We recently compiled a list of the 15 Biggest EV Stocks in the World in 2024 and in this article, we discuss whether NIO Inc. (NYSE:NIO) is the best EV stock to buy now.
According to the Global EV Outlook 2024 by the International Energy Agency, electric car sales surged in 2023, reaching nearly 14 million globally. This represents a 35% jump from 2022 and brings the total number of electric cars on the road to 40 million. Weekly registrations in 2023 surpassed the entire annual total from just ten years ago. Electric cars now account for 18% of all car sales globally, a significant climb from 2% in 2018. This rapid growth indicates a maturing electric car market with strong momentum. Interestingly, battery electric cars make up the majority (70%) of electric vehicles on the road today.
Approximately 95% of these sales were concentrated in China, Europe, and the United States, which dominate new electric car registrations. In these regions, electric cars represent a significant share of their local markets, with over 30% in China and over 20% in Europe. As these three key markets account for two-thirds of total car sales globally, their swift adoption of electric vehicles has a significant influence on worldwide trends.
As a result, many of the major EV manufacturers are based in these countries. However, emerging players are also making their mark in other regions. For instance, a subsidiary of Vietnamese conglomerate Vingroup made its debut on NASDAQ in August 2023. The company was valued at approximately $23 billion through a SPAC deal. The company has already entered the North American market, importing about 2,100 EVs from Vietnam to the US and 800 to Canada.
In addition to US, China, and Europe, emerging markets like Southeast Asia and Brazil are also seeing rising EV sales, supported by various incentives and investments. In terms of the future outlook for electric vehicles, the long-term goals of top automakers in the world are quite ambitious. If achieved, they could put over 20 million electric cars on the road by 2030. This will lead to electric vehicles making up between 42% and 58% of car sales by 2030, exceeding even the most optimistic forecasts. The electric vehicle market size is predicted to reach over $950 billion by 2030 with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.7% between 2023 and 2030.
Key drivers for growth in the Global EV market include decreasing EV battery prices and supportive government policies. The fastest-growing market segments are fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) and mid-priced EVs. Additionally, the Asia-Pacific region is expected to lead market growth. However, challenges such as high initial investments for charging infrastructure could impede growth.
A close up of an Electric Vehicle charging station, emphasizing the innovative technology.
Our Methodology
To compile our list of the 15 biggest EV stocks in the world in 2024, we shortlisted companies on the basis of their market capitalization. We have only included companies that are pure play in the EV sector or have substantial exposure to the sector. The biggest EV stocks in the world in 2024 have been ranked in ascending order of their market capitalization figures in USD. We also scanned our database of 919 hedge funds (as of Q1 2024) to share the number of hedge fund investors, where applicable.
“Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).”
Is NIO Inc. (NYSE:NIO) the Best EV Stock to Buy Now?
NIO Inc. (NYSE:NIO)
Market Capitalization: $11.24 Billion
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 19
NIO Inc. (NYSE:NIO), a leading Chinese automaker based in Shanghai, focuses on the design and development of electric vehicles. The company recently announced a trade-in subsidy for owners of gasoline vehicles who were interested in its EVs.
NIO Inc.’s (NYSE:NIO) April deliveries surged 135% YoY to 15,620 vehicles, marking an increase of 32% from March. Meanwhile, the Q4 2023 revenue reached 17.1 billion RMB, reflecting a 6.5% YoY increase. Overall, NIO Inc. (NYSE:NIO) reported a net loss of 5.4 billion RMB in Q4. However, the loss has narrowed by 7.2% YoY, indicating some improvement in profitability.
Analysts remain moderately bullish on NIO Inc. (NYSE:NIO) with a “Moderate Buy” rating and an average price target of $6.66 (based on 18 analysts’ estimates). The stock price jumped 20% in May after strong April deliveries.
At the end of Q1 2024, NIO Inc. (NYSE:NIO) was held by 19 hedge funds. Millennium Management was the leading hedge fund investor, with a stake worth over $66 million. The hedge fund increased its stake in NIO Inc. (NYSE:NIO) by over 20% during the first quarter.
Overall, NIO Inc. (NYSE:NIO) is held by 19 hedge funds as of Q1, 2024. There are EV stocks in our extended list which have even more hedge funds piling on them.
For that, visit the 15 Biggest EV Stocks in the World in 2024 to see the other electric vehicle companies that are on the hedge fund radar.
While we acknowledge the potential of electric vehicle companies, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than NVIDIA but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
Read Next: Michael Burry Is Selling These Stocks and Jim Cramer is Recommending These Stocks.
Disclosure. None. This article is originally published on Insider Monkey.
