GDX vs DIA: which was the better investment?
VanEck Gold Miners ETF against SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from May 22, 2006 to Jul 13, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did GDX beat DIA?
No — measured from May 22, 2006 to Jul 13, 2026 with dividends reinvested, DIA came out ahead: $73,677 versus $23,222 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 10.4% annual return against 4.3%.
What would $10,000 in GDX be worth today?
$10,000 invested in VanEck Gold Miners ETF (GDX) on May 22, 2006 would be worth about $23,222 as of Jul 13, 2026, a total return of 132.2% (4.3% per year). The same $10,000 in DIA would be worth $73,677.
Which was riskier — GDX or DIA?
GDX swung with an annualized volatility of 41.3% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -80.6%; DIA ran at 18.5% volatility with a -51.9% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.05 for GDX vs 0.46 for DIA.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering May 22, 2006 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 GDX vs DIA. 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.