Benchmark research · Amazon
ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed AMZN (Amazon)
Any investment can look great over a single hand-picked timeframe. To find what truly kept ahead of AMZN (Amazon.com, Inc.), we screened AMZN against the entire market of over 10,000 stocks and ETFs across 8 different time windows from 1 month to 10 years, including reinvested dividends. A contender had to come out ahead in both the short term and the long term to make the list. Data as of October 22, 2026.
Compare the entire market against AMZN live →Key findings
- How hard it was to top AMZN: Across a screen of over 10,000 stocks and ETFs, 50 of 958 eligible ETFs (5.2%) and 262 of 1,501 eligible stocks (17%) outperformed Amazon in at least 3 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term timeframes. A smaller group kept ahead in all but one short-term timeframe and every long-term timeframe: 2 ETFs and 49 stocks.
- Who came out ahead across the three groups:
- Popular alternatives: AAPL outperformed in 5 of 5 short-term and 3 of 3 long-term timeframes, while VGT and QQQ each did so in 3 of 5 short-term and 3 of 3 long-term timeframes. SPY fell short, with 4 of 5 short-term and 1 of 3 long-term periods, as did WMT, with 2 of 5 short-term and 3 of 3 long-term periods. No same-index funds were excluded.
- Top ETFs: Technology funds led the table, with 10 of the top 15 ETFs in that category. RSPT and FXL were all-weather standouts, each outperforming in 4 of 5 short-term and 3 of 3 long-term timeframes. SMH and VGT also outperformed in 3 of 5 short-term and 3 of 3 long-term timeframes.
- Top stocks: A total of 262 stocks qualified. The top stocks shown include NTRA and MEDP from Healthcare, FTNT from Technology, and BWLP from Industrials. Each outperformed in 5 of 5 short-term and 3 of 3 long-term timeframes.
- The risk trade-off: Over 5 years, the top ETFs generally had smaller price swings than AMZN, and all 15 had higher Sharpe ratios, a measure of return relative to risk. The top stocks had moderately higher volatility, but all 10 had higher Sharpe ratios. Their stronger risk-adjusted returns came with a bumpier ride for most stocks.
How popular alternatives compare
Well-known funds and stocks investors often compare against AMZN, sorted by long-term periods outperformed, then short-term.
| Investment | Periods outperformed | Short term | Long term | Risk · 5 years | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatilitylower is calmer | Sharpe ratiohigher is better | ||
| AMZN Amazon.com, Inc. (benchmark) | — | −1.8% | +2.3% | −1.9% | +10.5% | +14.9% | +97.8% | +50.1% | +498% | 36.6% | 0.41 |
| AAPL Made the listApple Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +2.5% | +6.9% | +27.7% | +28.8% | +35.2% | +104% | +140% | +1,194% | 28.0%0.8× AMZN | 0.77 |
| VGT Made the listVanguard Information Technology ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −6.1% | +2.7% | +15.4% | +25.9% | +26.7% | +135% | +130% | +753% | 26.1%0.7× AMZN | 0.77 |
| XLK Made the listState Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −7.1% | +1.3% | +15.6% | +26.8% | +28.4% | +126% | +139% | +741% | 26.1%0.7× AMZN | 0.80 |
| JPM Made the listJPMorgan Chase & Co. | 3/5 short3/3 long | −0.5% | −2.9% | +8.5% | +5.4% | +16.6% | +154% | +122% | +534% | 24.3%0.7× AMZN | 0.78 |
| QQQ Made the listInvesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 | 3/5 short3/3 long | −5.8% | 0.0% | +7.8% | +15.3% | +16.9% | +101% | +94.0% | +531% | 23.0%0.6× AMZN | 0.69 |
| WMT Fell shortWalmart Inc. | 2/5 short3/3 long | +10.0% | +11.0% | −6.4% | +8.1% | +14.0% | +133% | +161% | +521% | 22.6%0.6× AMZN | 0.97 |
| EBAY Made the listeBay Inc. | 5/5 short2/3 long | +11.7% | +10.3% | +16.2% | +41.5% | +29.6% | +219% | +65.4% | +374% | 32.8%0.9× AMZN | 0.47 |
| COST Made the listCostco Wholesale Corporation | 4/5 short2/3 long | +13.2% | +10.0% | +1.8% | +19.7% | +8.4% | +91.8% | +123% | +692% | 22.9%0.6× AMZN | 0.82 |
| SHOP Made the listShopify Inc. | 3/5 short2/3 long | +14.3% | +42.6% | +27.9% | +7.4% | +4.2% | +231% | +18.4% | +3,745% | 66.9%1.8× AMZN | 0.38 |
| MSFT Made the listMicrosoft Corporation | 3/5 short2/3 long | +4.6% | +33.7% | +20.9% | +10.9% | +0.9% | +61.9% | +75.6% | +862% | 28.2%0.8× AMZN | 0.54 |
| SPY Fell shortState Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | 4/5 short1/3 long | −1.2% | +2.5% | +8.0% | +12.7% | +15.6% | +88.4% | +80.3% | +316% | 17.2%0.5× AMZN | 0.78 |
| VTI Fell shortVanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF | 2/5 short1/3 long | −1.4% | +1.9% | +7.3% | +12.4% | +15.3% | +87.3% | +71.5% | +298% | 17.5%0.5× AMZN | 0.71 |
| IWM Fell shortiShares Russell 2000 ETF | 2/5 short0/3 long | −3.7% | −5.6% | +0.6% | +12.0% | +14.8% | +73.3% | +29.4% | +157% | 22.4%0.6× AMZN | 0.34 |
| BABA Fell shortAlibaba Group Holding Limited | 0/5 short0/3 long | −12.5% | −12.6% | −24.7% | −34.0% | −38.0% | +34.4% | −39.1% | +3.5% | 51.3%1.4× AMZN | 0.06 |
ETFs that consistently outperformed AMZN
Top 15 by long-term periods outperformed, then short-term, then by 10Y return. Green cells outperformed AMZN in that period. Excludes leveraged and inverse funds, ETFs under $100M in assets, stocks under $2.0B in market cap, and anything without 10 years of history.
