‘Time to Sell,’ Warns Top Mizuho Analyst as He Downgrades Rivian Stock (RIVN) Ahead of Critical Earnings Report
Mizuho's star analyst drops the hammer on Rivian just before earnings hit the tape.
The Bearish Call
One of Wall Street's sharpest minds at Mizuho just slapped a sell rating on RIVN - and the timing couldn't be more brutal. With earnings looming, the analyst's downgrade sends a clear signal to investors: don't get caught holding the bag when quarterly numbers drop.Earnings Countdown Pressure
The downgrade hits as Rivian prepares to report quarterly results that could make or break the stock's recent momentum. Street expectations were already stretched thin - now Mizuho's move adds serious weight to the bear case right before the crucial reveal.Wall Street's Selective Memory
Funny how analysts always remember to downgrade right before earnings - almost like they want credit for being 'right' regardless of which way the stock actually moves. The classic Wall Street two-step: warn about risk just in case, then take credit either way.Rivian bulls now face their ultimate test - either prove the skeptics wrong with knockout numbers, or watch another EV darling get taken to the woodshed.
Elevate Your Investing Strategy:
- Take advantage of TipRanks Premium at 50% off! Unlock powerful investing tools, advanced data, and expert analyst insights to help you invest with confidence.
It is worth noting that Rakesh ranks 67 out of more than 10,000 analysts tracked by TipRanks. He has a success rate of 64%, with an average return per rating of 24.8% over a one-year timeframe.
Top Analyst Cautions on 2026 Demand Slowdown
Rakesh said Rivian faces a tougher market ahead as overall EV growth in North America is expected to stay flat in 2026. He pointed out that Rivian’s plan to boost deliveries by about 69% year-over-year looks difficult to achieve in that environment.
The analyst also noted that the end of Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) credits will make EVs more expensive for buyers. Other automakers, including General Motors (GM), have already recorded significant write-downs on their EV businesses, signaling that demand across the sector is weakening.
Rakesh Lowers Delivery and Revenue Forecasts
As a result of the softer EV outlook, Rakesh now expects Rivian to deliver around 60,000 vehicles in 2026, down from his earlier estimate of 68,000 and below the Street’s forecast of roughly 72,000.
He also added that Rivian’s high vehicle prices — averaging over $70,000 — could limit short-term sales growth before the launch of its R2 model, which is planned for early 2026.
Overall, Rakesh believes that the company’s growth targets appear “too aggressive” given current market trends.
Is RIVN Stock a Buy or Sell?
Turning to Wall Street, analysts have a Hold consensus rating on RIVN stock based on seven Buys, 10 Holds, and five Sells assigned in the past three months, as indicated by the graphic below. Furthermore, the average RIVN price target of $13.65 per share implies 4.76% upside potential.
