Congo Extends Cobalt Export Ban by Three Months to Curb Supplies
The Democratic Republic of Congo extended a temporary ban on cobalt exports for an additional three months, according to a statement from a regulatory agency, prolonging its efforts to rein in a glut on the international market.
Congo, which produces about three-quarters of the metal used in electric-vehicle batteries, had blocked shipments for four months starting Feb. 22. Supply has surged and prices slumped in recent years, as China's CMOC Group Ltd. ramped up output at two large mines in the central African nation.
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2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Better EV Stock: Ford vs. Tesla
Robotaxis aren't an optional extra for the car industry; they are the future of mobility. One company stands best placed to deliver affordable electric vehicles. The two companies could potentially become partners. These 10 stocks could mint the next wave of millionaires › -The comparison between Ford (NYSE: F) and Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) is valuable and valid because it speaks to where the auto industry is headed and highlights the relative position of each company as it moves toward electric vehicles and robotaxis. Whether it's a legacy automaker (Ford) or a dedicated battery electric vehicle company(Tesla), the key opportunities and challenges are the same. So, which company is better placed to thrive in the future? Tesla's launch of its full-self-driving (FSD) robotaxi is sometimes seen as a tactical move as its electric vehicle (EV) sales and market share come under pressure in 2025, but nothing could be further from the truth. The reality is that major automakers, including Ford, and leading technology companies have invested billions in robotaxis and autonomous driving, and it's an integral part of the future of the auto industry. The reason behind the investment is a recognition that robotaxis have huge profit potential, not least because they offer a long stream of recurring income from ride-per-mile revenue. Another reality is that EVs are not cheap, and if they are the future of the auto industry, automakers need to make them more affordable. They also need to offer robotaxis to make mobility more affordable. However, don't take my word for it. Here's Ford's CEO Jim Farley in 2019 on autonomous driving and robotaxis: "The self-driving system is incredibly important to develop, but it's just one part of building a safe and scalable self-driving service that consumers can trust." Farley went on to outline a timeline for a "commercial self-driving service" in 2021, which Ford would fail to achieve. As for affordable EVs, last year, Farley reiterated the need to offer smaller and more affordable EVs to achieve profitability as an EV maker. The two things are strongly connected. You can't have robotaxi EVs if the vehicles aren't affordable. That's a point that resonated during a recent CNBC interview with Waymo, which has a robotaxi service already in place, yet co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana declined to outline a timeline for the company's profitability. Waymo's lack of profitability means its owner, Alphabet, is going to have to invest significant sums, at a loss, if it wants Waymo to build scale. That creates a huge opportunity for a company like Tesla that is just entering the market and potentially offers a much more commercial and scalable service. Tesla's advantage in scaling robotaxis lies in its ability to transform existing Tesla vehicles into robotaxis, as well as its capability to produce a dedicated robotaxi, the Cybercab. Unlike Waymo, Tesla doesn't need to partner with automakers to build scale. Moreover, Musk has disclosed that Tesla has been in discussions about licensing its FSD to other automakers -- another route to long-term profitability. I'll cut to the chase. If Tesla can make automated driving and robotaxis work, then there's only one winner here, and it's Tesla. First, Ford is a long way from having a profitable EV business. For example, its Model E segment lost $5.1 billion in 2024, and then $849 million in the first quarter of 2025. Ford sold 22,550 EVs in the first quarter, implying it lost almost $38,000 on every EV sold. Moreover, its EV models, the Mustang Mach-E, the F-150 Lightning, and the E-Transit, are far from being affordable EVs. In contrast, Tesla generated $7.1 billion in operating profit in 2024. Despite losing market share amid declining sales, it still dominated the U.S. market, holding 43.5% of the market in the first quarter of 2025. Ford was a distant second with 7.7%. Both Ford and Tesla are planning to release low-cost models in the future, but given Ford's ongoing losses, Tesla's profitability, and its ability to lower its average cost per car, down from above $38,000 in early 2023 to below $35,000 in late 2024, the latter looks far better positioned to do so