VST vs VOO: which was the better investment?
Vistra Corp. against Vanguard S&P 500 ETF on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Oct 5, 2016 to Jul 16, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did VST beat VOO?
Yes — measured from Oct 5, 2016 to Jul 16, 2026 with dividends reinvested, VST came out ahead: $134,393 versus $41,101 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 30.4% annual return against 15.6%.
What would $10,000 in VST be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Vistra Corp. (VST) on Oct 5, 2016 would be worth about $134,393 as of Jul 16, 2026, a total return of 1243.9% (30.4% per year). The same $10,000 in VOO would be worth $41,101.
Which was riskier — VST or VOO?
VST swung with an annualized volatility of 42.2% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -53.3%; VOO ran at 18.1% volatility with a -34.0% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.67 for VST vs 0.75 for VOO.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Oct 5, 2016 through Jul 16, 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 VST vs VOO. 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.