APD vs SPY: which was the better investment?
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. against SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Jan 29, 1993 to Jul 13, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did APD beat SPY?
Yes — measured from Jan 29, 1993 to Jul 13, 2026 with dividends reinvested, APD came out ahead: $318,027 versus $310,688 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 10.9% annual return against 10.8%.
What would $10,000 in APD be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (APD) on Jan 29, 1993 would be worth about $318,027 as of Jul 13, 2026, a total return of 3080.3% (10.9% per year). The same $10,000 in SPY would be worth $310,688.
Which was riskier — APD or SPY?
APD swung with an annualized volatility of 27.8% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -60.3%; SPY ran at 18.6% volatility with a -55.2% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.32 for APD vs 0.47 for SPY.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Jan 29, 1993 through Jul 13, 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 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.