Stock Market Today: Stocks Climb After Tesla Earnings, GDP

The electric vehicle maker reported record profit and revenue for the fourth quarter. 

A choppy start for stocks on Thursday led to a solid finish as investors mulled over the latest batch of quarterly earnings and economic reports. 

Tesla (TSLA(opens in new tab)) headlined a busy earnings calendar – and Wall Street cheered the electric vehicle maker's fourth-quarter results. Meanwhile, the latest gross domestic product (GDP) reading showed the U.S. economy grew at a faster-than-expected pace in the final three months of 2022, even as interest rates increased and inflation remained stubbornly high. 

The 5 Best Actively Managed Fidelity Funds to Buy Now

Tesla released its Q4 results late Wednesday, sending shares up 11% today. The company reported earnings of $1.19 per share on $24.3 billion in revenue – both record figures for TSLA. Consensus estimates were for earnings of $1.13 per share on $24.7 billion in sales. The carmaker also said it plans to "grow production as quickly as possible" in order to meet its target of 50% average annual growth.

Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters

Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.

SIGN UP

As for today's economic data, the Bureau of Economic Analysis(opens in new tab) said this morning that GDP grew at an annual rate of 2.9% in the fourth quarter, a quicker pace than what was seen in the third quarter. However, consumer spending slowed, rising 2.1% in Q4 vs. 2.3% in Q3.

Wall Street's top minds were quick to chime in on the GDP, including Carol Schleif, chief investment officer at BMO Family office. "Thursday's GDP report suggests that the economy is relatively strong even in the face of aggressive measures by the Federal Reserve to calm inflation," Schleif says. "Businesses and consumers are moderating their spending after the initial exuberant post-pandemic surge and we expect this slowing of momentum to allow the economy to tick along solidly but on a slower and more sustainable path."

Source : [Stock Market Today: Stocks Climb After Tesla Earnings, GDP](www.kiplinger.com/investing/stocks/stock-market-today-012623-stocks-climb-after-tesla-earnings-gdp) by kiplinger@futurenet.com (Karee Venema) - US Tesla Earnings Gdp•Kiplinger RSS Feed by kiplinger@futurenet.com (Karee Venema) / January 26, 2023