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IRM vs DIA: which was the better investment?

Iron Mountain Incorporated against SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Jan 20, 1998 to Jul 15, 2026.

Iron Mountainthe Dow (DIA)
28 years of daily dataDividends reinvestedUpdated daily

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IRMIron Mountain Incorporated
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Frequently asked questions

Did IRM beat DIA?

Yes — measured from Jan 20, 1998 to Jul 15, 2026 with dividends reinvested, IRM came out ahead: $485,768 versus $121,136 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 14.6% annual return against 9.2%.

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

$10,000 invested in Iron Mountain Incorporated (IRM) on Jan 20, 1998 would be worth about $485,768 as of Jul 15, 2026, a total return of 4757.7% (14.6% per year). The same $10,000 in DIA would be worth $121,136.

Which was riskier — IRM or DIA?

IRM swung with an annualized volatility of 31.5% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -55.7%; DIA ran at 18.5% volatility with a -51.9% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.40 for IRM vs 0.39 for DIA.

What data is this comparison based on?

Daily adjusted closing prices covering Jan 20, 1998 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 IRM 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.