Tesla (TSLA) earnings report card
The latest results graded A to F: sales, earnings per share and profit margin against what analysts expected and against a year ago, with a plain-English take.
A mixed quarter: profit per share came in 10% above forecasts, but sales missed forecasts by 1.4%.
- Profit per share came in 10% above forecasts.
- Sales missed forecasts by 1.4%.
- Operating margin narrowed 3.2 points: costs grew faster than sales.
👀 Next report: whether margins recover.
| Actual | Expected | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $28.05bn | $28.44bn | ▼ −1.4% miss |
| Earnings per share | $0.48 | $0.44 | ▲ +10% beat |
| Net profit margin | 6.0% | 5.4% | ▲ +0.6 pts |
| The quarter in detail | This quarter | A year ago | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross margin | 19.6% | 18.0% | ▲ +1.6 pts |
| Operating margin | 2.6% | 5.8% | ▼ −3.2 pts |
| Net margin | 2.8% | 4.9% | ▼ −2.1 pts |
| Revenue vs the quarter before | $28.05bn | $28.24bn (quarter before) | ● −0.7% |
How the grade is worked out
| Revenue vs forecast | 4.5 / 20 | −1.4%: +2.5% or more scores full marks, −2.5% or worse scores nothing |
|---|---|---|
| EPS vs forecast | 15.1 / 20 | +10%: +20% or more scores full marks, −20% or worse scores nothing |
| Margin vs forecast | 9.1 / 15 | +0.6 pts: 3 points or more above forecast scores full marks |
Score = points ÷ points available × 100, using whatever figures are known. A from 80, B from 65, C from 50, D from 35, F below; + and − mark the top and bottom of each band. The share price reaction is shown but doesn't count towards the grade.
Expected = analysts' average forecast before the results. Net margin vs forecast uses earnings per share × diluted shares; the quarter in detail uses the company's SEC filing once it's out. A grade of what was reported, not a recommendation.
Reported 21 Oct 2026 · Sources: Finnhub (results and analyst forecasts), SEC EDGAR (company filings)
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