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United Parcel Service, Inc. (UPS) Bets Big on the Tesla Inc (TSLA) Semi

By U.S. News & World Report

Tesla Inc (Nasdaq: TSLA) secured its largest order for its recently unveiled electric semitractor-trailers on Tuesday when United Parcel Service, Inc. ( UPS) announced an order for 125 trucks to add to its delivery fleet.

UPS joins other high-profile Tesla semitractor-trailers customers like PepsiCo ( PEP) and Wal-Mart Stores ( WMT), but analysts aren’t convinced the Tesla Semi will make a major impact for Tesla investors.

UPS senior director for automotive maintenance Scott Phillippi says UPS will be evaluating the performance of the Tesla semitractor-trailers as part of its push to transition more to alternative-fuel vehicles.

[See: 7 of the Best Stocks to Buy for 2018.]

“We have high expectations and are very optimistic that this will be a good product and it will have firm support from Tesla to make it work,” Phillippi said, according to Reuters.

After unveiling the Semi last month, Tesla has taken pre-orders for at least 410 vehicles.

UPS will pay roughly $200,000 per truck for its purchase, and Tesla plans to begin deliveries starting in 2019. The Tesla semitractor-trailers come equipped with advanced autopilot features, can travel up to 500 miles on a single charge and can accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 5 seconds.

While the semitractor-trailers orders are good news for Tesla investors, the trucks will likely not move the needle much for Tesla for at least a couple of years. Bernstein analyst Toni Sacconaghi says the Semi could account for as much as 20 percent of Tesla’s total revenue by 2025.

In the meantime, the company has bigger fish to fry with its Model 3 rollout.

“We can’t help worrying that Tesla may be taking on too much organizationally — which could distract it from ensuring Model 3’s commercial success, which we believe is the critical driver of the company’s fortunes,” Sacconaghi says.

[See: These 7 Funds Make You Feel Good About Investing.]

Tesla has already missed its own Model 3 production targets in 2017, citing production “bottlenecks.”

Last week, Tesla short seller and Kynikos Associates founder Jim Chanos said Tesla’s inability to deliver on its promises will ultimately result in its downfall.

“Three years ago, this company was supposed to be making money now, and now it’s supposed to be making money by 2020,” Chanos says. “I’m guessing by 2019, we’ll hear about 2025.”

Despite Tesla’s cash burn and uncertainties, the stock is up more than 56 percent year-to-date.

Bernstein has a “market perform” rating and $265 price target for TSLA stock.

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United Parcel Service, Inc. (UPS) Bets Big on the Tesla Inc (TSLA) Semi originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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