AA vs CLF: which was the better investment?
Alcoa Corporation against Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Feb 21, 1973 to Jul 15, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did AA beat CLF?
Yes — measured from Feb 21, 1973 to Jul 15, 2026 with dividends reinvested, AA came out ahead: $317,938 versus $118,443 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 6.7% annual return against 4.7%.
What would $10,000 in AA be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Alcoa Corporation (AA) on Feb 21, 1973 would be worth about $317,938 as of Jul 15, 2026, a total return of 3079.4% (6.7% per year). The same $10,000 in CLF would be worth $118,443.
Which was riskier — AA or CLF?
AA swung with an annualized volatility of 39.9% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -94.4%; CLF ran at 50.0% volatility with a -98.8% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.12 for AA vs 0.05 for CLF.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Feb 21, 1973 through Jul 15, 2026 — the full period where both assets have price history. Adjusted prices include dividends and splits, so these are total returns. The page refreshes with new market data every day.
Can I change the dates, amounts, or add monthly investing?
Yes — the interactive tool on this page is pre-loaded with AA vs CLF. You can set any start and end date, change the starting amount, add monthly contributions, or build a multi-asset portfolio and compare it against any benchmark.