SAIA vs QQQ: which was the better investment?
Saia, Inc. against Invesco QQQ Trust on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Sep 11, 2002 to Jul 15, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did SAIA beat QQQ?
Yes — measured from Sep 11, 2002 to Jul 15, 2026 with dividends reinvested, SAIA came out ahead: $439,748 versus $362,835 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 17.2% annual return against 16.3%.
What would $10,000 in SAIA be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Saia, Inc. (SAIA) on Sep 11, 2002 would be worth about $439,748 as of Jul 15, 2026, a total return of 4297.5% (17.2% per year). The same $10,000 in QQQ would be worth $362,835.
Which was riskier — SAIA or QQQ?
SAIA swung with an annualized volatility of 47.9% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -80.4%; QQQ ran at 21.9% volatility with a -53.4% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.32 for SAIA vs 0.65 for QQQ.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Sep 11, 2002 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 SAIA vs QQQ. 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.