For better or worse, Tesla has been one of the most talked about and sought after stocks of the past decade. While the company has seen significant losses in share value in the early months of 2025, it seems likely that Tesla and the actions of its controversial CEO Elon Musk will remain in the news for some time to come.
Whether that means higher or lower share prices in the long run is yet to be seen. If you're interested in owning a piece of the company regardless of risk, though, you can do so by purchasing Tesla shares.
An overview of Tesla
Founded by a group of engineers in 2003 and headquartered in Palo Alto, California, Tesla, Inc. is a company that prides itself on technology and innovation. Originally called Tesla Motors, the company's name comes from Nikola Tesla, a famous inventor and one of the pioneers of electricity.
The main thrust of the company has long been producing electric cars that hold up as well as gasoline-powered cars. Over time, the automaker has introduced different models of cars and even has a crossover SUV and truck. The goal has been to make the cars widely available and affordable, and the vehicles are now starting to be more attainable for a larger swath of the population. Tesla currently has factory locations in the United States; Shanghai, China; and Tilburg, Netherlands. It is also currently building a factory near Berlin, Germany.
In addition to electric vehicles, Tesla is working on a self-driving car. Tesla has also branched out into green energy by producing solar panels and energy storage. The idea is to move away from fossil fuels and focus on cleaner forms of energy generation. So, if you're wondering how to invest in renewable energy, then investing in Tesla could be one option for you.
Current Tesla CEO Elon Musk is also one of the co-founders of the company. Musk is also the head of SpaceX, the rocket company. In fact, SpaceX famously launched one of Tesla's roadsters into space. Musk is also involved with projects around high-speed public transit and creating brain-to-computer connections, and, as of this writing, has recently taken on a more controversial role in the second Trump administration, drawing the ire of significant portions of the U.S. population, resulting in boycotts and a drop in Tesla's share price.
What you need to know about Tesla stock
When you're trying to figure out how to invest money, understanding the price history of a certain stock can be important. How something has historically performed in the stock market might give you a clue about that stock's future.
Tesla is listed on the Nasdaq exchange using the ticker symbol TSLA. Tesla's stock price was relatively flat for much of its history. In 2020, the price started to see some solid gains. According to financial data aggregator TipRanks, its current average 12-month price target (as of Mar. 14, 2025 is $330.90, with an estimated high of $550 and an estimated low of $120.
Recent earnings showed Tesla at a $0.66 EPS (earnings per share) for the quarter ending Dec. 31, 2024.
How much is Tesla stock?
It's important to note that stock prices frequently change throughout the day. Although trading is open, stock prices continually change as shares are bought and sold. When there's a higher demand for a stock, the price goes higher as more people are interested in buying.
On the other hand, if demand drops, more people typically try to sell and a stock's price can fall.
As of March 14, 2025, amid a broader market downturn, TSLA was trading at $249.18 per share.
Tesla's price before and after the stock split
One of the big pieces of news in 2020 was Tesla's announcement that it would provide a five-for-one stock split. With a stock split, basically, a company gives current shareholders more stock. With a five-for-one split, each person who had one share got four more shares, making a new total of five. If you had 100 shares of Tesla on Aug. 28, 2020, suddenly on Aug. 31, you had 500 shares.
Prior to the stock split, TSLA was trading at right around $2,300 per share, making it difficult for "regular" investors to purchase a whole share. The day of the stock split (Aug. 31, 2020), however, shares closed at just under $500 per share.
It's important to note that a stock split didn't actually change ownership or valuation in the company. The main impact was to make the shares less expensive because there are more of them. This made stock more affordable to more investors.
How to buy Tesla stock
If you're interested in learning how to invest in Tesla, there are two main ways to purchase stock. The good news is that TSLA is traded on a public exchange, so it's relatively easy to get into it. Here's what you can do if you want to own Tesla stock:
1. Open a traditional brokerage account
One way to move forward is with a traditional brokerage account. This type of account is one that you might be used to seeing, such as an account with Fidelity or Charles Schwab. Additionally, some of the older online brokers, like Etrade, are also similar to traditional brokers.
Check out our list of the best brokerage accounts to make the most of your money.
With a traditional brokerage, you open and fund an account, and then you can use the trading platform to purchase shares of stock. Many traditional brokers have made it relatively easy to invest with platforms that allow you to trade almost immediately. You can place orders and have them fulfilled automatically by the platform.
However, although these brokers are relatively easy to use — and often also offer access to human support and investment advice — they can feel overwhelming to some investors. Depending on the broker, you might need to start with a large minimum investment amount. Additionally, getting used to a powerful but complex platform can be difficult.
Another consideration is that it can feel like a daunting task to buy a full share. Although TSLA is no longer trading at more than $2,000 a share, the current price is still more than $200 per share (as of March 14, 2025). If you're using dollar-cost averaging, and you can set aside only $100 per week, it will take you a couple of weeks to save up enough money to purchase just one Tesla share.
2. Buy fractional shares
In recent years, the answer to how to invest in Tesla has been answered with the help of fractional shares. Various fintech startups have started providing easier access to stocks by offering to sell you portions of a share.
Fractional shares work by allowing you to buy a sliver of a stock. For example, if you have $100, you could buy a quarter share of Tesla stock if it's trading at $400 per share. When you use fractional investing, you have the ability to immediately start investing, rather than waiting until you can afford a whole share.
