JNJ vs SPY: which was the better investment?
Johnson & Johnson against SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Jan 29, 1993 to Jul 15, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did JNJ beat SPY?
Yes — measured from Jan 29, 1993 to Jul 15, 2026 with dividends reinvested, JNJ came out ahead: $514,807 versus $312,861 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 12.5% annual return against 10.8%.
What would $10,000 in JNJ be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) on Jan 29, 1993 would be worth about $514,807 as of Jul 15, 2026, a total return of 5048.1% (12.5% per year). The same $10,000 in SPY would be worth $312,861.
Which was riskier — JNJ or SPY?
JNJ swung with an annualized volatility of 20.6% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -35.9%; SPY ran at 18.6% volatility with a -55.2% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.51 for JNJ vs 0.48 for SPY.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Jan 29, 1993 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 JNJ vs SPY. 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.