QS vs AMPX

Analysts rate Amprius Technologies, Inc.

(AMPX) a "Buy" — based on 12 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.

Over the past 5 years, Amprius Technologies, Inc.

(AMPX) delivered a total return of +167. 3%, compared to -74. 3% for QuantumScape Corporation (QS). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: AMPX returned +167. 3% versus QS's -19. 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), QuantumScape Corporation (QS) is the lower-risk stock at 2.

61β versus Amprius Technologies, Inc. 's 3. 05β — meaning AMPX is approximately 17% more volatile than QS relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, QuantumScape Corporation (QS) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 6% versus 38% for Amprius Technologies, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Amprius Technologies, Inc.

grew EPS 22. 2% year-over-year, compared to 19. 1% for QuantumScape Corporation. 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.

QuantumScape Corporation (QS) is the more profitable company, earning 0.

0% net margin versus -60. 3% for Amprius Technologies, Inc. — meaning it keeps 0. 0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: QS leads at 0. 0% versus -63. 9% for AMPX. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AMPX leads at 11. 3%, 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.

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, Amprius Technologies, Inc.

(AMPX) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (+167. 3% 10Y return). QuantumScape Corporation (QS) carries a higher beta of 2. 61 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (AMPX: +167. 3%, QS: -19. 7%), 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.

These companies operate in different sectors (QS (Consumer Cyclical) and AMPX (Industrials)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

In terms of investment character: QS is a small-cap quality compounder stock; AMPX is a small-cap high-growth 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.