PG vs CL: which was the better investment?
The Procter & Gamble Company against Colgate-Palmolive Company on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from May 2, 1973 to Jul 15, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did PG beat CL?
No — measured from May 2, 1973 to Jul 15, 2026 with dividends reinvested, CL came out ahead: $2,122,959 versus $2,072,183 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 10.6% annual return against 10.5%.
What would $10,000 in PG be worth today?
$10,000 invested in The Procter & Gamble Company (PG) on May 2, 1973 would be worth about $2,072,183 as of Jul 15, 2026, a total return of 20621.8% (10.5% per year). The same $10,000 in CL would be worth $2,122,959.
Which was riskier — PG or CL?
PG swung with an annualized volatility of 22.0% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -54.2%; CL ran at 25.3% volatility with a -59.8% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.39 for PG vs 0.34 for CL.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering May 2, 1973 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 PG vs CL. 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.