If You Had Invested $1,000 in Tesla Stock 1 Year Ago, Here's How Much You Would Have Today

Source The Motley Fool

Key Points

  • Tesla's performance over the past 12 months comes up short of the overall market's gain.

  • The stock's current valuation shows just how bullish market sentiment has become, with Tesla having no room for error.

  • These 10 stocks could mint the next wave of millionaires ›

By disrupting the massive global automobile industry, Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) became one of the best performing stocks on the market. Shares have rocketed higher over the past decade. And they currently trade at record levels.

More recently, though, shareholders have dealt with a different reality. If you had invested $1,000 in Tesla shares one year ago, here's how much you'd have today.

Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now, when you join Stock Advisor. See the stocks »

White Tesla Model Y at Supercharger station.

Image source: Tesla.

Shareholders need to fasten their seatbelts

Tesla proves that even the most valuable companies can experience heightened levels of volatility. During the three months leading up to mid-March this year, the stock had dropped 49%. Shares have more than doubled over the following nine months, as market sentiment improved drastically.

All told, this electric vehicle (EV) stock is up 9% over the past 12 months (as of Dec. 16). A $1,000 starting investment would be worth $1,090 today. That's not impressive.

Expectations could not be higher

Despite underperforming the market in the last year, Tesla shares trade at a nosebleed valuation. The current price-to-earnings ratio of 318 shows just how bullish investors have become about the company's autonomous driving and humanoid robotics efforts. Progress is being made, but there is still a lot of long-term uncertainty around tech development and customer adoption.

Tesla needs to execute flawlessly to live up to the valuation. Any missteps could send the stock tanking in no time.

Don’t miss this second chance at a potentially lucrative opportunity

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  • Nvidia: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2009, you’d have $443,371!*
  • Apple: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2008, you’d have $51,715!*
  • Netflix: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2004, you’d have $511,196!*

Right now, we’re issuing “Double Down” alerts for three incredible companies, available when you join Stock Advisor, and there may not be another chance like this anytime soon.

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*Stock Advisor returns as of December 18, 2025.

Neil Patel has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Tesla. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Disclaimer: For information purposes only. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
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