SLV vs DIA: which was the better investment?
iShares Silver Trust against SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Apr 28, 2006 to Jul 15, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did SLV beat DIA?
No — measured from Apr 28, 2006 to Jul 15, 2026 with dividends reinvested, DIA came out ahead: $72,317 versus $38,242 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 10.3% annual return against 6.9%.
What would $10,000 in SLV be worth today?
$10,000 invested in iShares Silver Trust (SLV) on Apr 28, 2006 would be worth about $38,242 as of Jul 15, 2026, a total return of 282.4% (6.9% per year). The same $10,000 in DIA would be worth $72,317.
Which was riskier — SLV or DIA?
SLV swung with an annualized volatility of 33.3% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -76.3%; DIA ran at 18.5% volatility with a -51.9% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.15 for SLV vs 0.45 for DIA.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Apr 28, 2006 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 SLV 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.