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Tesla Inc. stock fell more than 7% Monday amid a broad equity selloff triggered by fears the spread of the COVID-19 virus might tip the world into economic chaos.
Tesla TSLA, -7.19% shares traded at their lowest level in 10 days and are on pace for their largest one-day percentage decline since Feb. 5, when the stock lost 17.2% following a couple of ratings downgrades. The Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA, -3.39% fell more than 950 points on Monday.
The COVID-19 outbreak in China has been called “a clear headwind” for Tesla, which has pinned a lot of its expansion plans on the Chinese market and the performance of its Shanghai factory. It also takes the company farther from the inclusion of its stock in the S&P 500 index. SPX, -3.25%
See more: Opinion: More fuel for Tesla? Stock could join the S&P 500 by the end of the year
The virus’s spread is more of a concern for Tesla than many other auto makers because the company’s near-term vehicle production and earnings growth are both “so dependent on its new China factory,” said Garrett Nelson, an analyst with CFRA.
“The fact is that Tesla has much greater asset concentration risk than other, more diversified competitors,” he said.
Related: Here are the worst-performing stocks Monday as investors panic over the coronavirus
In addition, Tesla was getting closer to meeting the final remaining criteria for the stock’s addition to the S&P 500. That would likely push the stock higher as ETFs and other index funds would have to add Tesla shares in order to rebalance.
“But GAAP profitability for Q1 now appears to be more in doubt which lowers the probability of this event occurring,” Nelson said.
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Tesla shares have gained 183% in the past 12 months, compared with advances of 16% and 8% for the S&P and the Dow. Monday’s selloff tipped the S&P and the Dow to losses for the year, but Tesla held to gains of 100% for the period.
