Proterra vs. Lion Electric: Which Electric Vehicle Stock Is a Better Buy?

: PTRA | Proterra Inc. News, Ratings, and Charts

PTRA – Proterra (PTRA) and Lion Electric (LEV) are two companies that are part of a rapidly expanding electric vehicle (EV) market. They are expected to grow revenue at a fast clip and improve profit margins in the next year. Which is the better investment right now?.

The electric vehicle (EV) market is growing quickly.  It’s forecast that EV sales will grow from 2.5 million in 2020 to 31.1 million by 2030.  That’s a whopping compound annual growth rate of 29%.

Therefore, it’s no surprise that EV stocks have been grabbing headlines and remain some of the most heavily traded stocks on the market.

Today I’ll take a look at 2 stocks that make electric buses: Proterra (PTRA) and Lion Electric Company (LEV).  Both stocks could be promising investments but which is currently the better buy? 

The bull case for Proterra

Valued at a market cap of $2.66 billion, Proterra develops and produces commercial EVs. The company also manufactures electric buses as well as provides charging solutions to customers. 

While the stock has returned 27% to investors in the last year, it’s also down 57% from all-time highs. 

In Q3 of 2021, Proterra’s battery production rose by 95% year over year while battery system deliveries more than doubled. It delivered 52 electric buses, an increase of 58% year over year. Its revenue rose by 30% year over year to $62 million and the company reported a gross margin of 4.3% compared to 4% in the year-ago period.

As Proterra’s research and development as well as operating expenses increased, the company reported an operating loss of $29.8 million, up 32% year over year.

Despite a strong quarter in Q3, Proterra maintained its revenue guidance for 2021 that stood at $246 million due to supply chain constraints. Proterra explained it might reduce Q4 deliveries by five to 10 buses.

But investors should note that supply chain issues are a near term headwind. Further, Proterra benefits from a strong order backlog and recently announced an order from Lightning eMotors to supply battery systems for 10,000 EVs in the next three years.

Analysts expect Proterra’s sales to touch $245 million in 2021 and grow to $415 million in 2022.

The bull case for Lion Electric

The Lion Electric Company manufactures all-electric medium and heavy-duty urban vehicles in North America. Lion primarily produces yellow school buses, public transit buses, semi-trucks, bucket trucks, and garbage/refuse trucks.

In Q3, Lion Electric Company delivered 40 vehicles, compared to 10 vehicles in the year-ago period. It generated $11.9 million in sales, compared to $2.6 million in the year ago-period.

Lion Electric Company reported an adjusted EBITDA loss of $8.8 million, compared to a loss of $2.8 million in the year-ago period. It has delivered over 450 vehicles to date and its vehicle order book stands at 2,024 as of November 10 that includes 261 trucks and 1,763 buses. The order book will generate close to $500 million in sales.

Analysts expect LEV sales to touch $84 million in 2021 and grow to $338 million in 2022.

The verdict

Both Lion Electric and Proterra are growing revenue at an enviable pace but are expected to book losses over the next year. In terms of valuation, Lion Electric stock is trading at a forward price to 2022 sales multiple of 8.6x while this ratio for Proterra is much lower at 6.4x.

Further, Proterra also ended Q3 with a cash balance of $727.5 million, higher than LEV’s cash balance of $318 million. This provides Proterra with greater financial flexibility and room to improve profit margins enabling the company to benefit from economies of scale, making it a better bet right now.

Want More Great Investing Ideas?

3 Stocks to DOUBLE This Year


PTRA shares were trading at $12.75 per share on Tuesday morning, up $0.24 (+1.92%). Year-to-date, PTRA has gained 15.07%, versus a 26.61% rise in the benchmark S&P 500 index during the same period.


About the Author: Aditya Raghunath


Aditya Raghunath is a financial journalist who writes about business, public equities, and personal finance. His work has been published on several digital platforms in the U.S. and Canada, including The Motley Fool, Finscreener, and Market Realist. More...


More Resources for the Stocks in this Article

TickerPOWR RatingIndustry RankRank in Industry
PTRAGet RatingGet RatingGet Rating
LEVGet RatingGet RatingGet Rating

Most Popular Stories on StockNews.com


How Much Resistance @ 6,000 for Stocks?

The post-election rally was an exciting burst for the stock market. With that the S&P 500 (SPY) made new highs just above 6,000. Since then stocks have struggled begging the question: what happens next? 44 year investing veteran Steve Reitmeister provides the answers along with his top 11 stocks to buy now.

3 Streaming Stocks Benefiting from Cord-Cutting Trends

As streaming continues to dominate the digital entertainment landscape, the global streaming market presents a lucrative investment opportunity. So, it could be ideal to invest in fundamentally solid streaming stocks Netflix (NFLX), Walt Disney (DIS), and Roku (ROKU). Read further...

3 Gold Stocks to Buy as Safe-Haven Demand Grows

Gold is a stable investment now due to its role as a safe-haven asset during economic uncertainty, rising demand, industrial use, and growth, bolstered by central bank purchases and interest rate cuts. Therefore, investors should consider investing in top gold stocks such as Newmont (NEM), Barrick Gold (GOLD), and Agnico Eagle Mines (AEM). Read more...

3 AI Stocks Transforming Industries and Driving Future Growth

With rapid digitalization, rapid adoption, and development, as well as surging demand, the AI market is on the rise. Amid this backdrop, investors could buy fundamentally solid AI stocks NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA), Microsoft (MSFT), and Meta Platforms (META) poised for substantial gains. Continue reading...

Does Trump Change Stock Market Outlook?

The rally of the S&P 500 (SPY) after the election gives a sense that investors are happy that Trump was elected. But perhaps there is more to this story than meets the eye. That’s why Steve Reitmeister shares his updated market outlook taking into account the pros and cons of Trumps proposed new policies. This comes with a preview of his top 11 stocks to buy now.

Read More Stories

More Proterra Inc. (PTRA) News View All

Event/Date Symbol News Detail Start Price End Price Change POWR Rating
Loading, please wait...
View All PTRA News