New York, Feb 12, 2026, 10:09 EST — Regular session
- Tesla shares held steady in morning trading, lingering around $429.
- Morgan Stanley estimated Tesla’s solar manufacturing efforts might boost its equity value by $20 billion to $50 billion, even while maintaining a neutral rating.
- Investors are digesting fresh China partnerships, new draft regulations on automated driving, and Friday’s U.S. inflation figures.
Tesla shares ticked up 0.1% to $428.56 in mid-morning trading Thursday, after a Morgan Stanley note highlighted the company’s solar plans.
This call is crucial since Tesla’s stock behaves less like a direct reflection of car sales and more like a wager on future developments. Even if vehicle deliveries stay flat, new insights into energy or self-driving tech can still shake up the market.
This comes amid a jittery week for rate-sensitive growth stocks, as traders gear up for inflation numbers that could reshape bets on interest-rate cuts and push equity multiples around.
Morgan Stanley stuck with its “Equalweight” rating on Tesla this week, maintaining a $415 price target. The bank projects Tesla Solar, once running at full capacity, could boost Tesla’s energy business by $20 billion to $50 billion in value—translating to roughly $6 to $14 per share. Currently, Morgan Stanley values the energy segment at $140 billion, or $40 per share. (Investing)
Chief Executive Elon Musk insists solar is far from a side gig. On an earnings call, he called the solar market “underestimated” and outlined plans to ramp up U.S. solar-cell manufacturing to 100 gigawatts annually, along with efforts to tighten the supply chain. (Reuters)
Tesla execs are ramping up hiring for the project. Seth Winger, senior manager for solar products engineering at Tesla, described it as “an audacious, ambitious project” on LinkedIn. TD Cowen analyst Jeff Osborne called the targets “aspirational” for the U.S. solar supply chain over the midterm. Right now, U.S. capacity clocks in at 65 gigawatts for solar modules and 3.2 gigawatts for solar cells, according to Reuters earlier this month. (Reuters)
Tesla is grappling with labor disputes in Europe. The company filed a criminal complaint against an IG Metall union member, accusing them of secretly recording a works council meeting at its Berlin plant, according to an internal memo obtained by Reuters. IG Metall slammed Tesla’s claims as a “calculated lie” just before the March works council elections. (Reuters)
Tesla is deepening its ties with local tech in China. Tencent Cloud announced a partnership with Tesla to integrate WeChat-connected features into its cars, including instant location sharing and destination-based service recommendations. These updates are rolling out over-the-air for Model 3 and Model Y vehicles in China. (Reuters)
China’s regulatory landscape is evolving. The industry ministry put out draft safety rules targeting Level 3 and Level 4 automated driving systems — those are the more advanced hands-off driving tech. The rules require these systems to demonstrate safety comparable to “a qualified and focused driver.” Public feedback is open until April 13. (Reuters)
But the solar story isn’t all straightforward. Producing at that scale is tough, costly, and slow. Even Tesla’s backers have to guess where the company will build, how quickly it can ramp up, and how much money it will burn before seeing any returns.
Macro factors might dictate the next steps even before those events unfold. A surprisingly strong U.S. jobs report has traders pulling back on bets for near-term rate cuts. Now, all eyes are on Thursday’s jobless claims and Friday’s inflation data. (Reuters)
Friday’s U.S. January Consumer Price Index, set for 8:30 a.m. ET, is the next major catalyst. This report frequently rattles high-multiple stocks like Tesla, especially if it shifts expectations for interest rates. (Bls)
