Analyst Ratings February 18, 2026

TD Cowen Cuts QuantumScape Target to $8, Cites EV Market Headwinds

Analyst trims valuation while keeping a Hold rating as production ramp timing shifts and non-automotive opportunities remain long-term

By Nina Shah QS
TD Cowen Cuts QuantumScape Target to $8, Cites EV Market Headwinds
QS

TD Cowen reduced its price target on QuantumScape to $8 from $16 and left the stock at a Hold rating, pointing to electric vehicle market headwinds that have pushed the company’s production ramp further into the future. The new target is marginally above the stock’s recent trading level of $7.20. The firm acknowledged QuantumScape's operational execution and potential in high-value non-automotive markets, but noted those opportunities will take time to develop. The change follows the company’s fourth-quarter 2025 results, which met expectations on EPS and did not include a revenue forecast.

Key Points

  • TD Cowen lowered QuantumScape’s price target to $8 from $16 and maintained a Hold rating.
  • The firm cited EV market headwinds that have delayed expected production ramps, prompting the target reduction.
  • QuantumScape’s Q4 2025 EPS of -$0.17 met analysts’ expectations; no revenue guidance was provided.

TD Cowen has reduced its 12-month price target on QuantumScape (NASDAQ:QS) to $8, down from $16, while retaining a Hold recommendation on the battery technology developer. The revised target sits just above the stock’s recent trading price of $7.20 and comes after the share price fell sharply over the past week.

The analyst firm attributed the downward adjustment to persistent headwinds in the electric vehicle market that have delayed its estimates for QuantumScape’s production ramp. Those shifted timing assumptions were the primary driver for halving the firm’s previous price target.

Despite the cut, TD Cowen noted that QuantumScape continues to execute on its plans. The firm highlighted the company’s 2026 targets as indicative of expansion potential into higher-value non-automotive applications for its battery technology. However, Cowen also emphasized that realizing meaningful revenue from those alternative markets will require time.


Market performance provides additional context for the revision. QuantumScape’s shares have declined 18.4% over the past week and are down 30.9% year-to-date. The company’s recent fourth-quarter report for 2025 preceded the price target change.

In that quarter, QuantumScape reported earnings per share of -$0.17, a result that met analyst expectations. The company did not supply a revenue forecast for the quarter. Following the release, the stock registered a modest uptick in after-market trading, which the market interpreted as a mildly positive reaction to the firm meeting EPS expectations.

No announcements of mergers or acquisitions accompanied the results, and the reporting did not mention analyst upgrades or downgrades tied to the quarter. Commentary from TD Cowen and the company’s reported results indicate the primary focus for investors remains how QuantumScape will align future execution with market expectations amid broader EV sector challenges.

For now, the outlook from the analyst community reflected in this action is cautious: the valuation has been lowered to reflect pushed-out production timelines, while the company’s execution and potential in non-automotive markets are recognized but seen as longer-term prospects.

Risks

  • Delayed production ramp timing tied to EV market headwinds, which affects revenue and valuation - impacts the automotive and battery sectors.
  • Uncertainty around the timeline for monetizing high-value non-automotive markets, which could postpone future revenue diversification - impacts industrial and specialty technology markets.

More from Analyst Ratings

DA Davidson Cuts Uber Price Target Citing Elevated Investment; Buy Rating Intact Feb 20, 2026 Freedom Capital Markets Raises Freeport-McMoRan to Buy, Cites Copper Supply Tightness Feb 20, 2026 BofA Lifts CF Industries Price Target After Strong Q4 EBITDA; Maintains Underperform Rating Feb 20, 2026 Truist Lifts Tandem Diabetes Price Target as Company Shifts Toward Pharmacy Model Feb 20, 2026 BWS Financial Boosts A10 Networks Price Target Citing AI-Driven Network Traffic Feb 20, 2026