Tesla Inc (NASDAQ: TSLA)’s CEO can drive
the stock with his enthusiasm and crush
it with his ennui.
After catalyzing an 8-percent slide with dismissive
remarks about Tesla’s earnings and strategy, Elon Musk defended his posture Friday.
In a series of tweets, Musk initiated a “tedious discussion
about Tesla stock” where he delineated circumstances around Wednesday’s conference call.
“First, it’s important to know that Tesla is the most shorted (meaning most bet against) stock on the market & has been for
a while,” he tweeted. “[...] The 2 questioners I ignored on the Q1 call are sell-side analysts who represent a short seller thesis,
not investors.”
Musk reflected on two interactions that drew particular criticism.
Bernstein analyst Toni Sacconaghi Jr. was told “boring, bonehead questions are not cool” after inquiring about capital
requirements, and a Model 3 reservation question from RBC’s Joseph Spak prompted a sharp and sustained shift from analyst questions
to those of a retail investor.
One tweeter pushed back on the Model 3 position and requested indications for sustainable demand.
Tesla's stock closed Thursday at $284.45 per share.
Related Links:
Tesla's
Q1 Earnings Recap: Per-Share Loss Better Than Expected, Model 3 Updates
With
Consumer Happiness Dropping, Is Tesla In Real Trouble?
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