We recently published a list of the 13 NASDAQ Stocks with the Highest Upside Potential. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) stands against other NASDAQ stocks with high upside potential.
On April 7, Dan Ives of Wedbush Securities joined CNBC’s ‘Squawk on the Street’ to discuss how the current tariff environment could impact tech supply chains. Musk’s actions and Trump’s tariffs have contributed to broad economic uncertainty, which Ives also referred to as the economic Armageddon for US tech in an earlier conversation. He expressed concern about the structural supply chain challenges posed by recent tariffs and geopolitical tensions. Ives highlighted that the US tech sector has historically maintained an edge over China but this could be wiped out if manufacturing were relocated to the US. The logistical hurdles of building manufacturing plants in the US are not negligible and it would take 4 to 5 years to establish facilities capable of sustaining production levels comparable to those in Asia.
He also acknowledged that he hasn’t downgraded major stocks like the ones in MAG7 but remains cautious. If these previously highlighted issues persist for months, Ives anticipates drastic cuts in earnings. This uncertainty surrounding tariffs could lead to lower demand for emerging technologies like AI and cybersecurity. He explained that this situation could severely impact the US tech companies and lead to broader cuts across the tech sector — potentially up to 25% in earnings. He also criticized Elon Musk’s political involvement, which he believes has caused permanent damage to his brand and customer base. He estimated a 20% demand destruction in Europe and 10% in the US.
Our Methodology
We used the Finviz stock screener to select the 13 stocks with the highest analysts’ upside potential (at least 35%) as of April 8. The stocks are ranked in ascending order of their upside potential. We have also added the hedge fund sentiment for each stock, as of Q4 2024, which was sourced from Insider Monkey’s database.
Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).
Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA)
Average Upside Potential as of April 8: 43.60%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 126
Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) is a global EV manufacturer and energy generation and storage systems company. Its Automotive segment offers products and services related to EVs, while the Energy Generation and Storage segment engages with solar products and services for residential, commercial, and industrial customers.
Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) is relatively insulated from the current tariff environments as compared to other major automakers in the US because of a higher degree of vertical integration than traditional automakers. However, it does heavily rely on international sources, like China, for a substantial amount of its parts and batteries. Given this risk, Wedbush reduced the company’s price target from $550 to $315 on April 8, while reaffirming an Outperform rating.
The company’s autonomous driving and AI-related initiatives are anticipated to eventually make up 90% of its valuation. Optimus can generate over $10 trillion in revenue for Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA). Internal plans call for building ~10,000 Optimus robots in 2025 alone. The initial robotaxi rollout plans in select US cities will also strengthen the company’s market presence in autonomous vehicle technology.
Nightview Capital views this company as a leader in the real-world AI space and stated the following regarding Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) in its Q4 2024 investor letter:
“Artificial intelligence is no longer just a promise—it’s becoming the defining force of the modern economy. From self-driving vehicles to humanoid robotics, intelligent systems are not only enhancing efficiency but unlocking entirely new markets. These systems process and learn from vast amounts of real-world data, iterating and improving at a scale no human could achieve.
In our view, this isn’t just innovation; it’s exponential evolution. Companies leading the AI revolution are building formidable data moats, making it nearly impossible for latecomers to compete. Every mile driven by an autonomous vehicle, every task completed by an industrial robot—these actions feed a cycle of continuous improvement.
Industries like transportation, healthcare, and logistics are on the brink of massive disruption, and we believe this is a pivotal moment.
Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA): Core Opportunity: As highlighted in our 3Q investor letter, we believe Tesla’s leadership in real-world AI continues to be underestimated by the market. After a period of relatively flat growth, we see Tesla at the cusp of the next S-curve of transformation, driven by advancements in autonomous driving, energy storage, and electric vehicles. These multi-trillion-dollar markets offer Tesla a unique, integrated growth trajectory unmatched by competitors…” (Click here to read the full text)
Overall, TSLA ranks 9th on our list of NASDAQ stocks with the highest upside potential. While we acknowledge the growth potential of TSLA, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold great promise for delivering high returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. There is an AI stock that went up since the beginning of 2025, while popular AI stocks lost around 25%. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than TSLA but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires
Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
