From Nov 13, 2006 to the Nov 13, 2026 close, $1,000 in Amazon (AMZN) became $133,363 and $1,000 in Walmart (WMT) became $12,382, with dividends reinvested.

  • Last 10 years: $7,417 in Amazon, $6,442 in Walmart
  • Last 5 years: $1,513 in Amazon, $2,768 in Walmart
  • Last year: $1,122 in Amazon, $1,260 in Walmart
  • Deepest fall: Amazon 65.3% (Oct 23, 2007 to Nov 20, 2008); Walmart 36.4% (Jan 8, 2015 to Nov 13, 2015)
Amazon (AMZN)
Total return13,236%
A year27.7%
Deepest fall65.3%
Volatility37.6%
Sharpe ratio0.60
Beta to S&P 5001.14
Walmart (WMT)
Total return1,138%
A year13.4%
Deepest fall36.4%
Volatility21.0%
Sharpe ratio0.40
Beta to S&P 5000.51

From Nov 13, 2006 to Nov 13, 2026, Amazon grew 27.7% a year and Walmart grew 13.4%. The higher rate, Amazon's, came with wider daily swings. Volatility was 37.6% for Amazon and 21.0% for Walmart. The Sharpe ratio is the yearly return above a fixed 5% risk-free rate, per unit of volatility.

Sharpe ratios were 0.60 for Amazon and 0.40 for Walmart. Over the same dates, the price record shows deepest falls of 65.3% for Amazon and 36.4% for Walmart. From Nov 14, 2006 to Nov 13, 2026, betas to the S&P 500 were 1.14 for Amazon and 0.51 for Walmart.

Growth of $1,000 in Amazon and Walmart

The $1,000 in Amazon and the $1,000 in Walmart swapped places 4 times at month ends. The latest swap came at the end of Dec 2008. Since then, the $1,000 in Amazon has been worth more at every month end. Across all 241 month ends, Amazon's value was the higher one at 236 and Walmart's at 5.

At the end of Aug 2020, $1,000 had become $86,296 in Amazon and $4,139 in Walmart. In relative terms, that was the widest gap between them at any month end. The $1,000 in Amazon first doubled to $2,000 at a month end in Sep 2007. The $1,000 in Walmart did so in Nov 2013.

The $1,000 in Amazon first stood at $100,000 or more at a month end in Nov 2024. The $1,000 in Walmart had not reached $100,000 by Nov 2026.

Amazon (AMZN), circleWalmart (WMT), square
$1k$2k$5k$10k$20k$50k$100k200920122015201820212024AMZN $133,363WMT $12,382
$1k$2k$5k$10k$20k$50k$100k201220182024AMZN $133,363WMT $12,382

Amazon and Walmart returns by period

Every row ends at the Nov 13, 2026 close. The "a year" columns give the yearly rate from each start date. The yearly rates were furthest apart over the full span since May 1997. Over that span, Amazon grew 30.7% a year and Walmart grew 13.3%.

The rates were closest over the last 10 years: 22.2% for Amazon and 20.5% for Walmart.

Amazon's rate over the last year, 12.2%, was below its 10-year rate of 22.2%. Walmart's last-year rate, 26.0%, was above its 10-year rate of 20.5%. In every row, $1,000 in Amazon and $1,000 in Walmart both ended above $1,000.

Period$1,000 in Amazon$1,000 in WalmartAmazon a yearWalmart a year
Since both startedfrom May 15, 1997$2,723,327$40,32930.7%13.3%
Last 20 yearsfrom Nov 13, 2006$133,363$12,38227.7%13.4%
Last 10 yearsfrom Nov 14, 2016$7,417$6,44222.2%20.5%
Last 5 yearsfrom Nov 12, 2021$1,513$2,7688.6%22.6%
Last yearfrom Nov 13, 2025$1,122$1,26012.2%26.0%

How far Amazon and Walmart fell below their highs

At the Nov 13, 2026 close, Amazon was 1.8% below its Jul 2026 month-end high. At the same close, Walmart was 2.5% below its Apr 2026 month-end high. On daily closes, Amazon's deepest fall was 65.3% from Oct 23, 2007 to Nov 20, 2008. Walmart's deepest fall was 36.4% from Jan 8, 2015 to Nov 13, 2015.

Amazon closed back at its old high on Oct 23, 2009, 11 months after the low. Walmart closed back at its old high on Oct 10, 2017, 1 year and 10 months after the low. Amazon was 20% or more below its high at 39 of 241 month ends. Walmart was 20% or more below its high at 13.

