Tesla Motors Inc (TSLA): Numbers to Follow at the Earnings Call

Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA), the maker of all-electric cars, is scheduled to report its second quarter earnings after the bell on Thursday. CNBC‘s Phil LeBeau took a look at the company and provided a preview of its earnings, especially on what investors should look out for in the report coming out in the next several hours.

Besides looking into Tesla’s earnings expectations, LeBeau also looked into the company’s plans to build its Gigafactory to address its battery shortage problem. He also discussed the tenure of Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk, whom he said is likely to stay longer in the company, possibly beyond 2018.

When Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) reports second quarter results, LeBeau said that eyes will be on revenue and profits, and he said there have been various estimates about what the company is likely to report, but he provided figures that are widely expected.

“The number to look for when Tesla reports after the bell is a profit of four cents per share, revenue coming in at $811 million. I should point out that there are some people whispering that that four cents will be easily met and that you should look for a number close to maybe seven or eight cents, but again that is simply what a few people are talking about,” he said.

He went on to say that investors will be interested in more than just top line, and bottom line figures when Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) reports second quarter results. As such, LeBeau mentioned things to do with operating costs, deliveries and update on the planned Gigafactory that the company has talked much about in recent times as it faces cell shortage to the point that its production is trained.

“Remember, there was the agreement signed overnight with Panasonic where Panasonic is going to be one of the primary financial backers of the new Tesla Gigafactory. And that is going to be what we are looking on the earnings call after the bell […],” said LeBeau.

Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) is expected to start Model X deliveries next year, and Model 3 is expected to come out in 2017. On that note, investors will be interested to know if the company is ready for more production.

Disclosure: none