VMC vs DIA: which was the better investment?
Vulcan Materials Company against SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Jan 20, 1998 to Aug 28, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did VMC beat DIA?
It was effectively a tie over the full overlap period (Jan 20, 1998 to Aug 28, 2026): $10,000 grew to $125,136 in VMC and $123,135 in DIA, a difference of under 2%.
What would $10,000 in VMC be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Vulcan Materials Company (VMC) on Jan 20, 1998 would be worth about $125,136 as of Aug 28, 2026, a total return of 1151.4% (9.2% per year). The same $10,000 in DIA would be worth $123,135.
Which was riskier — VMC or DIA?
VMC swung with an annualized volatility of 32.9% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -76.0%; DIA ran at 18.5% volatility with a -51.9% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.22 for VMC vs 0.39 for DIA.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Jan 20, 1998 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 VMC vs DIA. 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.