As Tesla ( TSLA ) copes with plunging consumer spending, nosediving oil prices and potential factory shutdowns, it can take some solace in what it did just before things went bad. In February, as Tesla's stock continued basking in the glow of a strong Q4 report, Elon Musk & Co. raised $2.3 billion through a stock offering priced at $767 per share. With Tesla's stock trading at $354 at the time of this article, the offering would look smart today simply on the merits of where it was priced. However, what makes it look especially smart at this juncture is that Tesla, which generated $1.01 billion in free cash flow (FCF) in Q4 2019, is now likely staring at a period of meaningful cash burn as the COVID-19 outbreak wreaks havoc in both the U.S. and Europe. Between the economic damage and disruptions to retail activity caused by the outbreak, it's safe to assume that discretionary purchases of $35,000-plus vehicles will be down sharply in the near-term.