Li Auto Shares Face Conflicting Analyst Views Amid Delivery Decline

Li Auto US50202M1027

The investment case for Chinese electric vehicle maker Li Auto is sending mixed messages to the market. A notable drop in monthly vehicle deliveries contrasts with divergent adjustments to price targets by financial analysts, creating uncertainty about the stock's near-term trajectory.

Market experts have issued conflicting assessments following the latest operational update. On January 9, 2026, Piper Sandler raised its price target for Li Auto from $18 to $19 per share, while maintaining a "Neutral" rating. This modest upward revision suggests a degree of valuation support despite recent headwinds.

In a contrasting move, Freedom Capital Markets reduced its price target for the company, citing a weak near-term perspective explicitly. This split in analyst sentiment highlights the lack of consensus on how to interpret the current phase of operational softness.

December Deliveries Show Year-on-Year Contraction

The immediate pressure stems from the company's December 2025 delivery figures. Li Auto reported deliveries of 44,246 vehicles for the month, representing a significant 24% decrease compared to the same period in the prior year. However, for the complete fourth quarter of 2025, the company delivered a solid 109,100 units. Cumulatively, Li Auto has now placed over 1.54 million vehicles on the road since its founding.

Sector Performance and Broader Context

Trading activity reflects this ambiguous climate. On the European Tradegate platform, Li Auto's stock recently traded between €14.15 and €14.30, marking a decline of approximately 1% to 2%.

The broader sector for Chinese EV manufacturers is currently providing little uplift. Key domestic rivals XPeng and NIO also faced selling pressure, with their shares down 2.3% and 1.0%, respectively, in recent Friday trading. This stands in sharp relief to U.S. competitor Tesla, whose stock gained 2.7% to $447.35. The current market dynamic appears to favor established U.S. players, likely a reaction to reported softness in the domestic Chinese market.

Long-Term Strategy Continues Unabated

Beyond short-term volatility, Li Auto continues to advance its long-term infrastructure plans. The automaker is collaborating with Alibaba Cloud to meet global infrastructure demands and now operates a network of more than 3,900 Supercharger stations. The upcoming quarterly financial results will be a key indicator of whether this operational expansion can ultimately outweigh the present challenges in vehicle sales.