Top 3 Autonomous Vehicle Stocks With P E Under 17 To Watch

Simply Wall St · 2d ago

High interest rates and war-related energy costs have put transport budgets under pressure, which makes cheaper-to-run electric and self-driving vehicles more than a gadget story. They become a cost decision. Businesses and households looking to cut fuel spend are watching this shift closely. In this article you will see three stocks linked to electric and autonomous vehicles that show how different parts of this theme play out.

The three stocks below are a small sample of the theme. The full screen surfaced 55 more companies with equally interesting electric and autonomous vehicle stories that are not covered here.

If you want to move past the short list and start sorting through the broader opportunity set, head straight to the Electric/ Autonomous Vehicle Stocks screener to identify, filter, and analyze the highest-conviction plays.

Hitachi Construction Machinery (TSE:6305)

Hitachi Construction Machinery runs a global heavy equipment operation focused on excavators, wheel loaders, and dump trucks. Its Autonomous Haulage System and Fleet Management ICT tools plug directly into the autonomous vehicle theme. The Construction Machinery segment generates about ¥1,306b of its ¥1,459b segment revenue, and the group carries a market value near ¥1.1t.

Hitachi Construction Machinery provides exposure to autonomous heavy vehicles through real world systems already used in mining fleets, supported by telematics services like ConSite. Earnings quality and global scale are important elements of that story, and the outcome for shareholders still depends on how one pressure on future cash generation is resolved.

That open question on future cash generation is exactly why it helps to step through the DCF valuation analysis for Hitachi Construction Machinery to see what the current market price might be missing.

6305 Discounted Cash Flow as at Nov 2026
6305 Discounted Cash Flow as at Nov 2026

EnerSys (ENS)

EnerSys supplies stored energy and power systems for industrial, telecom, data center, transportation, and defense customers, with its Industrial Mobility Solutions batteries directly linked to electric forklifts and Class 8 trucks. The group generated about US$3.8b in segment adjusted revenue and has a market value near US$5.6b.

For the electric and autonomous vehicle theme, EnerSys brings something different. Its Industrial Mobility Solutions arm sits behind the scenes of warehouse fleets and heavy trucks, putting the battery and power hardware into the equipment that actually moves goods.

"Ongoing growth in AI driven data center loads and concerns about grid reliability are supporting increased adoption of EnerSys backup and energy storage systems, which can add to revenue and support earnings as more of the installed base enters replacement cycles."

What matters next is how one quiet shift in its higher value projects filters through to margins and the pace of future electrified fleet demand.

That quiet shift matters because pricing power and project mix can reshape the whole earnings profile, not just headline revenue. The full narrative for EnerSys unpacks how electrified fleets, data centers, and grid worries could be accelerating or masking the real EnerSys opportunity.

NYSE:ENS Revenue & Expenses Breakdown as at Nov 2026
NYSE:ENS Revenue & Expenses Breakdown as at Nov 2026

Northrop Grumman (NOC)

Northrop Grumman is a large aerospace and defense contractor that ties into the autonomous vehicle theme through unmanned aircraft systems, while still drawing most of its US$46.6b in annual revenue from broader defense and space work across Aeronautics, Mission, Defense, and Space Systems. The stock carries a market value around US$74.6b.

For investors tracking autonomous and electric platforms, Northrop Grumman offers a defense oriented angle, with unmanned aircraft and autonomy software that echo many of the sensing and control stacks used in self driving systems. That context sets up the key shift that management keeps highlighting.

"The shift of major programs such as B-21, Sentinel and nuclear submarine propulsion from development into deeper production phases is expected to increase the share of mature work. Management links this shift to stronger segment margins and higher earnings over time."

What really influences the story from this point is how one less visible funding and execution pressure shapes the cash coming out of those autonomy rich platforms.

That quiet funding and execution pressure is exactly what the full narrative for Northrop Grumman unpacks, highlighting where Northrop Grumman’s autonomy work could be accelerating returns or quietly stalling progress.

NYSE:NOC Earnings & Revenue History as at Nov 2026
NYSE:NOC Earnings & Revenue History as at Nov 2026

Seeking Alternatives Before Momentum Flies Past?

Fresh ideas move first, and slow research often gets caught chasing momentum after prices start breaking out. Scan these focused stock lists while the data still matters and consider acting while conditions remain relevant.