Symbotic Delivers Robotics Revenue Today While Tesla’s Optimus Remains Unreleased

Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) has yet to launch its Optimus humanoid robot commercially, though excitement around the project remains strong. Recent reports of supplier audits in China indicate that a significant increase in Optimus production may commence later this year.

As Tesla’s Optimus timeline advances, it’s worth noting that a robotics firm is already producing meaningful revenue from customers. Investors might look beyond Tesla when considering robotics opportunities.

A Tesla competitor has already monetized robotics

While Tesla may aspire to profit from robotics in the future, Symbotic (NASDAQ: SYM) is already achieving that goal. Symbotic does not build or sell humanoid robots; instead, the Wilmington, Massachusetts‑based firm specializes in automated warehouse systems. With Walmart as its primary strategic partner, Symbotic recorded more than $2.2 billion in revenue for the fiscal year ending September 27, 2025.

Analysts project sales of roughly $2.8 billion for the current fiscal year, representing an increase of nearly 25 %. Symbotic’s backlog is also growing; according to its most recent quarterly earnings release, the backlog stands at $22.5 billion.

Two caveats and a takeaway

Symbotic remains heavily dependent on Walmart. The retailer accounts for about 85 % of the company’s fiscal‑year‑2025 sales and is its biggest customer. Moreover, Walmart transferred its own robotics division to Symbotic in 2025, and a substantial portion of Symbotic’s future pipeline continues to be tied to Walmart.

The limited customer base has contributed to a deceleration in sales growth. Consequently, Symbotic—once regarded as a leading robotics stock—has seen its share price decline roughly 27 % since the beginning of the year.

Although Symbotic is ahead of Tesla in commercializing robotics, it should not be automatically considered a superior robotics investment. If Optimus fulfills its promise and delivers a more versatile robotics and automation solution, it could hinder Symbotic’s expansion beyond its primary customer. Nevertheless, at present Symbotic provides investors with robotics revenue that Tesla cannot yet offer, making it a complementary rather than a replacement holding.

Should you buy stock in Symbotic right now?

Before deciding to purchase Symbotic shares, consider the following:

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