rose 38% year-over-year to $3.23 billion. Also, its adjusted EPS came in at $1.91, representing a 67.5% increase year-over-year.

For the quarter ending September 30, 2023, GM’s revenue is expected to increase 3.9% year-over-year to $43.52 billion. Its EPS for fiscal 2023 is expected to increase 1.5% year-over-year to $7.70. It surpassed the consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters.

Li Auto Inc. (LI)

Headquartered in Beijing, the People’s Republic of China, LI designs, develops, manufactures, and sells new energy vehicles in the People’s Republic of China. The company provides Li ONE and Li L series smart electric vehicles. It also offers sales and after-sales management, technology development, corporate management services, as well as purchases of manufacturing equipment.

LI’s revenue grew at a CAGR of 263.4% over the past three years. Its total assets grew at a CAGR of 115.8% over the past three years.

In terms of the trailing-12-month levered FCF margin, LI’s 23.51% is 360.2% higher than the 5.11% industry average. Likewise, the stock’s 7.69% trailing-12-month Capex/Sales is 139.2% higher than the industry average of 3.22%.

LI’s total revenues for the second quarter ended June 30, 2023, increased 228.1% year-over-year to RMB28.65 billion ($3.91 billion). Its gross profit rose 232% over the prior-year quarter to RMB6.24 billion ($853.63 million). The company’s non-GAAP income from operations came in at RMB2.04 billion ($279.07 million), compared to a non-GAAP loss from operations of RMB520.80 million ($71.25 million).

Also, its non-GAAP net income stood at RMB2.73 billion ($373.46 million), compared to a non-GAAP net loss of RMB183.40 million ($25.09 million).

Street expects LI’s revenue for the quarter ending September 30, 2023, to increase 245.3% year-over-year to $4.64 billion. Its EPS for the quarter ending December 31, 2023, is expected to increase 151.7% year-over-year to $0.34. It surpassed the Street EPS estimates in three of the trailing four quarters.

NIO Inc. (NIO)

Based in Shanghai, China, NIO designs, develops, manufactures, and sells smart electric vehicles in China. It offers five- and six-seater electric SUVs and smart electric sedans. The company also offers power solutions, power chargers and destination chargers, power mobile, power map, and One Click for power valet service.

On July 12, 2023, NIO announced that it closed the $738.50 million strategic equity investment from CYVN Investments RSC Ltd, an affiliate of CYVN Holdings L.L.C., an investment vehicle majority owned by the Abu Dhabi Government with a focus on advanced and smart mobility. The NIO and CYVN entities would collaborate strategically in international business and technology cooperation.

NIO’s revenue grew at a CAGR of 70.6% over the past three years. Its total assets grew at a CAGR of 55.7% over the past three years.

In terms of the trailing-12-month Capex/Sales, NIO’s 17.62% is 447.9% higher than the 3.22% industry average.

For the second quarter ended June 30, 2023, NIO’s total revenues fell 14.8% year-over-year to RMB8.77 billion ($1.20 billion). Its adjusted loss from operations widened 132% year-over-year to RMB5.46 billion ($746.93 million). In addition, its adjusted net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders of NIO widened 140.2% year-over-year to RMB5.45 billion ($745.56 million).

Furthermore, its adjusted net loss per share attributable to ordinary shareholders widened 144.8% year-over-year to RMB3.28.

For the quarter ending September 30, 2023, NIO’s revenue is expected to increase 47.2% year-over-year to $2.66 billion.

Insight Into Warren Buffett's Strategy: Unveiling His 40 Million General Motors (GM) Shares and the Investment Implications

Posted on by The INO.com Team

Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK), led by fabled investor Warren Buffett, also fondly known as The Oracle of Omaha, owns 22 million General Motors Company (GM) shares, equating to a 1.6% stake in the legacy U.S. automaker.

A fundamentally robust company such as GM deserves its spot in a conglomerate's portfolio with a reputation for acquiring parts or the entirety of businesses that possess enduring competitive advantages and are likely to be aided by favorable economics in the long run.

On the back of a strong performance in the fiscal 2023 second quarter, the Detroit-headquartered auto giant has raised its guidance for 2023. The company raised its net income expectations for the fiscal from a high end of $9.9 billion to a high end of $10.7 billion. Its automotive division’s free cash flow is also expected to come between $7 billion and $9 billion, up from $5.5 billion to $7.5 billion.