| # | Investment | Periods outperformed | Short term | Long term | Risk · 5 years | Fund | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatilitylower is calmer | Sharpe ratiohigher is better | Expense | Assets | |||
| — | AMZN Amazon.com, Inc. (benchmark) | — | −1.8% | +2.3% | −1.9% | +10.5% | +14.9% | +97.8% | +50.1% | +498% | 36.6% | 0.41 | ||
| 1 | RSPT TechnologyInvesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Technology ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −3.9% | +6.2% | +21.6% | +40.0% | +43.0% | +141% | +116% | +559% | 25.1%0.7× AMZN | 0.74 | 0.40% | $6.1B |
| 2 | FXL TechnologyFirst Trust Technology AlphaDEX Fund | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −2.1% | +8.6% | +17.8% | +28.7% | +29.3% | +104% | +66.4% | +514% | 26.2%0.7× AMZN | 0.52 | 0.60% | $2.7B |
| 3 | SMH TechnologyVanEck Semiconductor ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −13.8% | −10.8% | +9.8% | +40.2% | +55.0% | +272% | +304% | +1,570% | 37.0%1.0× AMZN | 0.94 | 0.35% | $66B |
| 4 | SOXX Broad MarketiShares Semiconductor ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −17.0% | −14.3% | +10.3% | +51.9% | +68.0% | +219% | +221% | +1,297% | 39.0%1.1× AMZN | 0.80 | 0.33% | $39B |
| 5 | FTXL TechnologyFirst Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −16.0% | −12.2% | +9.3% | +56.8% | +81.8% | +234% | +220% | +1,019% | 39.0%1.1× AMZN | 0.79 | 0.60% | $1.2B |
| 6 | XSD TechnologyState Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −15.4% | −14.6% | +2.6% | +35.0% | +36.6% | +158% | +121% | +805% | 40.9%1.1× AMZN | 0.59 | 0.35% | $2.7B |
| 7 | IYW Broad MarketiShares U.S. Technology ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −6.4% | +2.4% | +16.3% | +24.7% | +26.1% | +138% | +135% | +773% | 26.7%0.7× AMZN | 0.78 | 0.37% | $24B |
| 8 | VGT TechnologyVanguard Information Technology ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −6.1% | +2.7% | +15.4% | +25.9% | +26.7% | +135% | +130% | +753% | 26.1%0.7× AMZN | 0.77 | 0.09% | $178B |
| 9 | XLK TechnologyState Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −7.1% | +1.3% | +15.6% | +26.8% | +28.4% | +126% | +139% | +741% | 26.1%0.7× AMZN | 0.80 | 0.08% | $125B |
| 10 | FTEC TechnologyFidelity MSCI Information Technology Index ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −6.1% | +2.6% | +15.4% | +25.9% | +26.9% | +136% | +132% | +737% | 26.1%0.7× AMZN | 0.78 | 0.08% | $22B |
| 11 | IXN InternationaliShares Global Tech ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −8.8% | −0.5% | +14.3% | +28.7% | +31.1% | +140% | +137% | +693% | 26.2%0.7× AMZN | 0.79 | 0.37% | $9.1B |
| 12 | XNTK TechnologyState Street SPDR NYSE Technology ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −10.3% | −1.9% | +13.0% | +23.3% | +24.8% | +159% | +115% | +691% | 29.3%0.8× AMZN | 0.67 | 0.35% | $2.0B |
| 13 | IGM Broad MarketiShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF | 3/5 short3/3 long | −7.9% | +0.2% | +11.0% | +21.4% | +23.1% | +149% | +126% | +686% | 26.6%0.7× AMZN | 0.75 | 0.37% | $11B |
| 14 | QQQ Broad MarketInvesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 | 3/5 short3/3 long | −5.8% | 0.0% | +7.8% | +15.3% | +16.9% | +101% | +94.0% | +531% | 23.0%0.6× AMZN | 0.69 | 0.18% | $492B |
| 15 | CIBR TechnologyFirst Trust Nasdaq Cybersecurity ETF | 5/5 short2/3 long | +0.2% | +15.1% | +49.3% | +45.8% | +35.2% | +134% | +96.7% | +461% | 26.2%0.7× AMZN | 0.65 | 0.58% | $17B |
Stocks that consistently outperformed AMZN
Top 10 by long-term periods outperformed, then short-term, then by 10Y return. Individual stocks swing far more than funds; check the volatility column.
