DLR vs SPY: which was the better investment?
Digital Realty Trust, Inc. against SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Oct 29, 2004 to Jul 13, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did DLR beat SPY?
Yes — measured from Oct 29, 2004 to Jul 13, 2026 with dividends reinvested, DLR came out ahead: $349,026 versus $98,835 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 17.8% annual return against 11.1%.
What would $10,000 in DLR be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (DLR) on Oct 29, 2004 would be worth about $349,026 as of Jul 13, 2026, a total return of 3390.3% (17.8% per year). The same $10,000 in SPY would be worth $98,835.
Which was riskier — DLR or SPY?
DLR swung with an annualized volatility of 32.5% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -56.8%; SPY ran at 18.9% volatility with a -55.2% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.49 for DLR vs 0.48 for SPY.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Oct 29, 2004 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 DLR 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.