PZZA vs SPY: which was the better investment?
Papa John’s International, Inc. against SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Jun 8, 1993 to Aug 28, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did PZZA beat SPY?
No — measured from Jun 8, 1993 to Aug 28, 2026 with dividends reinvested, SPY came out ahead: $312,009 versus $157,321 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 10.9% annual return against 8.6%.
What would $10,000 in PZZA be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Papa John’s International, Inc. (PZZA) on Jun 8, 1993 would be worth about $157,321 as of Aug 28, 2026, a total return of 1473.2% (8.6% per year). The same $10,000 in SPY would be worth $312,009.
Which was riskier — PZZA or SPY?
PZZA swung with an annualized volatility of 39.7% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -80.7%; SPY ran at 18.6% volatility with a -55.2% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.17 for PZZA vs 0.48 for SPY.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Jun 8, 1993 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 PZZA 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.