Relative Intelligence · Automobiles

How Tesla (TSLA) compares with the whole market and its popular alternatives
Built by QuantCommons' quantitative engine, this page is about relative opportunity, not data on TSLA alone. It places TSLA (Tesla, Inc.) against 18 popular alternatives, its neighboring categories and the entire market of over 10,000 U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs, and surfaces what has done better on consistent outperformance, return for the risk taken, behavior in real market crashes and diversification. The result is a clearer view of where TSLA stands in the market, and of the alternatives worth a closer look.
Period covered: TSLA's full trading record, from June 2010 through September 2026. The crash tests reach back to 2000 using older funds and the S&P 500. All returns include reinvested dividends. Data as of October 20, 2026.
Data as of October 20, 2026. Full tables and charts read best on a larger screen.
On this page12 sections
Key findings
- Right nowThe slide is TSLA's own: it is 23.7% below its high, against 1.3% for the S&P 500. TSLA has gone against the market, falling 4.8% over the past 6 months while the S&P 500 rose 9.1%. At a glance ↓
- Stock or market?TSLA rose 1.1% over the past 3 months, in line with the consumer discretionary sector ETF XLY (State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF), which rose 1.0%. The S&P 500 rose 3.9%. Its automobile peers did not move as one over the past 3 months: TM (Toyota Motor) rose 12.0%, while RIVN (Rivian Automotive) fell 27.9%.
- Past 1 to 3 yearsOver the past year, TSLA fell 16.5% while the S&P 500 rose 15.8%. The same gap shows up over 3 years (76.3% against 89.3%). The long record (ahead of 99% of the stocks worth at least $300 million over 10 years) has not carried into the past 3 years (ahead of 61% of them). By year ↓
- Long termTSLA turned $10,000 into $282,000 over the past decade, against $42,100 in the S&P 500. That said, the past 5 years only trailed the S&P 500 (29.5% against 81.7%), after a much stronger decade (2,716% against 321%). Growth of $10,000 ↓
- In a crashAcross five sell-offs, TSLA has typically fallen about twice as far as the S&P 500. Crash tests ↓
- DiversificationAgainst the S&P 500, TSLA has a correlation of 0.49 over 5 years, more closely than 71% of stocks worth at least $300 million. Next to an index fund it is some diversification, but not a hedge. Over 10 years, TSLA's beta versus the S&P 500 was 1.91: in the S&P 500's rising months it gained 1.8 times as much as the index, and in falling months it lost 1.3 times as much. Market capture ↓
- Better options
- Popular alternatives
- GM (General Motors) and RACE (Ferrari) earned more than TSLA with less volatility over the past 5 years. GM returned 6.9% a year at 36.7% volatility, against 5.3% a year at 60.0%.
- Nearby categories and themes
- NVDA (NVIDIA, autonomous vehicles theme) and NEU (NewMarket, specialty chemicals) earned more than TSLA with less volatility over the past 5 years. NVDA returned 58.0% a year at 51.9% volatility, against 5.3% a year at 60.0%.
- Whole market
- 1,628 of the 3,633 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million earned more than TSLA with less volatility over the past 5 years, among them NVDA (NVIDIA), AAPL (Apple) and GOOG (Alphabet).
How much would $10,000 in TSLA have grown?
This chart tracks a hypothetical $10,000 investment in TSLA over the past 16 years, with dividends reinvested, alongside the same amount in the S&P 500, investments that ended ahead of TSLA over the same span and TSLA's popular alternatives, among those that traded for the entire period. A second view covers the past 5 years, the period the better options further down the page are judged on. It shows not only where each investment ended up but also how smooth or uneven the path was.
Note: TSLA began trading on June 29, 2010, so the chart cannot reach back to the dot-com bust, the 2008 financial crisis or the 2010 flash crash. It covers the most recent 16 years of TSLA's record, starting at the end of September 2010.
- $10,000 invested in TSLA at the end of September 2010 would have grown to $2,608,816 by September 2026, more than the $88,503 it would have become in SPY, an S&P 500 fund.
- Over the past 16 years, only two of the 2,048 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that traded that long, leveraged funds aside, ended ahead of TSLA. Over the past 5 years, 1,813 did, and NVDA turned $10,000 into $110,811, against $13,726 for TSLA.
- Two of the seven other investments on the chart ended ahead of TSLA, and XPEL finished highest, at $11,042,289.
Choose a period
From the end of September 2010 to the end of September 2026. The scale is logarithmic, so equal steps up the chart are equal percentage gains. Hover over a fund in the key to pick out its line. 2 of the 2,048 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that traded the whole period ended ahead of TSLA. The other 5 lines are popular alternatives, shown for context.
- XPEL$11M+110,323% total · +54.9% a year
- NVDA$9M+85,752% total · +52.5% a year
- TSLA$3M+25,988% total · +41.6% a year
- SPY (S&P 500)$88,503+785% total · +14.6% a year
- TM$40,076+301% total · +9.1% a year
- ALB$28,321+183% total · +6.7% a year
- STLA$22,245+122% total · +5.1% a year
- F$19,803+98.0% total · +4.4% a year
- HMC$14,448+44.5% total · +2.3% a year
From the end of September 2021 to the end of September 2026. The scale is logarithmic, so equal steps up the chart are equal percentage gains. Hover over a fund in the key to pick out its line. 1,813 of the 3,628 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that traded the whole period ended ahead of TSLA; the chart shows 5, closest alternatives first. The other 3 lines are popular alternatives, shown for context.
- NVDA$110,811+1,008% total · +61.8% a year
- NEU$29,325+193% total · +24.0% a year
- RACE$19,540+95.4% total · +14.3% a year
- SPY (S&P 500)$19,000+90.0% total · +13.7% a year
- GM$15,245+52.4% total · +8.8% a year
- ECL$13,921+39.2% total · +6.8% a year
- TSLA$13,726+37.3% total · +6.5% a year
- HMC$12,319+23.2% total · +4.3% a year
- TM$11,911+19.1% total · +3.6% a year
- F$11,585+15.9% total · +3.0% a year
TSLA at a glance
This section summarizes the key facts about the stock, its returns over periods from one to ten years and the risk it has carried, with dividends reinvested throughout. These figures serve as the baseline for every comparison that follows.
Note: TSLA began trading on June 29, 2010, so every figure here, including its worst decline, covers only the time since then. None of them reflect the dot-com bust, the 2008 financial crisis or the 2010 flash crash.
- TSLA is still 23.7% below its all-time high.
- TSLA's deepest decline since it began trading in 2010 was 73.6%, from November 2021 to January 2023. It took 23 months from the low to climb back to its old high.
- Over 15 full calendar years, TSLA's best was 2020, when it returned 743%, and its worst was 2022, when it lost 65.0%. It lost money in two of those years.
The company
- Market value
- $1.5T
- Industry
- Auto - Manufacturers
- Price history from
- June 2010
Returns
- Past 1 year
- −16.5%total return
- Past 3 years
- +76.3%+20.8% a year
- Past 5 years
- +29.5%+5.3% a year
- Past 10 years
- +2,716%+39.6% a year
- Best calendar year
- +743%2020
- Worst calendar year
- −65.0%2022
- Losing years
- 2 of 15full calendar years
Risk
- Volatility
- 60.0%typical yearly swing, 5 years
- Sharpe ratio
- 0.39return per unit of risk, 5 years
- Worst decline ever
- −73.6%Nov 2021 to Jan 2023
- From its all-time high
- −23.7%below the peak
TSLA against the whole market
Where TSLA ranks among every stock and fund, and what across the market has done better.
