Lucid Group, Inc. (LCID) is having the kind of month you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy. Shares dropped again Monday, pushing monthly losses beyond 35% as the electric vehicle maker continues to struggle with the harsh realities of competing in an increasingly crowded market.
The Earnings Miss That Keeps On Giving
The trouble started on November 5, when Lucid reported third-quarter earnings that fell short on both the top and bottom lines. The company posted an adjusted loss of $2.65 per share, worse than the consensus estimate of a $2.27 loss. Revenue came in at $336.58 million, missing the $379.11 million analysts were expecting. That's not exactly the kind of beat you want when you're trying to prove you can make it in the big leagues alongside Tesla and Rivian.
On the production front, Lucid built 3,891 vehicles in the third quarter, with more than 1,000 additional units manufactured for final assembly in Saudi Arabia. The company delivered 4,078 vehicles during the period. Year-to-date numbers show 9,966 vehicles produced and 10,496 delivered. The company ended the quarter with approximately $4.2 billion in total liquidity, which provides some breathing room as it navigates these choppy waters.
Analyst Stephen Gengaro at Stifel recently maintained a Hold rating on Lucid but lowered the price target from $21 to $17, reflecting the dimmed outlook.
Technical Picture: Not Pretty
The stock is currently trading near its 52-week low of $12.48, and the year-to-date performance tells a painful story: down 58.3%. From a technical standpoint, Lucid is trading about 36.4% below its 50-day moving average of $19.89 and roughly 45% below its 200-day moving average of $23.00. That's a bearish trend if there ever was one.
The RSI sits at 21.34, firmly in oversold territory. While deeply oversold readings can sometimes signal a reversal opportunity, the current momentum suggests more pain could be ahead before any meaningful bounce materializes. There aren't clear support levels in recent price action, though the 50-day moving average might serve as an important threshold for buyers if the stock can rally. The psychological level of $12 could offer temporary support as well.
Resistance? That's the real problem. The stock faces significant hurdles before it could even dream of approaching the 52-week high of $36.39. This lack of clear resistance levels points to potential volatility as traders react to every bit of news and market sentiment.
What's Next for the EV Underdog
With a market capitalization of $4.19 billion, Lucid is a mid-sized player in the EV sector, considerably smaller than giants like Ford and Tesla. The proximity to 52-week lows combined with that oversold RSI reading creates an interesting setup. A decisive move above the 50-day moving average could signal a potential reversal, but failing to hold current levels might lead to further declines.
For now, investor sentiment will likely depend on upcoming earnings reports and any strategic announcements that could indicate a turnaround is actually in the works. What Lucid really needs is a clear catalyst to shift the bearish mood that's taken hold.
At the time of reporting, Lucid shares were trading 3.83% lower at $12.42.