# ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed AMZN (Amazon)

> Source: BetterThanSPY research, https://betterthanspy.com/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-amzn
> Data as of October 22, 2026. Total returns include reinvested dividends. Past performance does not predict future results; nothing here is investment advice.

AMZN (Amazon.com, Inc.) screened against the entire market of over 10,000 stocks and ETFs over 8 periods from 1 month to 10 years, with dividends reinvested. To make the list, an investment had to outperform AMZN in at least 3 of 5 short-term periods and 2 of 3 long-term periods. "All-weather" means outperforming in every long-term period and all but one short-term period. Returns in the tables are total returns over each period; volatility and Sharpe ratio cover 5 years.

## 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

| Investment | Status | Periods outperformed | 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatility | Sharpe |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 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](https://betterthanspy.com/research/aapl): Apple Inc. | Made the list | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +2.5% | +6.9% | +27.7% | +28.8% | +35.2% | +104% | +140% | +1,194% | 28.0% | 0.77 |
| [VGT](https://betterthanspy.com/research/vgt): Vanguard Information Technology ETF | Made the list | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −6.1% | +2.7% | +15.4% | +25.9% | +26.7% | +135% | +130% | +753% | 26.1% | 0.77 |
| [XLK](https://betterthanspy.com/research/xlk): State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF | Made the list | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −7.1% | +1.3% | +15.6% | +26.8% | +28.4% | +126% | +139% | +741% | 26.1% | 0.80 |
| [JPM](https://betterthanspy.com/research/jpm): JPMorgan Chase & Co. | Made the list | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −0.5% | −2.9% | +8.5% | +5.4% | +16.6% | +154% | +122% | +534% | 24.3% | 0.78 |
| [QQQ](https://betterthanspy.com/research/qqq): Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 | Made the list | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −5.8% | 0.0% | +7.8% | +15.3% | +16.9% | +101% | +94.0% | +531% | 23.0% | 0.69 |
| [WMT](https://betterthanspy.com/research/wmt): Walmart Inc. | Fell short | 2/5 short, 3/3 long | +10.0% | +11.0% | −6.4% | +8.1% | +14.0% | +133% | +161% | +521% | 22.6% | 0.97 |
| [EBAY](https://betterthanspy.com/research/ebay): eBay Inc. | Made the list | 5/5 short, 2/3 long | +11.7% | +10.3% | +16.2% | +41.5% | +29.6% | +219% | +65.4% | +374% | 32.8% | 0.47 |
| [COST](https://betterthanspy.com/research/cost): Costco Wholesale Corporation | Made the list | 4/5 short, 2/3 long | +13.2% | +10.0% | +1.8% | +19.7% | +8.4% | +91.8% | +123% | +692% | 22.9% | 0.82 |
| [SHOP](https://betterthanspy.com/research/shop): Shopify Inc. | Made the list | 3/5 short, 2/3 long | +14.3% | +42.6% | +27.9% | +7.4% | +4.2% | +231% | +18.4% | +3,745% | 66.9% | 0.38 |
| [MSFT](https://betterthanspy.com/research/msft): Microsoft Corporation | Made the list | 3/5 short, 2/3 long | +4.6% | +33.7% | +20.9% | +10.9% | +0.9% | +61.9% | +75.6% | +862% | 28.2% | 0.54 |
| [SPY](https://betterthanspy.com/research/spy): State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | Fell short | 4/5 short, 1/3 long | −1.2% | +2.5% | +8.0% | +12.7% | +15.6% | +88.4% | +80.3% | +316% | 17.2% | 0.78 |
| [VTI](https://betterthanspy.com/research/vti): Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF | Fell short | 2/5 short, 1/3 long | −1.4% | +1.9% | +7.3% | +12.4% | +15.3% | +87.3% | +71.5% | +298% | 17.5% | 0.71 |
| [IWM](https://betterthanspy.com/research/iwm): iShares Russell 2000 ETF | Fell short | 2/5 short, 0/3 long | −3.7% | −5.6% | +0.6% | +12.0% | +14.8% | +73.3% | +29.4% | +157% | 22.4% | 0.34 |
| [BABA](https://betterthanspy.com/research/baba): Alibaba Group Holding Limited | Fell short | 0/5 short, 0/3 long | −12.5% | −12.6% | −24.7% | −34.0% | −38.0% | +34.4% | −39.1% | +3.5% | 51.3% | 0.06 |

