NUE vs SPY: which was the better investment?
Nucor Corporation against SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Jan 29, 1993 to Jul 13, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did NUE beat SPY?
Yes — measured from Jan 29, 1993 to Jul 13, 2026 with dividends reinvested, NUE came out ahead: $486,980 versus $310,688 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 12.3% annual return against 10.8%.
What would $10,000 in NUE be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Nucor Corporation (NUE) on Jan 29, 1993 would be worth about $486,980 as of Jul 13, 2026, a total return of 4769.8% (12.3% per year). The same $10,000 in SPY would be worth $310,688.
Which was riskier — NUE or SPY?
NUE swung with an annualized volatility of 37.6% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -68.3%; SPY ran at 18.6% volatility with a -55.2% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.27 for NUE vs 0.47 for SPY.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Jan 29, 1993 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 NUE 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.