Tech billionaire and Tesla founder Elon Musk at a meeting.

Johannes Neudecker | Picture Alliance | Getty Images

Tesla reported better-than-expected third-quarter results after the bell on Wednesday, even as automotive revenue dropped. The stock rose slightly in extended trading.

Here's how the company did, compared with estimates from analysts polled by LSEG:

Earnings per share: 48 cents adjusted vs. 43 cents estimated

Revenue: $28.05 billion vs. $27.9 billion estimated

Tesla's earnings report lands a day after CEO Elon Musk told investors on SpaceX's quarterly call that it would be a "good idea" for his two companies to merge, and said the boards at both have formed special committees to discuss a possible tie-up.

"I feel like I'm tap dancing through a minefield," Musk said on the call, responding to a question about a potential merger.

"Do I think it would be a good idea? Yes," Musk said.…