The S&P 500's 2008 fall ran from its Oct 9, 2007 high to its Mar 9, 2009 low. Over those dates, Amazon fell 36.5% while Walmart rose 7.4%. The S&P 500's COVID fall ran from its Feb 19, 2020 high to its Mar 23, 2020 low. Over those dates, Amazon fell 12.3% and Walmart 2.5%.

The S&P 500's 2022 fall ran from its Jan 3, 2022 high to its Oct 12, 2022 low. Over those dates, Amazon fell 33.7% and Walmart 8.2%.

Amazon (AMZN), circleWalmart (WMT), square
−50%−40%−30%−20%−10%0%200920122015201820212024
−50%−40%−30%−20%−10%0%201220182024

Amazon vs Walmart by year

The bars cover 19 full calendar years, 2007 to 2025. Amazon rose in 15 of them and Walmart in 15. Amazon's yearly change was higher in 11 years and Walmart's in 8. Both rose in 12 and both fell in 1. In 6 years, one rose while the other fell.

Amazon's lowest year was 2022 (−49.6%) and Walmart's was 2015 (−26.6%). Their highest years were 2009 for Amazon (+162.3%) and 2024 for Walmart (+74.0%). The widest one-year gap between Amazon and Walmart came in 2009, one of the years above. In 2025, the latest full year, Amazon rose 5.2% and Walmart rose 24.5%.

Amazon (AMZN), circleWalmart (WMT), square
−80%−40%0%+40%+80%+120%+160%+200%2010201520202025

Amazon and Walmart monthly returns

These counts cover 120 full months, Nov 2016 to Oct 2026. Amazon rose in 68 of them and Walmart in 73. Both rose in 48, both fell in 27, and in 45 one rose while the other fell, more than one month in three. Amazon's largest monthly fall was −23.8% in Apr 2022, and Walmart's −15.6% in May 2022.

Amazon's largest monthly rise was +27.3% in Apr 2026, and Walmart's +18.9% in Oct 2026. Amazon's longest run of falling months was 5, ending in Dec 2022. Walmart's longest run of falling months was 5, ending in Sep 2026.

The latest cell is a part month, from the Oct 30, 2026 close to the Nov 13, 2026 close. Over those days, Amazon changed +10.9% and Walmart +3.7%.

Amazon, % each month
JFMAMJJASOND
2026+3.7−12.2−0.8+27.3+2.1−11.9+13.9−4.3−4.1−3.5+10.9
2025+8.3−10.7−10.4−3.1+11.2+7.0+6.7−2.2−4.1+11.2−4.5−1.0
2024+2.1+13.9+2.0−3.0+0.8+9.5−3.2−4.5+4.4+0.0+11.5+5.5
2023+22.8−8.6+9.6+2.1+14.3+8.1+2.5+3.2−7.9+4.7+9.8+4.0
2022−10.3+2.7+6.1−23.8−3.3−11.6+27.1−6.1−10.9−9.3−5.8−13.0
2021−1.6−3.5+0.0+12.1−7.0+6.7−3.3+4.3−5.4+2.7+4.0−4.9
2020+8.7−6.2+3.5+26.9−1.3+13.0+14.7+9.0−8.8−3.6+4.3+2.8
2019+14.4−4.6+8.6+8.2−7.9+6.7−1.4−4.8−2.3+2.3+1.4+2.6
2018+24.1+4.2−4.3+8.2+4.1+4.3+4.6+13.2−0.5−20.2+5.8−11.1
2017+9.8+2.6+4.9+4.3+7.5−2.7+2.0−0.7−2.0+15.0+6.5−0.6
Walmart, % each month
JFMAMJJASOND
2026+6.9+7.4−2.7+6.2−12.1−2.2−1.8−5.5−0.9+18.9+3.7
2025+8.6+0.5−10.7+10.8+1.8−1.0+0.2−0.8+6.3−1.8+9.2+1.0
2024+4.8+6.4+3.0−1.4+11.2+3.0+1.4+12.8+4.6+1.5+12.9−2.1
2023+1.5−1.2+4.2+2.4−2.3+7.0+1.7+2.1−1.6+2.2−4.7+1.6
2022−3.4−3.3+10.6+2.7−15.6−5.5+8.6+0.8−2.2+9.7+7.1−6.6
2021−2.5−7.5+5.0+3.0+1.9−0.7+1.1+4.3−5.9+7.2−5.9+3.3
2020−3.7−5.9+6.0+7.0+2.5−3.4+8.0+7.7+0.8−0.8+10.1−5.3
2019+2.9+3.3−0.9+5.4−0.8+8.9−0.1+4.0+3.9−1.2+1.6+0.2
2018+7.9−15.6−0.6−0.6−6.1+3.8+4.2+8.1−2.0+6.8−2.6−4.1
2017−3.4+6.3+2.4+4.3+5.2−3.7+5.7−1.8+0.1+11.7+11.4+2.1

