According to CNBC, “Tesla shares fell on Thursday after Needham & Co downgraded the stock to sell from hold, citing a possible pick-up in Model 3 cancellations.”
The problem is not Needham & Co analyst Rajvindra Gill’s assessment, because there is a good degree of chance for Model 3 cancellations to accelerate while deposits deplete at a much higher rate. The problem is, the assessment is a bit too old to make any impact right now.
“Based on our checks, refunds are outpacing deposits as cancellations accelerate,” wrote analyst Rajvindra Gill in the note Thursday. “The reasons are varied: extended wait times, the expiration of the $7,500 credit, and unavailability of the $35k base model.”
“In August ’17, TSLA cited a refund rate of 12%. Almost a year later, we believe it has doubled and outpaced deposits. Model 3 wait times are currently 4-12 months and with base model not available until mid-2019, consumers could wait until 2020,” Gill added.
My first issue with the assessment is the statement – refunds are outpacing “deposits”. Tesla no longer accepts reservation deposits. Potential customers in North America can only order their Model 3.
The second issue is – pace of Model 3 cancellation doubling compared to last year. It’s a really old data.
In early June, Second Measure reported that among customers who made a deposit for Model 3, nearly 23% received a refund. That’s twice the amount of cancellations when compared to August 2017.
Here is Second Measure’s article (published on 4th of June, 2018) and a chart that shows deposits and cancellations till April 2018.
And the last – Model 3 wait times are now just 1 to 4 months, not 4 to 12 months in North America. If weekly production stays above 5000, Tesla needs less than 12 months to deliver +260,000 Model 3s.
To be honest, all data points look fairly outdated.
Update:
CNBC and other news outlets missed out on providing important details discussed by the analyst. But it still does not explain the brain scratching 4 to 12 months waiting period for Model 3s. Are we talking about US numbers or International numbers? That part certainly needs more explanation than what is provided.
From StreetInsider
Analyst Rajvindra Gill believes the company remains overvalued. The analyst comments “Our bearish stance assumes:
1) slower sales of Model S/X on increased competition, possible cannibalization from Model 3 and expiration of credits;
2) slower gross margin improvement for Model 3 based on persistently high manufacturing costs, namely low yields;
3) negative impact to gross margin as ZEV credits decline in 2019;
4) lower energy revenue given the recent restructuring and lastly
5) an unsustainable capital structure with a projected $6BN FCF burn through 2020 and a $1.486BN note due in 2019.”
