
即便是一貫看好特斯拉(Tesla)的分析師群體,也紛紛對(duì)該公司第一季度的慘淡業(yè)績發(fā)出預(yù)警,,這種悲觀預(yù)期在4月初披露的季度交付數(shù)據(jù)中已初現(xiàn)端倪,。
但4月22日盤后公布的財(cái)報(bào)數(shù)據(jù),其糟糕程度仍遠(yuǎn)超市場預(yù)期,。特斯拉汽車銷售收入同比暴跌20%,,降至140億美元。盡管工業(yè)和家用電池儲(chǔ)能業(yè)務(wù)在過去12個(gè)月表現(xiàn)強(qiáng)勁,,但公司整體營收仍驟降9%,。銷售下滑重創(chuàng)了特斯拉的盈利能力,導(dǎo)致凈利潤暴跌近40%,,只有4.09億美元,,遠(yuǎn)低于華爾街預(yù)期的超6億美元。
在去年第四季度財(cái)報(bào)(同樣糟糕但程度稍輕)發(fā)布后,,筆者引入了一個(gè)新概念來衡量特斯拉現(xiàn)有業(yè)務(wù)(幾乎完全由汽車,、電池及少量服務(wù)業(yè)務(wù)構(gòu)成)創(chuàng)造的可重復(fù)性核心收益。為得出這一指標(biāo),,筆者剔除了一次性收益,,包括2023年第四季度的巨額稅收優(yōu)惠,以及該季度因比特幣持倉增值6億美元帶來的非現(xiàn)金收益,。筆者還排除了向競爭對(duì)手出售監(jiān)管積分的收益——馬斯克本人也承認(rèn)這只是一項(xiàng)短期收入,。
我們稱之為"硬核利潤"的指標(biāo),揭示了特斯拉當(dāng)前高達(dá)8,120億美元的市值中有多少是基于其現(xiàn)有業(yè)務(wù)(盡管該業(yè)務(wù)正在萎縮),,又有多少源于馬斯克對(duì)完全自動(dòng)駕駛汽車,、軟件和無人駕駛出租車的承諾。迄今為止,,這些承諾仍如海市蜃樓般遙不可及,。
過去一個(gè)季度,特斯拉的“硬核”業(yè)務(wù)出現(xiàn)虧損
在計(jì)算該數(shù)據(jù)時(shí),筆者以4.09億美元凈利潤為起點(diǎn),,然后扣除出售監(jiān)管積分帶來的稅后利潤4.33億美元,。這部分利潤超過了特斯拉總利潤的100%。過去四個(gè)季度,,特斯拉“硬核”(理論上“可重復(fù)”)利潤總額為35億美元,。據(jù)此計(jì)算,其調(diào)整后市盈率已高達(dá)230倍(8,120億美元市值除以35億美元利潤),。值得一提的是,,在2022年巔峰時(shí)期,特斯拉年度“硬核利潤”接近120億美元,,是過去12個(gè)月的三倍有余,。
假設(shè)汽車電池業(yè)務(wù)的市盈率為20倍,這已經(jīng)是全球行業(yè)平均水平的兩倍,。按照這個(gè)假設(shè),,特斯拉當(dāng)前正常運(yùn)營的業(yè)務(wù)估值也僅為700億美元。而7,420億美元市值差額,,本質(zhì)上是對(duì)馬斯克能在此基礎(chǔ)之上創(chuàng)造資本主義史上空前收益增長的盲目信任投票——對(duì)于特斯拉這種體量和發(fā)展階段的公司而言,,這更是史無前例的豪賭。
若投資者期望獲得10%的年化回報(bào),,特斯拉股價(jià)需在七年內(nèi)從當(dāng)前的235美元翻倍至470美元,。特斯拉股價(jià)幾個(gè)月前確實(shí)曾經(jīng)達(dá)到這一水平。但與特朗普當(dāng)選后的狂熱時(shí)期相比,,如今特斯拉的前景已明顯黯淡許多,。股價(jià)翻倍意味著特斯拉市值也必須翻倍,需超過1.6萬億美元,。即便繼續(xù)按照30倍市盈率的慷慨預(yù)期,,特斯拉的凈利潤需突破500億美元。僅靠汽車業(yè)務(wù)顯然無法企及,。特斯拉需要在目前還處在空頭支票階段的業(yè)務(wù)領(lǐng)域中,,創(chuàng)造出相當(dāng)于蘋果公司(Apple)當(dāng)前利潤一半的收益。