| # | Investment | Periods outperformed | Short term | Long term | Risk · 5 years | Company | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatilitylower is calmer | Sharpe ratiohigher is better | Market cap | |||
| — | AMZN Amazon.com, Inc. (benchmark) | — | −1.8% | +2.3% | −1.9% | +10.5% | +14.9% | +97.8% | +50.1% | +498% | 36.6% | 0.41 | |
| 1 | NTRA Medical - Diagnostics & ResearchNatera, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +2.7% | +51.9% | +93.2% | +75.4% | +113% | +901% | +249% | +3,934% | 57.6%1.6× AMZN | 0.73 | $58B |
| 2 | FTNT Software - InfrastructureFortinet, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −0.7% | +11.6% | +98.6% | +122% | +104% | +208% | +158% | +2,668% | 44.8%1.2× AMZN | 0.65 | $127B |
| 3 | BWLP Marine ShippingBW LPG Limited | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +1.2% | +20.7% | +46.1% | +116% | +129% | +232% | +966% | +2,648% | 50.9%1.4× AMZN | 1.19 | $3.8B |
| 4 | MEDP Medical - Diagnostics & ResearchMedpace Holdings, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +3.8% | +23.8% | +28.6% | +14.5% | +19.6% | +187% | +250% | +2,003% | 52.1%1.4× AMZN | 0.73 | $18B |
| 5 | LLY Drug Manufacturers - GeneralEli Lilly and Company | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +11.7% | +12.5% | +42.3% | +21.5% | +61.9% | +131% | +461% | +1,870% | 32.8%0.9× AMZN | 1.22 | $1.2T |
| 6 | COKE Beverages - Non-AlcoholicCoca-Cola Consolidated, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +12.5% | +16.7% | +15.1% | +44.1% | +67.4% | +257% | +468% | +1,564% | 38.0%1.0× AMZN | 1.11 | $14B |
| 7 | MPC Oil & Gas Refining & MarketingMarathon Petroleum Corporation | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +17.9% | +45.8% | +108% | +181% | +148% | +226% | +660% | +1,314% | 33.4%0.9× AMZN | 1.39 | $129B |
| 8 | CVI Oil & Gas Refining & MarketingCVR Energy, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +12.5% | +68.6% | +88.5% | +134% | +62.6% | +105% | +289% | +1,306% | 52.4%1.4× AMZN | 0.79 | $5.9B |
| 9 | WSM Specialty RetailWilliams-Sonoma, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +12.4% | +17.7% | +33.1% | +40.7% | +40.7% | +249% | +202% | +1,298% | 44.4%1.2× AMZN | 0.72 | $31B |
| 10 | FRO Marine ShippingFrontline Plc | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +6.9% | +41.8% | +62.0% | +182% | +148% | +222% | +762% | +1,270% | 49.7%1.4× AMZN | 1.12 | $11B |
What stands out
Technology was the clearest ETF theme, with semiconductor funds such as SMH and SOXX among the top performers. Their record held up across the long-term periods, though not every fund kept ahead in nearly all short-term periods. The stock leaders were more varied, spanning Healthcare, Technology, Industrials, Consumer Staples, and Energy. That range suggests the results were not limited to one industry, even as the ETF leaders were concentrated in technology.
The risk figures show different paths to stronger returns than AMZN. The top ETFs had a median volatility of 26.2% versus 36.6% for the benchmark, while their median Sharpe ratio was 0.77 versus 0.41. The top stocks had a median volatility of 47.2% and a median Sharpe ratio of 0.95. All of the top ETFs and stocks had higher Sharpe ratios than the benchmark, though most of the stocks had higher volatility. These figures describe the past, not a guarantee of future results.
Methodology
- Short-term periods: 1M, 3M, 6M, YTD, 1Y. Long-term periods: 3Y, 5Y, 10Y. An investment outperformed a period when its total return, with dividends reinvested, was higher than AMZN's. Returns within 0.5 points or 3% of AMZN's (whichever is larger) count as a tie and are shown in gray.
- Consistent means outperforming in at least 3 of 5 short-term periods and 2 of 3 long-term periods, so a recent hot streak alone is not enough. All-weather means outperforming in every long-term period and all but one short-term period. Rankings use long-term periods outperformed, then short-term, then the 10Y return.
- Excludes leveraged and inverse funds, ETFs under $100M in assets, stocks under $2.0B in market cap, and anything without 10 years of history.
- Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily returns over 5 years. The Sharpe ratio is return above cash divided by volatility over the same period: higher means more return per unit of risk.
- Returns and risk figures are computed from daily adjusted prices and update with each market day. Past performance does not predict future results.