Is Tesla, Inc. (TSLA) the Worst Blue Chip Stock to Buy?

We recently published a list of 10 Worst Blue Chip Stocks to Buy. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) stands against other worst blue chip stocks to buy.

As per Niamh Brodie-Machura, Co-Chief Investment Officer at Fidelity International, the effect of tariffs is expected to shift lower as and when the deals are made, supply chains adapt, and there is some adjustment in consumption patterns with lower tariffed goods witnessing relatively increased demand. However, there continues to be a period of increased volatility, and investors who plan to add risk should be careful. The environment is more of an opportunity to better position portfolios for resilience amidst uncertainty.

Market Rotation and Opportunity Areas

Contrary to expectations, BlackRock, in its release dated April 23, highlighted that international equities outperformed the US equities by 11% in 2025. The US growth stocks fell by 10%, and US value stocks increased by 2%. This transition demonstrates a significant market rotation throughout geography and style as value stocks continue to gain favor over growth stocks. Within the US market, value equities, mainly in defensive sectors such as healthcare, have been performing well, says the asset manager.

BlackRock also added that the narrowing of the earnings gap and the industry’s attractive characteristics, like innovation and the growth of aging populations, have been fueling the performance. Notably, active management strategies are advantageous when it comes to navigating the fluctuating markets.

READ ALSO: 7 Best Stocks to Buy For Long-Term and 8 Cheap Jim Cramer Stocks to Invest In.

What Should Investors Do?

BlackRock believes that the US large-cap value equities are the only major US index having positive returns YTD through March 31. Among the value equities, its investors are spotting opportunities in defensive sectors. In the current fast-moving political environment, primarily new trade policies, value equities can possess an additional tailwind. This stems from their ability to fetch a greater share of revenue from the US.

Elsewhere, if tariff discussions continue longer than expected or the average tariff rates differ from the current expectations, it is important to make portfolio changes accordingly, says Fiduciary Trust (a privately held wealth management firm). Notably, the capex spending on AI is expected to remain strong, and AI will likely fuel long-term productivity. The firm also opines that changes will be made to bank capital ratio rules, enabling them to enhance lending and/or increase stock buybacks. Both of these measures can improve earnings.

Our Methodology

To list the 10 Worst Blue Chip Stocks to Buy, we scanned through the holdings of SPDR® S&P 500® ETF Trust and chose the ones that declined between 15%-30% on a YTD basis. After getting an extended list of stocks, we selected the ones popular among hedge funds. Finally, the stocks were ranked in ascending order of their hedge fund holdings, as of Q4 2024.

Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).

Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 126

% Decline on a YTD Basis: ~21.5%

Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas recently maintained a “Buy” rating on Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA)’s stock, setting a price objective of $410.00. The analyst’s rating stems from factors demonstrating the company’s strategic positioning in the evolving manufacturing landscape. The integration of AI and advanced manufacturing technologies continue to reshape the broader industry, and Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) is the frontrunner of this transformation, says Jonas. By leveraging AI and robotics, the company remains well-placed to capitalize on the resurgence of US manufacturing, which remains in line with the vision of establishing cutting-edge factories domestically.

The analyst further opines that the transition in manufacturing is not about reducing costs, but about embracing technological advancements to create factories of the future. Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA)’s commitment to innovation, together with its capability to implement AI-driven solutions, places it as a leader in the new industrial era. This strategic advantage and Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA)’s ongoing developments support the analyst’s positive outlook.

Baron Funds, an investment management firm, released its Q1 2025 investor letter. Here is what the fund said:

“Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) manufactures electric vehicles (EVs), solar products, and energy storage solutions alongside the development of advanced real-world AI technologies. Shares fell due to declining analyst expectations for auto delivery volume and margins in 2025 as a result of 1) a refresh of the Model Y, its highest volume vehicle and the world’s best selling car in 2024; 2) Elon Musk’s controversial role in the Trump administration; and 3) regulatory changes that could pose potential operational challenges. Despite these headwinds, we remain confident in Tesla’s long-term growth, underpinned by secular trends in EVs and energy storage adoption, a compelling product line, its leading cost structure, and cutting-edge technology. A Model Y refresh alongside the debut of new mass-market models should boost demand. Over time, we expect the political pressure to fade, while Tesla’s AI ambitions—a robotaxi service launching this year and a fast-growing humanoid program—hold the promise of transforming its growth story.”

Overall, TSLA ranks 2nd on our list of worst blue chip stocks to buy. While we acknowledge the potential of TSLA as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some deeply undervalued AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter time frame. There is an AI stock that went up since the beginning of 2025, while popular AI stocks lost around 25%. If you are looking for a deeply undervalued AI stock that is more promising than TSLA but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.

READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires.

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.