How does TSLA rank among all stocks?
This section ranks TSLA on return, volatility, risk-adjusted return and worst decline against every stock worth at least $300 million with enough history. Where the comparisons with its popular alternatives show how TSLA stacks up against its peers, these rankings show where it stands in the market as a whole.
- TSLA's 10-year return ranks in the top 1% of the 2,202 stocks worth at least $300 million with 10 years of history.
- TSLA is among the more volatile stocks: its price swings rank in the bottom 21% of the 2,893 stocks worth at least $300 million, where the top is the calmest.
Ranked against U.S.-listed stocks worth at least $300M that have enough history for each measure, so the count changes from row to row; smaller stocks are left out. Lower volatility and smaller declines rank higher.
| Measure | TSLA | Rank | Standing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year return | −16.5% | 2,546 of 3,287 | bottom 24% |
| 3-year return | +76.3% | 1,173 of 3,017 | top 39% |
| 5-year return | +29.5% | 1,344 of 2,893 | top 46% |
| 10-year return | +2,716% | 22 of 2,202 | top 1% |
| Volatility, 5 years | 60.0% | 2,278 of 2,893 | bottom 22% |
| Sharpe ratio, 5 years | 0.39 | 1,276 of 2,893 | top 44% |
| Worst decline, past 10 years | −73.6% | 1,415 of 2,187 | bottom 36% |
What has beaten TSLA on both return and risk?
Each dot is an investment, placed by how much it earned a year over the past 5 years (higher is better) and how much its price swung, its volatility (further left is calmer). TSLA sits where the dashed lines cross. Anything in the green box above and to the left earned more than TSLA with smaller swings, a better trade-off over this period on both counts. Past results are no promise, but a name in the box is worth a closer look.
- 1,014 stocks and 614 ETFs worth at least $500 million sit in the green region: each earned more than TSLA over the past 5 years with smaller price swings. That is 45% of the 3,633 screened.
- Among those with at least half TSLA's swings, FIX has the best return for its risk: 77.0% a year at 46.7% volatility, 22% less than TSLA's 60.0%, and a Sharpe ratio (return above cash per unit of volatility) of 1.46 against 0.39 for TSLA. BELFB earned the most, 78.0% a year, while still swinging less than TSLA (52.1% against 60.0%).
- Among TSLA's popular alternatives, RACE and GM are in the region. RACE earned 13.3% a year against 5.3% a year for TSLA, at 30.0% volatility, 50% less than TSLA's 60.0%.
Annual return is the annualized total return with dividends reinvested, and volatility the annualized swing in daily prices, both over 5 years. Labeled dots are the strongest picks from the table below and the names called out above, colored by how close they sit to TSLA; faint dots are 93 more of the 1,628 in the green region (the strongest, one per fund family). 3,633 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million were screened. Hover over a dot for its figures.
- Popular alternatives
- Same and neighboring categories, and shared themes
- The whole market
- Others in the green region
Is there a better investment than TSLA?
Investments that beat TSLA over the past 5 years on return, volatility, drawdowns, consistency, crash losses or fees, from its popular alternatives out to the whole market.
- Among TSLA's popular alternatives, GM and RACE earned more than TSLA with less volatility over the past 5 years. GM returned 6.9% a year at 36.7% volatility, against 5.3% a year at 60.0%.
- Looking beyond its popular alternatives, NVDA (autonomous vehicles theme) and NEU (specialty chemicals) earned more than TSLA with less volatility over the past 5 years. NVDA returned 58.0% a year at 51.9% volatility, against 5.3% a year at 60.0%.
- Across the whole market, 1,628 of the 3,633 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million earned more than TSLA with less volatility over the past 5 years, among them NVDA, AAPL and GOOG.
How this works
The table below lists investments that beat TSLA over the past 5 years on at least one of these measures: a higher annual return with lower volatility, a higher annual return at similar volatility, a similar return with lower volatility, a higher Sharpe ratio with a smaller worst decline, a higher total return in most periods from 3 months to 10 years, or smaller losses in recent market crashes. It checks TSLA's popular alternatives first, then the rest of its own and neighboring categories, then every stock and fund worth at least $500 million, and shows the strongest few in each group. The full list of those with a higher return and lower volatility than TSLA follows the table.
Annual return is the annualized total return with dividends reinvested. Annual return, volatility and the Sharpe ratio cover 5 years; the worst decline covers the past 10 years. Green marks a better figure than TSLA's. "On the frontier" means no other option shown or tested earned more with less volatility. Funds that hold the same thing are shown once. Beyond the popular alternatives, nothing with more than 1.5× TSLA's volatility counts as better.
These figures cover the past 5 years. Green marks a better figure than TSLA's.
| Investment | Why it is better | Past 5 years | Downside | Long run | Fit | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual return?higher is better | Volatility?lower is calmer | Sharpe?return per unit of risk | Worst decline?past 10 years | 10Y returntotal | Corr. with TSLA?lower diversifies more | Expenseper year | |||
| +5.3% | 60.0% | 0.39 | −73.6% | +2,716% | 1.00 | — | |||
| +12.7% | 17.1% | 0.79 | −33.7% | +321% | 0.49 | 0.09% | |||
| Popular alternativesbest 4 shownThe investments people most often weigh against TSLA. 4 of 15 passed at least one test. | |||||||||
| Higher return, lower volatilityHigher return in most periods | +6.9% | 36.7% | 0.36 | −59.9% | +193% | 0.31 | — | ||
| Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst decline | +13.3% | 30.0% | 0.57 | −39.2% | +711% | 0.26 | — | ||
| Similar return, lower volatility | +5.0% | 27.0% | 0.32 | −36.8% | +129% | 0.17 | — | ||
| Similar return, lower volatility | +6.1% | 27.5% | 0.35 | −42.0% | +63.3% | 0.06 | — | ||
