Key Takeaways
- Tesla was one of the worst-performing stocks in the S&P 500 in the first quarter.
- The EV maker has faced falling sales and a backlash to CEO Elon Musk’s involvement in the Trump administration, along with uncertainty about how tariffs could impact its business.
- Tesla shares have lost more than a third of their value since the start of 2025.
Tesla (TSLA) was one of the worst-performing stocks in the S&P 500 in the first quarter, with shares losing more than a third of their value since the start of 2025.
The electric vehicle maker’s stock declined for nine consecutive weeks during the quarter, as sales slumped in key markets and the company faced a backlash to CEO Elon Musk’s political activities, along with uncertainty about how tariffs could impact its business.
In February, Tesla’s sales in the European Union tumbled for a second consecutive month, even as overall new electric vehicle registrations increased. Meanwhile, sales in China declined 50% year-over-year in February as competition from Chinese firms ate into Tesla’s market share.
Musk’s position at the helm of the Trump administration’s cost-cutting Department of Government Efficiency has also raised worries his political involvement is hurting the company’s business, with recent protests and vandalism of Tesla vehicles leading one analyst to call it a “brand tornado crisis.”
Still, Wall Street analysts lean more bullish than bearish on the stock’s prospects, with 11 of the 19 analysts tracked by Visible Alpha giving it a “buy” rating, compared to four “hold” and four “sell” ratings. Their average price target at $349 is roughly a third above the stock’s closing price of $259.16 Monday.