AMPX Plummets 13.4% Amid Sector-Wide Turbulence: What’s Fueling the Selloff?

Summary
• Amprius Technologies (AMPX) tumbles 13.4% intraday to $8.90, its lowest since March 2025.
• Ford’s $6.5B EV battery order cancellation with LGES sparks sector-wide jitters.
• Options chain shows heavy put buying at $10 strike, signaling bearish sentiment.
• Battery sector faces headwinds as EV demand wanes and policy shifts unfold.

Amprius Technologies’ stock is in freefall, down 13.4% to $8.90 as of 8:29 PM EST, amid a broader selloff in the battery sector. The move follows Ford’s abrupt pivot from EVs to gas-powered trucks, triggering fears of oversupply and margin compression. With AMPX trading near its 52-week low of $1.70 and the sector reeling from Ford’s $19.5B profit hit, traders are scrambling to assess the fallout.

Ford’s EV Retreat Sparks Sector-Wide Panic
AMPX’s collapse mirrors a broader crisis in the battery sector, triggered by Ford’s decision to cancel $6.5B in battery orders with LGES and SK On. The automaker’s pivot to gas-powered trucks and stationary energy storage has shattered investor confidence in EV demand. With AMPX’s core markets—unmanned aerial systems and EVs—directly tied to Ford’s production cuts, the stock has become a proxy for sector-wide fears. The company’s $73.2M cash cushion offers little solace as analysts warn of margin erosion from falling EBIT and rising raw material costs.

Battery Sector Reels as QuantumScape Trails AMPX’s Slide
The battery sector is in freefall, with QuantumScape (QS) down 0.6% despite its solid R&D pipeline. Ford’s retreat has created a domino effect, pressuring suppliers like LGES and SK On while casting doubt on long-term EV infrastructure investments. Amprius’s 13.4% drop outpaces the sector’s average 5–7% decline, reflecting its niche exposure to defense and commercial aviation markets now at risk of oversupply. The sector’s 52-week high of $16.03 for AMPX now feels like a distant memory.

Bearish Playbook: AMPX Options and ETFs in a Downtrend
• 200-day average: $6.86 (below current price)
• RSI: 46.3 (neutral to bearish)
• MACD: -0.25 (bearish divergence)
• Bollinger Bands: $9.73 (lower band) vs. $12.29 (upper band)

AMPX is trapped in a bearish channel, with the 200-day MA at $6.86 acting as a critical support level. The RSI at 46.3 suggests oversold conditions, but the MACD’s -0.25 divergence indicates momentum is still deteriorating. Traders should monitor the $9.73 lower Bollinger Band as a potential short-term floor. The options chain reveals heavy put buying at the $10 strike, with two contracts standing out:

• AMPX20260116P10
- Type: Put
- Strike: $10
- Expiration: 2026-01-16
- IV: 77.13% (high volatility)
- Leverage: 5.91% (moderate)
- Delta: -0.657 (deep in-the-money)
- Theta: -0.002 (slow time decay)
- Gamma: 0.184 (high sensitivity)
- Turnover: $15,158 (liquid)
- Payoff at 5% downside: $1.10 (max(0, $10 - $8.455))
- Why it stands out: High gamma and IV make this put ideal for a sharp move below $9.73.

• AMPX20260417P10
- Type: Put
- Strike: $10
- Expiration: 2026-04-17
- IV: 99.44% (extreme volatility)
- Leverage: 3.35% (low)
- Delta: -0.459 (moderate)
- Theta: -0.006 (moderate decay)
- Gamma: 0.078 (moderate)
- Turnover: $111,922 (high liquidity)
- Payoff at 5% downside: $1.10 (max(0, $10 - $8.455))
- Why it stands out: High turnover and IV make this a liquid, high-volatility play for a prolonged bearish trend.

If $9.73 breaks, AMPX20260116P10 offers short-side potential. Aggressive bears may consider AMPX20260417P10 into a bounce above $10.28.

Backtest Amprius Technologies Stock Performance
Amprius Technologies (AMPX) has experienced a significant intraday plunge of -13% from 2022 to the present day. Historically, buying AMPX after a -9% intraday sell-off and holding for approximately 2-3 weeks has produced notable alpha, with a win-rate that peaks around days 18-20 at around 60%. Given the current volatility and the recent decline, it's important for investors to consider the potential for further downside based on the stock's technical indicators, such as the Relative Strength Index (RSI) and the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD), which suggest bearish momentum. However, the potential for a rebound should also be noted, as the stock has a history of outperforming in the period following significant sell-offs.

AMPX’s Freefall: Time to Ride the Bear or Wait for a Rebound?
AMPX’s 13.4% selloff reflects a sector in crisis, with Ford’s EV retreat and margin pressures creating a perfect storm. While the stock’s 52-week low of $1.70 looms, the $9.73 Bollinger Band and $10 put options offer tactical entry points for bears. QuantumScape (QS) at -0.6% underscores the sector’s fragility. Traders should watch for a breakdown below $9.73 or a rebound above $10.28 to dictate next steps. For now, AMPX20260116P10 and AMPX20260417P10 remain top picks for a prolonged bearish trade.