Li Auto (LI) Short Bets Surge to Record High Amid 24.4% Delivery Decline
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 23 2026
0mins
Source: seekingalpha
- Surge in Short Bets: As of Wednesday, short bets against Li Auto reached 9.6% of free float, a significant increase from 1% a year ago, indicating a bearish outlook on the company's future performance.
- Declining Deliveries: In December 2025, Li Auto delivered 44,246 vehicles, bringing total fourth-quarter deliveries to 109,194, and despite a sequential recovery, this marked a 24.4% year-over-year decline, highlighting increasing competitive pressures.
- Intensifying Market Competition: Li Auto has become the most shorted Chinese automaker since last year, reflecting its struggles to fend off rivals in the premium SUV market, with its stock price dropping approximately 25% over the past year.
- Decreasing Profitability: According to S3 Partners, Li Auto was the second-most profitable short in the Asia-Pacific region, trailing only Meituan, indicating its vulnerable market position, with short demand expected to remain high but volatile in the near term.
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Analyst Views on LI
Wall Street analysts forecast LI stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for LI is 21.12 USD with a low forecast of 17.00 USD and a high forecast of 32.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
11 Analyst Rating
2 Buy
8 Hold
1 Sell
Hold
Current: 17.260
Low
17.00
Averages
21.12
High
32.00
Current: 17.260
Low
17.00
Averages
21.12
High
32.00
About LI
Li Auto Inc is a holding company primarily engaged in the design, development, manufacturing, and sales of smart electric vehicles. The Company’s main products include the Li L9, Li L8, Li L7, Li L6, and Li MEGA, encompassing six-seat sport utility vehicles (SUVs), five-seat SUVs, and multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs). The Company is also engaged in research and development activities relating to intelligent vehicle technologies, the design, development and manufacturing of various components and systems for new energy vehicles, and the provision of value-added services such as charging, vehicle maintenance and repair. The Company mainly conducts its businesses within domestic market.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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