GE vs ETN: which was the better investment?
GE Aerospace against Eaton Corporation plc on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Jun 1, 1972 to Jul 15, 2026.
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Daily total-return data — dividends reinvested. Monthly additions buy on the first trading day.
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Frequently asked questions
Did GE beat ETN?
No — measured from Jun 1, 1972 to Jul 15, 2026 with dividends reinvested, ETN came out ahead: $11,995,409 versus $2,381,078 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 14.0% annual return against 10.6%.
What would $10,000 in GE be worth today?
$10,000 invested in GE Aerospace (GE) on Jun 1, 1972 would be worth about $2,381,078 as of Jul 15, 2026, a total return of 23710.8% (10.6% per year). The same $10,000 in ETN would be worth $11,995,409.
Which was riskier — GE or ETN?
GE swung with an annualized volatility of 28.8% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -85.5%; ETN ran at 28.4% volatility with a -68.9% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.30 for GE vs 0.42 for ETN.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Jun 1, 1972 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 GE vs ETN. 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.