Tesla Plunges After a Conference Call

Post by s2g » Thu, May 03, 2018, 6:19 PM UTC

kneel wrote: post #47

danso wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Er, why is asking for something fundamental to running a business (i.e. "How much money do you have/need?") a partly boring/boneheaded/uncool question?

Because he's Elon Musk and he doesn't care about investor returns, he wants to build rockets, cars, tunnels, and explore space. No matter what he does he'll more than likely be fine on the money side.

Post by CPLX » Thu, May 03, 2018, 6:19 PM UTC

thaumaturgy wrote: post #36

JumpCrisscross wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Sacconaghi pressed ahead with another query about Tesla lowering its 2018 capital expenditure projection to $3 billion, from $3.4 billion. Ahuja said the carmaker would spend less by simplifying its approach to automation and curtailing infrastructure outlays. 'And so where specifically will you be in terms of capital requirements?' Sacconaghi said. 'Excuse me. Next. Next,' Musk said to the call operator. 'Boring, b…

I'm not defending Elon's behavior here, but speaking more generally: if you're in a place where you need to maintain maximum productivity for a while, because a deadline has slipped for example, meetings can turn into a massive time sink if you don't act like a total nazi during them. In so many meetings, people just want to hear themselves talk, whether to offer some opinion, reiterate some point, or ask some useles…

Post by mephitix » Thu, May 03, 2018, 6:20 PM UTC

xkjkls wrote: post #86

mephitix wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’m not too worried. The earnings themselves were better than expected. Elon said this in a tweet but its reiterated in the earnings - projecting positive cash flow in Q3 and Q4. And such dismissive behavior (as much as I am not a fan of it) is not uncommon among stressed-out CEOs - Jobs, Gates..

Why does Elon Musk have any credibility regarding the cash position of his company? He's repeatedly made similar statements that didn't turn true too.

Post by s2g » Thu, May 03, 2018, 6:21 PM UTC

trophycase wrote: post #46

Semirhage wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But then, acting within the confines of normality isn't really the trait that may bring the dawn of a new era of humanity. Truly, this sounds divorced from the reality of anything Elon Musk is involved in. He’s making electric cars, rockets, and solar panels, not fusion power or immortality pills. Let’s be realistic! I think it’s important to separate what he actually does from what you desperately hope he may someda…

If colonizing a new planet isn't a new era of humanity, I'm not sure what is...

Post by danso » Thu, May 03, 2018, 6:22 PM UTC

derefr wrote: post #44

vkou wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Asking how he is going to reign in capital expenses, when their burn rate will drain them of cash in 8 months is not being spiteful. It's called being an investor. Refusing to answer that question, is either being spiteful, or disingenuous. It's a bit of a red flag.

That wasn’t the question he refused to answer; he refused to (I think in his opinion) sit there and do a bunch of simple—yet almost entirely spitballing—maths that any financial analyst could do, to tell them how much his proposed steps would save the company.