247Wallst·2026-02-15 19:06Core Insights - Rivian (RIVN) experienced a significant stock increase of 19.8% this week, closing at $17.73, while Tesla (TSLA) only gained 1.5% during the same period [1] - Rivian's Q4 earnings report revealed a gross profit of $120 million and a year-over-year cost improvement of over $7,200 per vehicle [1] - The company's software revenue surged 109% to $447 million in Q4, now constituting over one-third of total revenue [1] Financial Performance - Rivian's Q4 revenue reached $1.29 billion, exceeding estimates by $13 million, despite a 45% year-over-year decline in automotive revenue to $839 million [1] - The decline in automotive revenue was attributed to a $270 million drop in regulatory credit sales and reduced demand following the expiration of the federal EV tax credit [1] - Rivian reported an adjusted loss of $0.53 per share, better than the expected loss of $0.67, and ended the year with $6.08 billion in cash and equivalents [1] Product Development - The R2 SUV is scheduled for launch in Q2 2026, aimed at competing with Tesla's Model Y, with delivery guidance set at 62,000 to 67,000 units for 2026 [1] - Manufacturing validation for the R2 has been completed, and early reviews of pre-production builds have been positive [1] - Rivian's manufacturing facility expansion is complete, enabling rapid production scaling once R2 production begins [1] Software Revenue Growth - Software and services revenue increased significantly, driven by a joint venture with Volkswagen, which provides vehicle electrical architecture and software development services [1] - This segment's growth cushioned the impact of declining vehicle sales, indicating a shift towards a hybrid technology platform model [1] - The software revenue growth suggests a potential for higher margins compared to traditional vehicle manufacturing [1]