4 Experts Weigh In on How Tesla's Next Chapter Could Make or Break the Stock
Tesla helped reshape the auto industry, and early investors saw enormous gains. It has been one of the market’s most closely watched stocks for years, but after its massive run, some investors may wonder whether they’ve missed their chance to buy.
Tesla has faced significant challenges, including brand backlash stemming from controversies surrounding CEO Elon Musk, safety concerns and weak sales, particularly for the Cybertruck. Only 20,237 units were sold in 2025, down from 38,965 the previous year, according to Kelley Blue Book’s annual electric vehicle (EV) sales reports and 2025 report.
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However, Tesla’s future isn’t just about electric vehicles anymore. The company is investing heavily in self-driving technology, robotaxis, artificial intelligence, energy storage and robotics for the next phase, raising the question: Is Tesla stock still worth buying?
Here’s what experts are saying.
Why Tesla Stock Could Still Rise
Tesla has a long history of tech-driven and creative breakthroughs, and some experts believe that could continue to drive the stock higher. Melanie Musson, a finance expert with Quote.com, thinks the stock’s recent weakness could create an opportunity.
“Tesla stock dropped after people got mad at Elon Musk," she said. "It’s still recovering, which could make it undervalued right now, especially given Tesla’s history of innovation."
She believes Tesla’s track record of developing new technology could continue to support the stock, although she recommended not buying too much because individual stocks carry risk.
“I would buy it today, but I would keep my investment small,” she said.
Robotaxis and Optimus Could Be Key
Robotaxis, Tesla's autonomous ride-hailing service, and Optimus, the company's humanoid robot designed to perform repetitive, dangerous or other physical tasks, could give Tesla the boost it needs, said David Han, founder of AIStockWire.com.
Tesla's Robotaxi service is already operating in a limited number of markets, while the company continues to work toward scaling the business and bringing Optimus toward mass production.
“The only way Tesla rises from here is if Robotaxi and Optimus start scaling,” Han said. “Both have slipped into 2027 or later, and the current price is betting they show up on time.”
David Shields, financial advisor and CEO of Wealth Watch Advisors, similarly said Tesla needs to "stabilize investor confidence.”
He explained, “Its current areas of focus — autonomous driving, autonomous taxi services, AI, energy storage, software and robotics — must actually generate profits to count.”
The Risk: Tesla May Already Be Priced for Success
The biggest question for investors may be whether Tesla’s future growth is already reflected in its stock price. Han said the only thing that makes Tesla attractive at the current valuation is Musk.
“What I'd want to see first is Robotaxi and Optimus actually up and running in real numbers, not just announced or launched in small batches,” he said. “Right now, the stock price already assumes that's happened, and it hasn't.”
Aigars Pilmanis, founder of VolRadar, said investors should also consider how much of Tesla’s potential movement is already priced into the stock.
“The question that matters more than ‘Is it too late?’ is how much of that move is already priced in,” he said.
Another concern for Han is speculation about a potential merger with SpaceX. Musk has acknowledged the growing overlap between the two companies, fueling speculation about a potential combination. However, he has denied reports that Tesla was considering selling or spinning off its China business to facilitate a possible merger with SpaceX, Reuters reported.
“You have to understand that Musk controls more than 80% of the voting power at SpaceX versus only around 20% at Tesla,” Han said. “So, the merger that gets him more power is Tesla merging into SpaceX, and if that happens, Tesla shareholders would likely see their stock swapped or diluted rather than rewarded.”
For Han, this is a real risk sitting on top of a stock he considers overpriced.
“I wouldn't bet against Musk, but the business hasn't caught up to the stock price yet,” Han said.
With all of that laid out, is it too late to invest in Tesla? The answer depends on whether the company can turn its lofty ambitions into meaningful growth and profits.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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