Li Auto Inc.

Investors in Li Auto Inc (Symbol: LI) saw new options begin trading today, for the November 14th expiration. At Stock Options Channel, our YieldBoost formula has looked up and down the LI options chain for the new November 14th contracts and identified one put and one call contract of particular interest.
The put contract at the $24.00 strike price has a current bid of 51 cents. If an investor was to sell-to-open that put contract, they are committing to purchase the stock at $24.00, but will also collect the premium, putting the cost basis of the shares at $23.49 (before broker commissions). To an investor already interested in purchasing shares of LI, that could represent an attractive alternative to paying $25.72/share today.
Because the $24.00 strike represents an approximate 7% discount to the current trading price of the stock (in other words it is out-of-the-money by that percentage), there is also the possibility that the put contract would expire worthless. The current analytical data (including greeks and implied greeks) suggest the current odds of that happening are 68%. Stock Options Channel will track those odds over time to see how they change, publishing a chart of those numbers on our website under the contract detail page for this contract. Should the contract expire worthless, the premium would represent a 2.12% return on the cash commitment, or 18.02% annualized — at Stock Options Channel we call this the YieldBoost.
Below is a chart showing the trailing twelve month trading history for Li Auto Inc, and highlighting in green where the $24.00 strike is located relative to that history:
Turning to the calls side of the option chain, the call contract at the $30.00 strike price has a current bid of 52 cents. If an investor was to purchase shares of LI stock at the current price level of $25.72/share, and then sell-to-open that call contract as a "covered call," they are committing to sell the stock at $30.00. Considering the call seller will also collect the premium, that would drive a total return (excluding dividends, if any) of 18.66% if the stock gets called away at the November 14th expiration (before broker commissions). Of course, a lot of upside could potentially be left on the table if LI shares really soar, which is why looking at the trailing twelve month trading history for Li Auto Inc, as well as studying the business fundamentals becomes important. Below is a chart showing LI's trailing twelve month trading history, with the $30.00 strike highlighted in red:
Considering the fact that the $30.00 strike represents an approximate 17% premium to the current trading price of the stock (in other words it is out-of-the-money by that percentage), there is also the possibility that the covered call contract would expire worthless, in which case the investor would keep both their shares of stock and the premium collected. The current analytical data (including greeks and implied greeks) suggest the current odds of that happening are 64%. On our website under the contract detail page for this contract, Stock Options Channel will track those odds over time to see how they change and publish a chart of those numbers (the trading history of the option contract will also be charted). Should the covered call contract expire worthless, the premium would represent a 2.02% boost of extra return to the investor, or 17.14% annualized, which we refer to as the YieldBoost.
The implied volatility in the put contract example is 72%, while the implied volatility in the call contract example is 82%.
Meanwhile, we calculate the actual trailing twelve month volatility (considering the last 250 trading day closing values as well as today's price of $25.72) to be 55%. For more put and call options contract ideas worth looking at, visit StockOptionsChannel.com.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

November 14th Options Now Available For Li Auto (LI)

(RTTNews) - Li Auto Inc. (LI) announced that it delivered 33,951 vehicles in September 2025, bringing the company's third-quarter deliveries to 93,211. As of September 30, 2025, Li Autos cumulative deliveries reached about 1.43 million.
Additionally, the company officially launched Li i6, a pioneering five-seat battery electric SUV, on September 26, 2025, and commenced deliveries on the following day.
As of September 30, 2025, the Company had 542 retail stores in 157 cities, 546 servicing centers and Li Auto-authorized body and paint shops operating in 225 cities. The Company also had 3,420 super charging stations in operation equipped with 18,897 charging stalls in China.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Li Auto Delivers 33,951 Vehicles In September 2025