sustainably. Ford backed off its robotaxi/FSD plans in 2022, following the shutdown of Argo AI by Ford and Volkswagen after years of heavy investment. The company had been created to develop the technology and received billions of dollars in investment from Ford and Volkswagen. For reference, General Motors has also ended robotaxi development. In contrast, Tesla is preparing for the official launch of its unsupervised FSD/robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, this month, and it may be live by the time you read this article. While the launch will be small and highly contained, it still marks the birth of Tesla's robotaxi offering. Musk believes Tesla will have a dedicated, low-cost robotaxi, the Cybercab, in volume production by 2026. Indeed, Ford may end up licensing FSD from Tesla, and to his great credit, Farley has indicated an openness to partnering on FSD. There is no guarantee that Tesla's robotaxi or FSD will be successful, and investors need to closely monitor events. Moreover, Musk has a history of being overly optimistic on such matters. That said, the major automakers have been and are still pursuing the idea of lower-cost EVs and robotaxis and automated driving, and currently, Tesla remains the best-positioned company to meet those aims. It's where the industry wants to be, and Tesla is in pole position. Ever feel like you missed the boat in buying the most successful stocks? Then you'll want to hear this. On rare occasions, our expert team of analysts issues a 'Double Down' stock recommendation for companies that they think are about to pop. If you're worried you've already missed your chance to invest, now is the best time to buy before it's too late. And the numbers speak for themselves: Nvidia: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2009, you'd have $373,066!* Apple: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2008, you'd have $38,158!* Netflix: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2004, you'd have $664,089!* Right now, we're issuing 'Double Down' alerts for three incredible companies, available when you join , and there may not be another chance like this anytime soon.*Stock Advisor returns as of June 9, 2025 Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Lee Samaha has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet and Tesla. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Better EV Stock: Ford vs. Tesla was originally published by The Motley Fool Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
2 Reasons to Sell Tesla Stock in June 2025
Tesla (TSLA) remains one of the most important and influential stocks in the market. Whether you categorize TSLA as a so-called 'Magnificent Seven' stock or not, its market capitalization of more than $1 trillion means that wherever it trends, so go many passive investors' portfolios. Tesla's evolution to the leading U.S. electric vehicle (EV) maker initially had many investors excited. It's also true that Tesla has built an incredible company on this front alone. Dear Tesla Stock Fans, Mark Your Calendars for June 30 3 ETFs with Dividend Yields of 12% or Higher for Your Income Portfolio This Options Tool Can Show You How to Trade Tesla Stock Ahead of Robotaxi Day Our exclusive Barchart Brief newsletter is your FREE midday guide to what's moving stocks, sectors, and investor sentiment - delivered right when you need the info most. Subscribe today! But much of the stock's recent rise can be tied to the firm's latest ambitions around autonomous driving, robotics and artificial intelligence (AI). Additionally, with new lower-priced models reportedly on the horizon, investors have a plethora of potential catalysts to look to as reasons to buy and hold Tesla stock, even at a valuation that many investors may be starting to question. In fact, a number of top experts have begun to do exactly just that. Let's dive into two recent downgrades for Tesla stock and why analysts may be souring on the firm's pathway forward. Analysts from Baird and Argus Research each recently downgraded TSLA stock, citing a number of concerns that they believe investors should be pricing in. Baird put a $320 price target on Tesla, which suggests that the stock (trading above that price target currently) could be a stagnant holding at best over the course of the next year. Baird analysts Ben Kallo and Davis Sunderland noted that Tesla investors' enthusiasm over what's expected to be a high-profile robotaxi launch, as well as a future including a lower-priced EV model, may be exaggerated. Specifically, these analysts project that only around 6,000 robotaxis are likely to hit the roads by the end of next year. That's a far cry from CEO Elon Musk's previous claims. Echoing this sentiment, Argus Research analyst Bill Selesky also downgraded Tesla stock to a 'Hold' rating, suggesting that non-fundamental factors have been unsustainably taking TSLA stock higher. With the macro environment being what it is, and added