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AMZN vs. PLTR: Amazon.com vs. Palantir Stock Comparison

How do Amazon.com (AMZN) and Palantir (PLTR) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

Amazon.com (AMZN) is classified in the Consumer Discretionary sector (Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail), whereas Palantir (PLTR) belongs to Information Technology (Software & Services) — their GICS classifications point to very different parts of the market.

Amazon.com (AMZN) has more than two decades of public-market history since May 15, 1997, whereas Palantir (PLTR) listed on September 30, 2020 and has a much shorter record to draw on.

Company profile comparison for Amazon.com (AMZN) and Palantir (PLTR)
Profile ItemAMZNPLTR
NameAmazon.com Inc.Palantir Technologies Inc. Class A Common Stock
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorConsumer DiscretionaryInformation Technology
GICS Industry GroupConsumer Discretionary Distribution & RetailSoftware & Services
GICS IndustryBroadline RetailSoftware
GICS Sub-IndustryBroadline RetailApplication Software
Market Capitalization2,803.85 billion USD386.44 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateMay 15, 1997September 30, 2020
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

AMZN
PLTR
GSPC
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Amazon.com (AMZN) vs. Palantir (PLTR), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for Amazon.com (AMZN) and Palantir (PLTR). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Amazon.com (AMZN) and Palantir (PLTR). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Amazon.com (AMZN) and Palantir (PLTR)
MetricAMZNPLTR
Total Return (1Y)9.80%-4.94%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)24.05%109.97%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)8.46%47.47%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

AMZN
PLTR
GSPC
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Amazon.com (AMZN) vs. Palantir (PLTR), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Amazon.com (AMZN) and Palantir (PLTR). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Amazon.com (AMZN) and Palantir (PLTR)
MetricAMZNPLTR
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)34.10%60.50%
Beta (5Y)1.451.63
Max Drawdown (5Y)-55.73%-75.26%
Avg. Volume (3M)38.50M27.20M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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AMZN and PLTR are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. Each dashed Capital Allocation Line uses that stock's own industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for Amazon.com (AMZN) and Palantir (PLTR)
MetricAMZNPLTR
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.16-0.15
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.26-0.24

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Palantir (PLTR) at 40.91% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Amazon.com (AMZN) at 27.42% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for PLTR.

AMZN

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

27.42%

Max
62.17%
Q3
29.44%
AMZN
27.42%
Median
15.69%
Q1
6.73%
Min
-12.16%

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

40.91%

Max
53.85%
PLTR
40.91%
Q3
17.90%
Median
6.59%
Q1
-9.59%
Min
-50.52%
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Amazon.com (AMZN) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their ROE against their respective Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

Net Margin (TTM)

Palantir (PLTR) at 50.34% keeps the most of each sales dollar — above its industry’s net margin range — and Amazon.com (AMZN) at 16.90% also retains a top-quartile share.

AMZN

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

16.90%

Max
16.94%
AMZN
16.90%
Q3
8.69%
Median
3.55%
Q1
1.14%
Min
-9.41%

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

50.34%

PLTR
50.34%
Max
41.17%
Q3
15.28%
Median
4.63%
Q1
-5.42%
Min
-33.17%
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Amazon.com (AMZN) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their net margin against their respective Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Amazon.com (AMZN) at 13.90% and Palantir (PLTR) at 46.89% convert sales into operating profit at a top-quartile rate, pointing to tighter cost discipline before financing and tax.

AMZN

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

13.90%

Max
21.45%
AMZN
13.90%
Q3
10.89%
Median
5.57%
Q1
2.28%
Min
-7.12%

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

46.89%

PLTR
46.89%
Max
46.89%
Q3
17.64%
Median
8.73%
Q1
-2.13%
Min
-30.45%
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Amazon.com (AMZN) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their operating margin against their respective Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Amazon.com (AMZN) and Palantir (PLTR)
MetricAMZNPLTR
ROE (TTM)27.42%40.91%
ROA (TTM)6.62%19.31%
Net Margin (TTM)16.90%50.34%
Operating Margin (TTM)13.90%46.89%
Gross Margin (TTM)51.37%84.74%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both companies are growing quickly, but Palantir (PLTR) at 56.18% is the standout with revenue growth above its industry range; Amazon.com (AMZN) at 12.38% also sits in the top quartile.

