BP vs SHEL: which was the better investment?
BP p.l.c. against Shell plc on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Mar 12, 1984 to Jul 15, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did BP beat SHEL?
No — measured from Mar 12, 1984 to Jul 15, 2026 with dividends reinvested, SHEL came out ahead: $2,287,945 versus $270,854 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 13.7% annual return against 8.1%.
What would $10,000 in BP be worth today?
$10,000 invested in BP p.l.c. (BP) on Mar 12, 1984 would be worth about $270,854 as of Jul 15, 2026, a total return of 2608.5% (8.1% per year). The same $10,000 in SHEL would be worth $2,287,945.
Which was riskier — BP or SHEL?
BP swung with an annualized volatility of 27.7% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -63.9%; SHEL ran at 47.8% volatility with a -67.2% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.22 for BP vs 0.24 for SHEL.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Mar 12, 1984 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 BP vs SHEL. 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.