Here are the key news stories impacting Tesla this week: Positive Sentiment: U.S. regulators gave Tesla a five‑week extension to respond to the NHTSA probe into Full Self‑Driving traffic violations, reducing immediate regulatory pressure and buying time ahead of earnings. . Positive Sentiment: Data on owner loyalty and recent loyalty awards suggest strong repeat purchase behavior among Tesla drivers, supporting recurring vehicle demand and aftermarket revenue stability. . Positive Sentiment: Tesla highlighted a new lithium refinery in Texas aimed at strengthening its U.S. battery supply chain, which can help margin and production resilience long term. . Neutral Sentiment: Investors are trimming positions and booking profits ahead of the Jan. 28 Q4 earnings report, creating short‑term volatility but reflecting a defensive positioning rather than new fundamental news. . Neutral Sentiment: Analysts remain split: several firms still bullish on Tesla’s AI/robotics/energy potential while others flag valuation and delivery risks — leaving little margin for error into earnings. . Neutral Sentiment: Hyundai appointed a former Tesla humanoid‑robot lead as an adviser, highlighting industry talent movement in robotics — a sign of both sector interest and rising competition for talent. . Negative Sentiment: Commentary that a Ford‑BYD battery tie‑up could make Tesla “a footnote” underscores fears of intensified competition on cost and scale that could pressure volumes and margins. . Negative Sentiment: Robotaxi rivals are accelerating — WeRide reports >1,000 AVs and Waymo/NVIDIA remain strong competitors — raising doubts about Tesla’s robotaxi lead and timing for autonomous revenue. . Negative Sentiment: Tesla’s decision to end one‑time Full Self‑Driving purchases and shift to subscription has prompted customer backlash, prompted sales by large holders (eg., ARK) and prompted commentary that Tesla’s perceived software edge may be fading — a near‑term reputational and revenue mix risk. . Negative Sentiment: Analysts and commentators are flagging valuation and slowing deliveries (Q4 deliveries missed estimates), with some downgrades and low price targets that could amplify sell pressure if earnings disappoint. . Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of research firms have issued reports on TSLA. DZ Bank reissued a “sell” rating on shares of Tesla in a research note on Tuesday, January 6th. New Street Research lifted their price objective on Tesla from $520.00 to $600.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 6th. Needham & Company LLC reiterated a “hold” rating on shares of Tesla in a research report on Thursday, October 23rd. Canaccord Genuity Group raised their target price on shares of Tesla from $482.00 to $551.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, December 23rd. Finally, Morgan Stanley set a $425.00 price target on shares of Tesla and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Sunday, December 7th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twenty have assigned a Buy rating, fourteen have given a Hold rating and nine have assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $410.20.