risk around Tesla stock tied to Musk's relationship with President Donald Trump, there are plenty of reasons aside from the removal of EV tax credits why TSLA may be on shaky footing. Factoring in the qualitative factors these analysts are talking about into any financial model of a company like Tesla is difficult. That said, there are a number of key fundamental metrics we can look at to determine whether Tesla may be overvalued on the basis of its core business alone. In terms of Tesla's overall valuation multiples relative to other automakers — which tend to trade around the single-digit or low double-digit price-earnings (P/E) levels — Tesla stock is certainly expensive. At a P/E ratio of 234 times, a price-sales ratio (P/S) of more than 10 times, and a price-book (P/B) value of nearly 14 times, Tesla is one heck of a pricy automaker when grouped with its larger global peers (in terms of overall sales volume). These multiples reflect some serious margin improvement due to non-EV related business lines picking up over the course of the coming years. And whether that's autonomous robotaxis, robots, Tesla's energy business, or a host of other potential catalysts that Musk will inevitably put forward, this multiple clearly isn't being assigned due to Tesla's core auto business. Overall, Wall Street analysts appear to be trending in the same direction as Argus and Baird. With a mean price target roughly 9% below where TSLA stock currently trades, experts may believe shares could have more downside from here. Indeed, the disparity between Tesla price targets, from a high of $500 to a low of $115, suggests that there's not a strong consensus on where TSLA is headed from here. At a trillion-dollar valuation, a surge to the $500 level would imply Tesla breaking back into the top 10 companies by market capitalization. But given the direction of other 'Magnificent Seven' stocks, it's hard to envision Tesla once again nearing the top of the market cap leaderboard. I tend to agree with the majority of analysts on Tesla stock at this point in time, and do think the various non-fundamental headwinds facing the company are real. We'll have to see where Tesla trends from here. But for now, I'll happily steer clear and watch from the sidelines. On the date of publication, Chris MacDonald did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Rivian Automotive (NasdaqGS:RIVN) Increases Authorized Shares to Over 5 Billion
Rivian Automotive recently secured shareholder approval for amendments to its bylaws, including increasing the number of authorized shares. This occurred in tandem with a 17% increase in the company's share price over the last quarter. Factors such as Rivian's Q1 2025 earnings report, which showed reduced net loss, and its new debt financing could have added weight to this upward trend. Meanwhile, the broader market saw a 10% rise over the past year. The developments at Rivian might have contributed positively, complementing the general market momentum without distinctly diverging from it. We've spotted 2 possible red flags for Rivian Automotive you should be aware of. Trump's oil boom is here — pipelines are primed to profit. Discover the 22 US stocks riding the wave. Rivian Automotive's recent bylaw amendments and share authorization increase potentially signal a readiness to advance on its R2 platform and AI-centric driving innovations. This is anticipated to enhance production efficiency, given the planned manufacturing expansion in Georgia, potentially translating into improved revenue and earnings prospects. Over the past year, the company's total return reached 31.49%, suggesting positive investor sentiment despite historical challenges. This figure, however, underperforms against the U.S. Auto industry's 1-year return of 60.9%, yet it outpaces the broader market's 10% rise during the same period. Rivian's current share price, at US$13.5, is closely aligned with the consensus analyst price target of approximately US$14.23, indicating that market expectations may already reflect anticipated revenue growth and potential operational efficiencies. Analysts estimate Rivian's revenue will grow at an annual rate of 30.6%, outstripping the U.S. market's average forecasted growth rate. Yet, profitability remains elusive, with expectations of continued net losses over the next three years. This positions the company at a high multiple relative to both industry and market peers. The potential impact of tariffs and supply chain risks remains a crucial factor that could influence future earnings projections and necessitates ongoing monitoring. Take a closer look at Rivian Automotive's potential here in our financial health report. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Companies discussed in this article include NasdaqGS:RIVN. This article was originally published by Simply Wall St. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@ Connectez-vous pour accéder à votre portefeuille