Key Points
Life is about to get tougher for Chinese EV companies that sell their wares outside the country.
The Chinese government will require them to obtain a special license starting next year.
Friday wasn't a good day to be an investor in Chinese electric vehicle (EV) stocks. Among the prominent decliners in that asset class was Li Auto (NASDAQ: LI), which, along with the others, fell in price because of the latest pronouncements of that country's government.
Li Auto's American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) dipped by almost 5% that day, during a session when the S&P 500 index managed a 0.6% gain.
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New export license requirement
The Chinese commerce ministry announced that it is mandating export permits for domestic companies that want to sell their wares abroad. This requirement will kick in on Jan. 1, 2026, which at this point is only months away.
The ministry said that its move was aimed at curbing the activities of unregulated traders. It also wants to protect the reputation of the country's industry, specifically the thriving EV segment of the auto sector.
The licenses will only be available to EV makers and their authorized companies. The Chinese government has already placed similar restrictions on makers of traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles and EV/gasoline hybrids.
The EV market has exploded in China, and manufacturers in the country are also enjoying considerable success in foreign markets. It is currently the largest car exporter on the planet and likely to stay that way, with sales of roughly 5.5 million units in 2024. Not surprisingly, about 40% of this total consisted of EVs.
A watchful eye
Li Auto is a member of this club, and has fully taken advantage of the Chinese consumer's zeal for EVs (it also sells a form of hybrid). The government's announcement of the licensing regime is a clear attempt at gaining some control over EV makers in what's rapidly turned into a robust export environment.
Investors surely fear that the activities of these companies will end up being curtailed one way or another.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Why Li Auto Stock Got Stuck in Traffic Friday

Li Auto Inc. Sponsored ADR (LI) closed the most recent trading day at $25.03, moving -1.65% from the previous trading session. The stock fell short of the S&P 500, which registered a loss of 0.55% for the day. Elsewhere, the Dow lost 0.19%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq lost 0.95%.
Coming into today, shares of the company had gained 6.04% in the past month. In that same time, the Auto-Tires-Trucks sector gained 15.27%, while the S&P 500 gained 3.64%.
Investors will be eagerly watching for the performance of Li Auto Inc. Sponsored ADR in its upcoming earnings disclosure.
For the entire fiscal year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates are projecting earnings of $1.24 per share and a revenue of $19.6 billion, representing changes of -10.14% and -2.4%, respectively, from the prior year.
Any recent changes to analyst estimates for Li Auto Inc. Sponsored ADR should also be noted by investors. Recent revisions tend to reflect the latest near-term business trends. Hence, positive alterations in estimates signify analyst optimism regarding the business and profitability.
Research indicates that these estimate revisions are directly correlated with near-term share price momentum. We developed the Zacks Rank to capitalize on this phenomenon. Our system takes these estimate changes into account and delivers a clear, actionable rating model.
Ranging from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), the Zacks Rank system has a proven, outside-audited track record of outperformance, with #1 stocks returning an average of +25% annually since 1988. Over the past month, there's been a 3.51% rise in the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. As of now, Li Auto Inc. Sponsored ADR holds a Zacks Rank of #4 (Sell).
With respect to valuation, Li Auto Inc. Sponsored ADR is currently being traded at a Forward P/E ratio of 20.52. This expresses a premium compared to the average Forward P/E of 12.07 of its industry.
The Automotive - Foreign industry is part of the Auto-Tires-Trucks sector. This industry currently has a Zacks Industry Rank of 199, which puts it in the bottom 20% of all 250+ industries.
The Zacks Industry Rank evaluates the power of our distinct industry groups by determining the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks forming the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.
Keep in mind to rely on Zacks.com to watch all these stock-impacting metrics, and more, in the succeeding trading sessions.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Li Auto Inc. Sponsored ADR (LI) Falls More Steeply Than Broader Market: What Investors Need to Know

