Tesla stock sinks into bear market territory
'I think it's a bubble,' market strategist says
Tesla Inc. slid into bear-market territory Friday morning as a bruising post-split selloff in its shares continued for a fourth day.
Shares of the Palo Alto, Calif.-based electric-car maker fell below the $398.66 level that indicates a bear market, or drop of at least 20% from its recent peak.
| Ticker | Security | Last | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TSLA | TESLA INC. | 168.26 | -1.92 | -1.13% |
The selloff, while disappointing to new investors who got in at a reduced share price following the 5-for-1 split that went into effect on Aug. 31, was not unforeseen.
“It's a parabolic move,” Matt Maley, Boston-based chief market strategist at Miller Tabak & Co., told FOX Business just ahead of the stock’s 5-for-1 split on Aug. 31. “I'm sorry, but I think it's a bubble.”
The 501% rally in Tesla shares this year through Monday had boosted the company’s market capitalization to $464 billion, or $372 billion more than the $92 billion market value of Ford Motor Co., General Motors Co. and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles combined. On Friday morning, that gap had narrowed to $281 billion.
A close in bear market territory would cap off an eventful week for Tesla shareholders, who in addition to the split learned that the company is selling up to $5 billion of new stock and that Tesla's largest outside shareholder is reducing its stake.
Edinburgh-based investment management firm Baillie Gifford is trimming its holdings to less than 5%, from 6.32%, in order to meet concentration guidelines.
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The day before, Tesla said it would sell up to $5 billion of shares over time to strengthen its balance sheet and for general purposes as it moves forward with plans to build new factories in Austin, Texas, and Germany.