TMO vs SPY: which was the better investment?
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. against SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Jan 29, 1993 to Jul 15, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did TMO beat SPY?
Yes — measured from Jan 29, 1993 to Jul 15, 2026 with dividends reinvested, TMO came out ahead: $446,743 versus $312,737 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 12.0% annual return against 10.8%.
What would $10,000 in TMO be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (TMO) on Jan 29, 1993 would be worth about $446,743 as of Jul 15, 2026, a total return of 4367.4% (12.0% per year). The same $10,000 in SPY would be worth $312,737.
Which was riskier — TMO or SPY?
TMO swung with an annualized volatility of 29.3% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -71.2%; SPY ran at 18.6% volatility with a -55.2% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.34 for TMO vs 0.48 for SPY.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Jan 29, 1993 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 TMO 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.