Li Auto ($LI), Chinese EV Maker - Time To Shine?

At the start of the trading week Mon, 07 Aug - stocks bounced back as the market’s fear gauge cooled down on a quiet day for traders.

I like to believe that last Friday’s data released by the Bureau of Labour Statistics, on a mixed but encouraging jobs report that showed (a) a lower unemployment rate, (b) higher wages and (c) moderate payroll growth; still have some residual effect on the market.

The data eased some concerns about the pace of economic recovery and inflation.

Lastly, as the saying goes “no news is good news”, this kind of led market to close higher; all the while with eyes glued to coming Thur, 10 Aug official release of July consumer price index (CPI) data.

By the time market closed:

  • Dow Jones Industrial Average rose around +1.16%, or more than 400 points.

  • S&P 500 gained +0.9%.

  • Tech-heavy Nasdaq recovered from earlier losses to climb +0.6%.

Yesterday’s marginal performance marked a turnaround from a rough start to August 2023, typically a lacklustre trading month.

  • Berkshire Hathaway high profile quarterly earnings helped to boost market morale.

  • Mr Buffet’s shares rallied to record highs as its strong quarterly report showed a rebound in insurance operations.

  • More importantly, Berkshire’s massive cash hoard swelling to nearly $150 Billion is the attractive proposition.

  • With that, $Berkshire Hathaway(BRK.A)$ Class A shares gain a further +3.4%, hitting an all-time high of $551,920 per share.

  • $Berkshire Hathaway(BRK.B)$ Class B had a similar gain of +3.6% hitting a new high of $362.58.

DataTrek Research co-founder Nicholas Colas had shared the following observations:

  • In current earnings season, companies have turned to (a) cost containment and (b) margin management to keep their results credible.

  • This is less exciting than stronger-than-expected revenue.

  • Last week’s dip would be Fitch’s downgrading of US Treasury credit rating; that was a bummer.

  • However, US market’s fear seemed to be fading.

  • Yesterday, the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) was down -6.4%.

Time For $Li Auto(LI)$ - Chinese EV Maker To Shine?

Chinese EV maker - Li Auto delivery

Of the 3 musketeers (Li Auto, $XPeng Inc.(XPEV)$ and $NIO Inc.(NIO)$ ), Li Auto is first of the trio to report its quarterly earnings.

Actually, if investors have been following their weekly/monthly PHEV delivery (see above), it is not even a challenge to predict that this charmingly quiet but rock-solid EV maker will turn in a stellar report card.

True to form, it did!

  • Revenue: came in at RMB27.97 Billion (US$3.983 Billion), that is a +228.1% gain YoY.

  • Net income: was RMB2.31 Billion (US$318.6 million) vs -RMB 641 Million (net loss) YoY.

  • Earnings per share (diluted): was $0.36 per share versus $0.0237 per share YoY.

  • Gross margin: came in at 21.8%; that is a +0.3% gain YoY.

  • Free cash flow: was RMB9.62 Billion (US$1.33 Billion) versus RMB451.7 Million YoY.

Li Auto Q3 2023 Business Outlook

The Company expects:

  • Deliveries of vehicles to be between 100,000 and 103,000 vehicles.

  • This represents an increase of +277.0% to +288.3% YoY.

  • Total revenue to be between RMB32.33 billion (US$4.46 billion) and RMB33.30 billion (US$4.59 billion).

  • This represents an increase of +246.0% to +256.4% YoY.

Qualifier:

  • Business outlook reflects Li Auto’s current and preliminary view on the business situation and market condition, which is subject to change.

My Viewpoint:

  • Despite a stellar performance, Li Auto stock price fell by -8.83% (at time of writing).

  • To be fair, Nasdaq composite index has fallen by -1.43% as well (at time of writing).

  • On 25 July 2023, I have also posted that US market is bias to non-US EV maker. I still believe this holds true. Click here! to read about it.

  • Given Li Auto stellar performance, it stock price should soar; just like Tesla did when it cracked the code to produce EV sedans in volume.

  • I can only hope that when market sentiments improve, market & analysts will not fail to upgrade their target price and recommend a “Buy”.

