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Market Data Table

Breakfast News: Tesla Powers Up Solar Ambitions

March 20, 2026

Thursday's Markets
S&P 500 6,606 (-0.27%)
Nasdaq 22,091 (-0.28%)
Dow 46,021 (-0.44%)
Bitcoin $70,402 (-0.83%)

Chart showing Tesla's market cap over the past three years, taking a volatile route from almost $7 billion in 2023 to $1.5 trillion in early 2026.

1) Tesla Eyes China Solar Deal

Reuters reports Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) is looking to buy Chinese-made solar equipment worth $2.9 billion in a bid to boost solar power capacity for Tesla and CEO Elon Musk's related companies, a clear signal of intent for renewable energy.

Aiming for 100 gigawatts of solar capacity by 2028: As of 2024, only 10% -- or 135 gigawatts -- of total U.S. capacity was solar-powered. The push by Tesla could trigger regulatory concern, given the U.S. government's desire to reduce reliance on Chinese companies.
Pilot tests of trucking model Semi are well received: Tesla is poised to roll out deliveries of its Semi truck this summer, with the WSJ reporting positive feedback from truckers around the centered driving position, faster charging, and 500-mile range. Tesla is recommended by both Team Hidden Gems and Team Rule Breakers, with the stock beating the S&P 500 by 74% since the Stock Advisor rec by Team Hidden Gems in May 2023.

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2) Notable Pre-Market Movers

Planet Labs (NYSE:PL) rocketed around 15% after reporting record revenue and detailing major contract wins. Of its total contract value, 98% is now recurring, supporting future revenue visibility. Co-founder and CEO Will Marshall said, "We expect AI to be transformative this year, enabling us to unlock massive markets even faster."
FedEx (NYSE:FDX) soared over 10% after raising its profit outlook as part of quarterly results. The Stock Advisor rec by Team Rule Breakers pointed to higher priority package demand both domestically and internationally, along with continued savings from its restructuring plan. CEO Raj Subramaniam said only a "modest" impact from the conflict in the Middle East would be felt, as it's a "relatively small part" of revenue.

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3) Gold Dips as Fed Rate Fears Persist

Gold fell below $4,600 per ounce yesterday, putting it on track for the biggest weekly loss in six years, with related gold-mining stocks, including Newmont Corp (NYSE:NEM) and Agnico Eagle Mines (NYSE:AEM), closing down over 5%.

Rapid repricing of interest rate expectations: Elevated energy prices have caused investors to become more concerned about higher inflation and the potential for monetary policy to stay on hold, hurting precious metals like gold that don't pay interest.
Bullion-backed ETFs set for third straight week of outflows: Investors could also be selling gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to cover losses elsewhere. Earlier this week, Fool analyst Asit Sharma said, "I advocate holding at least one to three percent of one's net worth in precious metals as a hedge against both inflation and equities risk."

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4) Your Take

For companies you've owned for many years, how do you decide when the story has changed enough that you need to re-evaluate from scratch versus simply holding on?

Discuss with friends and family, or become a member to hear what your fellow Fools are saying!

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