LI vs NIO vs XPEV vs ZK vs TSLA

For growth investors, ZEEKR Intelligent Technology Holding Limited (ZK) is the stronger pick with 46.

9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -2. 9% for Tesla, Inc. (TSLA). Li Auto Inc. (LI) offers the better valuation at 15. 9x trailing P/E (11. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Li Auto Inc. (LI) a "Buy" — based on 16 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, Li Auto Inc.

(LI) is the cheapest at 15. 9x versus Tesla, Inc. at 381. 3x. On forward P/E, ZEEKR Intelligent Technology Holding Limited is actually cheaper at 2. 3x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Tesla, Inc.

(TSLA) delivered a total return of +83. 7%, compared to -84. 1% for NIO Inc. (NIO). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: TSLA returned +28. 6% versus XPEV's -26. 7%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), ZEEKR Intelligent Technology Holding Limited (ZK) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

47β versus Tesla, Inc. 's 2. 06β — meaning TSLA is approximately 341% more volatile than ZK relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Tesla, Inc. (TSLA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 10% versus 3% for NIO Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), ZEEKR Intelligent Technology Holding Limited (ZK) is pulling ahead at 46.

9% versus -2. 9% for Tesla, Inc. (TSLA). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: XPeng Inc. grew EPS 48. 7% year-over-year, compared to -47. 0% for Tesla, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ZK leads at 126. 6% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Li Auto Inc.

(LI) is the more profitable company, earning 5. 6% net margin versus -34. 5% for NIO Inc. — meaning it keeps 5. 6% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: TSLA leads at 4. 6% versus -33. 3% for NIO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — LI leads at 20. 5%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

On forward earnings alone, ZEEKR Intelligent Technology Holding Limited (ZK) trades at 2.

3x forward P/E versus 213. 0x for Tesla, Inc. — 210. 7x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for XPEV: 64. 0% to $25. 50.

None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.

All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, ZEEKR Intelligent Technology Holding Limited (ZK) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

47)). Tesla, Inc. (TSLA) carries a higher beta of 2. 06 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (ZK: -5. 4%, TSLA: +28. 6%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Consumer Cyclical sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: LI is a mid-cap high-growth stock; NIO is a mid-cap high-growth stock; XPEV is a small-cap high-growth stock; ZK is a small-cap high-growth stock; TSLA is a mega-cap quality compounder stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.