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Verdict
Quantitative factor alignment verified for current market regime.
Quant Score
Rank
#859
Positioning
Market Dominance
Manufacturing
Automobiles And Trucks
$25.1B
Xiang Li
Li Auto Inc., through its subsidiaries, designs, develops, manufactures, and sells new energy vehicles in the People's Republic of China. The company provides Li ONE, a six-seat smart electric sport utility vehicle that is equipped with smart vehicle solutions, navigation on ADAS, and automatic emergency breaking functionalities.
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X-AXIS: EV/EBITDA (LOWER = CHEAPER) | Y-AXIS: ROE (HIGHER = ELITE) | RED CIRCLE = LI ANALYSIS TARGET
| Stock | Rating | Score▼ | Quality | Value | Momentum | P/E | EV/EBITDA | ROE | ROA | Gross Mgn | Op Mgn | Net Mgn | Rev Growth | Div Yield | D/E | Mkt Cap | AUDIT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
$UL UNILEVER PLC | 78 | 96 | 98 | 59 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$ASML ASML HOLDING NV | 77 | 89 | 86 | 83 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$ESLT ELBIT SYSTEMS LTD | 76 | 81 | 87 | 85 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$MT ArcelorMittal | 75 | 71 | 98 | 85 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$AMAT APPLIED MATERIALS INC /DE | 75 | 85 | 87 | 84 | 20.9x | 13.6x | 32.9% | 20.5% | 48.8% | 30.6% | 24.4% | 7.7% | 0.9% | 32.0x | $148.6B | VS | |
$SIMO Silicon Motion Technology CORP | 75 | 84 | 86 | 85 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$CODA Coda Octopus Group, Inc. | 74 | 83 | 90 | 79 | 16.3x | 11.9x | 7.4% | 7.5% | 68.3% | 19.5% | 18.2% | 29.0% | 0.0% | 0.0x | $84M | VS | |
$GSK GSK plc | 74 | 84 | 90 | 70 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$EFXT Enerflex Ltd. | 74 | 80 | 91 | 83 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$BUD Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV | 74 | 84 | 97 | 63 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$LI Li Auto Inc. | 58 | 82 | 89 | 21 | 33.4x | 1.8x | 45.4% | 19.8% | 20.5% | 4.9% | 5.6% | 13.4% | 0.0% | 12.0x | $25.1B | ||
| SECTOR BENCH | - | - | - | - | - | 22.3x | 11.5x | -1.9% | 0.9% | 44.1% | 2.5% | 1.0% | 6.7% | 0.0% | 0.2x | - | REF |
Li Auto Inc. (LI) receives a "Hold" rating with a composite score of 58.3/100. It ranks #859 out of 7,333 stocks in our coverage universe and carries a 3-star rating. Ratings are driven by a 6-factor quantitative model measuring quality, value, momentum, investment, stability, and short interest.
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Headcount
19.4K
HQ Base
Pending Verification
Lagging peers — losers tend to keep underperforming
Trading at a discount to fundamentals — favorable entry valuation
High profitability & efficiency — strong quality floor supports entry
Low volatility — smoother ride and historically better risk-adjusted returns
Moderate investment profile
Mid-range overall rating
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Relative valuation derived from Manufacturing sector benchmarks. Model weights: EV/EBITDA (40%), P/B (35%), P/S (25%). Re-calculated daily.
Projection based on user-defined inputs. Re-calculated daily against current market data.
Reverse DCF Framework — Mauboussin Methodology
Institutional-grade Reverse DCF analysis. This model identifies the growth hurdles embedded in current market prices. When implied growth is significantly lower than historical or projected rates, a margin of safety may exist. Re-audited daily.
No analyst ratings for LI.
View All RatingsROE proxy 45.4% (sector -1.9%)
GM 21% vs sector 44%, OM 5% vs sector 3%
Capital turnover N/A, R&D intensity 7.7%
Rev growth 13%, 5yr history
Interest coverage 37.4x, Net debt/EBITDA -5.4x
Composite assessment of profitability, capital efficiency, and financial strength. Top-tier entities demonstrate sustainable cash flow generation and elite competitive moats.
Profit generated per dollar of shareholder equity
Efficiency of asset utilization
Pricing power and cost efficiency
Core business profitability
Bottom-line profitability
The Quality factor evaluates the persistence and magnitude of realized cash flows. Companies with scores >70 exhibit superior pricing power and structural financial resilience through diverse economic regimes.
Our uncertainty rating tracks the predictability of future cash flows and potential for permanent capital loss. Moderate visibility with standard industry cyclicality.
We rate Li Auto Inc. (LI) as a Hold with a composite score of 58.3/100 at a current price of $18.69. The stock presents a mixed quantitative picture — neither compelling enough to warrant new accumulation nor weak enough to justify selling.
Li Auto Inc. holds a top-quartile position (#0 of 50) within the Manufacturing sector, based on our composite quantitative scoring across quality, value, momentum, and stability factors. The composite score of 58.3/100 places it at rank #859 in our full universe.
Narrow
Low
Exemplary
Undervalued
Returns on equity of 45.4% exceed cost of capital.
Value factor score of 89 suggests attractive pricing.
Stable competitive position in a defensive sector.
Weak momentum suggests persistent institutional selling pressure.
Vulnerability to macroeconomic shocks and interest rate volatility.