NIO Inc. NIO notified during its secondearnings callthat it has four models with order backlogs for which customers are waiting to pick up their vehicles. These include the L90, the all-new ES8, the L60 and the FIREFLY. From a production capacity standpoint, NIO is prioritizing the L90 and the all-new ES8 and working closely with supply chain partners to ramp up output to meet strong market demand.
For the ONVO brand, production of the L90 has taken priority over the L60. As a result, L60 customers are also experiencing delays in picking up their vehicles. NIO’s target for October is to bring the ONVO L90’s full supply chain capacity to 15,000 units per month. Starting in October, the company expects overall ONVO production capacity to return to normal levels, primarily supported by increased battery production. Over the past several months, NIO has been collaborating with battery suppliers to expand output. With this, the ONVO brand is projected to reach a total supply chain production capacity of around 25,000 units per month in the fourth quarter.
For the ES8, production ramp-up is taking slightly longer. NIO expects ES8’s full supply chain capacity to reach 15,000 units a month by December. Moreover, FIREFLY production and supply capacity are steadily increasing. By the fourth quarter, monthly production capacity for FIREFLY is expected to peak at 6,000 units.
Taking into account both demand and available supply capacity, the company has set a fourth-quarter delivery target of 50,000 units per month across its three brands, totaling 150,000 units for the quarter. NIO carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Production Strategy of NIO’s Competitors
Li Auto Inc. LI launched the Li i8 on July 29, 2025. Since its debut, the model has received highly positive feedback from test drives. The company’s production facilities are operating at full capacity, with efforts underway to further ramp up output. Li Auto aims to deliver between 8,000 and 10,000 units of i8 cumulatively by the end of September.
Tesla, Inc. TSLA began production of its lower-cost model in the first half of 2025, as scheduled. However, due to Tesla’s priority on building and delivering as many vehicles as possible in the United States ahead of the EV credit expiration, along with the added complexity of introducing a new product, the production ramp is expected to progress more slowly than initially planned. Tesla now expects the ramp to shift to the fourth quarter. Per Teslarati, Tesla’s Giga Berlin recently raised its production plans for the third and fourth quarters.
NIO’s Price Performance, Valuation and Estimates
NIO has outperformed the Zacks Automotive-Foreign industry year to date. Its shares have surged 61% compared with the industry’s growth of 4.2%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation perspective, NIO appears overvalued. Going by its price/sales ratio, the company is trading at a forward sales multiple of 0.83, higher than the industry’s 0.45.
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The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NIO’s 2025 and 2026 loss per share has narrowed by 5 cents and 10 cents, respectively, in the past 30 days.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

How's NIO Adjusting Production Priorities to Meet Growing Demand?

NIO Inc. NIO has started sending its third-generation ES8 electric SUVs to delivery centers across China ahead of the official Sept. 20 launch. Photos shared on Monday showed the new crossovers being loaded onto car carriers at the Hefei factory, confirming that nationwide deliveries will begin right after the sales go live.
Pre-sales of the three-row ES8 began on Aug. 21, and early demand appears strong, with pre-orders surpassing those of NIO’s ONVO L90 model, as confirmed by NIO President Qin Lihong.
The new ES8 is designed for those seeking a high-end experience. Prices range from 416,800 to 456,000 yuan (roughly $58,500–$64,110), but with NIO’s Battery-as-a-Service option, the entry-level trim can be purchased for 308,800 yuan ($43,340). This is a notable shift from the second-generation ES8, which started at 518,000 yuan ($72,820), making the new model way affordable than its predecessor while retaining its premium feel.
The ES8 model comes standard with a dual-motor 4WD setup producing 520 kW (697 hp) and 700 Nm of torque, allowing the SUV to sprint to 100 km/h in just four seconds. A 102-kWh battery pack offers a CLTC range of 635 km, consuming 16.6 kWh per 100 km. The vehicle also includes advanced technology, such as a LiDAR sensor and two roof-mounted cameras, across all trims.
The ES8 is expected to give a significant boost to NIO’s brand sales and reinforce its position in the increasingly competitive EV market. NIO is targeting roughly a 20% gross margin on the ES8, supported by in-house innovation and tight cost control. The fourth quarter will mark the first full quarter of ES8 sales, with the company aiming to deliver 50,000 vehicles across each of its brands — NIO, ONVO and Firefly.
Competitor Check
Tesla TSLA and Li Auto LI are set to give NIO’s ES8 strong competition, both offering six-seat layouts and competitive pricing.
Tesla’s Model Y L in China is a long-wheelbase, six-seat version of its popular SUV. The “L” adds extra legroom, making it more family-friendly. Tesla priced the Model Y L at 339,000 yuan, below the 400,000 yuan many had expected for the extended model.
Meanwhile, Li Auto introduced its Li i8 in late July, another six-seat family SUV. The Li i8 blends off-road capability, sedan-like handling and MPV-level comfort, targeting buyers who want versatility without compromising on luxury or performance. It is available in three trims — Pro, Max, and Ultra — priced at 321,800, 349,800, and 369,800 yuan, respectively.
NIO’s Price Performance, Valuation and Estimates
Shares of NIO have surged over 60% year to date compared with the industry’s gain of 5%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, NIO trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 0.83. It carries a Value Score of D.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Take a look at how the Zacks Consensus Estimate for NIO’s earnings has been revised over the past 90 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
NIO stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

NIO's ES8 Deliveries Begin This Week: Can It Compete With TSLA and LI?

