Nikola(US:NKLA) The Motley Foolยท2024-10-02 16:29Core Viewpoint - Nikola's stock experienced a significant rebound after reporting record sales for the third quarter, despite having previously hit a 52-week low and facing substantial year-to-date losses [1][2]. Group 1: Sales Performance - Nikola delivered 88 heavy-duty Class 8 hydrogen fuel-cell trucks in Q3, marking the highest third-quarter sales in the company's history [2]. - Deliveries increased from 72 fuel-cell trucks in the second quarter, indicating a positive sequential growth [2]. Group 2: Financial Guidance and Market Reaction - The deliveries fell within Nikola's Q3 guidance range of 80 to 100 fuel-cell trucks, which raises questions about the stock's sharp increase despite meeting expectations [3]. - Investors may view the latest sales figures as a positive sign, given Nikola's history of missing financial targets [3]. Group 3: Revenue and Losses - Higher sales are expected to boost Nikola's revenue, which was around $31 million in Q2, although the company reported a gross loss of nearly $55 million [5]. - The losses were down sequentially, suggesting some improvement in financial performance [5]. Group 4: Operational Challenges - Nikola has delivered only 235 trucks to date and is facing rapid cash burn while issuing stock to raise funds [6]. - The company is currently the only one commercially selling Class 8 fuel-cell EVs in North America, indicating a unique market position but also highlighting operational challenges [5][6].