In the challenging landscape of the electric vehicle (EV) market, both Rivian (NASDAQ:RIVN) and Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) have seen substantial declines in their stock prices, presenting investors with an intriguing buying opportunity. Let’s delve into the strengths of each company to determine which EV stock is a more compelling buy.

Rivian’s Bull Case

Rivian, valued at $18 billion, demonstrated impressive growth by delivering over 50,000 vehicles in 2023, a significant increase from the 20,300 units in 2022. Projections suggest that the company is poised to achieve sales of $4.4 billion by the end of 2023, up from $1.6 billion in the previous year.

Despite being in a capital-intensive industry and currently unprofitable, analysts anticipate Rivian to narrow its losses from $6.34 per share in 2022 to $3.55 per share by 2024. With over $9 billion in cash, Rivian has a substantial financial cushion to offset its cash burn and work toward profitability.

Rivian’s manufacturing numbers more than doubled from 24,337 vehicles in 2022 to 57,232 in 2023, signaling rapid expansion. Collaborations with industry giants like Amazon and recent deals, such as the one with AT&T, underscore Rivian’s potential to emerge as a major player in the EV market.

Analyst sentiment towards RIVN is positive, with 13 recommending a “strong buy,” three suggesting a “moderate buy,” and seven opting for a “hold.” The average target price of $26.09 indicates a 44% upside potential from the current prices.

Tesla’s Bull Case

Tesla, a market leader, has provided remarkable returns to investors since its IPO in 2010, boasting a staggering 1,710% increase in the past decade alone. In Q4 of 2023, Tesla’s robust manufacturing and delivery figures showcased its continued dominance in the EV market.

With almost 1.81 million vehicle deliveries and a net income of nearly $1.8 billion in Q3 2023, Tesla maintains a strong position. Accounting for approximately 50% of total EV shipments in the U.S., the company is expanding its global footprint and investing in AI, autonomous driving software, and robotics.

Analysts’ views on TSLA vary, with eight recommending a “strong buy,” two suggesting a “moderate buy,” 14 opting for a “hold,” and three recommending a “strong sell.” The average target price of $242.38 indicates a 10.7% upside potential from current prices.

The Final Verdict

While both companies face challenges, Rivian’s faster growth and lower price-to-sales multiple make it an appealing option. Analysts project a 42.3% increase in Rivian’s sales to $6.24 billion in 2024, translating to a price-to-sales ratio of less than three. In contrast, Tesla’s sales are forecasted to rise by 20.5% to $117.2 billion in 2024, resulting in a higher price-to-sales ratio of over 6x. Considering consensus price target estimates and the lower multiple, Rivian emerges as the more favorable EV stock for investors.

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