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GM vs. TSLA: General Motors vs. Tesla Stock Comparison

How do General Motors (GM) and Tesla (TSLA) 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

General Motors (GM) and Tesla (TSLA) are both classified in the Automobile Manufacturers sub-industry within the broader Automobiles industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Company profile comparison for General Motors (GM) and Tesla (TSLA)
Profile ItemGMTSLA
NameGeneral Motors CompanyTesla, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorConsumer DiscretionaryConsumer Discretionary
GICS Industry GroupAutomobiles & ComponentsAutomobiles & Components
GICS IndustryAutomobilesAutomobiles
GICS Sub-IndustryAutomobile ManufacturersAutomobile Manufacturers
Market Capitalization69.50 billion USD1,579.66 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateNovember 18, 2010June 29, 2010
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

GM
TSLA
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General Motors (GM) vs. Tesla (TSLA): 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 General Motors (GM) and Tesla (TSLA). Returns over one year are annualized.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for General Motors (GM) and Tesla (TSLA)
MetricGMTSLA
Total Return (1Y)58.07%32.41%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

GM
TSLA
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General Motors (GM) vs. Tesla (TSLA): Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for General Motors (GM) and Tesla (TSLA)
MetricGMTSLA
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)35.09%44.60%
Beta (5Y)1.311.80
Avg. Volume (3M)7.61M56.46M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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GM and TSLA are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both General Motors (GM) at 4.02% and Tesla (TSLA) at 4.90% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

GM

Automobiles & Components industry group

4.02%

Max
41.97%
Q3
11.32%
Median
5.13%
GM
4.02%
Q1
-14.13%
Min
-49.98%

TSLA

Automobiles & Components industry group

4.90%

Max
41.97%
Q3
11.32%
Median
5.13%
TSLA
4.90%
Q1
-14.13%
Min
-49.98%
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General Motors (GM) vs. Tesla (TSLA): A comparison of their ROE against the Automobiles & Components industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both General Motors (GM) at 1.38% and Tesla (TSLA) at 3.95% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

GM

Automobiles & Components industry group

1.38%

Max
15.12%
Q3
4.33%
Median
1.47%
GM
1.38%
Q1
-3.14%
Min
-13.87%

TSLA

Automobiles & Components industry group

3.95%

Max
15.12%
Q3
4.33%
TSLA
3.95%
Median
1.47%
Q1
-3.14%
Min
-13.87%
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General Motors (GM) vs. Tesla (TSLA): A comparison of their net margin against the Automobiles & Components industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

General Motors (GM) at 9.36% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Tesla (TSLA) at 4.20%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

GM

Automobiles & Components industry group

9.36%

Max
29.48%
GM
9.36%
Q3
8.69%
Median
3.45%
Q1
-5.57%
Min
-19.36%

TSLA

Automobiles & Components industry group

4.20%

Max
29.48%
Q3
8.69%
TSLA
4.20%
Median
3.45%
Q1
-5.57%
Min
-19.36%
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General Motors (GM) vs. Tesla (TSLA): A comparison of their operating margin against the Automobiles & Components industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for General Motors (GM) and Tesla (TSLA)
MetricGMTSLA
ROE (TTM)4.02%4.90%
ROA (TTM)2.69%2.23%
Net Margin (TTM)1.38%3.95%
Operating Margin (TTM)9.36%4.20%
Gross Margin (TTM)11.14%19.07%

Growth

Revenue Growth

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General Motors (GM) vs. Tesla (TSLA): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

Revenue Growth Metrics

Revenue growth metrics for General Motors (GM) and Tesla (TSLA)
MetricGMTSLA
Revenue Growth (YoY)-1.29%-2.93%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)5.69%5.19%

EPS Growth

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General Motors (GM) vs. Tesla (TSLA): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth Metrics

EPS growth metrics for General Motors (GM) and Tesla (TSLA)
MetricGMTSLA
EPS Growth (YoY)-48.67%-47.06%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-18.90%-33.18%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both General Motors (GM) at 1.15 and Tesla (TSLA) at 2.04 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

GM

Automobiles & Components industry group

1.15

Max
4.97
Q3
2.67
Median
1.83
GM
1.15
Q1
1.12
Min
0.06

TSLA

Automobiles & Components industry group

2.04

Max
4.97
Q3
2.67
TSLA
2.04
Median
1.83
Q1
1.12
Min
0.06
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General Motors (GM) vs. Tesla (TSLA): A comparison of their current ratio against the Automobiles & Components industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Tesla (TSLA) at 0.19 keeps leverage in the lower quartile, while General Motors (GM) at 1.99 sits in the higher-leverage quartile.

