Benchmark research · Amazon
ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed AMZN (Amazon)
Any investment can look great over a single hand-picked timeframe. To find what truly kept ahead of AMZN (Amazon.com, Inc.), we screened AMZN against the entire market of over 10,000 stocks and ETFs across 8 different time windows from 1 month to 10 years, including reinvested dividends. A contender had to come out ahead in both the short term and the long term to make the list. Data as of October 20, 2026.
Compare the entire market against AMZN live →Key findings
- How hard it was to top AMZN: The screen covered over 10,000 stocks and ETFs, including 958 eligible ETFs and 1501 eligible stocks with 10 years of history. Under the rule requiring outperformance in at least 3 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term timeframes, 31 ETFs, or 3.2%, and 192 stocks, or 13%, qualified. Five ETFs and 41 stocks also met the all-weather rule, outpacing AMZN in every long-term timeframe and all but one short-term timeframe.
- Who came out ahead across the three groups:
- Popular alternatives: VGT and XLK each outperformed in 4 of 5 short-term and 3 of 3 long-term periods, making them all-weather qualifiers. EBAY qualified with 5 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term periods, while SHOP and AAPL each qualified with 3 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term periods. JPM and WMT fell short with 1 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term periods, while QQQ managed 2 of 5 and 1 of 3.
- Top ETFs: Technology funds led the group, making up 10 of the top ETFs shown, alongside 3 Broad Market and 2 International funds. The top ETFs included IYW, VGT, XLK, and FTEC, each of which outperformed in 4 of 5 short-term and 3 of 3 long-term periods.
- Top stocks: 192 stocks qualified, and the top stocks shown included NTRA and LLY in Healthcare, COKE in Consumer Staples, and CVI in Energy. Each outperformed in 5 of 5 short-term and 3 of 3 long-term periods.
- The risk trade-off: Over 5 years, the top ETFs generally had a smoother ride than AMZN, with 11 of 15 showing lower volatility and all 15 posting higher Sharpe ratios. The top stocks were bumpier: only 2 of 10 had lower volatility, though all 10 had higher Sharpe ratios, meaning their stronger returns per unit of risk more than offset the added swings over this period.
How popular alternatives compare
Well-known funds and stocks investors often compare against AMZN, sorted by long-term periods outperformed, then short-term.
| Investment | Periods outperformed | Short term | Long term | Risk · 5 years | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatilitylower is calmer | Sharpe ratiohigher is better | ||
| AMZN Amazon.com, Inc. (benchmark) | — | +1.6% | +5.1% | +5.8% | +16.0% | +21.3% | +110% | +53.8% | +548% | 36.6% | 0.42 |
| VGT Made the listVanguard Information Technology ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −4.2% | +6.3% | +19.1% | +27.6% | +26.7% | +138% | +133% | +779% | 26.0%0.7× AMZN | 0.78 |
| XLK Made the listState Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −4.8% | +5.7% | +20.3% | +29.0% | +29.3% | +131% | +143% | +767% | 26.0%0.7× AMZN | 0.82 |
| EBAY Made the listeBay Inc. | 5/5 short2/3 long | +11.9% | +6.5% | +13.8% | +40.5% | +28.3% | +213% | +74.2% | +374% | 32.9%0.9× AMZN | 0.50 |
| SHOP Made the listShopify Inc. | 3/5 short2/3 long | +25.8% | +39.4% | +28.4% | +10.4% | +5.3% | +239% | +16.6% | +3,916% | 66.9%1.8× AMZN | 0.38 |
| AAPL Made the listApple Inc. | 3/5 short2/3 long | +0.2% | +4.0% | +24.6% | +25.6% | +29.9% | +99.0% | +133% | +1,168% | 28.0%0.8× AMZN | 0.75 |
| MSFT Made the listMicrosoft Corporation | 3/5 short2/3 long | +6.0% | +32.5% | +27.7% | +13.2% | +3.8% | +66.6% | +80.3% | +946% | 28.2%0.8× AMZN | 0.56 |
| COST Made the listCostco Wholesale Corporation | 3/5 short2/3 long | +10.7% | +6.5% | 0.0% | +16.9% | +6.9% | +87.2% | +123% | +685% | 22.9%0.6× AMZN | 0.82 |
| JPM Fell shortJPMorgan Chase & Co. | 1/5 short2/3 long | −4.3% | −0.6% | +6.8% | +5.0% | +13.0% | +150% | +122% | +537% | 24.3%0.7× AMZN | 0.78 |
| WMT Fell shortWalmart Inc. | 1/5 short2/3 long | +9.7% | +5.3% | −7.5% | +5.2% | +11.0% | +130% | +158% | +508% | 22.6%0.6× AMZN | 0.96 |
| QQQ Fell shortInvesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 | 2/5 short1/3 long | −3.2% | +3.2% | +11.2% | +17.4% | +17.9% | +106% | +97.2% | +553% | 23.0%0.6× AMZN | 0.71 |
| SPY Fell shortState Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | 1/5 short1/3 long | −0.6% | +3.9% | +9.1% | +13.5% | +15.8% | +89.3% | +81.7% | +321% | 17.1%0.5× AMZN | 0.79 |
| VTI Fell shortVanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF | 1/5 short1/3 long | −0.8% | +3.2% | +8.3% | +13.1% | +15.2% | +87.9% | +72.6% | +302% | 17.5%0.5× AMZN | 0.71 |
| IWM Fell shortiShares Russell 2000 ETF | 0/5 short0/3 long | −3.4% | −5.4% | −0.1% | +11.6% | +12.3% | +71.3% | +29.0% | +158% | 22.4%0.6× AMZN | 0.34 |
| BABA Fell shortAlibaba Group Holding Limited | 0/5 short0/3 long | −6.1% | −9.7% | −21.7% | −29.6% | −36.8% | +44.5% | −34.8% | +11.2% | 51.3%1.4× AMZN | 0.08 |
ETFs that consistently outperformed AMZN
Top 15 by long-term periods outperformed, then short-term, then by 10Y return. Green cells outperformed AMZN in that period. Excludes leveraged and inverse funds, ETFs under $100M in assets, stocks under $2.0B in market cap, and anything without 10 years of history.
