AA vs NUE: which was the better investment?
Alcoa Corporation against Nucor Corporation on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Mar 17, 1980 to Jul 13, 2026.
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Daily total-return data — dividends reinvested. Monthly additions buy on the first trading day.
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Frequently asked questions
Did AA beat NUE?
No — measured from Mar 17, 1980 to Jul 13, 2026 with dividends reinvested, NUE came out ahead: $6,562,251 versus $147,717 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 15.0% annual return against 6.0%.
What would $10,000 in AA be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Alcoa Corporation (AA) on Mar 17, 1980 would be worth about $147,717 as of Jul 13, 2026, a total return of 1377.2% (6.0% per year). The same $10,000 in NUE would be worth $6,562,251.
Which was riskier — AA or NUE?
AA swung with an annualized volatility of 41.2% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -94.4%; NUE ran at 36.0% volatility with a -68.3% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.10 for AA vs 0.36 for NUE.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Mar 17, 1980 through Jul 13, 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 NUE. 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.