GM

Automobiles & Components industry group

1.99

Max
2.53
GM
1.99
Q3
1.19
Median
0.72
Q1
0.26
Min
0.00

TSLA

Automobiles & Components industry group

0.19

Max
2.53
Q3
1.19
Median
0.72
Q1
0.26
TSLA
0.19
Min
0.00
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General Motors (GM) vs. Tesla (TSLA): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Automobiles & Components industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for General Motors (GM) and Tesla (TSLA)
MetricGMTSLA
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.152.04
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.990.19
Net Debt / EBITDA5.71-2.60

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Tesla (TSLA) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile General Motors (GM) reports a yield of 0.81%, ranking against industry peers normally.

GM

Automobiles & Components industry group

0.81%

Max
4.28%
Q3
1.73%
GM
0.81%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

TSLA

Automobiles & Components industry group

0.00%

Max
4.28%
Q3
1.73%
TSLA
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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General Motors (GM) vs. Tesla (TSLA): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Automobiles & Components industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Tesla (TSLA) pays no dividend (payout 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile General Motors (GM) reports a payout of 22.99%, ranking against industry peers normally.

GM

Automobiles & Components industry group

22.99%

Max
82.28%
Q3
33.54%
GM
22.99%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

TSLA

Automobiles & Components industry group

0.00%

Max
82.28%
Q3
33.54%
TSLA
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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General Motors (GM) vs. Tesla (TSLA): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Automobiles & Components industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for General Motors (GM) and Tesla (TSLA)
MetricGMTSLA
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.81%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)22.99%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

General Motors (GM) at 28.13 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Tesla (TSLA) at 385.87 sits above its peer range — an unusually expensive price for TSLA’s trailing earnings.

GM

Automobiles & Components industry group

28.13

Max
46.73
Q3
30.30
GM
28.13
Median
22.51
Q1
13.30
Min
6.29

TSLA

Automobiles & Components industry group

385.87

TSLA
385.87
Max
46.73
Q3
30.30
Median
22.51
Q1
13.30
Min
6.29
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General Motors (GM) vs. Tesla (TSLA): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Automobiles & Components industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

General Motors (GM) at 0.38 prices around its industry’s typical P/S ratio, while Tesla (TSLA) at 16.14 clears its benchmark range — TSLA looks notably rich on sales.

GM

Automobiles & Components industry group

0.38

Max
4.05
Q3
1.86
Median
0.62
GM
0.38
Q1
0.31
Min
0.00

TSLA

Automobiles & Components industry group

16.14

TSLA
16.14
Max
4.05
Q3
1.86
Median
0.62
Q1
0.31
Min
0.00
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General Motors (GM) vs. Tesla (TSLA): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Automobiles & Components industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

General Motors (GM) at 1.11 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while Tesla (TSLA) at 19.21 prices above its benchmark range — TSLA looks rich relative to book.

GM

Automobiles & Components industry group

1.11

Max
4.19
Q3
2.33
Median
1.32
GM
1.11
Q1
0.65
Min
-1.82

TSLA

Automobiles & Components industry group

19.21

TSLA
19.21
Max
4.19
Q3
2.33
Median
1.32
Q1
0.65
Min
-1.82
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General Motors (GM) vs. Tesla (TSLA): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Automobiles & Components industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for General Motors (GM) and Tesla (TSLA)
MetricGMTSLA
P/E Ratio (TTM)28.13385.87
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.3816.14
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.1119.21
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)32.33%0.33%