TLDR
- QuantumScape shares jumped over 25% on Thursday with additional 5.77% after-hours gains following insider stock sales
- Director Jeffrey Straubel sold $1.75 million worth of shares through pre-arranged trading plan
- Panasonic announced development of anode-free solid-state battery similar to QuantumScape’s technology
- Stock has gained 104.55% over the past year, trading near 52-week highs
- Market speculation grows around potential QuantumScape-Panasonic-Tesla collaboration
QuantumScape shares extended their rally into after-hours trading Friday, climbing 5.77% to $12.83 following an already impressive 18.23% surge during Thursday’s regular session. The California-based solid-state battery developer closed Thursday at $12.13.
The after-hours movement came after Form 4 filings revealed insider trading activity on September 12. Director Jeffrey B. Straubel exercised 130,067 stock options at $2.377 each and sold 157,180 shares at an average price of $9.1997.
The transactions were part of a trading plan established in June under Rule 10b5-1. The total sales amounted to approximately $1.75 million.
Friday’s pre-market action saw shares jump an additional 3.3% as news broke about Panasonic Holdings developing an anode-free solid-state battery. The Japanese company said its design could extend Tesla’s Model Y driving range by nearly 90 miles.
Panasonic’s announcement describes technology strikingly similar to QuantumScape’s decade-long development focus. Both companies are working on anode-free lithium-metal cells that eliminate the anode during manufacturing.
The Panasonic design allows a lithium-metal layer to form on first charge. This creates space for more cathode material, boosting capacity by 25%.
Technology Comparison Fuels Speculation
QuantumScape has pitched nearly identical performance numbers. Its cells target 800-1,000 Wh/L energy density, potentially lifting vehicle range from 350 miles to 400-500 miles per charge.
The company has tested its architecture over 2 million times. It holds 200 patents and has spent more than a decade refining its approach.
Panasonic’s timeline for sample production by fiscal 2027 aligns closely with QuantumScape’s roadmap. This timing has raised eyebrows among industry watchers.
Just weeks ago, Panasonic’s CTO Tatsuo Ogawa dismissed solid-state EV batteries as “niche.” He suggested they were better suited to drones than cars.
Now the company promises “world-leading” EV capacity by 2027. This pivot mirrors QuantumScape’s approach of combining high energy, fast charging, long life, safety, and cost-efficiency.
Panasonic previously unveiled a solid-state version in 2023 that could charge 20 times faster. That design hit 10%-80% charge in three minutes but sacrificed energy density.
Market Response Suggests Partnership Potential
QuantumScape CEO Siva Sivaram addressed Tesla’s patents on anode-free technology earlier this year. He said it was “good to see more people coming around to our way of thinking.”
The companies share a board connection through JB Straubel. The former Tesla CTO now leads Redwood Materials and serves on QuantumScape’s board.
Retail investor sentiment on Stocktwits showed “extremely bullish” mood with “extremely high” message volume. Users suggested the Panasonic announcement looked more like alignment than competition.
One trader argued that QuantumScape brings intellectual property, Panasonic adds manufacturing scale, and Tesla provides demand. They noted QS stock rose on the Panasonic news rather than falling.
Strong Technical Performance
QuantumScape has delivered exceptional returns over the past year, posting a 104.55% gain. The stock trades within a 52-week range of $3.40 to $15.03, with current levels approaching the upper end.
The company maintains a market capitalization of $6.87 billion. Average daily volume reaches 26.01 million shares.
Benzinga’s Edge Stock Rankings show QuantumScape with strong momentum in the 94th percentile. The rankings indicate positive price trends across all time frames.
The recent insider sales by Straubel were executed through a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan established in June 2024.
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