AZN vs SPY: which was the better investment?
AstraZeneca PLC against SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from May 12, 1993 to Jul 15, 2026.
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Daily total-return data — dividends reinvested. Monthly additions buy on the first trading day.
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Frequently asked questions
Did AZN beat SPY?
Yes — measured from May 12, 1993 to Jul 15, 2026 with dividends reinvested, AZN came out ahead: $500,789 versus $307,047 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 12.5% annual return against 10.9%.
What would $10,000 in AZN be worth today?
$10,000 invested in AstraZeneca PLC (AZN) on May 12, 1993 would be worth about $500,789 as of Jul 15, 2026, a total return of 4907.9% (12.5% per year). The same $10,000 in SPY would be worth $307,047.
Which was riskier — AZN or SPY?
AZN swung with an annualized volatility of 26.2% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -48.9%; SPY ran at 18.6% volatility with a -55.2% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.40 for AZN vs 0.48 for SPY.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering May 12, 1993 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 AZN 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.