ALV vs STLA: How Autoliv and STLA Compare (2026)
Last updated July 2026
Short answer
STLA is the larger of the two ($17.45B market cap): the incumbent the market prices for continued execution (4.31x forward earnings, beta 0.99). ALV is the smaller challenger ($9.15B), actually pricier on forward earnings (10.58x): more room to run, but more to prove. The real question is which set of drivers you believe, and whether owning one (or both) leaves you over-concentrated.
ALV vs STLA: the tie-breaker metrics
Same yardstick, side by side (as of July 2026). Valuation lined up like this is most meaningful for two names in the same corner of the market, which these are. Figures are approximate; verify before investing.
| Metric | ALV | STLA | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|---|
| Market cap | $9.15B | $17.45B | Size. The larger name is the incumbent; the smaller has more room to grow and more to prove. |
| Forward P/E | 10.58 | 4.31 | Valuation on next year's expected earnings, the same yardstick for both. Lower is cheaper for that growth; higher means the market is paying up. |
| Beta | 1.36 | 0.99 | Volatility vs the market. Above 1 swings harder than the index; below 1 is steadier. Higher beta means bigger drawdowns to hold through. |
| Price vs 52-week range | 78% of range | 11% of range | Where today's price sits between the 52-week low and high. Near the high is momentum with less margin of safety; near the low is out of favor or a discount, depending on why. |
| Price / book | 3.67 | 0.28 | How much you pay over book value. Very high can signal an asset-light, high-return business or a rich price. |
Reading it: STLA is the cheaper of the two on forward earnings, but cheaper is not the same as better. Pair the valuation with growth (how far the forward P/E sits below the trailing P/E) and risk (beta) before you decide.
Before you buy: how ALV and STLA affect your concentration
The metrics above tell you which is the marginally better business. The bigger risk for most people is not picking the slightly worse stock, it is over-concentrating. ALV and STLA share themes, so owning both, or adding either to what you already hold, can quietly push a large share of your portfolio into one bet.
This is the part a generic comparison page cannot answer, because it depends on what you own. Connect your brokerage and Walnut shows your real, combined ALV and STLA exposure, flags overlap with your existing positions, and tells you if adding one would tip you past a concentration you are comfortable with, read-only by default, with your login staying at your broker. Walnut is not an investment adviser.
What does Autoliv (ALV) do?
Autoliv, Inc. (NYSE: ALV) is the global leader in passive automotive safety, supplying airbags, seatbelts, steering wheels, and related components to essentially every major automaker. The company holds roughly a 44 to 45 percent share of the worldwide passive-safety market, well ahead of its nearest rivals, and generated about $10.8 billion in net sales in 2025. Its content sits inside cars regardless of powertrain, so it participates in electric, hybrid, and combustion vehicles alike, and demand is underpinned by rising safety regulation and the steady increase in safety content per vehicle.
What does STLA (STLA) do?
Stellantis N.V. is a multinational automaker created in 2021 from the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and France's PSA Group. It sells vehicles worldwide under roughly a dozen and a half brands, including the profitable US trio of Jeep, Ram, and Dodge, plus Chrysler, Peugeot, Citroen, Fiat, Opel, Vauxhall, Alfa Romeo, Maserati, and others. It is one of the largest carmakers in the world by volume and lists in the US, Milan, and Paris. After a strong early run on high North American profits, the company hit a rough patch marked by falling US sales, bloated inventory, strained dealer and supplier relationships, and a costly, aggressive electric-vehicle strategy.
ALV vs STLA: how do they differ?
Both fit overlapping themes, but they are not interchangeable. The useful comparison is which set of drivers and risks you want exposure to.
- ALV drivers: Market leadership and safety content growth; Margin expansion and cost discipline.
- STLA drivers: Turnaround under a new CEO; Low valuation and capital returns.
Which fits which kind of investor
A faster-growing, richer-valued name usually swings harder, so it suits a longer horizon and a higher tolerance for volatility; a steadier, more cash-generative business suits a more conservative or income-minded investor. The honest test is which set of risks you could hold through a drawdown: Autoliv's results are tightly linked to global light-vehicle production, which is cyclical and can fall sharply in a downturn. For STLA, the dominant risk is cyclicality: automakers' profits swing sharply with the economy, consumer confidence, and interest rates, so a downturn can quickly hurt sales and earnings.
ALV or STLA: which should you pick?
Growth-minded investors who believe the theme has years to run tend to accept the richer multiple for more upside; value-minded investors lean toward the cheaper forward earnings and steadier profile. Pick ALV if you believe its drivers more; STLA if you believe its. Many investors hold both, but since they share themes, that is a concentrated bet, not diversification. Decide deliberately and check overlap. For the full detail, see the ALV and STLA guides.