| Same and neighboring categories, and shared themesbest 6 shownEverything else in Automobiles and the categories next to it (Auto Parts, Specialty Chemicals), plus TSLA's specific themes. 16 of 37 passed at least one test. | |||||||||
| Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +58.0% | 51.9% | 1.14 | −66.3% | +13,019% | 0.44 | — | ||
NEUNewMarket Corporation · Specialty Chemicals | Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +21.0% | 26.8% | 0.85 | −40.7% | +165% | 0.07 | — | |
| Higher return, lower volatilityHigher return in most periods | +6.7% | 24.1% | 0.39 | −43.7% | +176% | 0.26 | — | ||
| Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst decline | +53.4% | 48.6% | 1.13 | −53.3% | +1,195% | 0.24 | — | ||
GTXGarrett Motion Inc. · Auto Parts | Higher return, lower volatilityHigher return in most periods | +27.0% | 41.4% | 0.78 | −93.1% | — | 0.05 | — | |
RPMRPM International Inc. · Specialty Chemicals | Similar return, lower volatility | +5.1% | 27.2% | 0.32 | −38.7% | +153% | 0.26 | — | |
| The whole marketbest 8 shownEvery other stock and fund worth at least $500 million. 1,973 of 3,582 passed at least one test. | |||||||||
| On the frontierHigher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +17.3% | 18.2% | 0.97 | −40.0% | +352% | 0.25 | — | ||
| On the frontierHigher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +42.1% | 24.7% | 1.55 | −46.1% | +349% | 0.07 | — | ||
| Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +18.5% | 28.0% | 0.75 | −38.5% | +1,168% | 0.50 | — | ||
| Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +19.0% | 32.0% | 0.71 | −44.6% | +752% | 0.38 | — | ||
| Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +31.5% | 38.5% | 0.91 | −56.6% | +1,505% | 0.36 | — | ||
| Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +11.5% | 17.5% | 0.71 | −35.0% | +302% | 0.51 | 0.03% | ||
| Higher return, similar volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods | +68.1% | 57.1% | 1.20 | −57.6% | +5,243% | 0.22 | — | ||
JAAAJanus Henderson AAA CLO ETF · CLO Bonds | On the frontierSimilar return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst decline | +5.1% | 1.7% | 2.98 | −2.6% | — | 0.20 | 0.20% | |
What these numbers mean for TSLA
- Annual return
- TSLA returned 5.3% a year over the past 5 years with dividends reinvested, against 12.7% a year for the S&P 500. At that pace, $10,000 became about $12,900. Annual return is the steady yearly rate that would produce the same total result, so investments held over the same span compare fairly. Guide: What is performance and return? →
- Volatility
- TSLA's volatility over the past 5 years was 60.0%, 3.5 times the S&P 500's 17.1%. Volatility measures how widely returns swing around their average: in roughly two years out of three, TSLA's return lands within 60.0% of its average, either way. The higher it is, the rougher the ride and the harder it is to hold through a slump. Guide: Understanding and measuring risk (volatility) →
- Sharpe ratio
- TSLA's Sharpe ratio over the past 5 years was 0.39, against 0.79 for the S&P 500, so TSLA earned less for each unit of risk than an index fund did. The Sharpe ratio is the return earned above cash for each unit of volatility: two investments with the same return are not equal if one got there with far bigger swings. Guide: Balancing reward with risk (Sharpe ratio) →
- Worst decline
- TSLA's worst fall from a peak to a low over the past 10 years was 73.6%, against 33.7% for the S&P 500. Losses and gains are not symmetric: climbing back from a 73.6% fall takes a 279% gain. Guide: Market crash risk and tail risk →
- Correlation
- Over the past 5 years, TSLA's monthly returns had a correlation of 0.49 with the S&P 500. Correlation runs from 1 (moving in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to −1 (moving in opposite directions). They often move together: some diversification next to an index fund, but not a cushion. In the table, the correlation column measures each option against TSLA instead: the lower it is, the more that option would diversify a TSLA holding. Guide: Correlation and diversification →
Show all 1,628 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that earned more than TSLA with less volatility
Out of 3,633 tested over 5 years. The strongest 100 are listed, best first, with funds that hold the same thing listed once.
| # | Investment | Found in | Annual return | Volatility | Sharpe | Worst decline | 10Y return | Corr. with TSLA | Expense |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Whole market | +17.3% | 18.2% | 0.97 | −40.0% | +352% | 0.25 | — | |
| 2 | Whole market | +42.1% | 24.7% | 1.55 | −46.1% | +349% | 0.07 | — | |
| 3 | Whole market | +18.5% | 28.0% | 0.75 | −38.5% | +1,168% | 0.50 | — | |
| 4 | Whole market | +19.0% | 32.0% | 0.71 | −44.6% | +752% | 0.38 | — | |
| 5 | Whole market | +31.5% | 38.5% | 0.91 | −56.6% | +1,505% | 0.36 | — | |
| 6 | Whole market | +40.7% | 32.8% | 1.21 | −34.5% | +1,807% | -0.10 | — | |
| 7 | Whole market | +11.5% | 17.5% | 0.71 | −35.0% | +302% | 0.51 | 0.03% | |
| 8 | Whole market | +12.8% | 16.9% | 0.80 | −34.0% | +324% | 0.49 | 0.03% | |
| 9 | Whole market | +20.8% | 22.6% | 0.96 | −25.7% | +508% | 0.23 | — | |
| 10 | Whole market | +17.3% | 24.3% | 0.78 | −43.6% | +537% | 0.14 | — | |
| 11 | Whole market | +26.1% | 23.4% | 1.11 | −45.1% | +603% | -0.16 | — | |
| 12 | Whole market | +33.1% | 25.9% | 1.24 | −62.3% | +319% | 0.17 | — | |
| 13 | Whole market | +12.7% | 17.9% | 0.76 | −27.4% | +196% | -0.15 | — | |
| 14 | DXJWisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund · International Equity | Whole market | +26.6% | 19.1% | 1.34 | −39.1% | +428% | 0.22 | 0.48% |
| 15 | LVHIFranklin International Low Volatility High Dividend Index ETF · International Equity | Whole market | +17.0% | 11.1% | 1.48 | −32.4% | +194% | 0.04 | 0.40% |
| 16 | Whole market | +14.7% | 16.8% | 0.91 | −37.0% | +204% | -0.23 | — | |
| 17 | Whole market | +55.2% | 54.4% | 1.08 | −59.6% | +3,701% | 0.15 | — | |
| 18 | Whole market | +17.4% | 22.9% | 0.82 | −31.4% | +685% | 0.36 | — | |
| 19 | Whole market | +17.4% | 43.4% | 0.59 | −56.9% | +1,628% | 0.35 | — | |
| 20 | Whole market | +14.5% | 23.0% | 0.71 | −35.1% | +553% | 0.61 | 0.18% | |
| 21 | Whole market | +33.2% | 29.4% | 1.13 | −54.9% | +483% | 0.01 | — | |