Amazon and Walmart: rolling 1-year return and volatility

The rolling 1-year return is the change over the 12 months to each month end. From Nov 2007 to Nov 2026, Amazon's rolling 1-year return ran from −52.8% (12 months to Nov 2008) to +218.3% (to Nov 2009). Over the same months, Walmart's ran from −31.1% (12 months to Nov 2015) to +80.6% (to Nov 2024).

Amazon's 12-month change was below zero at 32 of those 229 month ends, and Walmart's at 36. Amazon's 12-month change was the higher one at 145 month ends and Walmart's at 84.

Amazon (AMZN), circleWalmart (WMT), square
−50%+0%+50%+100%+150%+200%201020132016201920222025
−50%+0%+50%+100%+150%+200%201220172022
20%30%40%50%20182020202220242026
20%30%40%50%201920222025

Amazon and Walmart: volatility, risk-adjusted return, beta and correlation

These measures cover Nov 13, 2006 to Nov 13, 2026. Over those dates, volatility was 37.6% for Amazon and 21.0% for Walmart. The Sortino ratio counts only falling days as risk. Against the same 5% rate, Sortino ratios were 0.95 for Amazon and 0.58 for Walmart. The Calmar ratio is the yearly return divided by the deepest fall.

Calmar ratios were 0.42 for Amazon and 0.37 for Walmart.

Beta shows how much Amazon and Walmart tended to move on the days the S&P 500 (SPY) moved. A beta of 1 means moving by the same amount as the index. From Nov 14, 2006 to Nov 13, 2026, Amazon's beta was 1.14, so it tended to move more than the index.

Over the same dates, Walmart's beta was 0.51, so it tended to move less than the index. The correlation of Amazon's and Walmart's daily moves was 0.26, little link. A correlation of 1 would mean they always moved together, 0 no link and −1 always opposite.

MeasureAmazonWalmart
Volatility, a year37.6%21.0%
Sharpe ratio0.600.40
Sortino ratio0.950.58
Calmar ratio0.420.37
Deepest fall65.3%36.4%
Beta to the S&P 500from Nov 14, 20061.140.51
Upside capturemonths from Dec 2016144%78%
Downside capturemonths from Dec 2016125%15%
Biggest one-day rise+26.95%Apr 25, 2007+11.71%Mar 17, 2020
Biggest one-day fall−14.05%Apr 29, 2022−11.38%May 17, 2022
Price against its 50-day average+4.6%+11.8%
Price against its 200-day average+9.0%+8.0%
Correlation of daily movesfrom Nov 14, 20060.26

About Amazon and Walmart

What Amazon and Walmart do, from each company's latest annual report filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

Amazon

Amazon.com, Inc. sells consumer products, advertising and subscription services through online and physical stores, and sells cloud computing services through Amazon Web Services (AWS). It reports three segments. North America and International cover retail sales of consumer products, including from sellers, plus advertising and subscription services, through stores focused on each region.

AWS covers global sales of compute, storage, database and other services to start-ups, enterprises, government agencies and academic institutions. The company owns and leases corporate headquarters in Washington's Puget Sound region and in Arlington, Virginia. Its principal executive offices are in Seattle, Washington. Its fiscal year ends on December 31.

Source: 10-K (fiscal 2025, ended December 31, 2025), filed Feb 6, 2026 (SEC EDGAR)

Walmart

Walmart Inc. operates retail and wholesale stores and clubs, as well as eCommerce websites and mobile applications. Its operations are located throughout the U.S., Africa, Canada, Central America, Chile, China, India and Mexico. The company describes itself as an omnichannel retailer, offering shopping in stores and through eCommerce along with other services.

It reports three segments: Walmart U.S., Walmart International and Sam's Club U.S. Its principal offices are in Bentonville, Arkansas, and its common stock trades on the Nasdaq Global Select Market. Its fiscal year ends on January 31 for its U.S. and Canadian operations. Other operations are generally consolidated with a one-month lag on a calendar-year basis.

