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PLTR vs. TSLA: Palantir vs. Tesla Stock Comparison

How do Palantir (PLTR) 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

Palantir (PLTR) is classified in the Information Technology sector (Software & Services), whereas Tesla (TSLA) belongs to Consumer Discretionary (Automobiles & Components) — their GICS classifications point to very different parts of the market.

Company profile comparison for Palantir (PLTR) and Tesla (TSLA)
Profile ItemPLTRTSLA
NamePalantir Technologies Inc. Class A Common StockTesla, Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorInformation TechnologyConsumer Discretionary
GICS Industry GroupSoftware & ServicesAutomobiles & Components
GICS IndustrySoftwareAutomobiles
GICS Sub-IndustryApplication SoftwareAutomobile Manufacturers
Market Capitalization386.44 billion USD1,415.96 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateSeptember 30, 2020June 29, 2010
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

PLTR
TSLA
GSPC
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Palantir (PLTR) vs. Tesla (TSLA), 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 Palantir (PLTR) and Tesla (TSLA). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Palantir (PLTR) and Tesla (TSLA)
MetricPLTRTSLA
Total Return (1Y)-4.94%-12.23%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)109.97%21.54%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)47.47%2.02%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

PLTR
TSLA
GSPC
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Palantir (PLTR) vs. Tesla (TSLA), 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 Palantir (PLTR) and Tesla (TSLA). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Palantir (PLTR) and Tesla (TSLA)
MetricPLTRTSLA
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)60.50%45.89%
Beta (5Y)1.631.75
Max Drawdown (5Y)-75.26%-72.97%
Avg. Volume (3M)27.20M37.45M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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PLTR and TSLA 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 Palantir (PLTR) and Tesla (TSLA)
MetricPLTRTSLA
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.15-0.36
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.24-0.49

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Palantir (PLTR) at 40.91% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Tesla (TSLA) at 3.84% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for PLTR.

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%

TSLA

Automobiles & Components industry group

3.84%

Max
43.84%
Q3
11.73%
TSLA
3.84%
Median
3.48%
Q1
-19.67%
Min
-54.88%
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Palantir (PLTR) vs. Tesla (TSLA): A comparison of their ROE against their respective Software & Services and Automobiles & Components industry group benchmarks.

Net Margin (TTM)

Palantir (PLTR) at 50.34% converts revenue to bottom-line profit above its industry’s benchmark range, while Tesla (TSLA) at 3.11% keeps roughly the typical share for its industry.

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%

TSLA

Automobiles & Components industry group

3.11%

Max
15.15%
Q3
4.78%
TSLA
3.11%
Median
1.56%
Q1
-4.16%
Min
-9.55%
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Palantir (PLTR) vs. Tesla (TSLA): A comparison of their net margin against their respective Software & Services and Automobiles & Components industry group benchmarks.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Palantir (PLTR) at 46.89% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Tesla (TSLA) at 5.36%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

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%

TSLA

Automobiles & Components industry group

5.36%

Max
18.35%
Q3
8.67%
TSLA
5.36%
Median
4.42%
Q1
0.00%
Min
-8.50%
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Palantir (PLTR) vs. Tesla (TSLA): A comparison of their operating margin against their respective Software & Services and Automobiles & Components industry group benchmarks.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Palantir (PLTR) and Tesla (TSLA)
MetricPLTRTSLA
ROE (TTM)40.91%3.84%
ROA (TTM)19.31%1.35%
Net Margin (TTM)50.34%3.11%
Operating Margin (TTM)46.89%5.36%
Gross Margin (TTM)84.74%19.29%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Palantir (PLTR) at 56.18% delivers above-range revenue growth, while Tesla (TSLA) at -2.93% falls into the bottom quartile — a wide split in revenue momentum.

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Palantir (PLTR) vs. Tesla (TSLA): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Palantir (PLTR) at 231.06% clears its industry range for EPS growth, a much stronger earnings trajectory than Tesla (TSLA) at -47.06%, which is closer to a typical peer reading.

