SAIA vs VTI: which was the better investment?
Saia, Inc. against Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF 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 VTI?
Yes — measured from Sep 11, 2002 to Jul 15, 2026 with dividends reinvested, SAIA came out ahead: $438,228 versus $133,506 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 17.2% annual return against 11.5%.
What would $10,000 in SAIA be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Saia, Inc. (SAIA) on Sep 11, 2002 would be worth about $438,228 as of Jul 15, 2026, a total return of 4282.3% (17.2% per year). The same $10,000 in VTI would be worth $133,506.
Which was riskier — SAIA or VTI?
SAIA swung with an annualized volatility of 47.9% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -80.4%; VTI ran at 18.9% volatility with a -55.5% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.32 for SAIA vs 0.50 for VTI.
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 VTI. 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.