Tesla Motors (TSLA) has to be the most polarizing stock on the planet. Investors, market pundits and journalists alike either absolutely love it or hate it with the fury of a thousand suns. There doesn’t seem to be any middle ground.
Either way, the stock has managed to surge over the last few years, and it continues to reach new highs. At the time of writing, TSLA’s shares are touching the $360 mark – a gain of 67% year-to-date.
But what is driving TSLA? How has a company that is barely profitable become the biggest automaker when considering market cap?
Whatever the reason, TSLA is certainly an odd bird indeed.
A Very Big Bet on Growth
TSLA is a prime example of a classic growth stock. While there are a few ways to define “growth,” the most general way is that these stocks feature faster-growing revenues or prospects than the general market or sector in which they operate. And basically, that sums up TSLA to a “T.” With its forays into electric vehicles, battery packs, and now solar panels, Tesla is primed for long-term growth. Sales increases at the firm are certainly moving faster than rivals like Ford (F ) and General Motors (GM ).
