MO vs BTI: which was the better investment?
Altria Group, Inc. against British American Tobacco p.l.c. on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Apr 14, 1980 to Jul 13, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did MO beat BTI?
Yes — measured from Apr 14, 1980 to Jul 13, 2026 with dividends reinvested, MO came out ahead: $23,058,099 versus $7,334,567 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 18.2% annual return against 15.3%.
What would $10,000 in MO be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Altria Group, Inc. (MO) on Apr 14, 1980 would be worth about $23,058,099 as of Jul 13, 2026, a total return of 230481.0% (18.2% per year). The same $10,000 in BTI would be worth $7,334,567.
Which was riskier — MO or BTI?
MO swung with an annualized volatility of 25.7% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -65.4%; BTI ran at 30.3% volatility with a -63.6% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.63 for MO vs 0.44 for BTI.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Apr 14, 1980 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 MO vs BTI. 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.