The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights: Tesla, IAA, Fox Factory and General Motors

In This Article:

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL –September 13, 2019 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: Tesla TSLA, IAA Inc. IAA, Fox Factory Holding Corp. FOXF and General Motors Company GM.

Here are highlights from Thursday’s Analyst Blog:

Has Tesla (TSLA) Met Its Match at the German Auto Show?

Tesla’s impressive lineup of electric vehicles (EVs) is built from the ground up, which means the company has had a longer learning cycle. It follows then that there aren’t any standby parts from a regular business that can quickly fill gaps in the supply chain. And yet, it seems pretty well positioned as the world moves toward greener mobility.

That’s because the biggest challenge for EV adoption isn’t the parts, but the supporting infrastructure that isn’t quite there yet. So battery production and charging stations just aren’t keeping up with the number of EVs taking to the roads. And many more are slated to hit the market by 2021, when the EU deadline for a 40% reduction in CO2 emissions kicks in.

The EU wants to reduce emissions by another 37.5% between 2021 and 2030. Failure to comply will lead to a combined 33 billion euros in fines, estimate analysts at Evercore ISI, much higher than the estimated compliance cost of 15.3 billion euros.

So it’s something of a competitive advantage for Tesla that its cars can run longer than anything out there (325 miles for the long-range Model X and 310 miles for the long-range Model S, while the competition is yet to touch 300 miles).

Tesla also has another advantage. While traditional automakers can dip into their parts supply, they also have to fund ever more expensive exhaust treatment for their internal combustion engine (ICE)-driven lineup, while continuing R&D investment in EVs. Tesla doesn’t have to deal with that. It can simply focus on ramping up production and getting more capacity on line.

Then there’s the question of demand. Tesla’s sexy models have wowed the public and despite the issues that users have at times faced, Tesla still has a hard time meeting demand. And all the credit doesn’t go to the company. The U.S. government’s incentives to buyers have gone a long way toward creating this demand. Whereas, in places like the EU, there’s still no consensus among member nations about what could be the amount of such an incentive for buyers.