| 22 | Whole market | +21.0% | 23.4% | 0.94 | −42.9% | +242% | -0.21 | — | |
| 23 | Whole market | +37.4% | 49.9% | 0.89 | −56.4% | +2,989% | 0.35 | — | |
| 24 | Whole market | +16.8% | 26.1% | 0.73 | −42.0% | +374% | 0.21 | — | |
| 25 | Whole market | +49.0% | 49.0% | 1.06 | −52.2% | +3,439% | 0.33 | — | |
| 26 | Whole market | +38.7% | 25.0% | 1.44 | −38.1% | +586% | 0.04 | — | |
| 27 | INSWInternational Seaways, Inc. · Oil & Gas | Whole market | +56.5% | 40.5% | 1.31 | −57.4% | — | -0.13 | — |
| 28 | Whole market | +31.9% | 43.4% | 0.86 | −48.0% | +1,274% | 0.38 | — | |
| 29 | Whole market | +33.8% | 32.2% | 1.07 | −37.5% | +965% | 0.38 | — | |
| 30 | Whole market | +57.4% | 48.7% | 1.18 | −57.0% | +2,698% | 0.29 | — | |
| 31 | Whole market | +25.8% | 47.4% | 0.72 | −55.1% | +1,488% | 0.31 | — | |
| 32 | Whole market | +26.0% | 23.8% | 1.09 | −63.3% | +379% | 0.13 | — | |
| 33 | Whole market | +18.6% | 24.3% | 0.83 | −52.0% | +317% | -0.20 | — | |
| 34 | Whole market | +22.8% | 24.9% | 0.95 | −30.5% | +200% | -0.20 | — | |
| 35 | Whole market | +9.3% | 16.9% | 0.61 | −35.8% | +153% | 0.26 | 0.03% | |
| 36 | Whole market | +15.8% | 20.0% | 0.84 | −42.0% | +310% | 0.30 | — | |
| 37 | Whole market | +35.4% | 35.4% | 1.04 | −55.1% | +935% | 0.39 | — | |
| 38 | Whole market | +26.3% | 52.7% | 0.71 | −67.7% | — | 0.36 | — | |
| 39 | Whole market | +33.6% | 30.6% | 1.10 | −45.7% | +345% | 0.06 | — | |
| 40 | Whole market | +32.0% | 40.7% | 0.89 | −55.3% | +1,017% | 0.17 | — | |
| 41 | Whole market | +17.7% | 18.9% | 0.96 | −26.4% | +213% | 0.02 | 0.40% | |
| 42 | Whole market | +16.6% | 30.5% | 0.66 | −41.1% | +151% | 0.15 | — | |
| 43 | Whole market | +33.2% | 32.9% | 1.04 | −64.2% | +430% | -0.10 | — | |
| 44 | Whole market | +18.4% | 26.0% | 0.78 | −35.1% | +779% | 0.56 | 0.09% | |
| 45 | Whole market | +25.4% | 30.4% | 0.90 | −59.8% | +374% | 0.22 | — | |
| 46 | Whole market | +13.1% | 29.5% | 0.57 | −64.5% | +141% | 0.30 | — | |
| 47 | Whole market | +11.5% | 30.0% | 0.52 | −52.5% | +205% | 0.18 | — | |
| 48 | Whole market | +33.7% | 29.4% | 1.14 | −47.6% | +474% | -0.08 | — | |
| 49 | Whole market | +19.5% | 34.1% | 0.69 | −33.6% | +652% | 0.23 | — | |
| 50 | Whole market | +48.8% | 43.0% | 1.15 | −52.5% | +967% | 0.21 | — | |
| 51 | Whole market | +18.7% | 22.0% | 0.90 | −56.1% | +98.2% | -0.18 | — | |
| 52 | Whole market | +13.5% | 29.3% | 0.58 | −49.6% | +446% | 0.38 | — | |
| 53 | Whole market | +15.7% | 20.4% | 0.82 | −42.6% | +248% | -0.08 | — | |
| 54 | Whole market | +39.3% | 37.2% | 1.08 | −45.5% | +2,045% | 0.39 | — | |
| 55 | Whole market | +17.8% | 21.4% | 0.88 | −53.7% | +140% | -0.09 | — | |
| 56 | Whole market | +22.7% | 24.4% | 0.97 | −50.5% | +341% | 0.26 | — | |
| 57 | Whole market | +24.6% | 24.0% | 1.04 | −68.1% | +288% | 0.11 | — | |
| 58 | Same or nearby category | +58.0% | 51.9% | 1.14 | −66.3% | +13,019% | 0.44 | — | |
| 59 | Whole market | +19.2% | 21.6% | 0.93 | −47.3% | +395% | 0.37 | — | |
| 60 | Whole market | +26.3% | 33.8% | 0.86 | −62.1% | +190% | 0.06 | — | |
| 61 | Whole market | +22.4% | 22.3% | 1.02 | −46.3% | +347% | -0.15 | — | |
| 62 | Whole market | +22.7% | 27.7% | 0.88 | −40.5% | +955% | 0.32 | — | |
| 63 | Whole market | +22.0% | 28.6% | 0.84 | −61.3% | +544% | 0.34 | — | |
| 64 | Whole market | +23.0% | 25.6% | 0.94 | −61.4% | +278% | -0.21 | — | |
| 65 | Whole market | +29.5% | 38.4% | 0.87 | −54.2% | +352% | 0.08 | — | |
| 66 | Whole market | +24.2% | 22.8% | 1.07 | −32.4% | +406% | -0.01 | — | |
| 67 | Whole market | +13.6% | 21.4% | 0.71 | −51.0% | +295% | 0.35 | — | |
| 68 | Whole market | +22.6% | 24.0% | 0.97 | −57.5% | +373% | 0.15 | — | |
| 69 | Whole market | +20.7% | 44.8% | 0.65 | −38.3% | +2,626% | 0.26 | — | |
| 70 | Whole market | +26.3% | 24.9% | 1.07 | −41.6% | +654% | 0.35 | — | |
| 71 | Whole market | +12.9% | 19.9% | 0.71 | −46.9% | +187% | 0.35 | — | |
| 72 | Whole market | +18.6% | 39.1% | 0.63 | −62.4% | +304% | 0.07 | — | |
| 73 | Whole market | +21.0% | 26.8% | 0.85 | −50.8% | +694% | 0.32 | — | |
| 74 | Whole market | +17.2% | 24.9% | 0.77 | −30.4% | +285% | 0.07 | — | |
| 75 | Whole market | +33.4% | 36.9% | 0.97 | −45.3% | +1,665% | 0.43 | 0.35% | |
| 76 | Whole market | +32.9% | 42.2% | 0.89 | −56.9% | +483% | 0.29 | — | |
| 77 | Whole market | +18.7% | 22.5% | 0.88 | −55.1% | +163% | 0.18 | — | |
| 78 | Whole market | +11.4% | 14.7% | 0.81 | −38.5% | +205% | 0.28 | 0.18% | |
| 79 | Whole market | +10.3% | 16.2% | 0.69 | −34.2% | +223% | 0.44 | 0.06% | |
| 80 | Whole market | +16.5% | 23.1% | 0.78 | −48.4% | +808% | 0.17 | — | |
| 81 | Whole market | +17.4% | 29.1% | 0.70 | −46.4% | +426% | 0.28 | — | |
| 82 | Whole market | +20.3% | 32.1% | 0.74 | −66.5% | +213% | 0.13 | — | |
| 83 | Whole market | +14.1% | 30.1% | 0.59 | −54.7% | +513% | 0.11 | — | |
| 84 | Whole market | +25.6% | 26.2% | 1.00 | −64.1% | +264% | 0.27 | — | |
| 85 | Whole market | +18.1% | 29.5% | 0.71 | −51.4% | +312% | 0.10 | — | |
| 86 | Whole market | +27.5% | 36.9% | 0.85 | −46.7% | +510% | 0.10 | — | |
| 87 | Whole market | +12.7% | 27.7% | 0.57 | −50.8% | +309% | 0.26 | — | |
| 88 | Whole market | +24.3% | 39.1% | 0.75 | −63.3% | +1,270% | 0.42 | — | |
| 89 | Whole market | +19.7% | 23.2% | 0.90 | −48.8% | +292% | -0.20 | — | |
| 90 | Whole market | +12.4% | 20.2% | 0.68 | −32.9% | +185% | -0.02 | — | |
| 91 | Whole market | +40.4% | 49.9% | 0.93 | −66.3% | +681% | 0.02 | — | |
| 92 | Whole market | +17.0% | 26.2% | 0.73 | −41.4% | +356% | -0.18 | — | |
| 93 | Whole market | +18.9% | 37.3% | 0.65 | −53.9% | +194% | 0.04 | — | |
| 94 | Whole market | +15.8% | 24.6% | 0.72 | −30.7% | +576% | 0.26 | — | |
| 95 | Whole market | +21.7% | 37.4% | 0.72 | −57.2% | +569% | 0.20 | — | |
| 96 | Whole market | +13.1% | 22.4% | 0.67 | −34.5% | +451% | 0.61 | 0.04% | |
| 97 | Whole market | +24.1% | 39.9% | 0.74 | −38.2% | — | 0.11 | — | |
| 98 | Whole market | +14.7% | 17.5% | 0.87 | −34.7% | — | 0.50 | 0.26% | |
| 99 | BAPCredicorp Ltd. · Banks | Whole market | +30.8% | 30.3% | 1.04 | −59.2% | +298% | 0.25 | — |
| 100 | Whole market | +10.8% | 21.9% | 0.58 | −41.6% | +160% | 0.18 | — |
See everything that outperformed TSLA →
TSLA against its popular alternatives
The investments people most often weigh against TSLA, compared period by period and year by year.
