TSLA vs F

For growth investors, Ford Motor Company (F) is the stronger pick with 1.

2% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -2. 9% for Tesla, Inc. (TSLA). Tesla, Inc. (TSLA) offers the better valuation at 360. 5x trailing P/E (201. 3x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Tesla, Inc. (TSLA) a "Hold" — based on 81 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 forward P/E, Ford Motor Company is actually cheaper at 7.

4x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, Tesla, Inc.

(TSLA) delivered a total return of +74. 1%, compared to +31. 1% for Ford Motor Company (F). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: TSLA returned +26. 6% versus F's +32. 5%. 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), Ford Motor Company (F) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

97β versus Tesla, Inc. 's 2. 06β — meaning TSLA is approximately 112% more volatile than F relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Tesla, Inc. (TSLA) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 10% versus 5% for Ford Motor Company — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Ford Motor Company (F) is pulling ahead at 1.

2% versus -2. 9% for Tesla, Inc. (TSLA). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Tesla, Inc. grew EPS -47. 0% year-over-year, compared to -241. 1% for Ford Motor Company. Over a 3-year CAGR, F leads at 5. 8% 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.

Tesla, Inc.

(TSLA) is the more profitable company, earning 4. 0% net margin versus -4. 4% for Ford Motor Company — 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 1. 4% for F. 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.

On forward earnings alone, Ford Motor Company (F) trades at 7.

4x forward P/E versus 201. 3x for Tesla, Inc. — 193. 9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for F: 19. 5% to $13. 96.

In this comparison, F (6.

4% yield) pays a dividend. TSLA does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Ford Motor Company (F) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

97), 6. 4% yield). 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 (F: +32. 5%, TSLA: +26. 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: TSLA is a mega-cap quality compounder stock; F is a mid-cap income-oriented stock. F pays a dividend while TSLA does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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.