DUOL vs QQQ: which was the better investment?
Duolingo, Inc. against Invesco QQQ Trust on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Jul 28, 2021 to Jul 15, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did DUOL beat QQQ?
No — measured from Jul 28, 2021 to Jul 15, 2026 with dividends reinvested, QQQ came out ahead: $20,163 versus $9,989 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 15.2% annual return against -0.0%.
What would $10,000 in DUOL be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Duolingo, Inc. (DUOL) on Jul 28, 2021 would be worth about $9,989 as of Jul 15, 2026, a total return of -0.1% (-0.0% per year). The same $10,000 in QQQ would be worth $20,163.
Which was riskier — DUOL or QQQ?
DUOL swung with an annualized volatility of 66.1% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -83.3%; QQQ ran at 22.9% volatility with a -35.1% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is -0.03 for DUOL vs 0.58 for QQQ.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Jul 28, 2021 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 DUOL vs QQQ. 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.