AA vs STLD: which was the better investment?
Alcoa Corporation against Steel Dynamics, Inc. on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Nov 22, 1996 to Jul 15, 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 STLD?
No — measured from Nov 22, 1996 to Jul 15, 2026 with dividends reinvested, STLD came out ahead: $803,053 versus $19,054 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 15.9% annual return against 2.2%.
What would $10,000 in AA be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Alcoa Corporation (AA) on Nov 22, 1996 would be worth about $19,054 as of Jul 15, 2026, a total return of 90.5% (2.2% per year). The same $10,000 in STLD would be worth $803,053.
Which was riskier — AA or STLD?
AA swung with an annualized volatility of 46.8% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -94.4%; STLD ran at 47.0% volatility with a -87.0% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.00 for AA vs 0.30 for STLD.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Nov 22, 1996 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 STLD. 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.