Tesla is losing ground in Europe, US banks and rising yield curve

Tesla is losing ground in Europe, US banks and rising yield curve

4 minutes to read
Peter Garnry

Chief Investment Strategist

Summary:  Tesla Model 3 was the fourth best-selling pure EV in Europe in November behind Renault, Volkswagen, and Hyundai, which should have shareholders alarmed. Tesla will be successful and become one of the biggest carmakers in the future, but the competition is heating up and that puts the $805bn market value into question. We also take a look at US banks which could rise another 33% this year if we are right about the reflation theme as the industry will be driven higher by a potential 25% valuation multiple expansion and 8% growth in tangible book value.


A month ago, we commented on our Saxo Market Call podcast that Tesla was slipping in European EV sales ranking for October. We pointed out that this was an ill sign since the European EV market is the biggest in the world and that the EV penetration rate of new car registrations in Europe is two times larger than China and five times larger than the US. Some clients wrote to us saying we were missing the timing effects on Tesla sales and that they were typically larger in the last month of quarter. Time will soon tell how big this effect is, but in the meantime, we have got November figures and they still show that Tesla is losing ground.

In November, plugin (hybrid and pure EV) registrations rose 198% y/y compared to the overall car registrations in Europe being down 14% y/y. This took the plugin market share to around the 10% mark with pure EV accounting for 5.4%. What is most striking is that Tesla, despite its $805bn market value dwarfing all other carmaker in the world, is losing ground against local players. Renault Zoe was once again the best-selling pure EV car with the VW ID.3 close after (see table). Number three in November was the Hyundai Kona EV and then on the fourth spot came the Tesla Model 3. While this should worry Tesla shareholders it is even more striking that the Model S and X are not in the top 20 ranking despite direct competing models such as Audi e-tron being on the list.

US banks could have 33% upside on reflation in 2021

We have talked a lot about reflation in the first two weeks of 2021 with our team introducing our Saxo Commodity Sector basket on 4 January to highlight 40 stocks with exposure to the commodity sector which could do well during reflation. But higher inflation is more than the commodity sector. It is also about banks as growth and inflation expectations drive a rise in valuation multiples for banks. From early 2016 to early 2018 when the last reflationary period occurred S&P 500 banks saw their price-to-tangible-book ratio rise from 1.11 to 2. During the current reflation period that started in June 2020 the S&P 500 banks price-to-tangible-book ratio has increased from 1.12 to 1.60.

Source: Bloomberg

If we can expect the same expansion in valuation multiples, that is price-to-tangible-book ratio around 2, and we factor in 8% growth in book value in 2021, then US banks could have an upside of 33% this year. Investors are so far buying this expectation as financials, materials and energy sectors are so far leading the gains this year.

Quarterly Outlook

01 /

  • Fixed Income Outlook: Bonds Hit Reset. A New Equilibrium Emerges

    Quarterly Outlook

    Fixed Income Outlook: Bonds Hit Reset. A New Equilibrium Emerges

    Althea Spinozzi

    Head of Fixed Income Strategy

  • Equity Outlook: Will lower rates lift all boats in equities?

    Quarterly Outlook

    Equity Outlook: Will lower rates lift all boats in equities?

    Peter Garnry

    Chief Investment Strategist

    After a period of historically high equity index concentration driven by the 'Magnificent Seven' sto...
  • FX Outlook: USD in limbo amid political and policy jitters

    Quarterly Outlook

    FX Outlook: USD in limbo amid political and policy jitters

    Charu Chanana

    Chief Investment Strategist

    As we enter the final quarter of 2024, currency markets are set for heightened turbulence due to US ...
  • Macro Outlook: The US rate cut cycle has begun

    Quarterly Outlook

    Macro Outlook: The US rate cut cycle has begun

    Peter Garnry

    Chief Investment Strategist

    The Fed started the US rate cut cycle in Q3 and in this macro outlook we will explore how the rate c...
  • Commodity Outlook: Gold and silver continue to shine bright

