Tesla (TSLA) investors have had a rough ride lately. But SpaceX just gave them something to cheer about. Over the weekend, SpaceX successfully launched NASA’s Crew-10 mission, sending four astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS). According to Barron’s, this marks the 60th astronaut SpaceX has delivered. It reinforces its dominance as the only U.S. company capable of making the trip.
While this might seem like a SpaceX win, it could also help Tesla. Elon Musk’s leadership connects the two companies. Tesla investors will take any good Musk-related news these days. His political entanglements have raised concerns among Tesla’s core customer base. Meanwhile, Tesla’s sales have struggled in the U.S., Europe, and China. RBC analyst Tom Narayan noted that part of the slowdown is due to a Model Y transition. Customers are waiting for the updated version.
Tesla’s AI Robot Optimus Could Play a Role in SpaceX Missions
Musk added another layer of intrigue by tweeting that SpaceX is targeting a Mars landing in 2026. It will be carrying Optimus, Tesla’s AI-powered humanoid robot. He hinted that if all goes well, human landings could begin as early as 2029.
Optimus is part of Tesla’s growing AI-driven robotics division. Musk—alongside Nvidia (NVDA) CEO Jensen Huang—believes we are on the verge of an era where AI robots will become a mainstream reality. In fact, Tesla plans to start selling Optimus as early as this year. If the robot gains traction, it could turn into a lucrative new revenue stream.
Tesla’s Stock Struggles as Investors Look for a Turnaround
Tesla’s stock is down 49% from its December highs. The eight-week losing streak has seen shares drop 41%. The S&P 500 (SPX) has only lost about 6% in the same period. Despite this, Narayan rates Tesla a Buy with a $440 price target. He sees AI-trained self-driving cars making up 57% of that target. Optimus represents just 1%—a number that could rise if the robot proves itself useful on a Mars mission.
Is Tesla a Buy, Sell, or Hold?
Turning to Wall Street, analysts have a Hold consensus rating on TSLA stock based on 12 Buys, 13 Holds, and 12 Sells assigned in the past three months. Furthermore, the average TSLA price target of $331.07 per share implies 37.6% upside potential.
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