One experienced analyst calls Tesla the "most undervalued AI name." While Tesla's shares (TSLA) have surged to record highs this year, even greater growth could come in 2026. This growth isn’t primarily about manufacturing cars but is tied to the vast potential of artificial intelligence (AI).
Although Tesla is usually seen as an electric vehicle (EV) company, its valuation reveals something unusual. Tesla's shares trade at nearly 17 times sales, far higher than EV competitors like Rivian Automotive and Lucid Group, which trade between 3 and 7 times sales.
"It can take 10 to 20 years to bring a new vehicle from design to production, especially if the start-up in question has no existing manufacturing infrastructure."
Starting an EV company with even one model requires enormous time and capital, making Tesla's position in the market highly valuable.
Tesla's extraordinary valuation reflects not just its dominance in electric vehicles, but the massive future potential in artificial intelligence-driven growth.