TLDR
- Tesla stock jumped 4.1% to $413.50 as the company ramps up hiring for Elon Musk’s plan to build 100 GW of U.S. solar manufacturing capacity by end of 2028
- Job postings reveal Tesla’s first concrete timeline for the solar project, targeting production from raw materials on American soil within three years
- Oppenheimer Asset Management increased its Tesla stake by 17.5% in Q3, while institutional ownership now stands at 66.2% of shares
- Tesla beat Q4 earnings expectations with $0.50 EPS versus $0.45 consensus, though revenue fell 3.1% year-over-year to $24.90 billion
- The company faces competitive pressure after Volkswagen overtook Tesla as Europe’s top EV seller in 2025, while trading at a P/E ratio near 381
Tesla stock climbed 4.1% to $413.50 on February 9 as investors responded to new details about the company’s large-scale solar manufacturing expansion. The move extends a rebound from recent consolidation lows.
The stock is holding above the psychologically important $400 level. This zone has absorbed multiple pullbacks since mid-January.
The 50-day moving average is trending higher and sits just below current prices. The 200-day moving average remains in the mid-$360s, confirming the broader trend stays positive.
New job postings revealed Tesla’s goal to deploy 100 GW of domestic solar capacity by the end of 2028. This marks the first time the company attached a concrete timeline to the project.
Seth Winger, Tesla senior manager for solar products engineering, called it an “audacious, ambitious project” in a LinkedIn post. The company is seeking engineers and scientists to help scale manufacturing at breakneck speed.
A job posting for a solar manufacturing development engineer stated the goal is to “deploy 100GW of solar manufacturing from raw materials on American soil before the end of 2028.” Musk had not previously given a timeline for the goal.
Institutional Investors Increase Stakes
Oppenheimer Asset Management grew its Tesla position by 17.5% during Q3. The fund purchased an additional 8,804 shares to hold 59,155 shares worth approximately $26.31 million.
Norges Bank acquired a new stake in Tesla valued at $11.84 billion in the second quarter. Total institutional ownership now stands at 66.2%.
Other institutional investors made changes to their positions. AustralianSuper Pty Ltd raised its stake by 1,823% during Q2.
Tesla reported Q4 earnings on January 28, beating analyst expectations. The company posted $0.50 earnings per share versus the $0.45 consensus estimate.
Revenue came in at $24.90 billion, down 3.1% year-over-year. The stock trades at a P/E ratio of 380.66 with a market cap of $1.54 trillion.
Analysts maintain a consensus “Hold” rating with an average price target of $403.92. Seventeen analysts have Buy ratings, fourteen have Hold ratings, and nine have Sell ratings.
Competition Intensifies in EV Market
Volkswagen overtook Tesla as Europe’s top EV seller in 2025. Volkswagen’s European BEV sales surged 56% while Tesla registrations dropped 27%.
BYD had previously surpassed Tesla in global sales a year earlier. The market share erosion represents structural challenges rather than temporary demand issues.
Tesla is expanding beyond vehicles with solar ambitions, a vehicle-to-grid pilot in Texas, and AI robotics initiatives. The company launched a program allowing Cybertruck owners to earn bill credits by sending power back to the grid.
The U.S. currently has 65 GW of solar module capacity and just 3.2 GW of solar cell capacity. Setting up 100 GW of solar manufacturing would be a staggering feat.
TD Cowen analyst Jeff Osborne called the targets “aspirational rather than likely for the U.S. solar supply chain in the midterm.” Musk is known for making big promises on ambitious timelines that often don’t materialize.
Tesla acquired a Buffalo factory through its 2016 SolarCity acquisition and aimed for 1 GW of solar production. Manufacturing partner Panasonic left the project in 2020.
The stock faces immediate resistance near $430, followed by a stronger supply zone between $460 and $480. A sustained break below $395 would weaken the technical structure.
Director Kimbal Musk sold 56,820 shares on December 9 at an average price of $450.66 for total proceeds of $25.6 million. CFO Vaibhav Taneja sold 2,637 shares on December 8 at $443.93.
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