ANF vs EL: which was the better investment?
Abercrombie & Fitch Co. against The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Sep 26, 1996 to Aug 28, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did ANF beat EL?
Yes — measured from Sep 26, 1996 to Aug 28, 2026 with dividends reinvested, ANF came out ahead: $193,119 versus $131,517 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 10.4% annual return against 9.0%.
What would $10,000 in ANF be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (ANF) on Sep 26, 1996 would be worth about $193,119 as of Aug 28, 2026, a total return of 1831.2% (10.4% per year). The same $10,000 in EL would be worth $131,517.
Which was riskier — ANF or EL?
ANF swung with an annualized volatility of 56.3% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -86.6%; EL ran at 32.9% volatility with a -85.8% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.15 for ANF vs 0.21 for EL.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Sep 26, 1996 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 ANF vs EL. 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.