Exclusive: Here's Why Tesla's Sales Is More Important Than Earnings

Speaking to Benzinga, Tigress Financial Partners Chief Investment Officer Ivan Feinseth said that when

reports its fourth quarter results on Wednesday after market investors should focus on sales data, and not necessarily its earnings data. Feinseth told Benzinga that Tesla's sales guidance is more important than earnings guidance. The analyst adds that Tesla has already proven it can sell its cars at a profit and that the company is "more profitable than most people thought – earlier than people had thought." Investors should also focus on Tesla's commentary surrounding its volume, demand, future models, geographical expansions, new models and plans. In the near-term, Feinseth hopes Tesla can resolve its ongoing issues with the state of New Jersey so that the company can sell its electric vehicles directly to the consumer without the use of a dealer network that cuts in to Tesla's margins. "The average gross margin at the retail level on cars is around 10 percent, the gross margin on the manufacturing level is 15 percent – that's 25 percent," Feinseth argued while noting that Tesla's targeted gross margin level happens to be the same 25 percent figure. Jayson Derrick and Brianna Valleskey contributed to this report.