GE vs ROK: which was the better investment?
GE Aerospace against Rockwell Automation, Inc. on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Dec 31, 1981 to Jul 15, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did GE beat ROK?
No — measured from Dec 31, 1981 to Jul 15, 2026 with dividends reinvested, ROK came out ahead: $6,312,094 versus $1,926,140 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 15.6% annual return against 12.5%.
What would $10,000 in GE be worth today?
$10,000 invested in GE Aerospace (GE) on Dec 31, 1981 would be worth about $1,926,140 as of Jul 15, 2026, a total return of 19161.4% (12.5% per year). The same $10,000 in ROK would be worth $6,312,094.
Which was riskier — GE or ROK?
GE swung with an annualized volatility of 29.8% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -85.5%; ROK ran at 32.7% volatility with a -75.8% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.35 for GE vs 0.41 for ROK.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Dec 31, 1981 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 ROK. 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.