Tesla, IBM and Meta Platforms helped lead most U.S. stocks higher on Thursday following a rush of profit reports from some of the country’s most influential companies. The S&P 500 rose 0.5%, as four out of every five stocks in the index climbed.

Tesla's fourth-quarter net income fell 71% from a year ago, when results were boosted by a one-time tax benefit.

With Tesla set to release its latest quarterly earnings report, Wall Street thinks the stock can keep rising on a "golden age" for automation and AI.

Tesla stock opened up 5.5% at $410.50 before slipping. The initial rise was a surprise for two reasons. For starters, earnings were relatively weak and guidance was “vague,” according to Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas.

On rare occasions, our expert team of analysts issues a “Double Down” stock recommendation for companies that they think are about to pop. If you’re worried you’ve already missed your chance to invest, now is the best time to buy before it’s too late. And the numbers speak for themselves: