CLF vs STLD: which was the better investment?
Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. against Steel Dynamics, Inc. on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Nov 22, 1996 to Jul 13, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did CLF beat STLD?
No — measured from Nov 22, 1996 to Jul 13, 2026 with dividends reinvested, STLD came out ahead: $798,364 versus $26,359 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 15.9% annual return against 3.3%.
What would $10,000 in CLF be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (CLF) on Nov 22, 1996 would be worth about $26,359 as of Jul 13, 2026, a total return of 163.6% (3.3% per year). The same $10,000 in STLD would be worth $798,364.
Which was riskier — CLF or STLD?
CLF swung with an annualized volatility of 61.8% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -98.8%; STLD ran at 47.0% volatility with a -87.0% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.02 for CLF vs 0.30 for STLD.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Nov 22, 1996 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 CLF vs STLD. 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.