AAPL vs AMZN: which was the better investment?
Apple Inc. against Amazon.com, Inc. on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from May 15, 1997 to Oct 15, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did AAPL beat AMZN?
It was effectively a tie over the full overlap period (May 15, 1997 to Oct 15, 2026): $10,000 grew to $25,767,778 in AAPL and $26,017,954 in AMZN, a difference of under 2%.
What would $10,000 in AAPL be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Apple Inc. (AAPL) on May 15, 1997 would be worth about $25,767,778 as of Oct 15, 2026, a total return of 257577.8% (30.6% per year). The same $10,000 in AMZN would be worth $26,017,954.
Which was riskier — AAPL or AMZN?
AAPL swung with an annualized volatility of 41.1% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -81.8%; AMZN ran at 54.9% volatility with a -94.4% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.70 for AAPL vs 0.52 for AMZN.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering May 15, 1997 through Oct 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 AAPL vs AMZN. 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.