Nio (NYSE: NIO) climbed 3.1% on Tuesday to close at $6.58, rallying on the back of second-quarter earnings that demonstrated its strongest showing since Q4 2023. The EV maker posted a smaller-than-expected $567 million loss and improved its margin to 10%, suggesting a potential turnaround. Heavy trading volume of 119.6 million shares (nearly double its average) underscored heightened investor interest.
The broader markets dipped, with the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) sliding 0.7% and the Nasdaq Composite (NASDAQINDEX: ^IXIC) falling 0.8%.
NIO peers, Li Auto (NASDAQ: LI) and BYD Company (OTC: BYDDY), also advanced on Tuesday. Li Auto rose 4.5% to $24.40, while BYD climbed 2.9% to $14.04, as both stocks benefited from continued excitement around Chinese EV demand.
The optimism stems from NIO's substantial 26% year-over-year jump in Q2 deliveries and a 55% rise in August units. Coupled with margin improvement and tighter cost controls, these gains suggest the company may reach profitability as early as Q4, positioning it as a standout in an otherwise challenging EV landscape.
Market data sourced from Google Finance and Yahoo! Finance on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025.
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Daily Stock News has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. This article was generated with GPT-4o, OpenAI's large-scale language generation model and has been reviewed by The Motley Fool's AI quality control systems.The Motley Fool recommends BYD Company. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Stock Market Today: NIO Jumps as Glimmers of Profitability Emerge

NIO Inc. NIO has officially launched its all-new ES8, a premium flagship three-row SUV, which is now open for pre-orders ahead of its release in late September.
The ES8 will be offered in both six- and seven-seat Executive Premium and Executive Signature trims with starting prices of RMB 416,800 and RMB 456,800, respectively. In Europe, the model will be marketed as the EL8 due to a trademark conflict with Audi. To boost sales, NIO is offering special incentives, such as discounted pre-order deposits and exclusive trade-in benefits for current owners.
The redesigned ES8 has been upgraded from a mid-large to a full-size SUV, making it the largest all-electric SUV available in China. Built on NIO’s 12 full-stack technologies, it reflects the company’s third-generation “Design for Success” philosophy, featuring premium materials, custom interiors and airline-inspired zero-gravity seating.
Performance-wise, the new ES8 is powered by NIO’s advanced 900V high-voltage platform, a 102 kWh battery and dual motors generating 520 kW and 700 N·m of torque. This setup enables 0-100 km/h acceleration in just 3.97 seconds and delivers a CLTC range of up to 635 km.
NIO expects all-new ES8 to drive fourth-quarter monthly deliveries to around 25,000 units, suggesting a rise of 20% year over year from 20,000 units per month in the fourth quarter of 2024. Alongside higher sales, the company also anticipates the model to boost its vehicle gross margin for the NIO brand to over 20% in the fourth quarter. NIO carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) at present.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Comparable Models in the NIO ES8 Segment
Recently, Tesla, Inc. TSLA introduced the Model Y L in China, a long-wheelbase, six-seat version of its popular SUV, to strengthen its market position following weak second-quarter sales. The “L” refers to its extended wheelbase, which provides extra legroom, along with a six-seat configuration. With a starting price of RMB 339,000, the Model Y L sits above the five-seat versions but comes in under the RMB 400,000 price tag many anticipated. Deliveries are scheduled to start in September.
In late July, Li Auto Inc. LI launched its Li i8, a six-seat family SUV. Marketed as a next-generation SUV, the Li i8 blends off-road capability, sedan-like handling and MPV-level comfort to redefine family travel. The model is available in three trims: Pro, Max and Ultra at the prices of RMB 321,800, RMB 349,800 and RMB 369,800, respectively.
NIO’s Price Performance, Valuation and Estimates
NIO has outperformed the Zacks Automotive-Foreign industry year to date. Its shares have gained 27.1% compared with the industry’s growth of 3.7%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, NIO appears relatively overvalued. The stock trades at a forward price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 0.71, above the industry’s 0.45.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 bottom-line loss has widened by a penny in the past 30 days, while for 2026, it has narrowed by 5 cents in the past seven days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Is the All-New ES8 Well-Positioned to Boost NIO's Q4 Sales?