How do TSLA's risk and return compare with its alternatives?
This map plots each investment's annual return over the past 5 years against its volatility, the size of its typical price swings. Investments toward the upper left earned more for a smoother ride, and those toward the lower right earned less for a rougher one. The dashed lines cross at TSLA, which divides the map into what did better or worse on each measure.
- RACE, GM and HMC were both more rewarding and calmer than TSLA over the past 5 years, earning a higher annual return with lower volatility.
- Over the past 5 years, TSLA returned 5.3% a year, less than the S&P 500's 12.7%, with higher volatility (60.0% against 17.1%).
Green points earned more than TSLA with less volatility; red points earned less with more. Hover over a point for its figures. Total returns with dividends reinvested, annualized.
All figures
| Investment | Annual return | Volatility |
|---|---|---|
| RACE Ferrari N.V. | +13.3% | 30.0% |
| SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | +12.7% | 17.1% |
| GM General Motors Company | +6.9% | 36.7% |
| HMC Honda Motor Co., Ltd. | +6.1% | 27.5% |
| TSLA This pageTesla, Inc. | +5.3% | 60.0% |
| TM Toyota Motor Corporation | +5.0% | 27.0% |
| F Ford Motor Company | +0.6% | 39.2% |
| ALB Albemarle Corporation | −15.4% | 54.9% |
| LI Li Auto Inc. | −17.5% | 62.1% |
| STLA Stellantis N.V. | −21.2% | 42.6% |
| VFS VinFast Auto Ltd. | −21.7% | 147% |
| APTV Aptiv PLC | −23.2% | 41.4% |
| XPEV XPeng Inc. | −25.4% | 77.8% |
| NIO NIO Inc. | −38.8% | 70.9% |
| CHPT ChargePoint Holdings, Inc. | −55.0% | 87.9% |
| LCID Lucid Group, Inc. | −57.7% | 84.2% |
| PSNY Polestar Automotive Holding UK PLC | −58.4% | 81.8% |
Has TSLA consistently beaten its popular alternatives?
This section compares TSLA with the investments people most often weigh against it, checking each one over eight periods from one month to ten years. Counting how often an alternative earned more than TSLA helps separate lasting outperformance from a single strong stretch.
- Only one of the 18 popular alternatives, GM, outperformed TSLA in at least 3 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term timeframes.
- RACE earned more for the risk it took than TSLA (a higher Sharpe ratio) and fell less in its worst decline of the past 10 years.
A green cell means the alternative earned more than TSLA over that period. "Qualified" marks those that did so in at least 3 of 5 short-term periods and 2 of 3 long-term periods.
| Investment | Periods outperformed | Short term | Long term | Risk · 5 years | Fund | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatilitylower is calmer | Sharpehigher is better | Worst declinepast 10 years | Expense | Assets | Overlapsame sectors | ||
| TSLA Tesla, Inc. (this page) | — | −0.4% | +1.1% | −4.8% | −14.7% | −16.5% | +76.3% | +29.5% | +2,716% | 60.0% | 0.39 | −73.6% | — | $1.5T | — |
| GM QualifiedGeneral Motors Company | 4/5 short2/3 long | −8.2% | +1.9% | −3.9% | −4.2% | +34.0% | +168% | +39.5% | +193% | 36.7% | 0.36 | −59.9% | — | $68B | — |
| HMC Auto - ManufacturersHonda Motor Co., Ltd. | 5/5 short1/3 long | +5.3% | +21.6% | +35.1% | +17.4% | +12.4% | +17.7% | +34.5% | +63.3% | 27.5% | 0.35 | −42.0% | — | $44B | — |
| RACE Auto - ManufacturersFerrari N.V. | 4/5 short1/3 long | −3.8% | +7.7% | +8.6% | +8.9% | +1.6% | +36.1% | +86.6% | +711% | 30.0% | 0.57 | −39.2% | — | $70B | — |
| TM Auto - ManufacturersToyota Motor Corporation | 4/5 short0/3 long | +3.8% | +12.0% | −7.1% | −6.8% | +1.5% | +24.1% | +27.8% | +129% | 27.0% | 0.32 | −36.8% | — | $234B | — |
| F Auto - ManufacturersFord Motor Company | 3/5 short0/3 long | −7.8% | −12.2% | −3.5% | −5.9% | +6.0% | +25.9% | +3.0% | +71.8% | 39.2% | 0.21 | −64.7% | — | $48B | — |
| CHPT Specialty RetailChargePoint Holdings, Inc. | 3/5 short0/3 long | −16.8% | +41.8% | +17.9% | +11.2% | −29.4% | −86.8% | −98.2% | — | 87.9% | -0.49 | −99.5% | — | $210M | — |
| ALB Chemicals - SpecialtyAlbemarle Corporation | 1/5 short0/3 long | −15.2% | −18.7% | −50.6% | −32.9% | +0.8% | −27.6% | −56.7% | +31.3% | 54.9% | -0.03 | −83.9% | — | $11B | — |
| APTV Auto - PartsAptiv PLC | 1/5 short0/3 long | +3.4% | −21.4% | −25.9% | −42.6% | −46.0% | −51.0% | −73.3% | −10.6% | 41.4% | -0.43 | −75.8% | — | $9.4B | — |
| LI Auto - ManufacturersLi Auto Inc. | 1/5 short0/3 long | +3.6% | −3.6% | −36.2% | −30.8% | −47.0% | −62.6% | −61.8% | — | 62.1% | 0.00 | −77.1% | — | $12B | — |
| RIVN Auto - ManufacturersRivian Automotive, Inc. | 1/5 short0/3 long | −19.1% | −27.9% | −26.5% | −36.0% | −5.0% | −25.7% | — | — | — | — | −95.1% | — | $18B | — |
| VFS Auto - ManufacturersVinFast Auto Ltd. | 1/5 short0/3 long | −15.1% | −8.0% | −34.0% | −15.1% | −12.5% | −46.7% | −70.6% | — | 147% | 0.26 | −97.1% | — | $6.7B | — |
| STLA Auto - ManufacturersStellantis N.V. | 0/5 short0/3 long | −10.0% | −24.7% | −50.2% | −62.1% | −59.5% | −73.3% | −69.7% | +39.2% | 42.6% | -0.35 | −83.1% | — | $13B | — |
| FLNC Renewable UtilitiesFluence Energy, Inc. | 0/5 short0/3 long | −19.8% | −58.5% | −53.0% | −74.2% | −67.9% | −67.2% | — | — | — | — | −90.4% | — | $1.2B | — |
| LCID Auto - ManufacturersLucid Group, Inc. | 0/5 short0/3 long | −24.0% | −54.0% | −51.6% | −70.7% | −83.6% | −92.4% | −98.7% | — | 84.2% | -0.62 | −99.5% | — | $1.0B | — |
| MBLY Auto - PartsMobileye Global Inc. | 0/5 short0/3 long | −8.6% | −18.4% | −9.2% | −35.0% | −50.3% | −79.5% | — | — | — | — | −86.1% | — | $6.2B | — |
| NIO Auto - ManufacturersNIO Inc. | 0/5 short0/3 long | −6.5% | −28.7% | −48.5% | −33.3% | −51.4% | −54.7% | −91.4% | — | 70.9% | -0.34 | −95.0% | — | $8.3B | — |
| PSNY Auto - ManufacturersPolestar Automotive Holding UK PLC | 0/5 short0/3 long | −51.7% | −75.7% | −80.1% | −81.0% | −85.1% | −94.7% | −98.8% | — | 81.8% | -0.67 | −99.3% | — | $616M | — |
| XPEV Auto - ManufacturersXPeng Inc. | 0/5 short0/3 long | −5.3% | −24.9% | −44.3% | −51.5% | −53.8% | −26.2% | −76.9% | — | 77.8% | 0.00 | −91.1% | — | $9.4B | — |
How did TSLA do year by year?
