Amazon (AMZN) vs Tesla (TSLA)
Amazon traded at $250.56 in mid-April 2026 with market capitalization $2.84 trillion. Tesla traded near $376 with market capitalization approximately $1.2 trillion.
Also known as: Amazon (AMZN) (STK_AMZN, Amazon) · Tesla (TSLA) (STK_TSLA, Tesla)
Why This Comparison Matters
Amazon traded at $250.56 in mid-April 2026 with market capitalization $2.84 trillion. Tesla traded near $376 with market capitalization approximately $1.2 trillion. Both are top XLY (consumer discretionary) holdings but capture very different themes. AMZN is approximately 27 percent of XLY (largest holding); TSLA is approximately 18 percent (second largest). Together the two represent nearly 45 percent of XLY combined. AMZN focuses on e-commerce ($160 billion annualized) plus AWS ($142 billion); TSLA focuses on auto ($90 billion 2026 estimate) plus emerging applied AI (robotaxi, Optimus). The AMZN/TSLA ratio of 2.4x reflects AMZN's larger and more diversified business.
AMZN and TSLA in XLY
Both Amazon and Tesla are classified as consumer discretionary in S&P sector taxonomy. AMZN at 26.69 percent of XLY (largest holding) and TSLA at 17.66 percent (second largest) combine to roughly 44 percent of the consumer discretionary ETF. The high concentration matters: XLY returns are largely driven by AMZN-vs-TSLA dynamics rather than broader consumer cycle patterns.
The sector classification has been controversial. Critics argue both companies should be classified differently: AMZN should be split between consumer discretionary (retail) and information technology (AWS); TSLA should be classified as automotive plus AI/robotics. The current consumer discretionary classification produces XLY exposure that is more growth-stock than defensive-consumer in nature, contributing to XLY's volatility versus other sector ETFs.
Different Consumer Discretionary Themes
AMZN captures e-commerce and AWS cloud. The retail business has approximately 200 million Prime members globally and processes over $700 billion in annualized GMV. AWS captures hyperscale cloud demand. Combined, AMZN provides exposure to consumer spending shifts (online vs offline retail), enterprise IT spending (AWS), and digital advertising (Amazon Ads at $77 billion annualized).
TSLA captures EV adoption and autonomous transportation. Auto deliveries reached approximately 1.79 million in 2024, declining to 1.69 million expected in 2026. Auto operations are roughly $90 billion in 2026 revenue at break-even margins. The TSLA thesis is increasingly about applied AI: robotaxi commercial scale, Optimus humanoid production, FSD subscription monetization. The two companies therefore sit in the same sector ETF but provide very different fundamental exposures.
Capital Intensity Differences
AMZN 2026 capex commitment is approximately $200 billion, the largest in US corporate history. TSLA 2026 capex is approximately $11 to $13 billion (modest by mega-cap standards). The 17x difference reflects the very different business models: AMZN is building cloud infrastructure (AWS data centers) and retail fulfillment networks (warehouses, transportation); TSLA is operating relatively asset-light auto manufacturing with capital-efficient production.
The capital intensity drives different financial profiles. AMZN free cash flow is volatile (capital-intensive build-out cycles); TSLA generates more stable FCF despite delivery cycle volatility. For investors comparing the two on capital efficiency, TSLA's lower capex translates to better near-term FCF generation per dollar of revenue. For investors valuing scale and infrastructure dominance, AMZN's capex commitment is the long-term strategic positioning.
Conditional Forward Response (Tail Events)
How Tesla (TSLA) has historically behaved in the 5 sessions following a top-decile or bottom-decile daily move in Amazon (AMZN). Computed from 1,283 aligned daily observations ending .
Following these triggers, Tesla (TSLA) rises 1.45% on average over the next 5 sessions, versus an unconditional baseline of +0.44%. 127 qualifying events; Tesla (TSLA) closed positive in 51% of them.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How big are AMZN and TSLA?+
Amazon traded at $250.56 in mid-April 2026 with market capitalization $2.84 trillion. Tesla traded near $376 with market capitalization approximately $1.2 trillion. The AMZN/TSLA market cap ratio is 2.4x. AMZN is the fourth-largest US public company; TSLA is approximately tenth-largest. Both are top XLY (consumer discretionary) holdings: AMZN at 26.69 percent (largest), TSLA at 17.66 percent (second largest). Together they represent nearly 45 percent of XLY.
How are AMZN and TSLA different?+
AMZN is e-commerce and AWS cloud. The retail business has approximately 200 million Prime members globally and processes over $700 billion in annualized GMV. AWS captures hyperscale cloud demand. Combined revenue 2025 was $716.92 billion. TSLA is EV and applied AI. Auto deliveries reached approximately 1.79 million in 2024, declining to 1.69 million expected in 2026. Auto operations are roughly $90 billion 2026 revenue at break-even margins. The TSLA thesis is increasingly about applied AI: robotaxi commercial scale (135 vehicles in Austin), Optimus humanoid production (target Aug 2026), FSD subscription monetization.
What is the capital intensity difference?+
Substantial. AMZN 2026 capex commitment is approximately $200 billion (largest in US corporate history). TSLA 2026 capex is approximately $11 to $13 billion (modest by mega-cap standards). The 17x difference reflects very different business models: AMZN is building cloud infrastructure (AWS data centers) and retail fulfillment networks; TSLA operates relatively asset-light auto manufacturing. AMZN free cash flow is volatile (capital-intensive build-out cycles); TSLA generates more stable FCF despite delivery cycle volatility.
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Data sourced from FRED, CoinGecko, CBOE, and other providers. This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results.