Source: Stuart Mooney
William Blair’s “Market Perform” Rating on Tesla
On September 5, 2025, financial services firm, William Blair, maintained its “Market Perform” rating for Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA). The rating essentially advises investors to hold the stock, suggesting that it is expected to perform similarly to the broader market. At the time of this rating, Tesla’s stock price stood around $347.13. This evaluation comes amid a series of significant developments for the electric vehicle giant, which includes an ambitious compensation plan for its CEO, Elon Musk. The plan has sparked investor interest and has had noticeable impacts on Tesla’s stock price.
Tesla’s Upward Trend on Groundbreaking Compensation Plan
Tesla’s stock is currently experiencing an upward trend, trading at $354, representing a 4.5% increase for the day. This surge is largely attributed to the announcement of a groundbreaking pay package for Elon Musk, which is potentially valued at $1 trillion. The proposed compensation plan aims to ensure Musk’s continued tenure as CEO for the next decade, with performance targets tied to ambitious company milestones.
One of the primary objectives of the pay package is to expand Tesla’s robotaxi business and to increase the company’s market value to a staggering $8.5 trillion. This compensation plan, outlined in Tesla’s proxy filing, is designed with a unique structure based around 12 tranches of stock awards.
Details of Musk’s Compensation Plan
Under the proposed compensation plan, Musk will only receive the stock awards if Tesla achieves exceptional milestones over the next decade. These targets encompass significant advancements in profitability, vehicle production, and the development of new business lines in artificial intelligence and robotics.
If the plan is successful, it would grant Musk over 423 million additional shares, effectively increasing his ownership from approximately 13% to nearly 29%. This increase would significantly amplify Musk’s voting power within the company. Interestingly, Musk will not receive any salary or cash bonuses under this plan. His entire compensation will be equity-based, a factor emphasized by Wedbush analysts.
Tesla’s Stock Movements and Market Capitalization
Tesla’s stock has exhibited considerable volatility, fluctuating between a low of $344.68 and a high of $355.87 during the day. Over the past year, the stock has reached a peak of $488.54 and plummeted to a low of $210.51. These movements are a testament to the dynamic nature of the stock and the influence of various factors, such as market sentiment, technological advancements, and the company’s strategic decisions.
As of now, the company’s market capitalization stands at a whopping $1.12 trillion, solidifying its position as one of the most valuable companies in the world. The stock’s trading volume is 63,078,710 shares, indicating high investor interest and robust trading activity.
In summary, Tesla’s stock has been positively impacted by the announcement of Elon Musk’s groundbreaking compensation plan. The company’s future performance hinges on its ability to meet the ambitious milestones outlined in this plan. As such, investors and analysts will be closely watching Tesla’s journey towards these goals.