GWW vs VTI: which was the better investment?
W.W. Grainger, Inc. against Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Jun 15, 2001 to Jul 15, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did GWW beat VTI?
Yes — measured from Jun 15, 2001 to Jul 15, 2026 with dividends reinvested, GWW came out ahead: $475,247 versus $104,033 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 16.6% annual return against 9.8%.
What would $10,000 in GWW be worth today?
$10,000 invested in W.W. Grainger, Inc. (GWW) on Jun 15, 2001 would be worth about $475,247 as of Jul 15, 2026, a total return of 4652.5% (16.6% per year). The same $10,000 in VTI would be worth $104,033.
Which was riskier — GWW or VTI?
GWW swung with an annualized volatility of 26.9% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -41.6%; VTI ran at 19.1% volatility with a -55.5% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.55 for GWW vs 0.41 for VTI.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Jun 15, 2001 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 GWW vs VTI. 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.