For Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) and its investors, the times are changing rapidly. Although Tesla started out as an electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer first and foremost, CEO Elon Musk now seems to be focused on artificial intelligence (AI) and Optimus robots.

Tesla shares aren't cheap, but the stock is worth a look by investors aiming to potentially compound $500.

Initially, when electric-car maker Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) released its fourth-quarter results, the stock popped. But shortly after the market opened on Thursday, the stock's return for the day turned negative. This has added to the stock's weakness in recent weeks. As of this writing, the stock is down more than 11% over the past month.