NVS vs SPY: which was the better investment?
Novartis AG against SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Nov 7, 1996 to Aug 28, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did NVS beat SPY?
No — measured from Nov 7, 1996 to Aug 28, 2026 with dividends reinvested, SPY came out ahead: $175,690 versus $131,649 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 10.1% annual return against 9.0%.
What would $10,000 in NVS be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Novartis AG (NVS) on Nov 7, 1996 would be worth about $131,649 as of Aug 28, 2026, a total return of 1216.5% (9.0% per year). The same $10,000 in SPY would be worth $175,690.
Which was riskier — NVS or SPY?
NVS swung with an annualized volatility of 21.3% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -42.7%; SPY ran at 19.3% volatility with a -55.2% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.33 for NVS vs 0.42 for SPY.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Nov 7, 1996 through Aug 28, 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 NVS 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.