Nomura Upgrades Nio to Buy on Improved Momentum
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Mar 12 2026
0mins
Should l Buy NIO?
Source: Benzinga
- Financial Performance Improvement: Nomura upgraded Nio from Neutral to Buy after the company reported stronger financial performance and operational improvements over the past two quarters, indicating a transition into a healthier growth phase.
- Delivery Growth Forecast: Nomura expects Nio's vehicle deliveries to grow at a compound annual rate of about 25% from 2025 to 2028, with revenue increasing approximately 21%, which will further enhance the company's market competitiveness.
- Cautious Market Reaction: Despite other analysts acknowledging Nio's strong quarterly performance, BofA and Bernstein maintained cautious views, with BofA raising its price target to $6.70 but noting that vehicle margins fell below expectations, potentially impacting future profitability.
- Increased Competitive Pressure: Morgan Stanley reiterated an Overweight rating with a $7.00 price target, emphasizing that deliveries could grow at a 40% to 50% compound annual rate over the next two years, but also pointed out that increasing competition may affect near-term demand.
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Analyst Views on NIO
Wall Street analysts forecast NIO stock price to rise
7 Analyst Rating
2 Buy
4 Hold
1 Sell
Hold
Current: 5.890
Low
4.00
Averages
5.90
High
7.00
Current: 5.890
Low
4.00
Averages
5.90
High
7.00
About NIO
NIO Inc is a holding company mainly engaged in the design, development, manufacturing and sales of smart electric vehicles. The Company offers premium smart electric vehicles under the NIO brand, family-oriented smart electric vehicles through the ONVO brand, and small smart high-end electric cars with the FIREFLY brand. The Company focuses on building in-house capabilities including battery swapping, assisted and intelligent driving, digital technologies, electric powertrain and battery, vehicle engineering and design, among others, to control the design and development of the vehicle software and hardware architecture and the critical components.
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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- Investor Sentiment Weakens: Heightened global economic uncertainty has negatively impacted investor confidence in Asian companies, potentially resulting in reduced trading volumes in the coming weeks, thereby affecting overall market liquidity.
- Sector Impact Notable: The decline in ADRs significantly affects sectors such as technology and consumer goods, which may face negative repercussions on their financing capabilities and market valuations, further exacerbating market volatility.
- Uncertain Future Outlook: With the ongoing low market sentiment, analysts anticipate more volatility in the short term, urging investors to exercise caution in response to potential market risks.
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- Chip Production Growth: Nio has achieved rapid scaling in its core chip portfolio, with the Yangjian LiDAR chip exceeding 400,000 units and the Shenji NX9031 smart driving chip surpassing 150,000 units, reflecting strong vehicle demand and an improving profitability outlook.
- Cost Efficiency Improvement: CEO William Li stated that the in-house chips are delivering cost efficiencies, with the Yangjian chip reducing per-vehicle costs by hundreds of yuan while enhancing performance, indicating that the company's significant R&D investments are driving long-term margin expansion.
- Domestic Chip Sourcing Goals: Nio aims for 35% to 40% of its automotive semiconductors to be sourced domestically by 2027, addressing rising AI computing demands and supply chain volatility while standardizing its chip ecosystem to improve scale efficiency.
- Strong ES8 Demand: Nio is set to deliver its 80,000th third-generation ES8, which accounted for over half of February deliveries, with first-quarter delivery expectations ranging from 80,000 to 83,000 vehicles, showcasing a strong recovery in orders following the Chinese New Year slowdown.
See More
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- User Reliance Deepens: Nio's intelligent driving users have seen time spent increase by over 200%, with high-usage drivers growing by more than 100%, indicating a strong reliance on the intelligent driving system that enhances the company's competitive edge in the market.
- Strong ES8 Delivery Momentum: Nio is set to deliver its 80,000th third-generation ES8, which accounted for over 54% of total deliveries in February with 11,260 units sold, maintaining its top position in China's large SUV market for three consecutive months, reflecting robust market demand and brand influence.
- First Profit Boosts Confidence: Nio achieved its first-ever operating profit of 807.3 million yuan in Q4 2025, primarily driven by higher-margin ES8 deliveries, which has bolstered investor confidence in the company's future growth and contributed to a rise in stock price.
- Optimistic Market Sentiment: On Stocktwits, retail sentiment for Nio is 'bullish' with a 300% surge in 24-hour message volume, indicating strong investor optimism about Nio's future developments, further propelling its stock price up 23% year-to-date.
See More
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- Retail Trader Sentiment Shift: Following the earnings report, retail trader sentiment turned ‘extremely bullish’, with 62% of users expecting the stock to break above $6, indicating increased confidence in Nio's future performance that may trigger more buying activity.
- Delivery Volume Growth: Nio achieved vehicle deliveries of 124,807 units in Q4 2022, a 72% year-over-year increase, with total deliveries for the year rising 47% to 326,028 units, and expects Q1 2023 deliveries of 80,000 to 83,000 units, showcasing strong market demand and growth potential.
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Investment Strategies in Volatile Times: Analysts suggest that investors should focus on blue-chip stocks and companies with strong fundamentals, while also considering opportunities in sectors like biotechnology and renewable energy.
Emerging Trends in Mergers and Acquisitions: The market is witnessing significant mergers and acquisitions, particularly in the healthcare and technology sectors, which could reshape industry dynamics and present new investment opportunities.
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