Rivian (RIVN -3.88%), one of the most popular electric vehicle (EV) companies, has revved investor enthusiasm since its public market debut in 2021. Electric cars have become an increasingly common sight on the nation's roads. However, EV pickup trucks, like those that Rivian manufactures, are not so common, leading investors to believe Rivian stock can power higher if the company effectively executes its growth initiatives.
Whether you're an investor who is generally bullish on EVs or you're generally interested in growth opportunities, Rivian is a compelling consideration. Let's look at the steps needed to park Rivian stock in your portfolio and some things to consider before investing in the EV maker.
How to buy
How to buy Rivian stock
Regardless of whether you're familiar with how to invest in stocks or if buying shares of Rivian would be your first time behind the wheel, there are some basic steps to gain exposure to Rivian, which trades under the stock ticker RIVN.
Stock Ticker
- Open your brokerage account: Log in to your brokerage account where you handle your investments.
- Search for the stock: Enter the ticker or company name into the search bar to bring up the stock's trading page.
- Decide how many shares to buy: Consider your investment goals and how much of your portfolio you want to allocate to this stock.
- Select order type: Choose between a market order to buy at the current price or a limit order to specify the maximum price you're willing to pay.
- Submit your order: Confirm the details and submit your buy order.
- Review your purchase: Check your portfolio to ensure your order was filled as expected and adjust your investment strategy accordingly.
Should I invest?
Should I invest in Rivian?
There are a variety of reasons investors would choose to plug into Rivian's stock. For one, Rivian offers exposure to a leading name among those in the burgeoning EV industry. Car and Driver magazine, for example, characterizes the Rivian R1T as "one of the most capable EVs ever," and Consumer Reports proclaimed the R1T as "a cutting-edge, all-electric pickup with an impressively wide repertoire of capabilities."
For investors motivated to buy American, Rivian will also be a more desirable choice than other EV names. Headquartered in California, Rivian is a U.S. company that counts Amazon (AMZN -0.57%) as its largest shareholder.
In addition to a production facility in Illinois, Rivian just broke ground on a plant in Georgia in September 2025. Other popular EV names don't offer the same type of opportunity. For instance, people considering Lucid (LCID -5.1%) stock might be dissuaded by Saudi Arabia's status as the company's largest investor and Lucid's opening of a manufacturing facility in the country.
Another consideration is your risk tolerance. Although Rivian has achieved success, the road ahead is not guaranteed to be smooth. Likening Rivian to another innovative EV company, some investors presume Rivian will be a multibagger like Tesla (TSLA -1.42%) stock. But this is far from a sure bet.
While the company took a notable step in its journey toward growth after it entered into a joint venture with Volkswagen in June 2024, it's still important to recognize that as an upstart company in the early innings of its development, the stock will likely experience some volatility in the days ahead.
From the time of its initial public offering (IPO) through late 2025, for example, shares of Rivian dropped 85%. Sure, they could recover and soar higher than their debut on the public markets, but it could be a rocky road until they get there.
Profitability
Is Rivian profitable?
Rivian began generating revenue in 2021 when it reported $55 million on the top line. The bottom line, however, didn't provide much for investors to celebrate -- a net loss of $4.7 billion.
In 2022 and 2023, Rivian's sales accelerated considerably. After delivering 920 vehicles in 2021, Rivian delivered 20,332 vehicles in 2022 and 50,122 vehicles in 2023. This led to the company reporting revenue of $1.7 billion and $4.4 billion in 2022 and 2023, respectively. However, the company failed to achieve comparable growth in terms of profits. In 2022, Rivian reported net losses of $6.8 billion in 2022 and $5.4 billion in 2023.
Suffering a dip compared to 2023, Rivian reported deliveries of 49,476 vehicles in 2024. However, the company reported a gross profit of $170 million in the fourth quarter of 2024 and $206 million in the first quarter of 2025.
In regard to the bottom of the income statement, Rivian incurred a net loss of $1.7 billion for the first two quarters of 2025, an improvement on the net loss of $2.9 billion it reported during the same period in 2024.
Dividends
Does Rivian pay a dividend?
At this point, Rivian doesn't pay a dividend to shareholders. The company only recently began to generate revenue, and it's committed to using capital to grow its operations.
Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF)
ETF Options
ETFs with exposure to Rivian
Investors can also gain exposure to Rivian through investing in an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that counts the carmaker among one of its holdings. The First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund (QCLN -2.11%) is a lithium-focused ETF that invests in companies that operate in different areas of renewable energy. Rivian's position in the First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund is sizable; it was the sixth-largest holding as of September 2025.
Another promising consideration is an electric vehicle ETF like the KraneShares Electric Vehicles & Future Mobility Index ETF (KARS -0.68%). Although Tesla is a larger holding in the ETF, Rivian also plays a major role, representing the ETF's 10th-largest holding as of September 2025.
People looking for an ETF in which Rivian represents a major holding, however, should turn to the ALPS Clean Energy ETF (ACES -3.8%). With a moderate 0.55% expense ratio, this ETF is geared toward solar, EV, wind, and hydrogen stocks among its holdings. As of September 2025, Rivian was the ETF's second-largest position, with a portfolio weighting of 5.05%.
Stock splits
Will Rivian stock split?
A company will often choose to split its stock when it feels the share price is so high that it's keeping some investors from buying it. Although there are a variety of upcoming stock splits in 2025, Rivian -- which hasn't traded higher than about $17 in 2025 -- isn't one of them.
Related investing topics
The bottom line
The bottom line on Rivian
A leading name among EV stocks, Rivian's prospects have electrified the hopes of many investors, leading them to believe Rivian stock can charge considerably higher, like its EV peer Tesla. But it's hardly that simple.
Before buying Rivian stock or an ETF that counts Rivian among its holdings, investors must be comfortable with the stock's risk profile and the prospect that volatility may rattle their nerves in the future.
FAQ
Investing in Rivian: FAQ
Are Rivian shares a good investment?
It's impossible to categorically declare that Rivian is or isn't a good investment. Individuals must consider their risk tolerances, investing time horizons, and various other factors.
Broadly speaking, Rivian is a compelling opportunity for EV investors who are comfortable with a fairly speculative investment. Individuals should take a comprehensive look at their particular situations and dig deep into the company before deciding to buy the stock.
What will Rivian stock be worth in five years?
Rivian's stock sits at about $17 in September 2025. If the stock returns the historical 10% annual average growth of the S&P 500, shares of Rivian will be at about $27.38 in five years.
Of course, Rivian's stock is not guaranteed to follow this trajectory. If Rivian eventually meets -- or exceeds -- its target of producing 400,000 vehicles annually, the market could send the stock considerably higher.
Is Rivian publicly traded yet?
Founded in 2009 by Robert Scaringe, who currently serves as the company's CEO, Rivian was a privately held company until its November 2021 IPO, when it began trading at $78.