馬斯克的“障眼法”
特斯拉在第一季度的新聞稿中,,將慘淡業(yè)績歸咎于“汽車和能源市場的不確定性持續(xù)加劇,,快速演變的貿(mào)易政策對(duì)特斯拉及同行的全球供應(yīng)鏈和成本結(jié)構(gòu)造成負(fù)面影響”,。換言之,,這家公司正在指責(zé)馬斯克在白宮的“上司”。但在特斯拉擁躉的眼中,,馬斯克再次力挽狂瀾,。第一季度的財(cái)報(bào)宣布,該電動(dòng)汽車巨頭將在2025年年中推出萬眾期待的平價(jià)版全新Model Y,并計(jì)劃2026年在總部所在地奧斯汀推出無人駕駛出租車車隊(duì),。
市場至少暫時(shí)給出了積極回應(yīng),。4月22日,特斯拉股價(jià)日間飆升4.6%后,,盤后再漲3.5%,。這讓人想起音樂劇電影《歡樂音樂妙無窮》(The Music Man)中的情節(jié):狡黠的推銷員哈羅德·希爾用華美辭令蠱惑河城百姓,讓他們?yōu)橛肋h(yuǎn)“即將到來”的長號(hào)和單簧管等樂器買單,。他編織的軍樂隊(duì)幻象令觀眾如癡如醉,。
但與埃隆·馬斯克相比,電影里的情節(jié)不值一提,。(財(cái)富中文網(wǎng))
譯者:劉進(jìn)龍
審校:汪皓
即便是一貫看好特斯拉(Tesla)的分析師群體,,也紛紛對(duì)該公司第一季度的慘淡業(yè)績發(fā)出預(yù)警,這種悲觀預(yù)期在4月初披露的季度交付數(shù)據(jù)中已初現(xiàn)端倪,。
但4月22日盤后公布的財(cái)報(bào)數(shù)據(jù),,其糟糕程度仍遠(yuǎn)超市場預(yù)期。特斯拉汽車銷售收入同比暴跌20%,,降至140億美元,。盡管工業(yè)和家用電池儲(chǔ)能業(yè)務(wù)在過去12個(gè)月表現(xiàn)強(qiáng)勁,但公司整體營收仍驟降9%,。銷售下滑重創(chuàng)了特斯拉的盈利能力,,導(dǎo)致凈利潤暴跌近40%,只有4.09億美元,,遠(yuǎn)低于華爾街預(yù)期的超6億美元,。
在去年第四季度財(cái)報(bào)(同樣糟糕但程度稍輕)發(fā)布后,筆者引入了一個(gè)新概念來衡量特斯拉現(xiàn)有業(yè)務(wù)(幾乎完全由汽車,、電池及少量服務(wù)業(yè)務(wù)構(gòu)成)創(chuàng)造的可重復(fù)性核心收益,。為得出這一指標(biāo),筆者剔除了一次性收益,,包括2023年第四季度的巨額稅收優(yōu)惠,,以及該季度因比特幣持倉增值6億美元帶來的非現(xiàn)金收益。筆者還排除了向競爭對(duì)手出售監(jiān)管積分的收益——馬斯克本人也承認(rèn)這只是一項(xiàng)短期收入,。
我們稱之為"硬核利潤"的指標(biāo),,揭示了特斯拉當(dāng)前高達(dá)8,120億美元的市值中有多少是基于其現(xiàn)有業(yè)務(wù)(盡管該業(yè)務(wù)正在萎縮),又有多少源于馬斯克對(duì)完全自動(dòng)駕駛汽車,、軟件和無人駕駛出租車的承諾,。迄今為止,這些承諾仍如海市蜃樓般遙不可及,。
過去一個(gè)季度,,特斯拉的“硬核”業(yè)務(wù)出現(xiàn)虧損