ALV vs STLA: the full fundamentals
ALV. Autoliv trades at a low double-digit earnings multiple typical of an auto supplier, reflecting its cyclicality despite its leading market position. FY2025 delivered record adjusted operating income of about $1.1 billion at roughly a 10.3 percent adjusted margin, and Q1 2026 sales grew about 6.8 percent to $2.75 billion on strength in Asia. Management reiterated full-year 2026 guidance for roughly flat organic sales and an adjusted operating margin near 10.5 to 11 percent.
STLA. Figures are approximate and tied to the asOf date; verify live numbers before acting. Automakers like Stellantis typically trade at low multiples because their earnings are cyclical and capital-intensive, so a cheap-looking valuation can reflect real risk rather than a bargain. The turnaround has shown early progress, but the stock's re-rating depends on sustained execution across North America, pricing, and EV strategy, not a single strong quarter.
Headline figures (approximate, MAY 2026): ALV shows revenue (ttm) ~$11.0B, fy2025 net sales ~$10.8B, q1 2026 net sales ~$2.75B (up ~6.8% YoY), market cap ~$9.0B; STLA shows business model Global automaker with roughly a dozen and a half brands including Jeep, Ram, Dodge, Peugeot, Citroen, Fiat, and Opel, recent results Q1 2026 sales up about 6% with a positive earnings beat; Q2 2026 shipments up roughly 10% year over year, turnaround New CEO Antonio Filosa calls 2026 the "year of execution," prioritizing US brands and affordable models, ev strategy Unwinding predecessor's aggressive all-electric plans, including a large charge tied to the change.
The bottom line: ALV vs STLA
ALV and STLA are related but distinct: same themes, different businesses and risks. Neither wins in the abstract; the right pick is whichever thesis you actually believe, sized so you are not over-concentrated in one theme. Walnut can show your combined ALV and STLA exposure against your real portfolio. It is not an investment adviser.
Investing in Autoliv with AI
Connect the broker you already use and ask Walnut's AI how ALV fits what you actually hold: whether you own it already through a fund, what it would do to your concentration, and how it has tracked the S&P 500. Read-only by default, and you approve anything before it reaches your broker.
FAQ
What is the difference between ALV and STLA?
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Autoliv, Inc. Stellantis N.V. They show up together because they share investment themes, but they are different businesses, so the better fit depends on which thesis you are expressing.
Is ALV or STLA the better stock?
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Neither is universally better. STLA is the larger incumbent; ALV is the smaller challenger and looks pricier on forward earnings. Walnut is informational, not investment advice. Compare what each does, the tie-breaker metrics above, and the risks, then decide which fits your thesis and what you already own.
Which is cheaper, ALV or STLA?
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On forward P/E (as of July 2026), ALV trades at 10.58x and STLA at 4.31x, so STLA is the cheaper of the two on next year's expected earnings. A lower multiple is not automatically the better buy: a richer valuation can be justified by faster growth, and a lower one can reflect real risk. Weigh the multiple against how fast each business is compounding.
Should you own both ALV and STLA?
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Because they share themes, owning both concentrates you in that theme. That can be intentional (a focused bet) or accidental (less diversification than it looks). Walnut can show your combined exposure across both, and whether adding either over-concentrates you, before you buy.
What are the risks of ALV vs STLA?
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ALV: Autoliv's results are tightly linked to global light-vehicle production, which is cyclical and can fall sharply in a downturn. Tariffs on imported vehicles and components, raw-material and labor inflation, and pricing pressure from automakers can all squeeze margins. The shift toward electric vehicles and toward lower-priced Chinese OEMs changes the customer mix and can pressure content pricing, while any product recall or quality issue in a safety-critical business carries outsized cost and reputational risk. Currency swings also matter because most sales are outside the US dollar. STLA: The dominant risk is cyclicality: automakers' profits swing sharply with the economy, consumer confidence, and interest rates, so a downturn can quickly hurt sales and earnings. Stellantis is mid-turnaround, so execution risk is high; its recovery depends on fixing North American overcapacity, rebuilding dealer and supplier trust, and getting pricing and inventory right, none of which is guaranteed. Tariffs and trade policy are a real threat given its cross-border manufacturing, adding cost and pricing uncertainty. The EV transition cuts both ways: Stellantis took a large charge unwinding aggressive EV plans, and it must still invest to remain competitive as regulations and demand shift, risking either stranded investment or falling behind. Intense competition from global rivals and lower-cost Chinese automakers pressures share and margins. Leadership transitions and strategy shifts add uncertainty, and as a foreign-listed stock, US holders face currency effects. The low valuation reflects these genuine risks, not just pessimism.
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Walnut is informational, not investment advice. This page is descriptive and not a recommendation to buy or sell ALV or STLA; figures are approximate and dated (as of July 2026). Verify current data before investing.