Li Auto Inc. represents a hold based on multi-factor quantitative performance.
Our model assigns Li Auto Inc. a Hold rating, with a composite score of 58.3/100 and 3 out of 5 stars. Ranked #859 of 7,333 stocks, LI presents a mixed quantitative picture — neither compelling enough to initiate new positions nor weak enough to warrant selling. Investors already holding may consider maintaining their position while monitoring for changes in the factor profile.
LI earns a quality score of 82/100, indicating above-average business quality. The company reports a return on equity of 45.4% (sector avg: -1.9%), gross margins of 20.5% (sector avg: 44.1%), net margins of 5.6% (sector avg: 1.0%). Companies in this tier generally demonstrate consistent profitability and efficient capital deployment, though they may face some competitive pressure.
LI carries a solid value score of 89/100, pointing to an attractively priced stock relative to peers. Key valuation metrics include a P/E ratio of 33.38x, an EV/EBITDA of 1.81x, a P/B ratio of 1.91x. This score suggests reasonable compensation for the risks involved, with potential upside if the market recognizes the stock's underlying worth.
With an investment score of 46/100, LI exhibits moderate growth-oriented spending. Key growth metrics include revenue growth of 13.4% vs. a sector average of 6.7% and a return on assets of 19.8% (sector: 0.9%). The company appears to be balancing growth investments with capital returns, though the pace of investment may not be enough to accelerate top-line growth meaningfully.
Li Auto Inc. is experiencing notably weak momentum with a score of just 21/100. The stock has underperformed its peers and is trending below major moving averages. Revenue growth stands at 13.4% year-over-year, while a beta of 1.09 reflects its sensitivity to broader market moves. While deep momentum weakness can occasionally present value opportunities, it often reflects deteriorating fundamentals or structural headwinds that may persist.
LI shows good financial stability with a score of 68/100. Key stability metrics include a beta of 1.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 12.00x (sector avg: 0.2x). This suggests manageable leverage and moderate price volatility, making it appropriate for investors seeking a balance between growth potential and capital preservation.
Li Auto Inc.'s short interest score of 39/100 reveals significant bearish positioning, suggesting institutional investors are actively betting against the stock. Specific risk factors include elevated leverage (D/E: 12.00x). At $25.1B (large-cap), LI carries meaningful risk and is best suited for investors with high risk tolerance who have thoroughly evaluated the bear thesis.
Li Auto Inc. is a large-cap company in the Manufacturing sector, ranked #0 of 50 in its sector (100th percentile) and #859 of 7,333 overall (88th percentile). Key comparisons include ROE of 45.4% exceeding the -1.9% sector median and operating margins of 4.9% above the 2.5% sector average. This top-quartile standing reflects exceptional competitive strength relative to Manufacturing peers.
While LI currently exhibits a HOLD profile, superior opportunities exist within the MANUFACTURING sector. Our model identifies several "Strong Buy" candidates with higher quality scores and more attractive valuations among direct industry competitors.
View Top Manufacturing Alpha →Quant Factor Profile
Key factor gap
Value (89) vs Momentum (21) — closing this gap could shift the rating.
EV/EBITDA 84% BELOW SECTOR MEDIAN (FAVORABLE)
ROE 2490% BELOW SECTOR MEDIAN
Gross Margin 53% BELOW SECTOR MEDIAN
Above 50MA
37.18%
Net New Highs
+51081
J.P. Morgan has downgraded Li Auto (LI) from Neutral to Underperform, forecasting a 10% sales decline and evaporating profits by 2026 due to increased competition and rising costs in the EV market. The price target was reduced by 22% to $14, following a 31% year-over-year drop in the automaker's stock. The financial analysis reveals mixed performance with robust revenue growth but volatile earnings, and concerns regarding capital efficiency and potential financial stress despite a strong balance sheet.
Li Auto reported 27,668 vehicle deliveries in January 2026, bringing its cumulative deliveries to 1,567,883 by the end of the month. The company also rolled out an OTA update version 8.2 with new features and optimizations, enhancing its assisted driving and smart cockpit experiences. Furthermore, Li Auto expanded its physical and charging network in China, now operating 547 retail stores, 547 servicing centers, and 3,966 super charging stations.
Li Auto (NASDAQ: LI) delivered 27,668 vehicles in January 2026, bringing its cumulative deliveries to 1,567,883 vehicles as of January 31. The company also released OTA update version 8.2, enhancing assisted driving and smart systems, and reported having 547 retail stores and 3,966 super charging stations across China.
Li Auto (LI) delivered 27,668 vehicles in January 2026, contributing to a cumulative total of 1,567,883 units. The company also launched an OTA update (version 8.2) for its smart electric systems and maintains an extensive infrastructure of 547 retail stores and 3,966 supercharging stations across China. Despite robust revenue growth and a strong balance sheet, Li Auto's Altman Z-Score indicates some financial stress, and its valuation metrics suggest potential undervaluation near historical lows.
Nio stock rallied 3% on December 30, 2025, following the company's announcement of a bold $4.3 billion Q4 sales outlook and China's extension of EV trade-in subsidies offering up to $2,850 per vehicle. The stock has gained 10% over the past five days, though it remains down 16% since its 2018 IPO. Meanwhile, broader markets declined slightly with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq both falling, while Tesla dropped 1.13% and Li Auto gained 0.64%.