Tesla Q3 GAAP profit falls as free cash flow turns positive
Tesla
Tesla (TSLA) reported third-quarter 2026 GAAP net income attributable to common shareholders of $787 million, compared with $1,373 million a year earlier. GAAP diluted EPS fell to $0.22 from $0.39.[1]
Cash flow and adjusted earnings
Non-GAAP diluted EPS was $0.48, compared with $0.50 in the third quarter of 2025. That adjusted figure is separate from reported GAAP earnings.[1]
Free cash flow was positive $1,531 million, compared with negative $1,092 million in the preceding quarter. Tesla defines the measure as operating cash flow less capital expenditures.[1]
Capital expenditures were $4,732 million, down from $5,789 million in the preceding quarter.[1]
What matters for shareholders
The quarter pairs lower year-over-year profit with a sequential cash-flow recovery. Lower capital spending helped the cash comparison, so positive free cash flow should not be read as proof that earnings improved. The reported and adjusted EPS figures both declined from a year earlier.[1]
TSLA insider trading activity
In open-market trades dated in the last 90 days, no insider bought and 1 insider sold $938K, per Form 4 filings.
- Vaibhav Taneja (Chief Financial Officer) sold 2,606 shares for $938K, last filed Sep 9.
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TSLA 13F fund activity
In 13F filings for the quarter ended Jun 30, 2026, 10 funds we track made a large change in TSLA: 6 opened a position or grew one by half or more, and 4 cut one by half or more, 1 of them selling out completely.
- ExodusPoint Capital Management, LP cut 4,915,916 shares.
- Viking Global Investors LP cut 1,151,925 shares.
- Brevan Howard Capital Management LP cut 1,014,817 shares.
- Renaissance Technologies LLC added 899,670 shares.
- D1 Capital Partners L.P. added 401,900 shares.
TSLA Congress trades
2 members of Congress reported 2 trades in TSLA dated in the last 180 days: 0 purchases and 2 sales. Congress reports a value range, not an exact amount.
- Rep. Pete Sessions (R) sold $15K-$50K on Oct 2, filed Oct 27.
- Rep. Gilbert Cisneros (D) sold $1K-$15K on Aug 18, filed Sep 10.