In addition, GM said it is increasing cost-cutting measures through next year and now plans to cut $3 billion in expenditures compared with previous guidance of $2 billion. The financial outperformance driven by the booming traditional automotive business powered by highly profitable trucks and SUVs has enabled the company to ramp up its presence in the electric vehicle (EV) segment.

Consequently, GM reiterated that it would double EV production in the year's second half to 100,000 units. In addition to the long-awaited introduction of an electric Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck and EV versions of Chevy’s Equinox crossover and Blazer compact sport-utility vehicle, the company says it will reach 400,000 cumulative units of EV production by early 2024.

GM also anticipates that its EV business will reach profitability by 2025, with an EV production capacity of 1 million units in North America and EV revenue of roughly $50 billion.

In addition, the company is making itself future-ready by fixing supply-chain issues with measures such as a $60 million investment round in Mitra Chem, a California startup working on cheaper EV batteries. Mitra Chem aims to develop low-cost lithium iron phosphate batteries that can hold more power than current versions. If it’s successful, its batteries could appear in GM’s EVs later this decade.

GM is also developing its Ultium EV platform, which will help reduce costs and improve profitability. In addition, GM is diversifying to more potentially lucrative businesses such as Cruise, its driverless cab service, and BrightDrop, which is focused on helping businesses meet consumer demand for last-mile services.

All the above factors make GM an apparently solid bet in the automotive sector and a far cry from cash-strapped and debt-burdened EV upstarts that are struggling to keep themselves afloat amid increased borrowing cost due to sustained interest-rate hikes and EV price war that has been waged by Tesla, Inc. (TSLA).

The Flip Side

When asked about when to sell stocks, Buffett famously replied, “To break off relationships with people that I like and people that have joined me because they think it’s a permanent home, to do that simply because somebody waves a big check at me would be like selling one of my children.”

So when the legend, whose favorite holding period is forever, decides to cut his stake in GM, a business his company has owned since 2012, by almost half, it can only mean that either BRK is chronically short of funds and has been finding numerous opportunities to put them to better use or the economic characteristics of the business change in a big way.

Since BRK is sitting on a mountain of cash worth at least $147 billion, we can definitely count out the former possibility. As far as the latter is concerned, carmakers in the U.S. and Europe are once again under siege.

However, this time around, the war is on climate change, the goal is rapid decarbonization and energy transition, the battleground is smart, connected, and electric mobility solutions, and the invaders are from the other side of the Pacific, beyond the Sea of Japan.

Recently, after BYD Company Limited (BYDDY) delivered its five millionth electric vehicle, its founder Wang Chuanfu declared the “time has come for Chinese brands.” And he has good reason to be optimistic. Chinese automakers have access to its vast domestic market, abundant supplies of resources, such as rare earths, which are critical for energy transition, and a government keen on seeing its domestic brands compete globally.

China’s dominance in rare earth and other clean energy metals is back in the limelight after the recent export restriction on germanium and gallium. With the trade war between the U.S. and China intensifying amid restrictions on exports of semiconductor chips and investments in other cutting-edge technology by the former, the latter is expected to keep upping the ante.

This could hurt the prospects of Western car manufacturers as they might be compelled to deal with increased input costs on top of exchange-rate headwinds and credit crunch due to the Federal Reserve ratcheting up the benchmark borrowing cost to 5.25%-5.50% from nearly 0% in the space of 16 months. 

While carbon border tax and other protective measures could provide temporary shelter for besieged Western automakers, the beneficiaries stand to lose more if the Chinese government cuts off their access to the massive domestic market on which the Chinese automakers could always fall back upon encountering turbulence overseas.

Moreover, with Vietnamese EV-maker VinFast Auto Ltd. (VFS) surpassing the market capitalization of heavyweights, such as Ford Motor Company (F) and GM, in the words of VW chief Thomas Schaefer, “The roof is on fire,” and according to former Aston Martin chief executive Andy Palmer, manufacturers in Europe and the US face a “real and present danger” from the East.

Bottomline

GM, first added by BRK in 2012, now constitutes merely 0.2% of the conglomerate’s portfolio of marketable securities, which in turn is just a component of its holdings, which are comprised mainly of wholly owned businesses.

Therefore, instead of being denominator blind and jumping on the Buffett bandwagon, it could be wise for investors to hold their horses and verify if Western automakers can hold their own against Oriental challengers before making an investment decision.