Jerry Wang, global executive chairman of Faraday Future Intelligent Electric Inc. and CEO of AIxCrypto Holdings, Inc., believes the robotics industry's most significant opportunity begins after the robot leaves the factory. While Tesla, Inc. CEO Elon Musk has emphasized the potential volume of humanoid robots like Optimus, Wang argues that investors may be overlooking the long-term economic potential of these machines. He contends that the industry is approaching a business-model shift similar to the transition to software subscriptions and cloud computing.

Wang describes the current robotics model as a single transaction involving building, selling, and delivering a machine. He proposes a 'Robot Second Life Cycle' concept, where robots are treated as long-lived assets that continue creating economic value throughout their operational lives. This value is derived from greater utilization, longer operating lives, and the operational data generated during real-world tasks. Wang suggests this distinction could reshape how investors evaluate robotics companies, shifting focus from unit sales to businesses that generate recurring revenue post-deployment.

The Rise of Robot Rentals

Wang's vision extends to Robotics-as-a-Service, a model where businesses access robotic capabilities without owning the hardware outright. He notes that companies prefer access to capabilities that create measurable value rather than committing significant upfront capital. Under this model, robots could be rented for warehouse operations, inspections, security, or deliveries, allowing owners to generate income from equipment that might otherwise sit idle.

Wang draws a parallel to cloud computing, which turned expensive servers into on-demand resources. He believes Robotics-as-a-Service can achieve a similar transformation for robotic capabilities. This approach allows for flexibility and cost efficiency for end-users while creating a steady revenue stream for robot providers.

The Next Robotics Trade

Currently, investors are focused on which company will build the most capable humanoid robot, with Tesla and Figure AI competing on mobility, intelligence, and manufacturing scale. However, Wang argues that the industry's economics could eventually matter as much as its engineering. If robots become recurring revenue-generating assets rather than one-time hardware sales, the companies creating the most long-term value may be those that keep machines working and generating data for years after deployment.

Tesla Inc. shares are trading higher as investors digest fresh delivery commentary and position for potential estimate revisions into the next earnings cycle. Investor Gary Black of The Future Fund LLC argued that Tesla’s second-quarter delivery beat was fueled by an Iran war-driven spike in gas prices to $3.86 per gallon over the July 4 weekend, up from $2.98 per gallon before the conflict. Black expects Tesla shares to rebound this week as the sell-side raises Q2 and FY 2026 earnings estimates, which could flow through to higher price targets.

Delivery Estimates and Market Context

Tesla’s delivery debate remains unusually wide, with Black calling estimates "all over the place" while still modeling close to 410,000 Q2 units versus approximately 406,000 consensus. If realized, this represents about a 7% year-over-year surge. Premarket trading is taking place against a constructive index backdrop, with S&P 500 futures higher by 0.5%, which can amplify moves in high-beta mega-cap names like Tesla when sentiment improves.

Technical Levels and Momentum

Tesla is sitting in a choppy, mean-reversion zone: it’s trading 0.3% below the 20-day SMA ($399.16) and 0.1% below the 100-day SMA ($398.08), while still 5% below the 200-day SMA ($418.61). Momentum looks more neutral than stretched, with RSI at 46.69. The bigger-picture trend backdrop remains a headwind, since the 20-day SMA is below the 50-day SMA and the death cross that formed in April still frames rallies as "prove it" moves until price can hold above longer-term resistance.

Earnings Preview and Analyst Actions

The next major catalyst for the stock arrives with the July 22, 2026 earnings report. Analysts expect EPS of 44 cents, up from 40 cents year-over-year, and revenue of $25.24 billion, up from $22.50 billion year-over-year. The stock carries a Buy rating with an average price target of $398.55. Recent analyst moves include Freedom Broker raising its target to $420.00, Morgan Stanley maintaining its target at $415.00, and Truist Securities raising its target to $430.00.

Benzinga Edge Rankings

Tesla’s Benzinga Edge scorecard highlights a growth-heavy profile with mixed momentum and a very weak value score. Momentum is neutral with a score of 43.93, Quality is neutral at 61.42, Value is weak at 3.6, and Growth is strong at 88.15. The valuation leaves the stock more sensitive to earnings-estimate changes, requiring the chart to confirm via reclaiming major resistance for longer-term bulls.