DELL vs DIA: which was the better investment?
Dell Technologies Inc. against SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Aug 17, 2016 to Jul 15, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did DELL beat DIA?
Yes — measured from Aug 17, 2016 to Jul 15, 2026 with dividends reinvested, DELL came out ahead: $380,715 versus $34,378 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 44.4% annual return against 13.3%.
What would $10,000 in DELL be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Dell Technologies Inc. (DELL) on Aug 17, 2016 would be worth about $380,715 as of Jul 15, 2026, a total return of 3707.1% (44.4% per year). The same $10,000 in DIA would be worth $34,378.
Which was riskier — DELL or DIA?
DELL swung with an annualized volatility of 44.3% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -59.6%; DIA ran at 17.6% volatility with a -36.7% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.96 for DELL vs 0.64 for DIA.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Aug 17, 2016 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 DELL 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.