Retail Investors Panic As Tesla’s Q2 Miss Casts Shadow Over Rivian And Lucid

Stocktwits data reveals that retail investors for Rivian Automotive Inc. (RIVN) and Lucid Group Inc. (LCID) are more nervous than before following Tesla Inc.'s (TSLA) disappointing Q2 results.

The sentiment score for Rivian is edging toward extremely bearish at 25/100, while Lucid’s is slightly better but still bearish at 44/100. Shares of Rivian were down over 6% on Wednesday, and Lucid’s slid over 2.70%.

Tesla, the industry leader, reported its fourth straight profit miss on Tuesday, with margins at their lowest in five years due to aggressive price cuts to stimulate demand and increased spending on ambitious AI projects.

Initially, Stocktwits sentiment for TSLA remained bullish premarket and early Wednesday, reflecting retail investors’ faith in CEO Elon Musk’s autonomy-centric vision. However, sentiment tumbled to 28/100 by the afternoon, sparking fears for other EV makers.

One bearish post on RIVN’s Stocktwits stream encapsulated the mood: “Funny how everyone wants this to be the next Tesla when it’s convenient for their story. Yet not when it’s inconvenient such as today!”

Both Rivian and Lucid have struggled with earnings consistency. LCID has missed three out of four EPS estimates in the past four quarters, while RIVN has missed two. Both companies are still losing significant amounts of money per vehicle produced. Their challenges are exacerbated by a slowdown in the EV market and intense competition from Chinese rivals.

Despite these hurdles, there have been some recent positive developments. Lucid shares rose last week after announcing enhancements to its 2025 Lucid Air Pure and second-quarter deliveries rose 70% YoY to 2,394 units.

Rivian surged nearly 50% over the past month thanks to a tie-up with Volkswagen, which promised to invest billions into the U.S. EV startup. Rivian’s Q2 production and delivery results were also in line with expectations, but CEO R.J. Scaringe has attributed the EV slowdown to a lack of affordable choices under $50,000, criticizing most automakers for replicating Tesla Model Y’s design.

The California-based company faces additional challenges. On Wednesday, Reuters reported that Rivian is set to face trial over allegations that it prompted former Tesla employees to steal trade secrets, potentially weighing on investor sentiment.

Looking ahead, LCID and RIVN are set to report Q2 results after market hours on August 5 and August 6, respectively, with estimated earnings per share of -$0.27 and -$1.25. As these dates approach, investor sentiment remains a critical factor to watch, with both companies navigating a challenging market landscape amid heightened competition and financial pressures.

Photo courtesy: Rivian