ALK vs LUV: which was the better investment?
Alaska Air Group, Inc. against Southwest Airlines Co. on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Mar 17, 1980 to Jul 15, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did ALK beat LUV?
No — measured from Mar 17, 1980 to Jul 15, 2026 with dividends reinvested, LUV came out ahead: $3,519,145 versus $650,694 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 13.5% annual return against 9.4%.
What would $10,000 in ALK be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Alaska Air Group, Inc. (ALK) on Mar 17, 1980 would be worth about $650,694 as of Jul 15, 2026, a total return of 6406.9% (9.4% per year). The same $10,000 in LUV would be worth $3,519,145.
Which was riskier — ALK or LUV?
ALK swung with an annualized volatility of 43.3% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -82.7%; LUV ran at 37.4% volatility with a -78.2% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.17 for ALK vs 0.31 for LUV.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Mar 17, 1980 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 ALK vs LUV. 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.