## ETFs that consistently outperformed AMZN

| Investment | Periods outperformed | 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatility | Sharpe | 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 |  |  |
| RSPT: Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Technology ETF | 4/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −3.9% | +6.2% | +21.6% | +40.0% | +43.0% | +141% | +116% | +559% | 25.1% | 0.74 | 0.40% | $6.1B |
| FXL: First Trust Technology AlphaDEX Fund | 4/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −2.1% | +8.6% | +17.8% | +28.7% | +29.3% | +104% | +66.4% | +514% | 26.2% | 0.52 | 0.60% | $2.7B |
| [SMH](https://betterthanspy.com/research/smh): VanEck Semiconductor ETF | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −13.8% | −10.8% | +9.8% | +40.2% | +55.0% | +272% | +304% | +1,570% | 37.0% | 0.94 | 0.35% | $66B |
| [SOXX](https://betterthanspy.com/research/soxx): iShares Semiconductor ETF | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −17.0% | −14.3% | +10.3% | +51.9% | +68.0% | +219% | +221% | +1,297% | 39.0% | 0.80 | 0.33% | $39B |
| FTXL: First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −16.0% | −12.2% | +9.3% | +56.8% | +81.8% | +234% | +220% | +1,019% | 39.0% | 0.79 | 0.60% | $1.2B |
| XSD: State Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −15.4% | −14.6% | +2.6% | +35.0% | +36.6% | +158% | +121% | +805% | 40.9% | 0.59 | 0.35% | $2.7B |
| IYW: iShares U.S. Technology ETF | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −6.4% | +2.4% | +16.3% | +24.7% | +26.1% | +138% | +135% | +773% | 26.7% | 0.78 | 0.37% | $24B |
| [VGT](https://betterthanspy.com/research/vgt): Vanguard Information Technology ETF | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −6.1% | +2.7% | +15.4% | +25.9% | +26.7% | +135% | +130% | +753% | 26.1% | 0.77 | 0.09% | $178B |
| [XLK](https://betterthanspy.com/research/xlk): State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −7.1% | +1.3% | +15.6% | +26.8% | +28.4% | +126% | +139% | +741% | 26.1% | 0.80 | 0.08% | $125B |
| FTEC: Fidelity MSCI Information Technology Index ETF | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −6.1% | +2.6% | +15.4% | +25.9% | +26.9% | +136% | +132% | +737% | 26.1% | 0.78 | 0.08% | $22B |
| IXN: iShares Global Tech ETF | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −8.8% | −0.5% | +14.3% | +28.7% | +31.1% | +140% | +137% | +693% | 26.2% | 0.79 | 0.37% | $9.1B |
| XNTK: State Street SPDR NYSE Technology ETF | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −10.3% | −1.9% | +13.0% | +23.3% | +24.8% | +159% | +115% | +691% | 29.3% | 0.67 | 0.35% | $2.0B |
| IGM: iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −7.9% | +0.2% | +11.0% | +21.4% | +23.1% | +149% | +126% | +686% | 26.6% | 0.75 | 0.37% | $11B |
| [QQQ](https://betterthanspy.com/research/qqq): Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −5.8% | 0.0% | +7.8% | +15.3% | +16.9% | +101% | +94.0% | +531% | 23.0% | 0.69 | 0.18% | $492B |
| CIBR: First Trust Nasdaq Cybersecurity ETF | 5/5 short, 2/3 long | +0.2% | +15.1% | +49.3% | +45.8% | +35.2% | +134% | +96.7% | +461% | 26.2% | 0.65 | 0.58% | $17B |

## Stocks that consistently outperformed AMZN

| Investment | Periods outperformed | 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatility | Sharpe | 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 |  |
| [NTRA](https://betterthanspy.com/research/ntra): Natera, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +2.7% | +51.9% | +93.2% | +75.4% | +113% | +901% | +249% | +3,934% | 57.6% | 0.73 | $58B |
| [FTNT](https://betterthanspy.com/research/ftnt): Fortinet, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −0.7% | +11.6% | +98.6% | +122% | +104% | +208% | +158% | +2,668% | 44.8% | 0.65 | $127B |
| BWLP: BW LPG Limited | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +1.2% | +20.7% | +46.1% | +116% | +129% | +232% | +966% | +2,648% | 50.9% | 1.19 | $3.8B |
| MEDP: Medpace Holdings, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +3.8% | +23.8% | +28.6% | +14.5% | +19.6% | +187% | +250% | +2,003% | 52.1% | 0.73 | $18B |
| [LLY](https://betterthanspy.com/research/lly): Eli Lilly and Company | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +11.7% | +12.5% | +42.3% | +21.5% | +61.9% | +131% | +461% | +1,870% | 32.8% | 1.22 | $1.2T |
| COKE: Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +12.5% | +16.7% | +15.1% | +44.1% | +67.4% | +257% | +468% | +1,564% | 38.0% | 1.11 | $14B |
| [MPC](https://betterthanspy.com/research/mpc): Marathon Petroleum Corporation | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +17.9% | +45.8% | +108% | +181% | +148% | +226% | +660% | +1,314% | 33.4% | 1.39 | $129B |
| CVI: CVR Energy, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +12.5% | +68.6% | +88.5% | +134% | +62.6% | +105% | +289% | +1,306% | 52.4% | 0.79 | $5.9B |
| WSM: Williams-Sonoma, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +12.4% | +17.7% | +33.1% | +40.7% | +40.7% | +249% | +202% | +1,298% | 44.4% | 0.72 | $31B |
| FRO: Frontline Plc | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +6.9% | +41.8% | +62.0% | +182% | +148% | +222% | +762% | +1,270% | 49.7% | 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.

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## Explore further

- Full page: https://betterthanspy.com/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-amzn
- All research pages: https://betterthanspy.com/llms.txt