DRI vs SPY: which was the better investment?
Darden Restaurants, Inc. against SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from May 9, 1995 to Jul 13, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did DRI beat SPY?
Yes — measured from May 9, 1995 to Jul 13, 2026 with dividends reinvested, DRI came out ahead: $651,658 versus $245,647 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 14.3% annual return against 10.8%.
What would $10,000 in DRI be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Darden Restaurants, Inc. (DRI) on May 9, 1995 would be worth about $651,658 as of Jul 13, 2026, a total return of 6416.6% (14.3% per year). The same $10,000 in SPY would be worth $245,647.
Which was riskier — DRI or SPY?
DRI swung with an annualized volatility of 35.2% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -72.8%; SPY ran at 19.1% volatility with a -55.2% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.35 for DRI vs 0.46 for SPY.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering May 9, 1995 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 DRI 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.