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FCNTX vs QQQ: which was the better investment?

Fidelity Contrafund against Invesco QQQ Trust on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Mar 10, 1999 to Jul 13, 2026.

Fidelity Contrafundthe Nasdaq-100 (QQQ)
27 years of daily dataDividends reinvestedUpdated daily

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FCNTXFidelity Contrafund
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Frequently asked questions

Did FCNTX beat QQQ?

Yes — measured from Mar 10, 1999 to Jul 13, 2026 with dividends reinvested, FCNTX came out ahead: $188,155 versus $165,417 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 11.3% annual return against 10.8%.

What would $10,000 in FCNTX be worth today?

$10,000 invested in Fidelity Contrafund (FCNTX) on Mar 10, 1999 would be worth about $188,155 as of Jul 13, 2026, a total return of 1781.5% (11.3% per year). The same $10,000 in QQQ would be worth $165,417.

Which was riskier — FCNTX or QQQ?

FCNTX swung with an annualized volatility of 18.2% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -49.2%; QQQ ran at 26.9% volatility with a -83.0% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.51 for FCNTX vs 0.33 for QQQ.

What data is this comparison based on?

Daily adjusted closing prices covering Mar 10, 1999 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 FCNTX 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.