Rivian Automotive (NASDAQ:RIVN) Stock Price Target Lowered at Needham & Company LLC

Rivian Automotive (NASDAQ:RIVN) had its price target reduced by analysts at Needham & Company LLC from $23.00 to $18.00 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Friday, Benzinga reports. The firm currently has a “buy” rating on the electric vehicle automaker’s stock. Needham & Company LLC‘s price target points to a potential upside of 57.21% from the stock’s current price.

Several other analysts have also recently commented on the company. Royal Bank Of Canada raised their target price on Rivian Automotive from $14.00 to $16.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Friday, July 31st. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on Rivian Automotive from $13.00 to $14.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a research note on Friday, July 31st. Wall Street Zen upgraded Rivian Automotive from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Saturday, September 19th. TD Cowen lifted their target price on Rivian Automotive from $20.00 to $21.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, July 31st. Finally, BNP Paribas Exane upped their target price on Rivian Automotive from $22.00 to $24.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, July 8th. Fourteen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have assigned a Hold rating and five have issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Rivian Automotive has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $19.50.

Rivian Automotive Trading Down 1.9%

Rivian Automotive stock opened at $11.45 on Friday. Rivian Automotive has a 52 week low of $11.38 and a 52 week high of $22.69. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.87, a quick ratio of 1.65 and a current ratio of 2.10. The firm has a market capitalization of $16.58 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -4.44 and a beta of 1.62. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $14.60 and a 200 day moving average price of $15.53.

Rivian Automotive (NASDAQ:RIVN) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, October 29th. The electric vehicle automaker reported ($0.48) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.64) by $0.16. The company had revenue of $2.15 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2 billion. Rivian Automotive had a negative net margin of 54.96% and a negative return on equity of 73.90%. The company’s revenue was up 38.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned ($1.08) EPS. Research analysts forecast that Rivian Automotive will post -2.92 EPS for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Rivian Automotive

In other news, CFO Claire McDonough sold 13,144 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $14.50, for a total transaction of $190,588.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 827,201 shares in the company, valued at $11,994,414.50. The trade was a 1.56% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. Also, insider Michael John Callahan sold 15,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, October 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $15.00, for a total transaction of $225,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 1,001,776 shares in the company, valued at $15,026,640. This trade represents a 1.48% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 51,167 shares of company stock worth $788,306. 1.48% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Rivian Automotive

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in RIVN. VCI Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Rivian Automotive in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $811,000. Traynor Capital Management Inc. grew its position in Rivian Automotive by 30.8% in the third quarter. Traynor Capital Management Inc. now owns 17,646 shares of the electric vehicle automaker’s stock worth $264,000 after acquiring an additional 4,160 shares in the last quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. increased its stake in shares of Rivian Automotive by 22.1% during the 3rd quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. now owns 1,970,637 shares of the electric vehicle automaker’s stock worth $29,441,000 after purchasing an additional 356,540 shares during the last quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. acquired a new position in shares of Rivian Automotive during the 3rd quarter worth $327,000. Finally, Vise Technologies Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Rivian Automotive during the 3rd quarter worth $156,000. 66.25% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Key Headlines Impacting Rivian Automotive

Here are the key news stories impacting Rivian Automotive this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Rivian exceeded third-quarter expectations. Revenue rose 38.3% year over year to approximately $2.15 billion, above the roughly $2 billion consensus estimate. The company reported an adjusted loss of $0.48 per share, narrower than the expected $0.64–$0.65 loss and substantially better than the $1.08 loss recorded a year earlier. Rivian third-quarter earnings beat estimates as software revenue, R2 deliveries rise
• Positive Sentiment: The R2 ramp is showing early traction. Rivian said its new R2 SUV became the company’s best-selling vehicle during the quarter. Higher deliveries helped support revenue and gross-profit improvement, while the company raised its full-year delivery outlook and updated guidance for adjusted earnings and capital expenditures. The R2 SUV is already Rivian’s best-selling vehicle
• Positive Sentiment: Software and strategic partnerships add potential upside. Rivian expanded its $5.8 billion joint venture with Volkswagen to include an AI assistant and recently acquired Third Dimension AI to strengthen driver-assistance technology and its Autonomy+ services. These initiatives could improve future software revenue and margins. Rivian expands joint venture with VW to include AI assistant
• Negative Sentiment: Profitability and cash consumption remain major risks. Rivian still posted a GAAP net loss of approximately $913 million, or $0.63 per share, with a negative net margin of 54.96% and negative return on equity. Investors will need evidence that R2 scale can turn automotive operations profitable rather than relying primarily on software and services.
• Neutral Sentiment: Leadership transition adds a modest uncertainty. CFO Claire McDonough is being replaced on an interim basis by Derek Mulvey, effective October 30. The transition may draw attention as Rivian manages its production ramp and path toward profitability. Rivian Q3 2026 earnings call transcript

Rivian Automotive Company Profile

Rivian Automotive, Inc is an electric vehicle manufacturer that designs, develops and produces all-electric trucks, sport utility vehicles and commercial delivery vans. The company focuses on vehicles intended for outdoor recreation, everyday transportation and fleet use, combining battery-electric powertrains with software and connected-vehicle technologies.

Rivian’s consumer vehicle lineup includes the R1T pickup truck and R1S sport utility vehicle. The company also develops electric commercial vans for business and delivery fleets, including vehicles produced through its relationship with Amazon.