MDY vs SPY: which was the better investment?
SPDR S&P MidCap 400 ETF Trust against SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from May 4, 1995 to Jul 13, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did MDY beat SPY?
Yes — measured from May 4, 1995 to Jul 13, 2026 with dividends reinvested, MDY came out ahead: $275,544 versus $246,895 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 11.2% annual return against 10.8%.
What would $10,000 in MDY be worth today?
$10,000 invested in SPDR S&P MidCap 400 ETF Trust (MDY) on May 4, 1995 would be worth about $275,544 as of Jul 13, 2026, a total return of 2655.4% (11.2% per year). The same $10,000 in SPY would be worth $246,895.
Which was riskier — MDY or SPY?
MDY swung with an annualized volatility of 21.5% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -55.3%; SPY ran at 19.1% volatility with a -55.2% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.43 for MDY vs 0.46 for SPY.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering May 4, 1995 through Jul 13, 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 MDY 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.