This table shows each investment's total return in every full calendar year since 2011, along with where TSLA ranked among its popular alternatives each year. Annual results reveal how consistently each one kept pace with TSLA and how far its good and bad years diverged, detail that multiyear averages tend to smooth over.
Note: TSLA began trading on June 29, 2010, so the table starts with 2011, its first full calendar year, and cannot show how it fared during the dot-com bust, the 2008 financial crisis or the 2010 flash crash.
- Ranked against its popular alternatives each year, TSLA finished in the top quarter in eight of 15 years and in the bottom quarter in two. In 2025, it ranked 10 of 19.
- None of the 13 popular alternatives came out ahead of TSLA in most of the years they have in common.
- TSLA finished ahead of the S&P 500 in 11 of its 15 full calendar years.
Newest year first. Green marks a year in which the fund came out ahead of TSLA; gray means the two finished within a fraction of a point. The rank row places TSLA among the alternatives that traded the full year; dark green is the top quarter and red the bottom quarter.
| Investment | Years ahead of TSLA | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TSLA This pageTesla, Inc. | — | +11.4% | +62.5% | +102% | −65.0% | +49.8% | +743% | +25.7% | +6.9% | +45.7% | −10.9% | +7.9% | +47.9% | +344% | +18.9% | +6.7% |
| Rank among alternatives | Top quarter in 8 of 15 | 10 of 19 | 1 of 19 | 1 of 19 | 14 of 18 | 4 of 14 | 2 of 11 | 4 of 10 | 1 of 9 | 5 of 9 | 8 of 9 | 4 of 8 | 1 of 8 | 1 of 8 | 7 of 8 | 1 of 7 |
| SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | 4 of 15 | +17.7% | +24.9% | +26.2% | −18.2% | +28.7% | +18.3% | +31.2% | −4.6% | +21.7% | +12.0% | +1.2% | +13.5% | +32.3% | +16.0% | +1.9% |
| GM General Motors Company | 4 of 15 | +54.2% | +49.8% | +8.0% | −42.4% | +40.8% | +15.2% | +14.0% | −15.0% | +22.5% | +7.4% | +1.5% | −11.6% | +41.8% | +42.2% | −45.0% |
| HMC Honda Motor Co., Ltd. | 4 of 15 | +7.7% | −3.8% | +39.8% | −16.6% | +4.0% | +2.9% | +11.0% | −19.8% | +20.2% | −5.8% | +9.5% | −27.3% | +15.8% | +23.9% | −20.8% |
| RACE Ferrari N.V. | 4 of 10 | −12.3% | +26.3% | +59.1% | −16.7% | +13.3% | +39.7% | +67.9% | −4.5% | +80.3% | +22.7% | — | — | — | — | — |
| TM Toyota Motor Corporation | 4 of 15 | +13.8% | +8.8% | +38.2% | −24.4% | +23.2% | +13.6% | +24.9% | −5.8% | +12.1% | −1.5% | +0.9% | +5.9% | +33.7% | +43.6% | −14.5% |
| F Ford Motor Company | 6 of 15 | +42.3% | −13.1% | +15.9% | −42.2% | +137% | −3.9% | +29.7% | −34.4% | +8.8% | −8.0% | −5.4% | +3.7% | +22.4% | +22.6% | −35.9% |
| CHPT ChargePoint Holdings, Inc. | 1 of 6 | −69.0% | −54.3% | −75.4% | −50.0% | −52.5% | +309% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| ALB Albemarle Corporation | 6 of 15 | +67.7% | −39.5% | −32.8% | −6.6% | +59.8% | +105% | −3.3% | −38.9% | +49.7% | +56.2% | −4.7% | −3.5% | +3.5% | +22.2% | −6.5% |
| APTV Aptiv PLC | 6 of 14 | +25.8% | −32.6% | −3.7% | −43.5% | +26.6% | +37.5% | +55.9% | −27.1% | +57.6% | −20.1% | +19.3% | +22.7% | +59.4% | +77.6% | — |
| LI Li Auto Inc. | 1 of 5 | −29.4% | −35.9% | +83.5% | −36.4% | +11.3% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| RIVN Rivian Automotive, Inc. | 1 of 4 | +48.2% | −43.3% | +27.3% | −82.2% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| VFS VinFast Auto Ltd. | 1 of 4 | −17.1% | −51.8% | −16.3% | +3.2% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| STLA Stellantis N.V. | 4 of 15 | −9.2% | −40.2% | +79.0% | −18.2% | +21.9% | +35.0% | +17.8% | −18.9% | +95.3% | −0.4% | +20.8% | +42.7% | +60.5% | +12.5% | −49.5% |
| FLNC Fluence Energy, Inc. | 2 of 4 | +24.6% | −33.4% | +39.1% | −51.8% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| LCID Lucid Group, Inc. | 1 of 5 | −65.0% | −28.3% | −38.4% | −82.0% | +280% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| MBLY Mobileye Global Inc. | 0 of 3 | −47.6% | −54.0% | +23.6% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| NIO NIO Inc. | 2 of 7 | +17.0% | −51.9% | −7.0% | −69.2% | −35.0% | +1,112% | −36.9% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| PSNY Polestar Automotive Holding UK PLC | 1 of 4 | −32.2% | −53.5% | −57.4% | −54.6% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| XPEV XPeng Inc. | 1 of 5 | +71.6% | −19.0% | +46.8% | −80.3% | +17.5% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Risk and diversification
How TSLA has fallen, how it held up in crashes beside the S&P 500 and its popular alternatives, and what moves independently of it.
What were TSLA's worst declines?
A drawdown is the decline from a peak to the lowest point before a new high. This section presents TSLA's five deepest drawdowns since it began trading in 2010, alongside the S&P 500's return over the same dates, and how long each took to recover. Together, these figures show how much an investor could have lost and how long it took to get back to even.
Note: TSLA began trading on June 29, 2010, so this list cannot include the dot-com bust, the 2008 financial crisis or the 2010 flash crash. The crash tests on this page show how older funds and the S&P 500 fared through those years.
- In all five of TSLA's worst declines, the S&P 500 held up better over the same dates.
- Not every decline was the market's doing: TSLA fell 53.5% from September 2017 to June 2019, while the S&P 500 rose 13.1%.
- The longest climb back to a previous high took 23 months, after TSLA fell 73.6% from November 2021 to January 2023.