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Palantir (PLTR) vs. Tesla (TSLA): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Palantir (PLTR) and Tesla (TSLA)
MetricPLTRTSLA
Revenue Growth (YoY)56.18%-2.93%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)32.92%5.19%
EPS Growth (YoY)231.06%-47.06%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)---33.18%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Tesla (TSLA) at 1.74 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Palantir (PLTR) at 7.10 sits above its industry’s typical mid-range — comfortable liquidity, though possibly with more idle current assets relative to peers.

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

TSLA

Automobiles & Components industry group

1.74

Max
3.65
Q3
2.31
TSLA
1.74
Median
1.65
Q1
1.13
Min
0.32
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Palantir (PLTR) vs. Tesla (TSLA): A comparison of their current ratio against their respective Software & Services and Automobiles & Components industry group benchmarks.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Palantir (PLTR) at 0.02 and Tesla (TSLA) at 0.18 keep leverage in the lower quartile of their industries, with less balance-sheet debt relative to equity than most peers.

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

TSLA

Automobiles & Components industry group

0.18

Max
2.03
Q3
1.13
Median
0.76
Q1
0.33
TSLA
0.18
Min
0.01
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Palantir (PLTR) vs. Tesla (TSLA): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against their respective Software & Services and Automobiles & Components industry group benchmarks.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for Palantir (PLTR) and Tesla (TSLA)
MetricPLTRTSLA
Current Ratio (MRQ)7.101.74
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.020.18
Net Debt / EBITDA-3.08-2.95

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

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

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%

TSLA

Automobiles & Components industry group

0.00%

Max
4.79%
Q3
2.24%
TSLA
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Palantir (PLTR) vs. Tesla (TSLA): A comparison of their dividend yield against their respective Software & Services and Automobiles & Components industry group benchmarks.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

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

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%

TSLA

Automobiles & Components industry group

0.00%

Max
64.17%
Q3
36.51%
TSLA
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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Palantir (PLTR) vs. Tesla (TSLA): A comparison of their payout ratio against their respective Software & Services and Automobiles & Components industry group benchmarks.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Palantir (PLTR) and Tesla (TSLA)
MetricPLTRTSLA
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%0.00%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)0.00%0.00%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both look expensive on trailing earnings: Palantir (PLTR) at 112.94 sits in the richer P/E ratio quartile, and Tesla (TSLA) at 393.65 is richer still, above its industry range.

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

TSLA

Automobiles & Components industry group

393.65

TSLA
393.65
Max
40.42
Q3
24.40
Median
19.50
Q1
11.03
Min
6.05
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Palantir (PLTR) vs. Tesla (TSLA): A comparison of their P/E ratio against their respective Software & Services and Automobiles & Components industry group benchmarks.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Investors are paying well above the peer range per dollar of sales for both Palantir (PLTR) at 53.02 and Tesla (TSLA) at 13.67 — each P/S ratio clears its industry’s benchmark range.

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

TSLA

Automobiles & Components industry group

13.67

TSLA
13.67
Max
2.03
Q3
0.99
Median
0.51
Q1
0.23
Min
0.00
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Palantir (PLTR) vs. Tesla (TSLA): A comparison of their P/S ratio against their respective Software & Services and Automobiles & Components industry group benchmarks.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Measured against book value, both Palantir (PLTR) at 34.41 and Tesla (TSLA) at 15.86 look expensive — each P/B ratio sits above its industry’s benchmark range.

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

TSLA

Automobiles & Components industry group

15.86

TSLA
15.86
Max
4.18
Q3
2.39
Median
1.33
Q1
0.72
Min
-1.23
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Palantir (PLTR) vs. Tesla (TSLA): A comparison of their P/B ratio against their respective Software & Services and Automobiles & Components industry group benchmarks.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Palantir (PLTR) and Tesla (TSLA)
MetricPLTRTSLA
P/E Ratio (TTM)112.94393.65
P/S Ratio (TTM)53.0213.67
P/B Ratio (MRQ)34.4115.86
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)0.69%0.35%