DAL vs VTI: which was the better investment?
Delta Air Lines, Inc. against Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from May 3, 2007 to Jul 13, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did DAL beat VTI?
No — measured from May 3, 2007 to Jul 13, 2026 with dividends reinvested, VTI came out ahead: $70,066 versus $48,517 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 10.7% annual return against 8.6%.
What would $10,000 in DAL be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Delta Air Lines, Inc. (DAL) on May 3, 2007 would be worth about $48,517 as of Jul 13, 2026, a total return of 385.2% (8.6% per year). The same $10,000 in VTI would be worth $70,066.
Which was riskier — DAL or VTI?
DAL swung with an annualized volatility of 51.0% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -81.7%; VTI ran at 19.9% volatility with a -55.5% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.13 for DAL vs 0.44 for VTI.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering May 3, 2007 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 DAL vs VTI. 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.