Potential Landing Spots For Tesla Motors Inc (TSLA)

Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) has been in the news more than most companies recently, but what company wouldn’t be with a share price increase of 294% in the past 12 months? It’s hard to imagine this trend continuing for an extended period of time, especially with the stock trading at 15 times sales, meaning growth is already priced into the stock. The question is, are any companies willing to pay an expensive premium for a company growing as rapidly as Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA)?

Tesla’s becoming more and more expensive

Investors may still be willing to pay for its stock, but the expense of buying Tesla would require some serious cash. Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA)’s market cap grew more than 332% in the past year, and is currently at $14.1 billion. The company expects continued growth, as its outlook for Q2 says, “We expect to be roughly break even on cash flow from operations in Q2, despite launch costs in Europe and a huge increase in service centers, stores, and Supercharger stations.” Tesla will release its earnings in the middle of August, and only then will we know what these figures actually are. What are the most sensible options for Tesla?

Elon Musk has made it clear to companies that he is not opposed to selling Tesla. This past May, he was asked about the potential of being bought out, and his response led many people to believe that there is interest from him–“That’s one of the possible outcomes, I suppose.”

So, if there is interest for him, what companies have the cash to buy Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA), and would make the most sense?

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has roughly $150 billion in available cash–far more than enough to purchase a company like Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA). Elon Musk was asked specifically about this possibility, and again left the door wide open. “They do have a lot of cash. I’d guess it would come from outside the auto industry. It would be a buyer with a very large cash position.”

In Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)‘s quarterly earnings call earlier this week, Tim Cook dropped several clues about its desire to become more involved with vehicles when he said

Having something in the automobile is very, very important. It’s something that people want, and I think that Apple can do this in a unique way and better than anyone else. So it’s a key focus for us.

A recent patent filing of an Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) dashboard could be what Tim Cook was talking about, but there may be more to the story. “Apple can do this in a unique way and better than anyone else,” Cook continued. Right now, Tesla has remarkable cars, and outstanding ratings. Jake Fisher, Consumer Reports’ director of testing, says Tesla’s Model S, “Performs better than anything we’ve ever tested before. Not just the best electric car, but the best car. It does just about everything really, really well.”

Apple wants to be the best, and Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) already is. If Apple doesn’t have an interest in Tesla, let’s look at why Google might.