Tesla tops trading volume with $285.42 billion as analysts predict $2 trillion valuation by 2026

On May 23, 2025, Tesla (TSLA) recorded a trading volume of $285.42 billion, making it the top-traded stock of the day. The company's shares closed the day with a 0.50% decline.

Analyst Dan Ives from Wedbush has significantly raised Tesla's price target from $350 to $500, citing the imminent "golden age of autonomous" for the company. Ives believes that Tesla's advancements in AI and full self-driving (FSD) capabilities will drive a substantial increase in the company's valuation, potentially reaching $2 trillion by 2026.

Ives highlighted that Tesla's focus on full self-driving and robotics positions it alongside major tech players like Nvidia, Microsoft, and OpenAI in terms of long-term technological disruption. He predicts that the launch of new autonomous capabilities in Austin, Texas, set for June, will mark the beginning of a significant valuation increase for Tesla.

Despite initial challenges in 2025, including political distractions, Ives notes that Tesla is now refocusing on its AI roadmap. He anticipates that FSD adoption could exceed 50% among Tesla owners, significantly improving margins and reshaping the company's financial model. The upcoming Cybercab platform, Tesla's robotaxi initiative, is seen as a potential game-changer for the company's revenue streams.

Piper Sandler also points to the upcoming robo-taxi service launch in Austin as a major catalyst for Tesla's optimism. The service is expected to kick off a new era of autonomy and expand the valuation for the EV stock. Ives believes that Tesla's unmatched global scale and scope position it to own the autonomous market, despite potential setbacks.