Rivian's 25% Stock Surge Revives Interest in EV ETFs—Is It Time to Invest?
Rivian's Strong Performance: Rivian Automotive's stock surged over 25% following a strong third-quarter report, with a 78% year-over-year revenue increase to $1.56 billion and a positive gross profit of $24 million, despite a wider-than-expected loss per share.
Impact on EV ETFs: The rebound in Rivian's stock positively affected various EV-focused ETFs, which saw gains ranging from 1% to 1.8%, recovering from a previous slump due to profit-taking and concerns over rising costs.
Long-Term Market Outlook: Analysts maintain a positive long-term outlook for the EV market, with forecasts suggesting a global market cap of $1.1 trillion by 2030, and diversified ETFs providing exposure to a broader range of companies in the mobility sector.
Caution Ahead: Despite the recent surge, analysts caution that challenges such as profitability issues, high borrowing costs, and policy uncertainties could impact the EV market, indicating that the road ahead may be volatile.
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- Stock Price Plunge: Since going public in late 2021, Rivian's shares have plummeted by 89%, reflecting not only the challenges faced by the company but also prompting investors to reassess its market positioning and future outlook.
- Changing Industry Environment: The Trump administration's rollback of support for electric vehicles has led to a 36% year-over-year decline in U.S. EV sales; while Rivian is not directly affected, the overall market sentiment has negatively impacted its performance.
- Competitive Landscape Shift: Ford's pivot to hybrid models and cancellation of the fully electric F-150 Lightning, which directly competed with Rivian's R1T, provides Rivian with an opportunity to capture a larger market share amidst reduced competition.
- Future Growth Potential: Rivian's upcoming R2 SUV, priced at $45,000, is expected to attract a broader consumer base, while its software and services business, which soared over 300% in Q3, offers significant diversification and growth prospects for the future.
- Market Reaction: Following the Trump administration's revocation of the greenhouse gas endangerment finding, shares of pure-play EV manufacturers like Tesla (TSLA), Rivian (RIVN), and Lucid (LCID) fell by as much as 5%, while traditional automakers such as General Motors (GM), Ford (F), and Stellantis (STLA) saw their stocks rise, with STLA increasing by 4% at its peak.
- Economic Impact: The EPA stated that the new final rule will save Americans over $1.3 trillion, primarily by reducing the costs of new vehicles and EV equipment purchases, potentially stimulating growth in the traditional automotive market.
- Policy Background: Trump claimed that the revoked scientific finding lacked factual and legal basis, asserting that it “severely damaged the American auto industry” and criticized existing EV promotion laws as “mandates,” which could lead to significant price increases for consumers.
- Consumer Impact: The EPA alleged that the repeal of the finding would result in average cost savings of over $2,400 per vehicle, although this could negatively affect EV sales, especially after the federal tax credit of $7,500 was eliminated last year.
- Earnings Beat: Rivian reported a Q4 2025 loss of $0.66 per share, better than the expected $0.67 loss, indicating improvements in cost management and operational efficiency, which led to a 14% surge in after-hours trading.
- Revenue Growth: The company generated $1.29 billion in revenue for the quarter, surpassing Wall Street's expectation of $1.27 billion, reflecting positive progress in market demand and sales strategies, thereby boosting investor confidence.
- Increased Delivery Outlook: Rivian anticipates delivering 62,000 to 67,000 vehicles in fiscal 2026, significantly up from 42,284 in 2025, showcasing confidence in the market potential of its upcoming R2 SUV, which is expected to enhance market share.
- Core Loss Guidance: The company expects an adjusted core loss of $1.80 to $2.10 billion for FY26, in line with the $2.06 billion loss recorded in 2025, indicating a need to maintain financial health and profitability amid expansion efforts.
- Delivery Target Increase: Rivian anticipates vehicle deliveries will reach between 62,000 and 67,000 units in 2026, representing a 47% to 59% increase compared to 2025, primarily driven by the launch of the R2 SUV, reflecting the company's confidence in future market demand.
- Cautious Financial Outlook: Despite the expected increase in deliveries, Rivian projects adjusted pre-tax losses for 2026 to be between $1.8 billion and $2.1 billion, indicating ongoing challenges to profitability during the launch of its new model.
- Improved Gross Profit: Rivian achieved a gross profit of $144 million in 2025, an improvement from 2024, largely due to its joint software and services venture with Volkswagen, demonstrating progress in cost control and revenue diversification.
- Strong Liquidity Position: As of the end of Q4, Rivian reported total liquidity of $6.59 billion, including nearly $6.1 billion in cash and short-term investments, providing essential funding for future technological advancements and profitability improvements.
- Revenue Performance: Rivian reported Q4 revenue of $1.29 billion, down from $1.73 billion year-over-year, yet exceeding the market expectation of $1.27 billion, indicating resilience in a challenging market environment.
- Decline in Automotive Revenue: Automotive revenue totaled $839 million, a 45% year-over-year decline primarily due to reduced regulatory credit sales, lower vehicle deliveries, and a decreased average sales price, reflecting weakened market demand.
- Growth in Software Services: Software and services revenue reached $447 million, up 109% year-over-year, highlighting the company's growth potential in non-automotive sectors, which may lay the groundwork for future revenue diversification.
- Future Outlook: Rivian anticipates delivering between 62,000 and 67,000 vehicles in 2026, with planned capital expenditures of $1.95 billion to $2.05 billion for the fiscal year, demonstrating confidence in future growth and strategic positioning.
- Delivery Target Increase: Rivian anticipates delivering between 62,000 and 67,000 electric vehicles in 2026, representing a 47% to 59% increase compared to 2025, indicating strong market demand optimism.
- Cautious Financial Outlook: Despite the increase in deliveries, Rivian expects adjusted losses of $1.8 billion to $2.1 billion in 2026, with capital expenditures between $1.95 billion and $2.05 billion, highlighting ongoing financial pressures during expansion.
- Fourth Quarter Performance Beats Expectations: Rivian reported a fourth-quarter loss of 54 cents per share, better than the expected 68 cents, with revenue of $1.29 billion exceeding the $1.26 billion forecast, showcasing improvements in cost control and revenue growth.
- Strong Gross Profit Performance: In 2025, Rivian achieved a gross profit of $144 million, primarily driven by its joint software and services venture with Volkswagen, despite a $432 million loss in its automotive business, reflecting potential improvements in profitability.










