4Q24 Revenue: $6.1B, +3.7% YoY, miss estimates by $60M
4Q24 Non-GAAP EPADS: $0.52, beat estimates by $0.12
1Q25 Guidance: Expect revenue between 23.4 billion yuan (US$3.2 billion) to 24.7 billion yuan compared to the analyst estimate of 38.4 billion yuan and vehicle deliveries between 88,000 and 93,000 units.
Comment: Li Auto delivered mixed Q4 results with revenue below estimates and earnings surpassing estimates due to cost management and price cuts. Its gross margin declined to 20.3%. The company forecasted weaker-than-expected Q1 revenue of between US$3.2bn to US$3.4bn and deliveries up to 93,000 units amid rising competition from Huawei-backed Aito, BYD, and Xiaomi. Li Auto is expanding overseas, setting up hubs in Central Asia and the UAE, with plans for North America and Europe. It will also launch two new fully electric sport utility vehicle models namely the i8 and i6 in 2025 to compete in China’s crowded electric SUV market. The intense EV competition in China will prove difficult for Li Auto to stand out amid the aggressive pricing strategy amongst peers and their rapid technological innovation. However, China’s policies to boost domestic consumption, along with overseas expansion, may partially offset the anticipated sales decline. 1Q25recommended trading range: $27 to $30. Negative Outlook.