Tesla is one of the market’s most active companies for stockand options traders. It could also look most expensive by various measures, but is it overvalued?
This article will address the question by comparing Elon Musk’s company with other major car makers. It will use common financial ratios and real-world numbers so you can make your own decision aboutTesla shares.
| Metric | Tesla | General Motors | Ford Motor |
| Market Cap | $623B | $57.7B | $50.7B |
| Enterprise Value | $607B | $142B | $147B |
| Forward P/E | 48x | 6.7x | 7.5x |
| EBITDA | $17.4B | $17.8B | $14.1B |
| Revenue | $81.5B | $156.7B | $158B |
| Price / Revenue | 8.4x | 0.4x | 0.4x |
| Expected Revenue Growth | 26% | 3% | -3.9% |
| Cars Sold / Year | 1.3M | 5.9M | 3.9M |
| Employees | 128K | 167K | 173K |
| U.S. Dealerships | 213 | 4,000 | 3,000 |
Tesla Valuation: Market Cap
Tesla is the most valuableautomakerby far. Its market capitalization (stock price times shares outstanding) of $623 billion ranks it sixth among companies on the U.S. stock market. The electric-car company is worth almost 11 times GM and over 12 times F.
However, TSLA has a much cleaner balance sheet because it carries less than $6 billion ofdebt. GM and F, in contrast, have over $110 billion of debt each. Market cap therefore understates the true financial size of GM and F.
This is where stock market investors often use “enterprise value” to judge the size of a company.
Enterprise Value = Market Cap + Debt - Cash
By this measure, TSLA is worth roughly 4 times General Motors and Ford Motor.
Tesla Valuation: Price / Earnings Ratio
The price / earnings ratio, or P/E, is one of the most common measures ofvaluation in the stock market. This is simply a company’s per-share earnings divided by its stock price. Using P/E ratio, Tesla is far more expensive than other car makers like GM and Ford.
Tesla trades for 54 times historic earnings, and 48 times estimated future earnings. That’s 6-7 times the corresponding multiples of its gasoline-powered rivals.
Price / sales, or price / revenue, is another valuation metric. Tesla trades for 8.4 times sales, which places it in the top 15 percent of companies in the S&P 500 index. GM and F, on the other hand, trade for less than 0.5 times revenue. By this measure, Tesla is worth over 17 times more.
Cash Flow Generation
Aside from earnings, analysts can also use cash flow to value Tesla shares. Cash flow adjusts net income to remove accrual accounting mechanisms and gains from investing activities. Analysts can also use cash flow to compare stock prices.
Tesla’s valuation is about 42 times cash flow by this measure. GM trades for less than 4 times cash flow and F trades for about 7 times.
Is Tesla Overpriced?
One major reason why Tesla is valued so much higher than its peers isgrowth. The electric-car maker increased its sales by 37 percent last year. Wall Street analysts anticipate another 26 percent of upside this year.
GM’s sales rose 28 percent last year, while F shrank by 17 percent. They’re both expected to grow less than 4 percent in 2023.
Tesla Valuation: Stores and Units
Investors can also use non-financial measures to compare Tesla with other car makers. How many cars does it sell? How many locations does it have to reach customers?
By this measure TSLA is also much more expensive than peers. It operates only 213 physical stores in the U.S. That’s about 1/19th of GM’s footprint and 1/14th of F’s reach.
| 2022 Change | YTD Change | |
| Tesla | -65% | +64% |
| General Motors | -43% | +28% |
| Ford Motor | -44% | +18% |
TSLA overcomes part of this with a strong online sales model. However, it may create a potential risk over time. Traditional auto makers have much wider distribution and marketing networks across the country. This could let them get in front of a lot more customers very quickly once they start rolling out moreelectric models.
In conclusion, Tesla shares have high valuations based on measures like P/E ratio and price/sales. This mostly results from its strong growth versus traditional automakers like GM and F. Tesla fell more in 2022 but is now rebounding more sharply this year.
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As a financial analyst and enthusiast in the automotive and stock market domains, I bring a wealth of expertise to dissect the article's key concepts and shed light on Tesla's valuation in comparison to other major car manufacturers. My in-depth knowledge spans financial ratios, market metrics, and the intricacies of enterprise valuation.
Market Capitalization: The article rightly emphasizes Tesla's staggering market capitalization of $623 billion, surpassing both General Motors ($57.7 billion) and Ford Motor ($50.7 billion) by a significant margin. This showcases Tesla's dominance in the market, ranking sixth among all U.S. companies.
Enterprise Value: The piece rightly points out that market cap alone may not provide a complete picture. Tesla's cleaner balance sheet, with less than $6 billion in debt, contrasts sharply with GM and Ford, each burdened with over $110 billion in debt. The concept of "enterprise value" (Market Cap + Debt - Cash) places Tesla at roughly four times the size of its competitors, emphasizing a more comprehensive measure of financial size.
Valuation Metrics: The article delves into key valuation metrics, particularly the Price/Earnings (P/E) ratio. Tesla's P/E ratios of 54 times historic earnings and 48 times estimated future earnings starkly contrast with the more conservative metrics of GM (6.7x) and Ford (7.5x). Additionally, the Price/Revenue ratio places Tesla at 8.4 times sales, significantly higher than GM and Ford, which trade for less than 0.5 times revenue.
Cash Flow: The examination extends to cash flow, a crucial metric for assessing a company's financial health. Tesla's valuation at about 42 times cash flow reflects the market's confidence in its future cash-generating potential. In comparison, GM trades for less than 4 times cash flow, and Ford trades for about 7 times.
Growth Factor: Tesla's high valuation is attributed to its exceptional growth, with a 37% increase in sales last year and an anticipated 26% upside this year. This contrasts sharply with the growth rates of GM and Ford, making Tesla's premium justified in the eyes of many investors.
Operational Metrics: Beyond financials, the article touches upon operational metrics like the number of stores and units sold. Tesla's 213 physical stores in the U.S. are dwarfed by GM's footprint and Ford's reach. The article also highlights Tesla's strong online sales model but warns of potential risks compared to the broader distribution networks of traditional automakers.
In conclusion, the article effectively outlines the various dimensions of Tesla's valuation, showcasing its premium based on growth but also hinting at potential risks associated with its operational model. Investors must weigh these factors carefully when forming their opinions on Tesla's stock.
