SWPPX vs SPY: which was the better investment?
Schwab S&P 500 Index Fund against SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from May 20, 1997 to Aug 28, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did SWPPX beat SPY?
It was effectively a tie over the full overlap period (May 20, 1997 to Aug 28, 2026): $10,000 grew to $151,497 in SWPPX and $150,549 in SPY, a difference of under 2%.
What would $10,000 in SWPPX be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Schwab S&P 500 Index Fund (SWPPX) on May 20, 1997 would be worth about $151,497 as of Aug 28, 2026, a total return of 1415.0% (9.7% per year). The same $10,000 in SPY would be worth $150,549.
Which was riskier — SWPPX or SPY?
SWPPX swung with an annualized volatility of 19.2% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -55.1%; SPY ran at 19.4% volatility with a -55.2% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.40 for SWPPX vs 0.40 for SPY.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering May 20, 1997 through Aug 28, 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 SWPPX 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.