Nikola investors were off to pleasant news on Tuesday after the company’s shares enjoyed a strong bullish rally in which they gained by more than 50%.
The impressive performance in the electric truck manufacturer’s shares came after it was reported that American automotive giant General Motors acquired 11% of Nikola’s shares. GM reportedly spent roughly $2 billion to acquire the Nikola stake. The investment also reportedly granted GM the right to nominate a board member to join the renewable energy vehicle manufacturer. Nikola not only deals with electric cars but also vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells.
The investment will not only provide Nikola with more financial flexibility to focus on bringing its products to market, but it will also allow it to access GM-certified vehicle parts. Nikola is currently working towards the launch of hydrogen-powered semi-trucks that will not have any emissions. It also unveiled a Badger pickup recently, which it aims to sell to the consumer market. In addition to the positive boost, the investment provides Nikola with a strong corporate shareholder backing, which means that investors should expect positive growth in the long-run.
Meanwhile, GM’s investment will also allow it to become the exclusive supplier of fuel cells made by Nikola across the globe. It will also allow GM to play a central role in the push for alternative energy-powered vehicles. Its stock price rallied by 9.1% following the announcement that it had invested in Nikola.
Tesla’s shares plummet after its exclusion from the S&P 500
Tesla has been enjoying a strong bullish performance in its share price over the past few months, but its share price took a significant hit on Tuesday morning after it failed to cut the S&P 500. The committee that selects the stocks to be added to the index failed to pick Tesla as one of the companies to be added to the index despite picking companies such as Catalent, Teradyne, and Etsy on Friday.
Many investors expected that Tesla be added to the S&P 500 index, especially after it reported strong profits for the last four consecutive quarters. The unexpected outcome fueled bearish sentiments on Tesla’s stock price.