Picture supply: Sam Robson, The Motley Idiot UK
What a few months it has been for electrical automotive maker NIO (NYSE: NIO). NIO inventory has leapt 53% over the previous two months.
That’s the stuff of investor desires, though in equity it nonetheless leaves NIO 91% under its 2021 excessive.
From a long-term perspective, although, I might additionally level to the five-year share value efficiency. Throughout that interval, NIO inventory is up 271%.
Right here I need to dig into what has been happening with the share value — and whether or not it could sign a turnaround for the share value that might justify shopping for NIO for my portfolio.
Large gross sales progress
The important thing set off for the surge in NIO inventory, so far as I’m involved, was the quarterly outcomes assertion it launched final month.
Automobile deliveries through the quarter have been over 57,000. That represented 144% progress in comparison with the identical interval the prior yr.
I see that as excellent news in two methods.
First, the expansion is spectacular. It means that NIO has established an more and more credible place with not less than some prospects in what’s a aggressive market. Secondly, in absolute phrases, I feel the gross sales figures are respectable.
Positive, they’re a great distance behind rival Tesla. In its newest quarter, it delivered 463,000 autos. NIO’s deliveries have been underneath one-eighth of Tesla’s. However they nonetheless equated to over 4,000 autos per week on common. I see that as substantial.
I feel the gross sales volumes are vital – and assist clarify the latest surge in NIO inventory – as a result of automotive manufacturing and distribution is a sport of scale. There are massive mounted prices, so ramping up quantity is essential for spreading these prices.
NIO has strengths – however weaknesses too
Up to now, so good.
NIO is constructing a buyer base. It has confirmed that its autos, which aren’t low-cost, can entice prospects at scale. It additionally has various aggressive benefits, together with its proprietary battery swapping know-how. I see that as resolving a key grievance many individuals have about rival electrical autos, specifically their restricted vary.
Nonetheless, it has but to show that it may well flip that constructive gross sales momentum right into a revenue.
Sure, its internet loss in the latest quarter was 17% decrease than within the prior yr interval. However it nonetheless got here in at over half a billion kilos. That’s some huge cash, for my part.
To evaluate whether or not or not NIO inventory is attractively valued, I think about its long-term monetary outlook. However as I see it, a key piece of the puzzle remains to be lacking. NIO has but to show that it may be worthwhile, not to mention constantly so.
Tesla additionally made losses for a few years earlier than breaking into the black. The identical may but turn into the case for NIO. However it faces dangers together with a really aggressive market and an unsure geopolitical local weather that might hamper the Chinese language firm’s worldwide enlargement plans.
For now, given these dangers, I don’t plan to take a position.
