QUAL vs DIA: which was the better investment?
iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF against SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Jul 18, 2013 to Jul 13, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did QUAL beat DIA?
Yes — measured from Jul 18, 2013 to Jul 13, 2026 with dividends reinvested, QUAL came out ahead: $52,567 versus $43,902 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 13.6% annual return against 12.1%.
What would $10,000 in QUAL be worth today?
$10,000 invested in iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (QUAL) on Jul 18, 2013 would be worth about $52,567 as of Jul 13, 2026, a total return of 425.7% (13.6% per year). The same $10,000 in DIA would be worth $43,902.
Which was riskier — QUAL or DIA?
QUAL swung with an annualized volatility of 17.1% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -34.1%; DIA ran at 16.6% volatility with a -36.7% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.68 for QUAL vs 0.61 for DIA.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Jul 18, 2013 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 QUAL vs DIA. 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.