Green means TSLA fell less than the S&P 500 over the same dates. Based on daily closing prices with dividends reinvested.
| During | TSLA fell | S&P 500, same dates | Peak | Low | Time to the low | Back at the peak | Time to recover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 bear market | −73.6% | −16.8% | Nov 2021 | Jan 2023 | 14 months | Dec 2024 | 23 months |
| Covid crash | −60.6% | −29.1% | Feb 2020 | Mar 2020 | 1 month | Jun 2020 | 3 months |
| No named crash | −53.8% | −17.3% | Dec 2024 | Apr 2025 | 4 months | Dec 2025 | 8 months |
| Late-2018 sell-off | −53.5% | +13.1% | Sep 2017 | Jun 2019 | 21 months | Dec 2019 | 6 months |
| 2015 China and oil sell-off | −49.8% | −4.6% | Sep 2014 | Feb 2016 | 17 months | Apr 2017 | 14 months |
How did TSLA do in stock market crashes?
This section measures how far TSLA, the S&P 500 and each alternative fell from peak to trough during every major market crash since 2000. A smaller decline means an investment held up better, and comparing results across crashes shows whether that resilience was consistent or a one-off.
Note: TSLA began trading on June 29, 2010, so its row reads "Not yet trading" for the dot-com bust, the 2008 financial crisis or the 2010 flash crash. The older alternatives and the S&P 500 show how those crashes played out.
- TSLA fell further than the S&P 500 in all seven crashes it has traded through. The clearest case was the 2015 China and oil sell-off, when TSLA fell 45.6% and the S&P 500 fell 12.8%.
- Among its popular alternatives, TM held up best, falling less than TSLA in all seven crashes they both traded through.
- TSLA began trading after the 2008 financial crisis, but five of its popular alternatives lived through it. The mildest fall among them was TM's 48.9%, against 55.2% for the S&P 500.
Newest crash first. Each figure is the fund's deepest fall within the crash window; green means a smaller fall than TSLA.
| Investment | Held up better | 2023 regional bank crisisMar 2023 | 2022 bear marketJan 2022 | Covid crashFeb 2020 | Late-2018 sell-offSep 2018 | February 2018 volatility shockFeb 2018 | 2015 China and oil sell-offAug 2015 | 2011 euro debt crisisJul 2011 | 2010 flash crashMay 2010 | 2008 financial crisisOct 2007 | Dot-com bustMar 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TSLA This pageTesla, Inc. | — | −5.0% | −45.4% | −60.6% | −21.6% | −10.0% | −45.6% | −25.1% | Not yet trading | Not yet trading | Not yet trading |
| SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | 7 of 7 | −3.4% | −24.5% | −33.7% | −19.3% | −6.5% | −12.8% | −17.9% | −1.5% | −55.2% | −47.5% |
| GM General Motors Company | 4 of 7 | −10.1% | −53.0% | −51.8% | −14.9% | −3.9% | −25.5% | −34.4% | — | — | — |
| HMC Honda Motor Co., Ltd. | 6 of 7 | −3.1% | −29.9% | −27.3% | −16.8% | −4.9% | −29.4% | −29.7% | −0.9% | −50.5% | −40.4% |
| RACE Ferrari N.V. | 4 of 5 | −3.6% | −36.9% | −27.8% | −31.8% | −5.9% | — | — | — | — | — |
| TM Toyota Motor Corporation | 7 of 7 | −1.9% | −36.8% | −22.0% | −11.1% | −3.4% | −18.7% | −21.2% | −0.3% | −48.9% | −56.4% |
| F Ford Motor Company | 4 of 7 | −7.3% | −55.6% | −50.0% | −21.1% | −4.5% | −25.7% | −29.6% | −2.4% | −86.3% | −75.5% |
| CHPT ChargePoint Holdings, Inc. | 1 of 3 | −7.5% | −56.4% | −7.0% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| ALB Albemarle Corporation | 4 of 7 | −11.9% | −30.0% | −45.7% | −32.0% | −2.2% | −20.3% | −43.0% | −3.8% | −66.3% | −30.7% |
| APTV Aptiv PLC | 2 of 6 | −5.7% | −55.1% | −63.2% | −33.4% | −6.0% | −35.7% | — | — | — | — |
| LI Li Auto Inc. | 1 of 2 | −4.1% | −53.4% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| RIVN Rivian Automotive, Inc. | 0 of 2 | −9.3% | −79.7% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| VFS VinFast Auto Ltd. | 2 of 2 | −0.3% | −1.3% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| STLA Stellantis N.V. | 3 of 7 | −6.2% | −42.6% | −52.2% | −22.4% | −5.8% | −45.9% | −52.2% | — | −86.9% | — |
| FLNC Fluence Energy, Inc. | 0 of 2 | −11.2% | −81.9% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| LCID Lucid Group, Inc. | 0 of 2 | −6.0% | −72.5% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| MBLY Mobileye Global Inc. | 1 of 1 | −3.7% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| NIO NIO Inc. | 1 of 4 | −7.3% | −59.9% | −46.1% | −31.3% | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| PSNY Polestar Automotive Holding UK PLC | 0 of 2 | −11.2% | −61.1% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| XPEV XPeng Inc. | 1 of 2 | −3.1% | −81.1% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
How closely does TSLA move with the S&P 500?
Upside capture measures how much of the S&P 500's gains an investment kept in the months the market rose, and downside capture how much of its losses it took in the months the market fell. An investment that captures more of the gains than the losses has compounded ahead of the market over time. This section compares TSLA with its popular alternatives on both measures, and on beta (how strongly each has moved with the market), over the past 10 years.
- Over the past 10 years, TSLA captured 182% of the S&P 500's gains in rising months and 129% of its losses in falling months, with a beta of 1.91. It amplified the market's moves in both directions.
- Only RACE had a higher capture ratio (upside capture divided by downside capture) than TSLA's 1.40, out of eight popular alternatives with the same record.
Monthly total returns over the past 10 years, measured against SPY. 100% capture or a beta of 1.00 means moving in line with the S&P 500. Green marks a better figure than TSLA's: more upside, less downside or a higher capture ratio. Sorted by capture ratio.
| Investment | Upside capture | Downside capture | Capture ratio | Beta |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TSLA This pageTesla, Inc. | 182% | 129% | 1.40 | 1.91 |
| RACE Ferrari N.V. | 101% | 56% | 1.79 | 0.92 |
| TM Toyota Motor Corporation | 62% | 72% | 0.86 | 0.56 |
| GM General Motors Company | 107% | 135% | 0.79 | 1.31 |
| HMC Honda Motor Co., Ltd. | 51% | 71% | 0.71 | 0.62 |
| F Ford Motor Company | 105% | 167% | 0.63 | 1.51 |
| ALB Albemarle Corporation | 128% | 221% | 0.58 | 1.48 |
| STLA Stellantis N.V. | 124% | 215% | 0.58 | 1.61 |
| APTV Aptiv PLC | 106% | 219% | 0.48 | 1.80 |
What diversifies TSLA?
Correlation measures how closely two investments move together, on a scale from 1 (in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to -1 (in opposite directions). This section lists large ETFs and stocks whose returns have had a low correlation with TSLA's. Because such investments tend not to fall at the same time, pairing TSLA with them can reduce a portfolio's overall swings.
- Moving a fifth of the money in TSLA into HDV would have cut the portfolio's volatility by 20% over the past 5 years and raised its annual return (+6.5% for TSLA alone, +10.9% for the mix).
- HDV made money in two of the two calendar years in which TSLA lost money.
- Among large ETFs, LVHI, DXJ and EMLP have moved largely independently of TSLA over the past 5 years, with correlations of 0.22 or lower, and each still earned a positive 5-year return.
