SLV vs SPY: which was the better investment?
iShares Silver Trust against SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust 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 SPY?
No — measured from Apr 28, 2006 to Jul 15, 2026 with dividends reinvested, SPY came out ahead: $83,270 versus $38,257 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 11.1% 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 $38,257 as of Jul 15, 2026, a total return of 282.6% (6.9% per year). The same $10,000 in SPY would be worth $83,270.
Which was riskier — SLV or SPY?
SLV swung with an annualized volatility of 33.3% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -76.3%; SPY ran at 19.4% volatility with a -55.2% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.15 for SLV vs 0.47 for SPY.
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 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.