Tesla's jump in sales comes as Optimus, Robotaxi bets require more cash: Q2 earnings preview - Yahoo Finance

What the report says

Yahoo Finance reported that Tesla delivered a mixed second-quarter earnings update after the market closed Wednesday, with revenue ahead of expectations but profit measures below Wall Street forecasts. The company posted $28.24 billion in revenue, compared with a Bloomberg consensus estimate of $26.32 billion, and said sales were up 26% from a year earlier. Adjusted earnings per share were $0.33, below the $0.50 analysts expected, while adjusted EBITDA of $3.273 billion also missed estimates. Tesla shares declined more than 3% in after-hours trading.

The report said investor attention is increasingly centered on Tesla’s capital needs as it expands beyond electric vehicles into robotics, autonomous ride-hailing and AI infrastructure. Tesla said Optimus production remains planned for later this year, with early units to be used for training data collection and development. It also said Robotaxi operations have expanded to seven major metro areas, including unsupervised rides launched in Miami, Orlando and Tampa in July, while Austin’s operating area grew. CEO Elon Musk said Robotaxi miles are increasing quickly, but safety will constrain the pace.

Tesla reported negative free cash flow of $1.09 billion, a smaller burn than analysts had projected. Chief Financial Officer Vaibhav Taneja said capital spending would exceed $25 billion this year, while Musk described 2026 as a heavy cap-ex year. Yahoo Finance noted that spending is tied to Optimus, AI data centers and Cybercab production.

The stronger revenue followed a major delivery beat: Tesla reported 480,126 second-quarter deliveries, up 25% year over year, alongside 13.5 GWh in energy storage deployments. Yahoo Finance cited the Model Y ramp, global price competition and regional differences, with U.S. sales pressured by the loss of EV tax credits while Europe and China provided support.