TSLA Stock Today: Waymo Blackout Upgrades Test AVs — December 24

Tesla stock today trades near $485.40, down 0.03%, as the Waymo blackout update puts resilience in autonomous vehicles under the spotlight. After San Francisco outages snarled traffic, Waymo is tweaking robotaxis to act more decisively at dark intersections. For TSLA, the read-through is tighter scrutiny on software behavior, safety data, and city approvals into 2025. With shares close to a record high and strong momentum, investors are weighing valuation against robotaxi optionality and how new rules could shape timelines.

TSLA Price Action and Technical Setup

TSLA is at $485.40, off $0.16 on the day, after a $476.80 to $490.90 range. Shares sit above the 50-day ($442.21) and 200-day ($353.55) averages, with a 52-week high at $498.83 and low at $214.25. Year to date, the stock is up 17.39% and 27.21% over 12 months, showing leadership among large-cap growth.

RSI at 62.57 shows firm momentum without overbought risk. MACD histogram at 3.93 supports a bullish trend, while ADX at 23.09 signals a strengthening but not extreme trend. Stochastic %K at 81.98 and %D at 80.19 suggest near-term upside could slow if buyers pause near resistance. Trend bias remains positive above the 50-day average.

ATR at 18.15 implies roughly 3.7% typical daily swings, so risk sizing matters. Bollinger Bands sit at $499.67 upper, $455.29 middle, and $410.91 lower, framing resistance near $500. Today’s volume is 41.25 million versus 85.30 million average, hinting at lighter holiday liquidity. MFI at 66.03 and OBV strength back steady demand on up days.

Waymo Blackout Update and AV Read-Through

Waymo plans fleet-wide updates after the PG&E power outage snarled several San Francisco intersections. The company says its robotaxis will make clearer decisions at dark signals and complex, low-visibility junctions, improving handoffs and routing choices. See Waymo’s summary and technical notes for details on behaviors tuned for power-loss conditions source.

Power failures test sensor fusion, mapping confidence, and fallback logic in autonomous vehicles. They also raise questions for city agencies on reporting and response. According to CNBC, Waymo’s steps could guide operating rules and expectations for AV players citywide source. Policy and technical upgrades often move together, shaping investor views on robotaxi timelines.

For Tesla stock today, the signal is simple. Resilience in rare, high-stress edge cases will be a bigger focus for regulators and partners. Investors should watch for software release notes, safety metrics, and any city-level guidance on dark intersections. Strong execution may support sentiment for autonomy leaders, while gaps could slow approvals or force added safeguards.

Valuation, Earnings, and Balance Sheet

Next earnings are scheduled for January 28, 2026. Trailing EPS is 1.90 on revenue per share of 29.64. 2024 saw modest revenue growth of 0.95% and a 52% drop in net income, highlighting margin pressure. Net margin stands at 5.51% and gross margin at 17.01%. Investors should watch commentary on software attach rates and cost controls.

TSLA trades at a P/E of 255.47, price-to-sales of 16.41, and price-to-book of 19.66. These premiums imply high expectations for autonomy and energy growth. The equity story leans on software scalability and services mix. Any evidence that autonomy can deepen margins could help support these multiples despite cyclical demand risk.

The balance sheet is sturdy. Current ratio is 2.07, debt-to-equity is 0.17, and working capital totals $33.36 billion. Free cash flow yield is about 0.44% as the company invests for growth. With R&D at roughly 6.17% of revenue, investors should watch how spending converts into safer autonomy features and recurring software revenue.

Positioning Into 2025 for Robotaxi Stocks

Following the blackout, cities may ask for clearer outage playbooks, incident reporting, and performance audits from AV fleets. This could add steps but also standardize expectations. For investors, a common framework can reduce uncertainty if companies meet it. Watch for pilot expansions and state-level guidance that clarify testing and operating scopes.

For Tesla stock today, software progress is the key driver. Look for frequent FSD release notes, driver-monitoring refinements, and safety stats where disclosed. Third-party insurance signals can also help validate risk models. Evidence that cars handle unpowered signals and blocked lanes more confidently should support the autonomy narrative.

Analysts list 33 Buys, 15 Holds, and 11 Sells, with a median target of $410 and a high of $600. Price sits near resistance at the $498.83 high and the $499.67 upper Bollinger Band. First support areas are near $460 to $455. Position sizes should reflect ATR near $18 and lighter holiday volumes.

Final Thoughts

Tesla stock today reflects strong momentum, rich valuation, and rising attention on autonomy resilience after the Waymo blackout update. We see three practical takeaways. First, watch technical levels around $500 resistance and $455 to $460 support to manage entries and stops. Second, track policy notes and software updates that address power-outage edge cases, since they influence approvals and timelines. Third, monitor January’s earnings for margin commentary, FSD adoption trends, and any color on safety metrics. If Tesla shows steady software progress and city acceptance, premium multiples can hold. If not, expectations may reset. Stay data-driven and size positions to volatility.

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The content shared by Meyka AI PTY LTD is solely for research and informational purposes.  Meyka is not a financial advisory service, and the information provided should not be considered investment or trading advice.