| # | Investment | Periods outperformed | Short term | Long term | Risk · 5 years | Fund | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatilitylower is calmer | Sharpe ratiohigher is better | Expense | Assets | |||
| — | AMZN Amazon.com, Inc. (benchmark) | — | +1.6% | +5.1% | +5.8% | +16.0% | +21.3% | +110% | +53.8% | +548% | 36.6% | 0.42 | ||
| 1 | IYW Broad MarketiShares U.S. Technology ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −4.2% | +5.6% | +20.4% | +26.8% | +27.0% | +143% | +138% | +805% | 26.6%0.7× AMZN | 0.79 | 0.37% | $24B |
| 2 | VGT TechnologyVanguard Information Technology ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −4.2% | +6.3% | +19.1% | +27.6% | +26.7% | +138% | +133% | +779% | 26.0%0.7× AMZN | 0.78 | 0.09% | $178B |
| 3 | XLK TechnologyState Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −4.8% | +5.7% | +20.3% | +29.0% | +29.3% | +131% | +143% | +767% | 26.0%0.7× AMZN | 0.82 | 0.08% | $125B |
| 4 | FTEC TechnologyFidelity MSCI Information Technology Index ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −4.2% | +6.3% | +19.1% | +27.6% | +27.0% | +139% | +135% | +763% | 26.1%0.7× AMZN | 0.79 | 0.08% | $22B |
| 5 | RSPT TechnologyInvesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Technology ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −2.8% | +8.4% | +24.4% | +41.0% | +42.9% | +141% | +119% | +572% | 25.1%0.7× AMZN | 0.75 | 0.40% | $6.1B |
| 6 | SMH TechnologyVanEck Semiconductor ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −8.3% | −2.2% | +17.8% | +46.4% | +57.8% | +290% | +323% | +1,665% | 36.9%1.0× AMZN | 0.97 | 0.35% | $66B |
| 7 | SOXX Broad MarketiShares Semiconductor ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −10.6% | −4.5% | +19.9% | +59.7% | +71.2% | +234% | +237% | +1,392% | 38.9%1.1× AMZN | 0.82 | 0.33% | $39B |
| 8 | FTXL TechnologyFirst Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −9.6% | −1.9% | +18.2% | +64.8% | +85.1% | +249% | +235% | +1,077% | 38.8%1.1× AMZN | 0.82 | 0.60% | $1.2B |
| 9 | XSD TechnologyState Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −10.0% | −5.8% | +11.5% | +40.9% | +35.0% | +166% | +132% | +857% | 40.8%1.1× AMZN | 0.62 | 0.35% | $2.7B |
| 10 | XNTK TechnologyState Street SPDR NYSE Technology ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −6.7% | +3.7% | +18.9% | +27.2% | +26.2% | +168% | +119% | +728% | 29.3%0.8× AMZN | 0.68 | 0.35% | $2.0B |
| 11 | IXN InternationaliShares Global Tech ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −6.2% | +4.4% | +19.3% | +31.2% | +32.0% | +145% | +141% | +720% | 26.2%0.7× AMZN | 0.81 | 0.37% | $9.1B |
| 12 | IGM Broad MarketiShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −5.1% | +4.5% | +16.2% | +24.4% | +24.3% | +156% | +130% | +720% | 26.5%0.7× AMZN | 0.76 | 0.37% | $11B |
| 13 | EWT TechnologyiShares MSCI Taiwan ETF | 4/5 short2/3 long | −7.2% | +11.9% | +28.4% | +65.7% | +69.7% | +195% | +153% | +468% | 24.2%0.7× AMZN | 0.89 | 0.59% | $12B |
| 14 | CIBR TechnologyFirst Trust Nasdaq Cybersecurity ETF | 4/5 short2/3 long | −2.6% | +9.4% | +49.9% | +42.4% | +31.9% | +127% | +93.2% | +454% | 26.1%0.7× AMZN | 0.64 | 0.58% | $17B |
| 15 | GREK InternationalGlobal X - MSCI Greece ETF | 4/5 short2/3 long | −5.6% | +8.8% | +14.9% | +21.4% | +32.7% | +175% | +234% | +380% | 24.6%0.7× AMZN | 1.11 | 0.56% | $327M |
Stocks that consistently outperformed AMZN
Top 10 by long-term periods outperformed, then short-term, then by 10Y return. Individual stocks swing far more than funds; check the volatility column.
