SWISX vs SPY: which was the better investment?
Schwab International Index Fund against SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from May 19, 1997 to Jul 13, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did SWISX beat SPY?
No — measured from May 19, 1997 to Jul 13, 2026 with dividends reinvested, SPY came out ahead: $148,356 versus $46,672 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 9.7% annual return against 5.4%.
What would $10,000 in SWISX be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Schwab International Index Fund (SWISX) on May 19, 1997 would be worth about $46,672 as of Jul 13, 2026, a total return of 366.7% (5.4% per year). The same $10,000 in SPY would be worth $148,356.
Which was riskier — SWISX or SPY?
SWISX swung with an annualized volatility of 19.0% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -60.6%; SPY ran at 19.4% volatility with a -55.2% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.18 for SWISX vs 0.40 for SPY.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering May 19, 1997 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 SWISX 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.