APD vs SHW: which was the better investment?
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. against The Sherwin-Williams Company 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 APD beat SHW?
No — measured from Mar 17, 1980 to Jul 15, 2026 with dividends reinvested, SHW came out ahead: $22,604,023 versus $2,006,995 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 18.1% annual return against 12.1%.
What would $10,000 in APD be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (APD) on Mar 17, 1980 would be worth about $2,006,995 as of Jul 15, 2026, a total return of 19970.0% (12.1% per year). The same $10,000 in SHW would be worth $22,604,023.
Which was riskier — APD or SHW?
APD swung with an annualized volatility of 28.0% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -60.3%; SHW ran at 28.9% volatility with a -52.0% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.36 for APD vs 0.56 for SHW.
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 APD vs SHW. 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.