SO vs VTI: which was the better investment?
The Southern Company against Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Jun 15, 2001 to Jul 13, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did SO beat VTI?
Yes — measured from Jun 15, 2001 to Jul 13, 2026 with dividends reinvested, SO came out ahead: $130,387 versus $103,256 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 10.8% annual return against 9.8%.
What would $10,000 in SO be worth today?
$10,000 invested in The Southern Company (SO) on Jun 15, 2001 would be worth about $130,387 as of Jul 13, 2026, a total return of 1203.9% (10.8% per year). The same $10,000 in VTI would be worth $103,256.
Which was riskier — SO or VTI?
SO swung with an annualized volatility of 19.6% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -38.4%; VTI ran at 19.1% volatility with a -55.5% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.45 for SO vs 0.41 for VTI.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Jun 15, 2001 through Jul 13, 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 SO 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.