Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Rivian Automotive, Inc. (RIVN) vs Tesla, Inc. (TSLA) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | RIVN | 8.4% revenue growth vs TSLA's -2.9% |
| Quality / Margins | TSLA | 4.0% net margin vs RIVN's -67.7% |
| Stability / Safety | RIVN | Beta 1.16 vs TSLA's 2.16 |
| Dividends | Tie | Neither pays a meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | TSLA | +37.4% vs RIVN's +29.5% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | TSLA | 2.8% ROA vs RIVN's -24.5%, ROIC 4.5% vs -41.2% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Rivian is an electric vehicle manufacturer that designs and produces premium electric pickup trucks, SUVs, and commercial delivery vans. It generates revenue primarily from direct-to-consumer vehicle sales—with its R1T truck and R1S SUV as core products—and from commercial vehicle sales to partners like Amazon, which holds a significant stake. The company's key advantage lies in its vertically integrated "skateboard" platform—a flexible battery and chassis architecture that enables rapid vehicle development and customization.
Tesla is an electric vehicle and clean energy company that designs, manufactures, and sells battery-electric vehicles, solar energy systems, and energy storage solutions. It generates most of its revenue from automotive sales—roughly 85%—with the remainder coming from energy generation/storage products and regulatory credit sales. Tesla's key competitive advantage lies in its vertically integrated manufacturing, proprietary battery technology, and industry-leading Supercharger network that creates a comprehensive ecosystem.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
TSLA leads in 3 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). RIVN leads in 1 (Valuation Metrics). 1 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
TSLA is the larger business by revenue, generating $94.8B annually — 17.6x RIVN's $5.4B. TSLA is the more profitable business, keeping 4.0% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to RIVN's -67.7%. On growth, TSLA holds the edge at -3.1% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | RIVNRivian Automotive… | TSLATesla, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $5.4B | $94.8B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | -$2.8B | $10.5B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | -$3.6B | $3.8B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$2.5B | $6.2B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +1.3% | +18.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | -66.5% | +4.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | -67.7% | +4.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -46.2% | +6.6% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -25.8% | -3.1% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +6.1% | -63.5% |
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | RIVNRivian Automotive… | TSLATesla, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $61M | $1.51T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $1.5B | $1.50T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | -4.99x | 372.69x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | — | 202.78x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | — | 9.62x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | — | 142.98x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 0.01x | 15.92x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 3.93x | 17.19x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 242.74x |
Profitability & Efficiency
TSLA delivers a 4.6% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $5 in annual profit, vs $-79 for RIVN. TSLA carries lower financial leverage with a 0.10x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to RIVN's 1.08x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), TSLA scores 6/9 vs RIVN's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | RIVNRivian Automotive… | TSLATesla, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | -78.9% | +4.6% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | -24.5% | +2.8% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | -41.2% | +4.5% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | -29.5% | +4.4% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.08x | 0.10x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $1.4B | -$8.1B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $3.6B | $16.5B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $5.0B | $8.4B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | -17.87x | 16.62x |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in TSLA five years ago would be worth $16,808 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $1,522 for RIVN. Over the past 12 months, TSLA leads with a +37.4% total return vs RIVN's +29.5%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors TSLA at 25.1% vs RIVN's -7.4% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | RIVNRivian Automotive… | TSLATesla, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | -21.0% | -8.1% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +29.5% | +37.4% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -20.6% | +95.7% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -84.8% | +68.1% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | -84.8% | +3044.6% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | -7.4% | +25.1% |
Risk & Volatility
RIVN is the less volatile stock with a 1.16 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than TSLA's 2.16 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. TSLA currently trades 80.7% from its 52-week high vs RIVN's 67.6% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | RIVNRivian Automotive… | TSLATesla, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 1.16x | 2.16x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $22.69 | $498.83 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $10.36 | $214.25 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +67.6% | +80.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 48.9 | 44.1 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 26.8M | 52.3M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates RIVN as "Buy" and TSLA as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 19.9% upside for RIVN (target: $18) vs 14.0% for TSLA (target: $459).
| Metric | RIVNRivian Automotive… | TSLATesla, Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $18.38 | $458.67 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 28 | 80 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | — | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | — | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | — | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Nov 21 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rivian Automotive, … (RIVN) | 100 | 14.34 | -85.7% |
| Tesla, Inc. (TSLA) | 100 | 115.56 | +15.6% |
Tesla, Inc. (TSLA) returned +68% over 5 years vs Rivian Automotive, … (RIVN)'s -85%. A $10,000 investment in TSLA 5 years ago would be worth $16,808 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rivian Automotive, … (RIVN) | $0.00 | $5.4B | — |
| Tesla, Inc. (TSLA) | $7.0B | $94.8B | +1254.6% |
Tesla, Inc.'s revenue grew from $7.0B (2016) to $94.8B (2025) — a 33.6% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rivian Automotive, … (RIVN) | -85.2% | -67.7% | +20.6% |
| Tesla, Inc. (TSLA) | -9.6% | 4.0% | +141.5% |
Tesla, Inc.'s net margin went from -10% (2016) to 4% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 5 Years
| Stock | 2021 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tesla, Inc. (TSLA) | 216.1 | 416.4 | +92.7% |
Tesla, Inc. has traded in a 34x–416x P/E range over 5 years; current trailing P/E is ~373x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rivian Automotive, … (RIVN) | -4.35 | -3.07 | +29.4% |
| Tesla, Inc. (TSLA) | -0.31 | 1.08 | +448.4% |
Tesla, Inc.'s EPS grew from $-0.31 (2016) to $1.08 (2025).
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Rivian Automotive, Inc. generated $-2B FCF in 2025 (+44% vs 2021). Tesla, Inc. generated $6B FCF in 2025 (+79% vs 2021).
RIVN vs TSLA: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is RIVN or TSLA a better buy right now?
Tesla, Inc. (TSLA) offers the better valuation at 372.7x trailing P/E (202.8x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Rivian Automotive, Inc. (RIVN) a "Buy" — based on 28 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.
02Which is the better long-term investment — RIVN or TSLA?
Over the past 5 years, Tesla, Inc. (TSLA) delivered a total return of +68.1%, compared to -84.8% for Rivian Automotive, Inc. (RIVN). A $10,000 investment in TSLA five years ago would be worth approximately $17K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: TSLA returned +30.4% versus RIVN's -84.8%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
03Which is safer — RIVN or TSLA?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Rivian Automotive, Inc. (RIVN) is the lower-risk stock at 1.16β versus Tesla, Inc.'s 2.16β — meaning TSLA is approximately 86% more volatile than RIVN relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Tesla, Inc. (TSLA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 10% versus 108% for Rivian Automotive, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
04Which has better profit margins — RIVN or TSLA?
Tesla, Inc. (TSLA) is the more profitable company, earning 4.0% net margin versus -67.7% for Rivian Automotive, Inc. — meaning it keeps 4.0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: TSLA leads at 4.6% versus -66.5% for RIVN. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — TSLA leads at 18.0%, 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.
05Is RIVN or TSLA more undervalued right now?
Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for RIVN: 19.9% to $18.38.
06Which pays a better dividend — RIVN or TSLA?
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.
07Is RIVN or TSLA better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Rivian Automotive, Inc. (RIVN) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 1.16)). Tesla, Inc. (TSLA) carries a higher beta of 2.16 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (RIVN: -84.8%, TSLA: +30.4%), 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.
08What are the main differences between RIVN and TSLA?
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. 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.
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