Source: 10-K (fiscal 2026, ended January 31, 2026), filed Mar 13, 2026 (SEC EDGAR)

About this calculation

What it calculates
For Amazon and Walmart over the same dates: the value of $1,000 in each, total and yearly return, the deepest fall and its recovery, every calendar year, monthly and rolling 12-month changes, and the risk measures below.
Prices
Daily closing prices adjusted for stock splits and dividends, so dividends count as reinvested.
Dates
Both start on the same trading day: the first day both price histories used here share, or the start of the period chosen, and both are valued at the Nov 13, 2026 close.
Yearly return
(final value ÷ $1,000)1 ÷ years − 1, with years counted as days ÷ 365.
Deepest fall
The largest drop from a closing high to a later closing low; recovery is the first close back at that high.
Volatility
How widely daily returns spread around their average over the dates shown: the square root of the average squared gap from that average (dividing by one less than the number of days), × √252, as a yearly figure.
Sharpe ratio
(yearly return − 5%) ÷ volatility, with a fixed risk-free rate of 5% a year.
Sortino ratio
(yearly return − 5%) ÷ downside deviation: the square root of the average squared daily fall (days above 0 count as 0), × √252.
Calmar ratio
Yearly return ÷ the deepest fall over the dates shown.
Beta and correlation
From daily returns on the days both stocks and SPY traded: beta is the covariance of a stock's daily returns with SPY's ÷ the variance of SPY's; correlation is that of the two stocks' daily returns.
Biggest one-day moves
The largest daily rise and fall in adjusted close over the dates shown.
Moving-average distance
The last close against the simple average of the last 50 and 200 closes. A fact about price, not a signal.
Capture
Over the last 10 years of month ends: a stock's average monthly change in the months SPY rose (fell), as a percentage of SPY's average change in those months.
Rounding
Calculated at full precision and rounded for display: whole dollars, one decimal for percentages, two for ratios.
Exclusions
Taxes, fees, currency conversion and companies no longer in the index.
Freshness
Recalculated after each trading day. Company profiles come from each company's latest annual report, with the filing date shown.
Reproduce
Open this comparison in Compare Two Stocks

Common questions

Which had the higher return, Amazon or Walmart stock?

It depends on the period. Amazon had the higher total return over the full span since May 1997 and the last 20 and 10 years. Walmart had the higher total return over the last 5 years and the last year. From May 15, 1997 to the Nov 13, 2026 close, Amazon returned +272,233% in total and Walmart +3,933%.

Both include reinvested dividends, before taxes and fees. Over the last 10 years, Amazon returned +642% and Walmart +544%. Over the last 5 years, Amazon returned +51.3% and Walmart +177%. Over the last year, Amazon returned +12.2% and Walmart +26.0%. None of these Amazon and Walmart figures is a forecast.

Is Amazon or Walmart the better stock to buy?

SmartFin does not say which to buy. This page reports what Amazon and Walmart prices did. From Nov 13, 2006 to Nov 13, 2026, Amazon grew 27.7% a year and Walmart grew 13.4%. The record shows deepest falls of 65.3% for Amazon and 36.4% for Walmart. Past returns for Amazon and Walmart do not show what either will do next.

Do the Amazon and Walmart returns include dividends?

Yes. Every AMZN and WMT figure here uses closing prices adjusted for stock splits and dividends, so dividends count as reinvested. Taxes, fees and trading costs are left out of the Amazon and Walmart figures.

Has Amazon or Walmart stock dropped from its high?

At the Nov 13, 2026 close, Amazon was 1.8% below its highest month-end value, set in Jul 2026. At the same close, Walmart was 2.5% below its highest month-end value, set in Apr 2026. Amazon's deepest fall on daily closes was 65.3%, from Oct 2007 to Nov 2008. Walmart's deepest fall was 36.4%, from Jan 2015 to Nov 2015.

Compare Amazon and Walmart with your own amount and dates in Compare Two Stocks

Daily closing prices adjusted for stock splits, with dividends reinvested, before taxes and fees. Both amounts are invested at the same close and valued at the Nov 13, 2026 close. See also: What if you invested in Amazon · What if you invested in Walmart.

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This page presents historical market data and calculated results for a defined period. It is not a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold the security, fund, or index shown. Past performance is not indicative of future results.