  • Do you think Li Auto’s Q2 2023 performance is commendable?

  • Do you think Li Auto’s stock price deserved to be revised upwards by another +10% to 15%?

Please give a “LIKe”, “Share” & “Re-post” ok. Thanks. Rating is very important (to me).

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# 💰 Stocks to watch today?(26 Nov)

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  • WebbBart
    ·2023-08-09
    TOP

    How is this down today lol just shows you these broader negative China slow downs seems to scare people. Li auto is much bigger and doing better than Xpev or Nio but yet after earnings crushed it drops 9% anyone care to explain this phenomenon

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    • JC888
      US market is a riddle of late. It's not just Li Auto. Netflix reported better results it fell too. For Chinese stock could've been spooked by China's poor economic data, tks to govt super tight handling of covid...
      2023-08-09
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  • neo26000
    ·2023-08-09
    TOP
    All HK stocks including LI are waiting for Chrismas to soar. Which year ... I cannot tell. I do not know what to add anymore. [Smug]
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    • JC888
      As long as US n China do not mend their relationships, US old monies will not flow into Chinese stk mkt. HK is Chinese now...
      Pls even old Chinese money won't flow into mkt becos what if can't exit at will.
      China is super advance in use of digital payment. Imagine the day without hard currency,Scary
      2023-08-09
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    • JC888
      Its market bias against these chinese EV makers... Pity
      2023-08-09
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  • WernerBilly
    ·2023-08-09
    TOP

    If this was an American company it would be $100 per share

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    • JC888
      Totally agree. Only need to backtrack Tesla stk price right up to the time it first managed to scale production..
      Stk price just zoomed and a new Richie rich was born and became super cocky in the process...
      When money is no longer an issue true colours of a person emerges...
      2023-08-09
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  • nimbly
    ·2023-08-20
    TOP

    Tesla cutting price drags down the whole EV market but LI. remains strong.

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    • JC888
      I supposed the "gd thing" about Li Auto is that its a hybrid. That means there is "no fear" of battery running out of juice.
      2023-08-20
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  • jace0777
    ·2023-08-09
    TOP
    Good rundown of Li Auto! 💪
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    • JC888
      Hi tks for reading my post. Would you consider "Follow me" and get first hand read of my Daily new posts? Tks.
      2023-08-09
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  • frosti
    ·2023-08-20
    TOP

    Evergande bankruptcy is bad for Li autos?

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    • JC888
      Evergrande bankruptcy is bad for everything linked to it and its bonds investors. Especially bad for govt for immediate enforcement without regards. They are reaping what they sow now..
      2023-08-20
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  • daphnelim
    ·2023-08-10
    Great ariticle, would you like to share it?
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    • JC888
      Hi, tks for reading my post. Pls feel free to "Share" & "Re-post". Tks!
      Would you consider "Follow me" and get first hand read of my Daily new posts? Thanks!
      2023-08-10
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  • JC888
    ·2023-08-09
    Hi, thanks for reading. Pls give a "Like", "Share" & "Re-post" ok. Tks. Rating is very important (to me).  
    Wld u consider "Follow me" and get firsthand read of my daily new posts?  Thanks.
    Reply
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  • bubblyx
    ·2023-08-20

    Hard to believe we were at $47.70 … now $38.70 ☹️ fantastic earnings, profitable…. The mkt wave is taking us down

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  • BillyWilliams
    ·2023-08-09

    lcid -> miss everything -> up 10% li -> hit everything and then some-> down 10% go figure

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  • nimbly
    ·2023-08-20

    Bank of America raise price target to $60

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  • cheerzy
    ·2023-08-20

    Few days ago, Li Auto issued 30 million new shares, this dilution draw the share price down, isn't it ?

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  • pixiezz
    ·2023-08-20

    Glad I sold 1/2 of my LI holding. The remaining can sit and wait with ease. GLTA.

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  • Bel8680
    ·2023-08-09
    ok
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  • KSR
    ·2023-08-09
    👍
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  • andrew123
    ·2023-08-09
    like
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  • JoshTay
    ·2023-08-09
    ok
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