Topline
Tesla topped revenue expectations in fourth-quarter earnings released Wednesday, narrowly exceeding Wall Street’s expectations even as it reported its first ever decline in annual revenue.
Tesla reported earnings after the bell Wednesday.
David Paul Morris/Bloomberg
Key Facts
Tesla reported revenue of $24.9 billion in the fourth quarter, about 3.1% less than the $25.7 billion reported in the same period last year and coming in just above the roughly $24.7 billion analysts were forecasting.
Full-year revenue was $94.8 billion, down from the $97.7 billion recorded in 2024.
Quarterly net income fell 61% to $840 million, far below the $2.1 billion recorded a year earlier.
The electric vehicle maker also logged $0.50 in earnings per share, above consensus analyst expectations of $0.45 per share.
Tesla’s total automotive revenue clocked in at $17.7 billion, below Wall Street estimates of $17.8 billion, according to FactSet.
Shares of the electric vehicle maker increased 3% after it published earnings, though the stock is still down more than 4% on the year.
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Forbes Valuation
We estimate Elon Musk’s net worth at $776.6 billion, making him the wealthiest person on the planet by far. He is around $500 billion ahead of No. 2 ranked Larry Page, who cofounded Google and has an estimated net worth of $275.1 billion.
Key Background
Tesla lost its position as the world’s largest EV maker early this month when it reported deliveries of 1.63 million cars in 2025, down by more than 8.5% from 2024. China’s BYD reported a 28% jump in EV sales within that same time period, delivering 2.2 million units and marking the first time it ever beat Tesla’s annual sales number. However, Tesla reported record sales in its third-quarter earnings, revealing a 24.8% increase in revenues from the second quarter, when it experienced its largest sales decline in more than a decade.
Further Reading
Tesla Is No Longer World’s Biggest EV Maker (Forbes)
Tesla’s Q3 Earnings Fall Short After Record Sales—As Revenues Soared (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2026/01/28/tesla-reports-first-full-year-revenue-decline-ever-despite-topping-fourth-quarter-estimates/
