DOW vs SPY: which was the better investment?
Dow Inc. against SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Mar 20, 2019 to Jul 15, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did DOW beat SPY?
No — measured from Mar 20, 2019 to Jul 15, 2026 with dividends reinvested, SPY came out ahead: $29,831 versus $8,978 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 16.1% annual return against -1.5%.
What would $10,000 in DOW be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Dow Inc. (DOW) on Mar 20, 2019 would be worth about $8,978 as of Jul 15, 2026, a total return of -10.2% (-1.5% per year). The same $10,000 in SPY would be worth $29,831.
Which was riskier — DOW or SPY?
DOW swung with an annualized volatility of 38.6% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -64.4%; SPY ran at 19.6% volatility with a -33.7% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is -0.09 for DOW vs 0.72 for SPY.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Mar 20, 2019 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 DOW 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.