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Tesla cars sit parked at a Tesla dealership
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Tesla dropped 8% yesterday, but it’s still more valuable than the next 40 automakers combined

Tesla’s $1.4 trillion valuation in context.

Hyunsoo Rim

Traders reached for the sell button en masse yesterday after the Federal Reserve’s inflation concerns spooked the market, putting stocks under serious pressure in the afternoon with the S&P 500 Index dropping ~3%. That sell-off dragged stocks like Tesla down sharply, reversing some small portion of the more than 70% gains Tesla had made since the election, but it still leaves the company’s market cap well north of $1 trillion, a milestone it first crossed three years ago after signing a deal with rental-car company Hertz.

Back then, Tesla’s valuation overshadowed the entire industry. Little has changed. Indeed, Tesla is still flexing its financial dominance in the auto world, with the EV juggernaut’s $1.4 trillion market cap more than the next 40 largest public automakers combined, per data from CompaniesMarketCap. That includes industry heavyweights like Toyota ($233 billion), BYD ($109 billion), Xiaomi ($100 billion), and Ferrari ($78 billion).

Tesla valuation
Sherwood News

The EV market faces uncertainty as Trump pushes to eliminate the $7,500 tax credit for EV purchases — a move that could dampen consumer demand. However, Musk has voiced support for such changes, which some analysts expect to strike a harder blow on Tesla’s competitors than the Austin-based automaker itself.

Through his new leadership at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Musk also plans to loosen regulations for driverless vehicles, potentially paving the way for Tesla’s next major ambition.

Related reading: latest rally takes Tesla’s price-to-earnings ratio over 130x.

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Starbucks issues apology after viral “Bearista” cup meltdown

Holiday cheer turned into chaos this week for Starbucks after the coffee giant’s new “Bearista” holiday cup sent fans into a frenzy. 

Dropped alongside its 2025 holiday menu, the $30 beanie-wearing glass bear tumbler sparked long lines, sellouts, and even in-store scuffles before Starbucks stepped in with an apology.

“The excitement for our merchandise exceeded even our biggest expectations,” the company said in a statement to People. “Despite shipping more Bearista cups to our coffeehouses than almost any other item this holiday season, the Bearista cup and some other items sold out fast.”

Within hours of launch, frustrated fans flooded Starbucks’ social media pages and even store hotlines. Some customers waited in line before dawn and others said their stores received only a handful of cups. In one Houston location, the craze even turned physical, with police reportedly called to break up a brawl. Meanwhile, the cup is already reselling on sites like eBay, with listings topping $600.

“We understand many customers were excited about the Bearista cup and apologize for the disappointment this may have caused,” Starbucks said. While in-store customers may be upset, investors seem happy about the viral hit, as the stock has risen over 3% on Friday.

If you’re still hoping for a Bearista at market price, that may not be on order: the chain didn’t disclose how many cups were made or whether a restock is planned.

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Target tells workers to smile, wave, and greet shoppers if they come within 10 feet of them

Target just rolled out a new rule for store employees: smile, make eye contact, and greet or wave when a shopper comes within 10 feet — and if they get closer, within four feet, ask whether they need help or how their day is going, according to a new Bloomberg report.

Dubbed the 10-4 program internally, the rule mirrors rival Walmarts own 10-foot policy, formalizing behavior Target had previously only encouraged.

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Monster surges on energy drink buzz, while Celsius sinks on distribution concerns

Shares of Monster Beverage climbed 5% after the bell on Thursday, and held most of those gains into early trading on Friday, following strong Q3 results.

The energy drink giant topped market expectations, with quarterly sales up 17% year over year to $2.2 billion and adjusted net profits growing 41% to $524.5 million — 11% ahead of Wall Street’s estimates. In the report, Monster highlighted its zero-sugar line and new product launches, with a stack of novel flavors already released this year, as bright spots.

During a call with analysts, Chief Executive Hilton Schlosberg said that the global energy drink category “remains healthy with robust growth,” The Wall Street Journal reported, adding that demand for more affordable caffeinated drinks is rising as coffee has become “really expensive.”

Meanwhile, rival beverage business Celsius saw shares fall as much as 23% on its Q3 results yesterday — despite beating expectations, with revenue jumping 173% — largely due to concerns about a change in the company’s distribution channel, as its newly acquired Alani Nu brand joins the PepsiCo distribution network.

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