RSG vs SPY: which was the better investment?
Republic Services, Inc. against SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Jul 1, 1998 to Jul 15, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did RSG beat SPY?
Yes — measured from Jul 1, 1998 to Jul 15, 2026 with dividends reinvested, RSG came out ahead: $206,357 versus $106,911 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 11.4% annual return against 8.8%.
What would $10,000 in RSG be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Republic Services, Inc. (RSG) on Jul 1, 1998 would be worth about $206,357 as of Jul 15, 2026, a total return of 1963.6% (11.4% per year). The same $10,000 in SPY would be worth $106,911.
Which was riskier — RSG or SPY?
RSG swung with an annualized volatility of 28.6% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -66.0%; SPY ran at 19.4% volatility with a -55.2% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.33 for RSG vs 0.35 for SPY.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Jul 1, 1998 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 RSG 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.