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Tesla Inc. (Nasdaq: TSLA) shares experienced a modest uptick Tuesday, rising 2.17% to $145.13 at the time of writing, as investors eagerly await the electric vehicle maker’s first-quarter earnings report.

The company is expected to face significant challenges, with analysts projecting a decrease in profitability and the worst overall sales since the third quarter of 2022. The consensus earnings per share forecast stands at $0.35.

Tesla Stock Plunged in 2024 Amid Declining Sales

Tesla’s Q1 vehicle deliveries fell short of expectations, marking the company’s first negative annual sales growth since Q2 2020. This decline is primarily attributed to decreased demand in China and a 9% drop in electric car deliveries compared to last year’s comparable quarter. In response to these challenges, Tesla announced a layoff exceeding 10% of its workforce.

Despite today’s slight gains, Tesla stock has experienced a significant drop year-to-date, falling 36% and making it the worst performer among the ‘Magnificent Seven’ tech stocks.

This stark contrast to the substantial gains recorded by tech giants like Nvidia (Nasdaq: NVDA) and Meta Platforms (Nasdaq: META) underscores the severity of Tesla’s underperformance. Recent analyst adjustments reflect a more cautious outlook, with Deutsche Bank downgrading Tesla from Buy to Hold, citing concerns over growth and competition, particularly from China.

Tesla No Longer Mangificent

Tesla has diverged negatively from its peers in the Magnificent Seven, significantly underperforming, while tech giants like Nvidia and Meta Platforms have recorded substantial gains. Intense competition, especially from Chinese manufacturers, has been a critical factor in Tesla’s stock performance decline, as these competitors increasingly take market share in the EV sector.

Tesla’s strategic shifts, notably its focus on advancing its Robotaxi business over other projects like the Model 2 vehicle, have influenced market perceptions and set a new strategic direction for the company.

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