ABT vs SPY: which was the better investment?
Abbott Laboratories against SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Jan 29, 1993 to Aug 28, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did ABT beat SPY?
Yes — measured from Jan 29, 1993 to Aug 28, 2026 with dividends reinvested, ABT came out ahead: $412,736 versus $319,057 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 11.7% annual return against 10.9%.
What would $10,000 in ABT be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Abbott Laboratories (ABT) on Jan 29, 1993 would be worth about $412,736 as of Aug 28, 2026, a total return of 4027.4% (11.7% per year). The same $10,000 in SPY would be worth $319,057.
Which was riskier — ABT or SPY?
ABT swung with an annualized volatility of 25.1% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -45.7%; SPY ran at 18.5% volatility with a -55.2% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.39 for ABT vs 0.48 for SPY.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Jan 29, 1993 through Aug 28, 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 ABT vs SPY. 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.