One of the platforms that made our list of the best investment apps is Stash2 <p>Paid non-client endorsement. See Apple App Store and Google Play reviews. <a href="https://www.stash.com/start-investing/financebuzz10">View important disclosures.</a></p> <p>Investment advisory services offered by Stash Investments LLC, an SEC registered investment adviser. Investing involves risk and investments may lose value. Nothing in this material should be construed as an offer, recommendation, or solicitation to buy or sell any security. All investments are subject to risk and may lose value.</p> <p>Advisory products and services are offered through Stash Investments LLC, an SEC registered investment adviser.</p> . You can start investing in stocks, including TSLA and others, with as little as $1 with Stash. (Disclosure: I have a position in TSLA with Stash.) It's also fairly easy to get started with Stash. There's no minimum investment, and you can start investing as soon as you fund your account. Stash charges a small flat monthly fee that varies depending on the features you choose.
One of the main perks of Stash — no matter your subscription tier — is that it offers a banking product that includes the Stock-Back® Card3 <p>Stash Banking services provided by Stride Bank, N.A., Member FDIC. The Stash Stock-Back® Debit Mastercard® is issued by Stride Bank pursuant to license from Mastercard International. Mastercard and the circles design are registered trademarks of Mastercard International Incorporated. Any earned stock rewards will be held in your Stash Invest account. Investment products and services provided by Stash Investments LLC and are Not FDIC Insured, Not Bank Guaranteed, and May Lose Value.</p> . When you use your debit card, you can earn Stock-Back® rewards4 <p class="">All rewards earned through use of the Stash Stock-Back® Debit Mastercard® will be fulfilled by Stash Investments LLC and are subject to <a href="https://lp.stash.com/stride-stash-stock-back-rewards-terms-and-conditions/" target="_blank">Terms and Conditions</a>. You will bear the standard fees and expenses reflected in the pricing of the investments that you earn, plus fees for various ancillary services charged by Stash. In order to earn stock in the program, the Stash Stock-Back® Debit Mastercard must be used to make a qualifying purchase. Stock rewards that are paid to participating customers via the Stash Stock Back program, are Not FDIC Insured, Not Bank Guaranteed, and May Lose Value.<br></p> . So instead of getting cash back, you earn more fractional shares.
... Or read our Stash review.
Paid Non-Client Promotion
In addition to helping you learn how to invest in Tesla, Stash also gives you the chance to invest in other well-known and popular tech companies like Amazon (AMZN), Apple (AAPL), Google's parent company Alphabet (GOOGL), and Netflix (NFLX). You can also choose to invest in other carmakers like General Motors (GM) and Ford (F). On top of individual stocks, there is also a wide selection of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to choose from.
Is buying Tesla stock the right move for you?
Once you know how to invest in Tesla, you might be wondering if it's among the best stocks for you to buy. After you figure out how to choose a brokerage that works for you, it's time to consider whether buying Tesla is the right move.
Pros of buying Tesla stock
- Historically, one of the most popular stocks, so it's in high demand
- Tesla's Model Y was delivered on time and became the top-selling car globally
- New, more affordable Tesla models are due for release in the coming years
Cons of buying Tesla stock
- Musk's controversial place in U.S. society has resulted in boycotts and drops to TSLA share prices amid a broader market downturn
- Problems with production could be a reality in the future
- Tesla stock has been especially volatile, and that could be problematic later
- It can be expensive to purchase a single share
Who is Tesla stock right for?
Before you decide how to invest in Tesla, it's important to carefully consider your goals and where TSLA might fit into your portfolio. Tesla can be a good fit for someone who is interested in owning a stock with growth potential. It can also be a good choice for someone who wants a piece of the future and who believes that Tesla will continue to deliver exciting and innovative products.
On the other hand, you may be concerned about the volatility of Tesla stock or worried that the company doesn't have much long-term staying power. For long-term investors, TSLA might not be a good fit for your portfolio.
For the most part, it's a good idea to consider the place TSLA would play in your portfolio and in your personal finance goals. Consider whether you think this stock is appropriate as a buy-and-hold play, or whether you want to use it for short-term growth before selling for profits. It might be a good idea to sit down with a financial advisor or investment professional to talk about your overall portfolio strategy and whether Tesla makes sense for you.
FAQs
Is Tesla stock a good investment?
Whether Tesla stock is a good investment depends on your goals, your portfolio strategy, and what you think about the stock's chances overall. If you think TSLA has staying power, it might be good in your portfolio as a buy-and-hold play that could offer short-term growth and then steady out over time for more modest growth.
On the other hand, if you think the stock is too volatile, you're worried about what could happen in the future, and you're concerned about the antics of Elon Musk and their impact, you might not think Tesla is a good investment.
How much would you have if you invested in Tesla?
Tesla went public on June 29, 2010, with an initial public offering (IPO) of $17 per share. If you had bought 100 shares at that time, for $1,700, and you didn't do anything else and just let the shares grow in the time since, today you would have 500 shares (due to the stock split) worth roughly $118,000 based on the share price as of this writing.
Bottom line
While it may be facing some uncertain days ahead, Tesla remains one of the more interesting automotive stocks on Wall Street. However, given the risks posed by Elon Musk's prominence on the global stage as of this writing, it might not be the right investment for everyone.
Do your due diligence before you decide whether or how much to invest in Tesla. Consider consulting research materials or getting expert advice from one of the companies on our list of the best online brokerage accounts for investors.