Tesla TSLA is facing a slowdown in one of its most important markets — China. The world’s biggest car market is in the middle of a brutal price war, and local players are giving global names a run for their money. Once seen as the clear leader among foreign EV makers, Tesla is now under pressure from fast-rising local brands. BYD Co Ltd BYDDY has taken the lead in terms of volume, while Li Auto LI and NIO Inc. NIO are also drawing buyers rapidly.
To win back some ground, Tesla has just launched the Model Y L—a stretched, six-seat version of its popular SUV made for Chinese buyers. The question is whether this new model can really give Tesla’s sales the lift it needs in such a competitive market.
Tesla’s Sales in China Are Slipping
The numbers show why this launch matters. In the second quarter of 2025, Tesla sold 128,803 EVs in China, a drop of 4.3% from the previous quarter and 11.7% from a year ago. Even with discounts and financing incentives, Tesla’s sales of China-made vehicles fell again in July, reversing a short-lived uptick in June.
What makes this more concerning is that the declines came despite a refreshed Model Y lineup being available. Tesla had blamed weak Q1 sales on a design changeover for the Model Y, but even after production ramped back up, deliveries failed to rebound. Globally, Tesla’s deliveries fell 13.5% last quarter — its sharpest quarterly decline in more than a decade.
Meanwhile, BYD, Li Auto and NIO are moving in the opposite direction. BYD sold more than 600,000 BEVs in Q2’25, beating Tesla for the third straight quarter. Li Auto continues to witness strong demand for its large SUVs, while NIO’s new sub-brand, ONVO, targeting families with lower-priced options, is also being received well.
Tesla’s Big Bet: A Bigger Model Y
In China, where customer preferences lean toward larger family cars with more seating capacity, the regular five-seat version has its limits. That’s where the Model Y L comes in. The “L” stands for long wheelbase, which means more legroom and a six-seat layout. Priced at RMB 339,000 ($47,180), the Model Y L is positioned above the five-seat variants but below the RMB 400,000 many expected. Deliveries are set to begin in September.
That makes three distinct Model Y variants in China— RWD five-seat priced at RMB 263,500, long-range AWD five-seat at RMB 313,500 and the six-seat Model Y L at RMB 339,000.
The Model Y L is Tesla’s most expensive and longest-range SUV option yet, aimed at family buyers who want space without jumping to ultra-luxury options.
Peer Check: NIO and LI Aren’t Sitting Still
Tesla is not stepping into an empty lane with the Model Y L. The six-seat SUV space in China has quickly become one of the hottest segments. Li Auto, for example, recently launched its Li i8, a six-seat family SUV that arrives just weeks before Tesla’s new model. With prices ranging from RMB 321,800 to RMB 369,800 and deliveries commencing tomorrow, Li Auto is clearly aiming to dominate this family-oriented corner of the market.
NIO is also making its presence felt through its ONVO sub-brand, which introduced the L90 SUV (on July 31) at an eye-catching starting price of just RMB 179,800. That drops even lower under its battery-as-a-service plan, making it far more accessible than Tesla’s premium lineup. The ONVO L90 has already drawn significant early demand, with more than 4,000 units delivered in the first 10 days.
By aggressively pricing and marketing these vehicles, LI and NIO are putting real pressure on Tesla in a segment where it hopes the Model Y L can stand out.
Can the Model Y L Make a Difference?
The Model Y L is clearly designed to win back Chinese buyers who want more space and flexibility. Its price undercuts earlier expectations, and its timing could help Tesla tap into the family SUV boom. But the challenges remain serious. Tesla is still priced above most local alternatives, and Chinese EV makers are rolling out new models at a faster pace. So, while the Model Y L might stabilize Tesla’s volumes, it’s unlikely to spark a big sales rebound.
The Zacks Rundown for Tesla
Shares of Tesla have lost 17% year to date compared with the industry’s decline of 16.4%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, TSLA trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 10.48, way above the industry. It carries a Value Score of F.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
See how the Zacks Consensus Estimate for TSLA’s earnings has been revised over the past 60 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Tesla stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Can Tesla's New Model Y L Boost its Sales Volumes in China?

(RTTNews) - Li Auto Inc. (LI), a Chinese electric vehicle maker, said on Tuesday that it sold 111,074 vehicles for the second quarter, higher than 108,581 units delivered in the same period last year.
For the month of June, however, the automaker delivered 36,279 vehicles, less than 47, 774 vehicles sold last year.
As of June 30, the company had 530 retail stores in 151 cities, 511 servicing centers, and Li Auto-authorized body and paint shops operating in 222 cities.
Li Auto also had 2,851 super charging stations in operation equipped with 15,655 charging stalls in China.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

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