2 Reasons Why Rivian Stock Is a Buy Before Earnings

By Ryan Vanzo – Mar 19, 2026 at 1:50PM ESTKey PointsRivian reports earnings in early May.Updates on two major catalysts could be on the way.Analysts expect Rivian (RIVN +1.16%) to report its next earnings in early May. That earnings announcement will offer financial results for the first quarter of 2026. There should be plenty of critical updates delivered to investors. There are two catalysts in particular that could be revealed that day. Both catalysts hold the potential to send Rivian's stock price soaring. 1. Updates on Rivian's new affordable SUV The very first revelation that investors should be looking for in Rivian's next earnings report is an update on the company's newest vehicle launch. The R2 SUV is Rivian's first vehicle with a base price starting under $50,000. Previously, the company only had two models on the market, both luxury trucks offered at a price too high for most consumers to afford. The R2 marks the company's first real vehicle for the "mass market," theoretically making Rivian's products accessible to tens of millions of new buyers. Image source: Rivian. The R2 was in development for years. But deliveries are expected to begin in April, starting with a higher trim variant for select customers. So don't expect total deliveries to be very high by May. But what investors should be paying attention to is whether initial deliveries started on time, whether the backend manufacturing capacity is scaling as expected, and how the latest reservation numbers have grown or shrunk. Delays in initial shipments and unforeseen issues in scaling up production have proven common in the EV industry. But Rivian is my top growth stock in 2026 for a reason. If deliveries, production scaling, and reservations look to be on track, expect the market to reward the company's relatively paltry valuation of just 3.3 times sales. ExpandNASDAQ: RIVNRivian AutomotiveToday's Change(1.16%) $0.18Current Price$15.71Key Data PointsMarket Cap$19BDay's Range$15.55 - $17.1152wk Range$10.36 - $22.69Volume2.5MAvg Vol31MGross Margin-276.59% 2. Rivian could reveal more AI updates Bona fide artificial intelligence (AI) stocks in today's market rarely trade at just 3.3 times sales. But the market doesn't yet see Rivian as a fully fledged AI stock. Instead, it's mostly still valued as an auto manufacturing business. They typically garner a much lower valuation premium than AI stocks. Fortunately, we can see what happens when the market starts to buy into Rivian's AI story. It's a story that, while long-term in nature, should see the company invest heavily in AI to fuel its autonomous driving ambitions, similar to the strategy that other EV stocks like Tesla are taking. Rivian's first "AI Day" was held in mid-December. From early November through late December, shares rose sharply in value (up nearly 80%). While much of that initial enthusiasm has waned, it's clear that the market values Rivian's AI potential when updates are front and center. If Rivian provides any tangible and positive updates on its AI investments next quarter, expect the market to reward those efforts.Read NextMar 19, 2026 •By Chris NeigerWhere Will Rivian Stock Be in 1 Year?Mar 18, 2026 •By Ryan VanzoWhy April Could Be the Turning Point Rivian Investors Have Been Waiting forMar 18, 2026 •By Ryan VanzoWall Street Doesn't Know What to Do With This AI Stock. I Do.Mar 17, 2026 •By Reuben Gregg BrewerIs Rivian the Smartest Investment You Can Make Today?Mar 16, 2026 •By David Jagielski, CPACould This Be the Catalyst That Gives Rivian's Stock a Boost This Year?Mar 15, 2026 •By Ryan VanzoMy Top Growth Stock to Buy for 2026 (and It's Not Even Close)About the AuthorRyan Vanzo is a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst, covering a range of stocks and market sectors. Ryan previously worked for multiple mutual funds conducting fundamental research. He holds a degree in finance and accounting from Bentley University and has had a strong interest in financial markets since childhood.TMFRyanVanzoStocks MentionedRivian AutomotiveNASDAQ: RIVN$15.71(+1.16%)+$0.18*Average returns of all recommendations since inception. Cost basis and return based on previous market day close.