RYAAY vs SPY: which was the better investment?
Ryanair Holdings plc against SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from May 29, 1997 to Jul 15, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did RYAAY beat SPY?
Yes — measured from May 29, 1997 to Jul 15, 2026 with dividends reinvested, RYAAY came out ahead: $625,458 versus $147,425 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 15.3% annual return against 9.7%.
What would $10,000 in RYAAY be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Ryanair Holdings plc (RYAAY) on May 29, 1997 would be worth about $625,458 as of Jul 15, 2026, a total return of 6154.6% (15.3% per year). The same $10,000 in SPY would be worth $147,425.
Which was riskier — RYAAY or SPY?
RYAAY swung with an annualized volatility of 38.9% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -67.7%; SPY ran at 19.4% volatility with a -55.2% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.34 for RYAAY vs 0.40 for SPY.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering May 29, 1997 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 RYAAY 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.