PHYS vs SPY: which was the better investment?
Sprott Physical Gold Trust against SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Feb 26, 2010 to Jul 15, 2026.
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Daily total-return data — dividends reinvested. Monthly additions buy on the first trading day.
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Frequently asked questions
Did PHYS beat SPY?
No — measured from Feb 26, 2010 to Jul 15, 2026 with dividends reinvested, SPY came out ahead: $91,218 versus $31,908 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 14.4% annual return against 7.3%.
What would $10,000 in PHYS be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Sprott Physical Gold Trust (PHYS) on Feb 26, 2010 would be worth about $31,908 as of Jul 15, 2026, a total return of 219.1% (7.3% per year). The same $10,000 in SPY would be worth $91,218.
Which was riskier — PHYS or SPY?
PHYS swung with an annualized volatility of 18.1% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -48.2%; SPY ran at 17.1% volatility with a -33.7% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.30 for PHYS vs 0.73 for SPY.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Feb 26, 2010 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 PHYS 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.