在計(jì)算該數(shù)據(jù)時(shí),,筆者以4.09億美元凈利潤為起點(diǎn),然后扣除出售監(jiān)管積分帶來的稅后利潤4.33億美元,。這部分利潤超過了特斯拉總利潤的100%,。過去四個(gè)季度,特斯拉“硬核”(理論上“可重復(fù)”)利潤總額為35億美元,。據(jù)此計(jì)算,,其調(diào)整后市盈率已高達(dá)230倍(8,120億美元市值除以35億美元利潤)。值得一提的是,,在2022年巔峰時(shí)期,,特斯拉年度“硬核利潤”接近120億美元,是過去12個(gè)月的三倍有余,。
假設(shè)汽車電池業(yè)務(wù)的市盈率為20倍,,這已經(jīng)是全球行業(yè)平均水平的兩倍。按照這個(gè)假設(shè),,特斯拉當(dāng)前正常運(yùn)營的業(yè)務(wù)估值也僅為700億美元,。而7,420億美元市值差額,本質(zhì)上是對(duì)馬斯克能在此基礎(chǔ)之上創(chuàng)造資本主義史上空前收益增長的盲目信任投票——對(duì)于特斯拉這種體量和發(fā)展階段的公司而言,,這更是史無前例的豪賭,。
若投資者期望獲得10%的年化回報(bào),特斯拉股價(jià)需在七年內(nèi)從當(dāng)前的235美元翻倍至470美元,。特斯拉股價(jià)幾個(gè)月前確實(shí)曾經(jīng)達(dá)到這一水平,。但與特朗普當(dāng)選后的狂熱時(shí)期相比,如今特斯拉的前景已明顯黯淡許多,。股價(jià)翻倍意味著特斯拉市值也必須翻倍,,需超過1.6萬億美元。即便繼續(xù)按照30倍市盈率的慷慨預(yù)期,,特斯拉的凈利潤需突破500億美元,。僅靠汽車業(yè)務(wù)顯然無法企及。特斯拉需要在目前還處在空頭支票階段的業(yè)務(wù)領(lǐng)域中,,創(chuàng)造出相當(dāng)于蘋果公司(Apple)當(dāng)前利潤一半的收益,。
馬斯克的“障眼法”
特斯拉在第一季度的新聞稿中,將慘淡業(yè)績歸咎于“汽車和能源市場的不確定性持續(xù)加劇,,快速演變的貿(mào)易政策對(duì)特斯拉及同行的全球供應(yīng)鏈和成本結(jié)構(gòu)造成負(fù)面影響”,。換言之,這家公司正在指責(zé)馬斯克在白宮的“上司”,。但在特斯拉擁躉的眼中,,馬斯克再次力挽狂瀾。第一季度的財(cái)報(bào)宣布,,該電動(dòng)汽車巨頭將在2025年年中推出萬眾期待的平價(jià)版全新Model Y,,并計(jì)劃2026年在總部所在地奧斯汀推出無人駕駛出租車車隊(duì),。
市場至少暫時(shí)給出了積極回應(yīng),。4月22日,,特斯拉股價(jià)日間飆升4.6%后,盤后再漲3.5%,。這讓人想起音樂劇電影《歡樂音樂妙無窮》(The Music Man)中的情節(jié):狡黠的推銷員哈羅德·希爾用華美辭令蠱惑河城百姓,,讓他們?yōu)橛肋h(yuǎn)“即將到來”的長號(hào)和單簧管等樂器買單。他編織的軍樂隊(duì)幻象令觀眾如癡如醉,。
但與埃隆·馬斯克相比,,電影里的情節(jié)不值一提。(財(cái)富中文網(wǎng))
譯者:劉進(jìn)龍
審校:汪皓
Even the perennially bullish crowd of analysts covering Tesla warned of sorely disappointing results in Q1, a view signaled by the poor deliveries for the quarter reported in early April.
