NFLX vs SPY: which was the better investment?
Netflix, Inc. against SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from May 23, 2002 to Jul 15, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did NFLX beat SPY?
Yes — measured from May 23, 2002 to Jul 15, 2026 with dividends reinvested, NFLX came out ahead: $6,242,321 versus $106,524 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 30.5% annual return against 10.3%.
What would $10,000 in NFLX be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) on May 23, 2002 would be worth about $6,242,321 as of Jul 15, 2026, a total return of 62323.2% (30.5% per year). The same $10,000 in SPY would be worth $106,524.
Which was riskier — NFLX or SPY?
NFLX swung with an annualized volatility of 54.4% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -82.0%; SPY ran at 19.0% volatility with a -55.2% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.52 for NFLX vs 0.44 for SPY.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering May 23, 2002 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 NFLX 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.