RIVN

The auto sector's third-quarter 2026 earnings season begins October 20 with expected earnings growth of 3.4% and revenue growth of 0.6% year-over-year. Despite affordability pressures, the U.S. auto market has remained resilient, supported by fleet purchases, higher-income buyers, and easier credit access. Four companies—General Motors, PACCAR, Ford, and Rivian Automotive—are identified as likely to outperform consensus estimates based on positive Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ratings.

The article highlights General Motors and Rivian Automotive as two auto stocks with positive Earnings Surprise Prediction (ESP) metrics ahead of their upcoming earnings reports. GM has a +1.22% ESP with earnings expected on October 20, 2026, while Rivian has a +7.38% ESP ahead of its October 29, 2026 report. Both stocks hold a #3 (Hold) Zacks Rank and may signal positive earnings surprises.

Rivian Automotive (RIVN) closed at $13.38, down 1.22%, underperforming the S&P 500's 0.02% loss. The stock has declined 14.63% over the past month, significantly underperforming its sector.

The company is scheduled to report earnings on October 29, 2026, with projected EPS of -$0.66 and revenue of $1.97 billion. Rivian currently holds a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold) with a slight 0.42% upward revision in consensus EPS estimates over the last 30 days.