But the numbers released after the market close on April 22 were much, much worse than expected. Automotive sales tumbled 20% over the same period last year to $14 billion. Despite a strong 12-month gain in its industrial and residential battery storage franchise, overall revenues plunged 9%. Falling sales hammered profitability, sending net income down nearly 40% to a piddling $409 million, far below the over $600 million forecast by Wall Street.
Following the bad, but not nearly as bad Q4 report, this writer introduced a new concept for measuring Tesla’s repeatable, bedrock earnings generated by its current businesses—almost exclusively comprising cars and batteries, plus a small services unit. To get there, I eliminated such one-time gains as a big tax benefit in the final quarter of 2023, and a noncash profit on the $600 million write-up of its Bitcoin holdings in Q4. I also eliminated earnings from the sale of regulatory credits to competing carmakers, a benefit that Musk himself says will prove ephemeral.
What we’ll call hardcore profits show just how much of Tesla’s gigantic—currently $812 billion—market cap is justified by what it’s doing now, though its present business is declining, and how much owes to Musk’s promises for full self-driving vehicles and software and robotaxis. So far, those assurances have proved a constantly receding horizon.
In the past quarter, Tesla lost money on ‘hardcore’ businesses
To get to that number, I started with net earnings of $409 million, and subtracted its after-tax profit from the sale of regulatory credits. That figure is $433 million, and accounts for over 100% of Tesla’s total profits. For the past four quarters, Tesla has posted a “hardcore,” hopefully “repeatable” number of $3.5 billion. Hence, it’s now selling at an adjusted P/E of over 230 (the $812 billion valuation divided by my profit number of $3.5 billion). By the way, at its peak in 2022, Tesla’s “hardcore number” for the year was almost $12 billion, over three times what it achieved in the past 12 months.
Let’s give the car-battery business a P/E of 20, twice the global industry average, just to be generous. That puts the worth of its currently up-and-running operations at $70 billion. The entire difference of $742 billion is essentially a blind vote of confidence that Musk will deliver years of earnings growth from here seldom witnessed in the annals of capitalism and never achieved by a player of Tesla’s age and size.
If you want a 10% return from here, Tesla’s stock price would need to double from today’s $235 to $470 in seven years. Of course, Musk’s machine got there just a couple of months ago. But the future looks a lot dimmer now than it did in the heady days following Trump’s election. Hitting the worth means Tesla’s market cap must also double, to over $1.6 trillion. At a, once again, generous forecast of a 30 P/E, the net earnings required are well over $50 billion. Cars won’t do it. Tesla would need to earn half of what Apple generates now on franchises that today remain in the realm of gauzy assurances.
It looks like Musk once again is fogging investors’ minds
The Tesla Q1 press release blamed the miserable performance on “uncertainty in the automotive and energy markets [that] continues to increase as rapidly evolving trade policy adversely impacts global supply chain and cost structure of Tesla and our peers.” In other words, Tesla is blaming Musk’s boss in the White House. But in the minds of Tesla fans, Musk once again saved the day. The Q1 statement announced the EV giant would indeed launch the long-awaited, affordable, apparently all-new Model Y by mid-2025, and would introduce a fleet of robotaxis in its hometown of Austin in 2026.
The market is cheering, at least for now. In after-hours trading on April 22, Tesla gained 3.5% following a 4.6% jump during the day. In the movie musical The Music Man, slick salesman Harold Hill charmed the good townspeople of mythical River City into paying up for carloads of trombones and clarinets that were always just about to arrive. Hill’s wordplay instilled visions of a great marching band that intoxicated his audience.
The Music Man’s got nothing on Elon Musk.