STLD vs SPY: which was the better investment?
Steel Dynamics, Inc. against SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Nov 22, 1996 to Jul 15, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did STLD beat SPY?
Yes — measured from Nov 22, 1996 to Jul 15, 2026 with dividends reinvested, STLD came out ahead: $803,053 versus $167,430 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 15.9% annual return against 10.0%.
What would $10,000 in STLD be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Steel Dynamics, Inc. (STLD) on Nov 22, 1996 would be worth about $803,053 as of Jul 15, 2026, a total return of 7930.5% (15.9% per year). The same $10,000 in SPY would be worth $167,430.
Which was riskier — STLD or SPY?
STLD swung with an annualized volatility of 47.0% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -87.0%; SPY ran at 19.4% volatility with a -55.2% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.30 for STLD vs 0.41 for SPY.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Nov 22, 1996 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 STLD 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.