Lucid Group Inc (NASDAQ:LCID) experienced a significant boost in its share price on Wednesday afternoon after revealing an extended partnership with Rockwell Automation, aimed at enhancing production processes at its manufacturing facility in King Abdullah Economic City, Saudi Arabia. This collaboration is poised to accelerate the luxury electric vehicle (EV) maker's manufacturing efficiency and scalability, fostering confidence in Lucid's long-term growth trajectory.
The extension of the Rockwell Automation agreement emphasizes the integration of FactoryTalk, a sophisticated manufacturing execution software platform, into several core production stages including general assembly, paint, stamping, body, and powertrain operations. By leveraging FactoryTalk, Lucid will gain real-time oversight and control of its production activities, which is expected to improve efficiency levels, product quality, and scalability. This technological upgrade is crucial as Lucid plans to incorporate midsize vehicle programs into its product lineup.
In addition to technological improvements, Rockwell Automation will implement in-country training initiatives designed to cultivate a skilled workforce tailored for the EV sector. This approach aligns with Saudi Arabia's broader Vision 2030 industrial strategy, which promotes the development of advanced manufacturing capabilities within the country, especially in emerging sectors like electric vehicles.
For investors, the news affirms Lucid's progression beyond relying exclusively on its American manufacturing base toward establishing a more diversified and global production network. Expanding internationally is a strategic necessity enabling Lucid to distribute fixed costs across multiple facilities, an essential factor for achieving future profitability. Lucid's management noted that Rockwell Automation has been a supportive partner from its Arizona facility launch through the Saudi expansion, providing operational consistency as production volumes are ramped up.
This announcement is complemented by another recent development where Lucid secured a deal involving Trimble's positioning technology for its forthcoming Gravity SUV. The pattern of incremental product and technology advancements suggests an increasing cadence of innovation and output, reinforcing expectations of expanding global demand and additional model releases.
Despite the positive indications from these partnerships, Lucid's stock price exhibits some technical weaknesses. Currently, the share price is trading 0.8% below its 20-day simple moving average (SMA) and 12.2% below its 50-day SMA, reflecting short-term caution among traders. The stock has declined by 61.49% over the prior twelve months, lingering nearer to its 52-week lows than highs.
Technical indicators provide a mixed momentum outlook. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) stands at 31.33, a neutral reading that neither indicates overbought nor oversold conditions. Meanwhile, the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) remains below its signal line, signaling bearish momentum pressure on the stock. This combination suggests that while there is some downside risk, the stock is not strongly oversold at this point.
Key technical levels to watch include a resistance at $12.00 and a support zone around $11.00, which could influence near-term price action.
Market participants are now turning their attention toward Lucid's upcoming earnings report expected on February 24. Analyst forecasts anticipate an EPS of -$2.57, representing a decrease from the previous year's -$2.20, alongside a significant increase in revenue projected at $468.45 million, up from $234.47 million year-over-year. This juxtaposition of improving top-line figures against widening losses reflects the ongoing challenges and investments associated with scaling manufacturing capabilities and market expansion.
The current consensus among equity analysts rates Lucid's shares with a Hold recommendation, supported by an average price target of $25.70. Noteworthy recent analyst adjustments include Morgan Stanley's downgrade to Underweight with a lowered target of $10.00 as of December, Stifel's Hold rating with a $17.00 target in November, and Cantor Fitzgerald's Neutral stance with a $21.00 target also in November, indicating some variance in market views on Lucid's near-term valuation potential.
Lucid's momentum, as tracked by the Benzinga Edge scorecard, is classified as Bullish with a score of 0.89 out of 100, indicating modest outperformance relative to broader equity market indices. However, the scarcity of additional positive ranks advises investors to remain cautious and attentive to forthcoming corporate developments.
Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) with notable Lucid exposure include the SPDR S&P Kensho Smart Mobility ETF (NYSE:HAIL), holding 2.02% of its portfolio in Lucid shares, and the GraniteShares 2x Long LCID Daily ETF (NASDAQ:LCDL), with a leveraged exposure of 200.01%, reflecting concentrated investor interest in Lucid's stock price movements.
On the day of this report, Lucid’s shares surged by 13.77%, trading at $11.07, underscoring the market’s positive reaction to the expanded industrial collaboration and signals of bolstered production capacity. This share price action exhibits investor enthusiasm in response to strategic manufacturing enhancements and international growth prospects.