ARES vs DIA: which was the better investment?
Ares Management Corporation against SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from May 2, 2014 to Jul 15, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did ARES beat DIA?
Yes — measured from May 2, 2014 to Jul 15, 2026 with dividends reinvested, ARES came out ahead: $113,004 versus $40,857 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 22.0% annual return against 12.2%.
What would $10,000 in ARES be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Ares Management Corporation (ARES) on May 2, 2014 would be worth about $113,004 as of Jul 15, 2026, a total return of 1030.0% (22.0% per year). The same $10,000 in DIA would be worth $40,857.
Which was riskier — ARES or DIA?
ARES swung with an annualized volatility of 35.4% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -50.0%; DIA ran at 16.9% volatility with a -36.7% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.57 for ARES vs 0.60 for DIA.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering May 2, 2014 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 ARES vs DIA. 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.