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Amazon.com (AMZN) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both companies show strong earnings momentum, but Palantir (PLTR) at 231.06% is the standout with EPS growth above its industry range; Amazon.com (AMZN) at 29.66% also sits in the top quartile.

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Amazon.com (AMZN) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Amazon.com (AMZN) and Palantir (PLTR)
MetricAMZNPLTR
Revenue Growth (YoY)12.38%56.18%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)11.73%32.92%
EPS Growth (YoY)29.66%231.06%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)----

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Palantir (PLTR) at 7.10 carries current ratio above its industry’s typical mid-range, while Amazon.com (AMZN) at 0.99 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — different working-capital profiles, both worth examining.

AMZN

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.99

Max
2.62
Q3
1.75
Median
1.35
Q1
1.00
AMZN
0.99
Min
0.48

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

7.10

PLTR
7.10
Max
5.11
Q3
2.77
Median
1.67
Q1
1.01
Min
0.03
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Amazon.com (AMZN) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their current ratio against their respective Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Amazon.com (AMZN) at 0.50 and Palantir (PLTR) at 0.02 keep leverage in the lower quartile of their industries, with less balance-sheet debt relative to equity than most peers.

AMZN

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.50

Max
3.93
Q3
2.14
Median
1.25
Q1
0.73
AMZN
0.50
Min
0.01

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

0.02

Max
2.52
Q3
1.13
Median
0.40
Q1
0.07
PLTR
0.02
Min
0.00
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Amazon.com (AMZN) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against their respective Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Amazon.com (AMZN) and Palantir (PLTR)
MetricAMZNPLTR
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.997.10
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.500.02
Net Debt / EBITDA1.04-3.08

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Neither Amazon.com (AMZN) nor Palantir (PLTR) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.

AMZN

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.00%

Max
5.84%
Q3
2.50%
AMZN
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

PLTR
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Amazon.com (AMZN) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their dividend yield against their respective Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Neither Amazon.com (AMZN) nor Palantir (PLTR) pays a dividend this period — they may reinvest, use buybacks, or simply not return cash through dividends.

AMZN

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

0.00%

Max
72.73%
Q3
32.44%
AMZN
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

0.00%

PLTR
0.00%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Amazon.com (AMZN) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their payout ratio against their respective Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Amazon.com (AMZN) and Palantir (PLTR)
MetricAMZNPLTR
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Amazon.com (AMZN) at 20.96 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Palantir (PLTR) at 112.94 sits in the richer quartile — PLTR needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

AMZN

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

20.96

Max
40.50
Q3
24.26
AMZN
20.96
Median
19.23
Q1
12.64
Min
4.67

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

112.94

PLTR
112.94
Max
112.94
Q3
60.32
Median
32.91
Q1
18.77
Min
6.69
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Amazon.com (AMZN) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their P/E ratio against their respective Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Both look expensive on sales: Amazon.com (AMZN) at 3.52 sits in the upper P/S ratio quartile, and Palantir (PLTR) at 53.02 prices even higher, above its industry range.

AMZN

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

3.52

Max
4.32
AMZN
3.52
Q3
1.99
Median
0.70
Q1
0.26
Min
0.03

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

53.02

PLTR
53.02
Max
17.91
Q3
8.78
Median
4.25
Q1
2.23
Min
0.02
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Amazon.com (AMZN) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their P/S ratio against their respective Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Amazon.com (AMZN) at 4.57 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Palantir (PLTR) at 34.41 prices above its benchmark range — PLTR looks rich relative to book.

AMZN

Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail industry group

4.57

Max
10.96
Q3
5.26
AMZN
4.57
Median
2.16
Q1
1.08
Min
-4.45

PLTR

Software & Services industry group

34.41

PLTR
34.41
Max
16.63
Q3
8.50
Median
4.30
Q1
1.92
Min
-3.90
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Amazon.com (AMZN) vs. Palantir (PLTR): A comparison of their P/B ratio against their respective Consumer Discretionary Distribution & Retail and Software & Services industry group benchmarks.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Amazon.com (AMZN) and Palantir (PLTR)
MetricAMZNPLTR
P/E Ratio (TTM)20.96112.94
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.5253.02
P/B Ratio (MRQ)4.5734.41
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-1.24%0.69%