Tesla Motors Inc. (Nasdaq: TSLA) – Q1 2011 Earnings Preview
Tuesday, May 03, 2011 10:01 AM

Tesla Motors Inc. (Nasdaq: TSLA) announced that its Q12011 earnings will be released on Wednesday May 4, 2011 after the market close. The company exceeded market expectations in the last two reported quarters. Tesla Motors engages in the design, manufacture and sale of electric vehicles and advanced electric vehicle power train components.

In Q42010:

• Revenue was $36.3 million, a 16 percent increase from the $31.2 million reported in the prior quarter.
• Gross margin improved to 31 percent, up from 30 percent for the prior quarter.
• GAAP net loss for the quarter was $51.4 million as compared with $34.9 million in the prior quarter. 

•  On a non-GAAP basis, net loss was $44.1 million as compared with a non-GAAP net loss of $34.2 million in the prior quarter.

For fiscal year 2010, revenue was $116.7 million as compared with revenue of $111.9 million reported in the prior year. Gross margin improved to 26 percent for the full year 2010, up from 9 percent for 2009.

During Q12011, Tesla opened its Washington, D.C., showroom. The company opened its first showroom in Italy with a gala that attracted more than 400 VIPs, including world-famous personalities in fashion, sports and music.

In a revision to its business outlook for Q12011, the Q12011 average revenue is expected to be $43.40 million, or to be in the range of $37.80 million to $54.46 million. The average EPS for the first quarter is anticipated at $-0.52, or to be in the range of $-0.45 to $-0.57.

The stock last traded at $27.38, down, 0.80 percent, and has an average target price of $36.10. The company has been trading in the range of $14.98 to $36.42 in the past 52 weeks.