TSLA, XPEV, or NIO: Which EV Stock Is the Best Pick, According to Analysts?

Macro pressures, tariff woes, and geopolitical concerns are expected to adversely impact consumer spending on big-ticket discretionary items like electric vehicles (EVs). Moreover, growing competition in the EV space is also weighing on the performance of EV companies. That said, some EV makers are still navigating a challenging backdrop through solid execution and innovation. Using TipRanks’ Stock Comparison Tool, we placed Tesla (TSLA), XPeng (XPEV), and Nio (NIO) against each other to find the best EV stock, according to Wall Street analysts.

Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) Stock

Tesla has been in the news recently for the much-awaited launch of its robotaxi in Austin on June 22. However, on Tuesday, Tesla stock fell after a Business Insider report stated that the electric vehicle maker is halting the production of its Cybertruck and Model Y vehicles for a week to perform maintenance on its production lines, marking the third such production halt in 2025.

Overall, Tesla stock is down 20% year-to-date due to concerns about unimpressive Q1 performance, lack of innovation amid intense competition, and backlash related to CEO Elon Musk’s political activities. All eyes are now on the tentative robotaxi launch, especially after a group of lawmakers in Austin urged Tesla to delay the rollout until September, when a new state law on autonomous driving is expected to come into effect.

Is Tesla Stock a Buy, Sell, or Hold?

Recently, Wells Fargo analyst Colin Langan reiterated a Sell rating on Tesla stock, as he believes that the company’s fundamentals are coming in worse than his expectations. Langan stated that Tesla’s Q2 deliveries look flat compared to a weak first quarter. He now expects 2025 deliveries to decline by about 21%. Langan cautioned that weaker deliveries and pricing, along with lower ZEV (zero emission vehicle) credits and energy generation tariffs, add pressure to Tesla’s earnings per share (EPS) and free cash flow.

Overall, Wall Street has a Hold consensus rating on Tesla stock based on 14 Buys, 12 Holds, and nine Sell recommendations. The average TSLA stock price target of $286.14 indicates 11.2% downside risk from current levels.

See more TSLA analyst ratings

XPeng (NYSE:XPEV) Stock

Chinese EV maker XPeng impressed investors with its solid Q1 results. The company posted a narrower loss than expected in Q1 2025, while revenue exceeded expectations. Its Q1 deliveries of 94,008 vehicles were more than four times the volume seen in the prior-year quarter. XPeng attributed its strong performance to a robust product cycle and accelerated AI adoption.

XPEV stock has rallied 57.5% year-to-date, as investors have cheered the company’s strong performance despite the intense competition in the Chinese EV market and challenging macro conditions.

Looking ahead, XPeng expects Q2 deliveries between 102,000 and 108,000 vehicles, reflecting a year-over-year increase of about 237.7% to 257.5%. Demand for the company’s MONA M03 and P7+ models and new products like the G7 SUV are expected to drive XPeng’s performance.

Is XPeng Stock a Good Buy?

This week, Goldman Sachs analyst Tina Hou upgraded XPeng stock to Buy from Hold and boosted the price target to HK$94 (24) from HK$64. The analyst stated that this bullish stance is based on a series of efforts, including organization and supply chain restructuring and technology cost reduction, that have transformed XPEV’s product and cost structure competitiveness and created more visibility for continued volume growth and enhanced profit margins.

Turning to Wall Street, XPeng stock scores a Moderate Buy consensus rating based on seven Buys, three Holds, and one Sell recommendation. The average XPEV stock price target of $25.27 indicates about 36% upside potential.

See more XPEV analyst ratings

Nio (NYSE:NIO) Stock

In contrast to XPeng stock, Nio’s U.S.-listed stock has plunged about 22% so far in 2025. Investors remain concerned about Nio’s persistent losses, as higher expenses continue to weigh on its margins and profitability.

In the first quarter of 2025, Nio’s deliveries grew 40% to 42,094 vehicles. However, due to the growing sales of affordable models like the Onvo brand, vehicle sales grew by only 18.6%. Moreover, Nio’s losses increased in Q1 2025 compared to the prior-year quarter due to higher research and development (R&D) and marketing expenses.

Going forward, Nio is optimistic about continued improvement, backed by demand for new products, like ET9, ONVO L60, and FireFly, and cost control measures.

Is Nio Stock a Buy, Sell, or Hold?

Earlier this week, Goldman Sachs also upgraded Nio stock to Hold from Sell and slightly increased the price target to HK$29.50 ($3.80) from HK$29. Analyst Hou believes that Nio’s cost reduction efforts, including layoffs and project cancellations, would help the company improve its profitability over the next three years by 4% to 10%.

However, Hou remains sidelined on Nio stock due to concerns about its volume growth owing to weaker-than-expected demand and increasing competition in China’s EV industry. The analyst also flagged cash flow concerns and Nio’s high debt levels, despite recent capital infusions.

Currently, Wall Street has a Hold consensus rating on Nio stock based on two Buys, eight Holds, and one Sell recommendation. At $4.51, the average NIO stock price target implies a 32% upside potential.

See more NIO analyst ratings

Conclusion

Wall Street is sidelined on Tesla and Nio stocks but bullish on XPeng stock. Even after a solid year-to-date rally, analysts see higher upside potential in XPEV stock compared to the other two EV players. Wall Street expects XPeng’s solid execution and new models to drive strong growth and improved profitability.