Tesla IncTesla beat delivery estimates but faces scrutiny over $25B capital spending plan and negative free cash flow, creating mixed signals.

Tesla reports second-quarter results after the bell Wednesday, with investors already weighing a delivery beat against questions over its capital spending. The company posted 480,126 deliveries and 451,758 vehicles produced, comfortably ahead of the roughly 406,600 Wall Street had expected, marking a 25% jump from a year ago. The bigger debate on the call is likely to center on Tesla's $25 billion capital budget for 2026 to fund AI infrastructure and Optimus development, a pace analysts expect to push free cash flow to roughly negative $3.25 billion for the quarter. Bank of America reiterated its Buy rating and $460 price target, arguing the payoff is coming, while Ipek Ozkardeskaya, senior analyst at Swissquote, noted Tesla has spent only about $2.5 billion of its $25 billion budget so far this year, raising questions about potential underspending on the very ambitions that underpin its valuation.
Tesla IncTesla beat delivery estimates but faces scrutiny over $25B capital spending plan and negative free cash flow, creating mixed signals.
Bank of America Corp