Future Fund LLC Managing Partner Gary Black criticized Tesla Inc.‘s (NASDAQ:TSLA) Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) holdings Wednesday, arguing they have minimal impact on the electric vehicle maker’s stock value as the cryptocurrency reached record highs.
What Happened: “The price of Bitcoin is not relevant to Tesla’s stock price,” Black wrote on X, noting that even at $100,000 per Bitcoin, Tesla’s holdings amount to roughly $0.33 per Tesla share. “My issue has always been capital allocation – shareholders can buy Bitcoin themselves.”
Black emphasized Tesla should prioritize its core business investments. “I want Tesla to build new plants, introduce new EV models, expand its energy business, invest in robotaxi,” he stated. “If there is cash left over, management can buy back Tesla stock.”
The comments came as Bitcoin surpassed $100,000 for the first time, reigniting debate about Tesla’s cryptocurrency investments. Black has consistently opposed Tesla’s Bitcoin holdings, arguing in June 2021 that they distract from the company’s EV mission and raise questions about earnings quality.
Why It Matters: Black’s The Future Fund Active ETF (NYSE:FFND) reduced its Tesla position to 4.31% from 12.2%, making it their fifth-largest holding.
The Future Fund’s average Tesla stock purchase price since early 2023 has been $162, with sales averaging $252. Despite recent criticism from Tesla bulls, Black defended his investment strategy, stating, “That’s what professional investors do – buy low, sell high.”
Tesla maintains its position as the EV market leader with a market cap exceeding $1 trillion.
Price Action: Tesla’s stock closed at $357.93 on Wednesday, up 1.85% for the day. In after-hours trading, the stock dipped 0.34%. Year to date, Tesla’s stock has surged 44.08%.
Data from Benzinga Pro shows Tesla has a consensus price target of $246.16 from 34 analysts, with estimates ranging from a high of $411 to a low of $24.86. Recent ratings from Roth MKM, Stifel, and UBS average $339, suggesting a 4.96% downside from Tesla’s current price.
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