Only ETFs with at least $1.0B in assets and stocks worth at least $10B, with a correlation below 0.5 over the past 5 years and a positive return, are included, ranked by Sharpe ratio; funds that hold the same thing are shown once. The year columns are the years in which TSLA lost money. The last two columns show a portfolio that is 80% TSLA and 20% the other investment, rebalanced monthly.
ETFs
| Investment | Correlation | 5Y return | Sharpe | 2022 | 2016 | 80/20 mix volatility | 80/20 mix annual return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TSLA Tesla, Inc. (this page) | 1.00 | +29.5% | 0.39 | −65.0% | −10.9% | 61.2% | +6.5% |
| LVHI InternationalFranklin International Low Volatility High Dividend Index ETF | 0.04 | +119% | 1.48 | +3.8% | — | 49.1% | +11.7% |
| DXJ InternationalWisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund | 0.22 | +225% | 1.34 | +6.0% | +1.1% | 49.6% | +13.4% |
| EMLP Broad MarketFirst Trust North American Energy Infrastructure Fund | 0.22 | +101% | 1.04 | +10.4% | +29.8% | 49.7% | +11.3% |
| HDV Dividend & IncomeiShares Core High Dividend ETF | -0.02 | +83.3% | 1.00 | +7.1% | +15.9% | 49.0% | +10.9% |
| SMH TechnologyVanEck Semiconductor ETF | 0.43 | +323% | 0.97 | −33.5% | +35.6% | 52.3% | +14.7% |
| DBEF InternationalXtrackers MSCI EAFE Hedged Equity ETF | 0.30 | +85.0% | 0.96 | −5.1% | +6.3% | 49.7% | +10.8% |
| GLD CommoditiesSPDR Gold Shares | 0.02 | +126% | 0.96 | −0.8% | +8.0% | 49.1% | +12.2% |
| SPMO Broad MarketInvesco S&P 500 Momentum ETF | 0.31 | +136% | 0.93 | −10.4% | +7.4% | 50.4% | +12.2% |
Stocks
| Investment | Correlation | 5Y return | Sharpe | 2022 | 2016 | 80/20 mix volatility | 80/20 mix annual return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TSLA Tesla, Inc. (this page) | 1.00 | +29.5% | 0.39 | −65.0% | −10.9% | 61.2% | +6.5% |
| CAH Medical - DistributionCardinal Health, Inc. | 0.07 | +479% | 1.55 | +54.1% | −17.5% | 49.6% | +15.9% |
| CLS Hardware, Equipment & PartsCelestica Inc. | 0.25 | +3,143% | 1.47 | +1.3% | +7.4% | 53.1% | +27.2% |
| FIX Engineering & ConstructionComfort Systems USA, Inc. | 0.39 | +1,636% | 1.46 | +17.0% | +18.3% | 53.0% | +22.9% |
| MCK Medical - DistributionMcKesson Corporation | 0.04 | +413% | 1.44 | +51.8% | −28.3% | 49.4% | +15.5% |
| MPC Oil & Gas Refining & MarketingMarathon Petroleum Corporation | -0.02 | +690% | 1.41 | +86.6% | +0.7% | 49.2% | +18.3% |
Common questions
What was TSLA's worst drawdown?
TSLA's deepest decline since it began trading in 2010 was 73.6%, from November 2021 to January 2023. It took 23 months from the low to climb back to its old high. Because TSLA launched in June 2010, that record does not include the dot-com bust, the 2008 financial crisis or the 2010 flash crash.
What were TSLA's best and worst years?
Over 15 full calendar years, TSLA's best year was 2020, when it returned 743%. Its worst was 2022, with a return of -65.0%.
Is there a better investment than TSLA?
Among TSLA's popular alternatives, GM and RACE earned more than TSLA with less volatility over the past 5 years. GM returned 6.9% a year at 36.7% volatility, against 5.3% a year at 60.0%. Looking beyond its popular alternatives, NVDA (autonomous vehicles theme) and NEU (specialty chemicals) earned more than TSLA with less volatility over the past 5 years. NVDA returned 58.0% a year at 51.9% volatility, against 5.3% a year at 60.0%.
Is TSLA more volatile than the S&P 500?
Yes. TSLA's volatility over the past 5 years was 60.0%, 3.5 times the S&P 500's 17.1%. Volatility measures how widely returns swing around their average: in roughly two years out of three, TSLA's return lands within 60.0% of its average, either way. The higher it is, the rougher the ride and the harder it is to hold through a slump.
What is TSLA's Sharpe ratio?
TSLA's Sharpe ratio over the past 5 years was 0.39, against 0.79 for the S&P 500, so TSLA earned less for each unit of risk than an index fund did. The Sharpe ratio is the return earned above cash for each unit of volatility: two investments with the same return are not equal if one got there with far bigger swings.
How correlated is TSLA with the S&P 500?
Over the past 5 years, TSLA's monthly returns had a correlation of 0.49 with the S&P 500. Correlation runs from 1 (moving in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to −1 (moving in opposite directions). They often move together: some diversification next to an index fund, but not a cushion. In the table, the correlation column measures each option against TSLA instead: the lower it is, the more that option would diversify a TSLA holding.
What are the best alternatives to TSLA?
Of the 18 popular alternatives we compared, one outperformed TSLA in at least 3 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term timeframes, with dividends reinvested: GM.
Did TSLA outperform the S&P 500?
TSLA finished ahead of the S&P 500 (SPY) in 11 of 15 full calendar years. In 2025, it returned +11.4%, against +17.7% for the index.
How did TSLA do in stock market crashes?
TSLA fell less than the S&P 500 (SPY) in none of the seven major crashes it has traded through, and further in seven. The clearest case was the 2015 China and oil sell-off, when TSLA fell 45.6% and the S&P 500 fell 12.8%.
What diversifies TSLA?
These had a low correlation with TSLA over the past 5 years and still earned a positive 5-year return: among large ETFs, LVHI (correlation 0.04), DXJ (correlation 0.22) and EMLP (correlation 0.22); among large stocks, CAH (correlation 0.07), CLS (correlation 0.25) and FIX (correlation 0.39). A correlation near zero means the two have moved largely independently.
How we measure
- Short-term periods are 1M, 3M, 6M, YTD, 1Y; long-term periods are 3Y, 5Y, 10Y. An investment outperformed in a period when its total return, with dividends reinvested, was higher than TSLA's. Returns within 0.5 points or 3% of TSLA's, whichever is larger, count as a tie.
- "Qualified" means outperforming in at least 3 of 5 short-term periods and 2 of 3 long-term periods. "All-weather" means outperforming in every long-term period and all but one short-term period.
- Popular alternatives are the funds and stocks most often compared with this one. We include only those that trade today, are not leveraged or inverse, and hold at least $200 million.
- Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily returns over 5 years, a measure of how much the price typically swings in a year. The Sharpe ratio is the return above cash for each unit of that volatility.
- A decline, or drawdown, runs from a peak to the lowest close before the next high. The worst decline ever uses all the price history we have; comparisons between funds use the past 10 years so that younger funds are judged on the same stretch.
- Sector overlap is the share of assets two funds hold in the same sectors. Correlation and the mixed-portfolio figures use monthly returns.
- Upside and downside capture follow Morningstar's definition: the compound monthly return in the months the S&P 500 rose (or fell), divided by the S&P 500's compound return in those months. Beta measures how strongly monthly returns have moved with the S&P 500. All three use the same window for every investment.
- Figures are computed from daily adjusted prices and update after each trading day. Past performance does not predict future results.