| # | Investment | Periods outperformed | Short term | Long term | Risk · 5 years | Company | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatilitylower is calmer | Sharpe ratiohigher is better | Market cap | |||
| — | AMZN Amazon.com, Inc. (benchmark) | — | +1.6% | +5.1% | +5.8% | +16.0% | +21.3% | +110% | +53.8% | +548% | 36.6% | 0.42 | |
| 1 | NTRA Medical - Diagnostics & ResearchNatera, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +9.5% | +54.6% | +95.4% | +77.4% | +115% | +896% | +261% | +3,841% | 57.6%1.6× AMZN | 0.74 | $59B |
| 2 | LLY Drug Manufacturers - GeneralEli Lilly and Company | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +10.2% | +12.1% | +40.0% | +19.4% | +59.7% | +124% | +451% | +1,807% | 32.8%0.9× AMZN | 1.21 | $1.2T |
| 3 | CORT Medical - PharmaceuticalsCorcept Therapeutics Incorporated | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +2.4% | +27.2% | +151% | +205% | +48.2% | +317% | +498% | +1,593% | 75.9%2.1× AMZN | 0.81 | $13B |
| 4 | COKE Beverages - Non-AlcoholicCoca-Cola Consolidated, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +12.3% | +17.3% | +14.9% | +42.9% | +61.7% | +255% | +461% | +1,569% | 38.0%1.0× AMZN | 1.10 | $14B |
| 5 | CVI Oil & Gas Refining & MarketingCVR Energy, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +16.4% | +79.1% | +106% | +147% | +78.5% | +115% | +304% | +1,424% | 52.3%1.4× AMZN | 0.80 | $6.2B |
| 6 | MPC Oil & Gas Refining & MarketingMarathon Petroleum Corporation | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +18.1% | +51.1% | +123% | +191% | +159% | +234% | +690% | +1,387% | 33.4%0.9× AMZN | 1.41 | $133B |
| 7 | WSM Specialty RetailWilliams-Sonoma, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +12.2% | +14.1% | +26.5% | +37.0% | +35.6% | +238% | +199% | +1,268% | 44.4%1.2× AMZN | 0.71 | $30B |
| 8 | HALO BiotechnologyHalozyme Therapeutics, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +11.6% | +61.3% | +78.8% | +76.9% | +87.1% | +254% | +226% | +1,196% | 40.4%1.1× AMZN | 0.79 | $14B |
| 9 | ANF Apparel - RetailAbercrombie & Fitch Co. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +18.3% | +71.3% | +66.3% | +30.7% | +143% | +166% | +328% | +1,117% | 62.9%1.7× AMZN | 0.77 | $6.9B |
| 10 | VLO Oil & Gas Refining & MarketingValero Energy Corporation | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +10.2% | +38.9% | +93.2% | +166% | +176% | +259% | +524% | +1,061% | 36.9%1.0× AMZN | 1.18 | $125B |
What stands out
Technology funds were prominent among the ETF leaders, including broad technology and semiconductor strategies such as IYW, VGT, XLK, and SMH. The qualifying funds did not rely only on a recent run: the leading technology ETFs shown outperformed AMZN across all 3 long-term periods, as well as most short-term periods. The stock leaders were more varied, spanning Healthcare, Energy, Consumer Staples, and Consumer Discretionary, though Healthcare appeared often among the names shown.
The risk figures describe a different ride for funds and individual stocks. Over 5 years, the top ETFs had median volatility of 26.2%, below AMZN's 36.6%, and a median Sharpe ratio of 0.79 versus 0.42. The top stocks had median volatility of 42.4%, moderately higher than AMZN's, but their median Sharpe ratio was 0.80. All of the top ETFs and stocks had higher Sharpe ratios than the benchmark, suggesting their returns compensated for their risk over this period.
Methodology
- Short-term periods: 1M, 3M, 6M, YTD, 1Y. Long-term periods: 3Y, 5Y, 10Y. An investment outperformed a period when its total return, with dividends reinvested, was higher than AMZN's. Returns within 0.5 points or 3% of AMZN's (whichever is larger) count as a tie and are shown in gray.
- Consistent means outperforming in at least 3 of 5 short-term periods and 2 of 3 long-term periods, so a recent hot streak alone is not enough. All-weather means outperforming in every long-term period and all but one short-term period. Rankings use long-term periods outperformed, then short-term, then the 10Y return.
- Excludes leveraged and inverse funds, ETFs under $100M in assets, stocks under $2.0B in market cap, and anything without 10 years of history.
- Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily returns over 5 years. The Sharpe ratio is return above cash divided by volatility over the same period: higher means more return per unit of risk.
- Returns and risk figures are computed from daily adjusted prices and update with each market day. Past performance does not predict future results.