Cult Of Tesla Crumbling: Early 'Die-Hard' Backers Bail As Musk's EV Empire Faces Reality Check Amid Stock Slump
- Tesla Stock Performance: Tesla's stock has been declining for over two years, with early backers losing faith due to flailing fundamentals.
- Gabelli Funds' Actions: Gabelli Funds sold all its Tesla holdings by the end of Q1 2024 after holding 65,900 shares valued at $16.37 million in Q4 2023.
- Concerns and Criticisms: Former supporters like Gary Black and Ross Gerber express skepticism about Tesla's strategy, leading to reduced holdings in their respective funds.
- Mutual Fund Trends: 10 out of 18 mutual funds trimmed their Tesla holdings in Q1, with only four increasing positions.
- Analyst Outlook and Ownership Shift: Analysts believe Tesla's challenges are temporary, with shifting ownership towards retail investors potentially impacting stock performance in upcoming events.
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Earnings Report: Disney reported first-quarter fiscal 2025 adjusted earnings of $1.76 per share, exceeding estimates by 22.2%, with revenues rising 4.8% year over year to $24.69 billion. The company has a strong growth potential indicated by a Growth Score of A and a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Subscriber Growth and Future Outlook: Disney+ gained subscribers, reaching 124.6 million, while the company anticipates high single-digit adjusted EPS growth for fiscal 2025 compared to fiscal 2024, despite a slight drop in shares following the earnings report.

Financial Performance: Blackstone Inc reported a strong fourth-quarter performance with revenues of $4.15 billion, exceeding expectations, and a 56% year-over-year increase in distributable earnings to $2.17 billion.
Growth Indicators: The company saw an 8% rise in assets under management to $1.127 trillion, significant inflows of $57.5 billion, and declared a quarterly dividend of $1.44 per share, indicating robust financial health and growth momentum.

Blackstone's Investment in Citrin Cooperman: Blackstone Inc. has made a significant investment in Citrin Cooperman Advisors LLC, acquiring its stake from New Mountain Capital for an undisclosed amount, valuing the firm at over $2 billion. This move aligns with a trend of private equity firms investing in midsize audit and consulting companies in the U.S.
CEO's Vision and Market Activity: Alan Badey, CEO of Citrin Cooperman, emphasized that the investment will enhance the firm's services and technology while maintaining a strong company culture. Additionally, Blackstone recently agreed to acquire Retail Opportunity Investments Corp. for $4 billion, reflecting its active investment strategy.

Performance of Fund Managers: Prominent fund managers Gary Black, Ross Gerber, and Cathie Wood have shown mixed results against the S&P 500's 25.97% year-to-date return, with Black's Future Fund Active ETF leading at 25.35%, followed by Gerber's ETF at 21.35%, while Wood's ARK Innovation ETF lags significantly at 10.46%.
Market Context: The performance comparison was highlighted by Black on social media after a strong week for markets, where major indices gained between 4.6% and 5.7% following Donald Trump's election victory.

Financial Performance: Trane Technologies reported a strong third-quarter with revenues of $5.44 billion, an 11% increase year-over-year, and raised its FY24 guidance for organic revenue growth to 11%. Adjusted EPS also exceeded expectations at $3.37.
Cash Flow and Shareholder Returns: The company generated $2.3 billion in operating cash flow and plans to maintain a competitive dividend while committing excess cash to shareholder returns, including $1 billion for share repurchases.

Investment Opportunities in Cannabis: Ross Gerber, CEO of Gerber Kawasaki, advocates for cannabis investment, highlighting its potential growth from $10-$15 billion to $200-$300 billion over the next decade, especially with possible legalization and rescheduling of cannabis laws.
Advocacy for Legalization: Gerber emphasizes the historical context of cannabis prohibition linked to Jim Crow laws and argues that full legalization would significantly increase the value of cannabis companies, attracting substantial investment interest from younger generations.





