Li Auto Inc. (Li Auto (LI)) shares dipped on Friday after the electric-vehicle maker released its April delivery numbers, which showed a modest year-over-year gain but a significant drop from March. The company delivered 34,085 vehicles in April 2026, up just 0.43% from 33,939 units a year earlier, but down 16.97% from 41,053 in March. That's a pretty sharp month-over-month decline, and it's got investors wondering if demand is cooling off.
On the bright side, cumulative deliveries hit 1,669,442 as of April 30, up 32.43% from 1,260,675 a year earlier. So the long-term trend is still positive, but the recent slowdown is worth watching.
New Model Launch
To keep the momentum going, Li Auto unveiled the all-new Li L9 Livis at the 2026 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition in April. The official launch is set for May 15, and the model promises upgrades in design, chassis, suspension, range-extending systems, safety, and intelligent features. This could be a catalyst for deliveries in the coming months.
Network Expansion
Li Auto is also expanding its retail and service network. As of April, it operated 511 stores in 160 cities and 550 servicing centers across 223 cities. Its charging infrastructure grew to 4,077 supercharging stations with 22,509 charging stalls across China. That's a lot of plugs, and it should help ease range anxiety for potential buyers.
LI Stock Technical Analysis: Key Support and Resistance
Technically, Li Auto's stock is looking a bit wobbly. It's currently trading 2.3% below its 20-day simple moving average (SMA) and 0.1% below its 50-day SMA, suggesting some short-term weakness. However, it's 2.2% above its 100-day SMA, which points to a more favorable intermediate trend. Over the past 12 months, the stock has dropped 27.37%, and it's near the lower end of its 52-week range (high of $32.02, low of $15.71). That could mean there's room for recovery if it can break through resistance.
- Key Resistance: $18.50 — A level where selling pressure has historically emerged.
- Key Support: $16.50 — A level that has previously provided buying interest.
Li Auto Earnings Preview and Analyst Price Targets
Li Auto is scheduled to report its next financial update on May 28, 2026 (estimated). Here's what analysts are expecting:
- EPS Estimate: 7 cents (down from 13 cents)
- Revenue Estimate: $3.14 billion (down from $3.57 billion)
- Valuation: P/E of 112.9x (indicating a premium valuation)
The stock carries a Hold rating with an average price target of $18.82. Recent analyst moves include:
- JP Morgan: Underweight (raises target to $15.50) on March 13
- Jefferies: Downgraded to Hold (lowers target to $17.50) on January 23
- Citigroup: Neutral (lowers target to $18.50) on January 15
So analysts are cautious, with targets ranging from $15.50 to $18.50.
How Li Auto Ranks on Value, Growth, and Momentum
According to market data, Li Auto's scorecard shows a mixed picture:
- Value: 91.27 — Trading at a strong valuation relative to peers.
- Growth: 39.58 — Indicates moderate growth potential.
- Momentum: 12.82 — Stock is underperforming the broader market.
The verdict: Li Auto has strong value metrics but weak momentum, suggesting it could be a value play if growth picks up, but there are challenges ahead.
LI Stock Price Activity: Li Auto shares were down 0.62% at $17.72 in premarket trading on Friday, according to market data.