    Quarterly Outlook

    Commodity Outlook: Gold and silver continue to shine bright

    Ole Hansen

    Head of Commodity Strategy

  • FX: Risk-on currencies to surge against havens

    Quarterly Outlook

    FX: Risk-on currencies to surge against havens

    Charu Chanana

    Chief Investment Strategist

    Explore the outlook for USD, AUD, NZD, and EM carry trades as risk-on currencies are set to outperfo...
  • Equities: Are we blowing bubbles again

    Quarterly Outlook

    Equities: Are we blowing bubbles again

    Peter Garnry

    Chief Investment Strategist

    Explore key trends and opportunities in European equities and electrification theme as market dynami...
  • Macro: Sandcastle economics

    Quarterly Outlook

    Macro: Sandcastle economics

    Peter Garnry

    Chief Investment Strategist

    Explore the "two-lane economy," European equities, energy commodities, and the impact of US fiscal p...
  • Bonds: What to do until inflation stabilises

    Quarterly Outlook

    Bonds: What to do until inflation stabilises

    Althea Spinozzi

    Head of Fixed Income Strategy

    Discover strategies for managing bonds as US and European yields remain rangebound due to uncertain ...
  • Commodities: Energy and grains in focus as metals pause

    Quarterly Outlook

    Commodities: Energy and grains in focus as metals pause

    Ole Hansen

    Head of Commodity Strategy

    Energy and grains to shine as metals pause. Discover key trends and market drivers for commodities i...

Disclaimer

The Saxo Bank Group entities each provide execution-only service and access to Analysis permitting a person to view and/or use content available on or via the website. This content is not intended to and does not change or expand on the execution-only service. Such access and use are at all times subject to (i) The Terms of Use; (ii) Full Disclaimer; (iii) The Risk Warning; (iv) the Rules of Engagement and (v) Notices applying to Saxo News & Research and/or its content in addition (where relevant) to the terms governing the use of hyperlinks on the website of a member of the Saxo Bank Group by which access to Saxo News & Research is gained. Such content is therefore provided as no more than information. In particular no advice is intended to be provided or to be relied on as provided nor endorsed by any Saxo Bank Group entity; nor is it to be construed as solicitation or an incentive provided to subscribe for or sell or purchase any financial instrument. All trading or investments you make must be pursuant to your own unprompted and informed self-directed decision. As such no Saxo Bank Group entity will have or be liable for any losses that you may sustain as a result of any investment decision made in reliance on information which is available on Saxo News & Research or as a result of the use of the Saxo News & Research. Orders given and trades effected are deemed intended to be given or effected for the account of the customer with the Saxo Bank Group entity operating in the jurisdiction in which the customer resides and/or with whom the customer opened and maintains his/her trading account. Saxo News & Research does not contain (and should not be construed as containing) financial, investment, tax or trading advice or advice of any sort offered, recommended or endorsed by Saxo Bank Group and should not be construed as a record of our trading prices, or as an offer, incentive or solicitation for the subscription, sale or purchase in any financial instrument. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, would be considered as a marketing communication under relevant laws.

Please read our disclaimers:
Notification on Non-Independent Investment Research (https://www.home.saxo/legal/niird/notification)
Full disclaimer (https://www.home.saxo/legal/disclaimer/saxo-disclaimer)


Business Hills Park – Building 4,
4th Floor, office 401, Dubai Hills Estate, P.O. Box 33641, Dubai, UAE

Contact Saxo

Select region

UAE
UAE

Trade responsibly
All trading carries risk. Read more. To help you understand the risks involved we have put together a series of Key Information Documents (KIDs) highlighting the risks and rewards related to each product. Read more

Saxo Bank A/S is licensed by the Danish Financial Supervisory Authority and operates in the UAE under a representative office license issued by the Central bank of the UAE.

The content and material made available on this website and the linked sites are provided by Saxo Bank A/S. It is the sole responsibility of the recipient to ascertain the terms of and comply with any local laws or regulation to which they are subject.

The UAE Representative Office of Saxo Bank A/S markets the Saxo Bank A/S trading platform and the products offered by Saxo Bank A/S.