VTR vs SPY: which was the better investment?
Ventas, Inc. against SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from May 5, 1997 to Jul 15, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did VTR beat SPY?
Yes — measured from May 5, 1997 to Jul 15, 2026 with dividends reinvested, VTR came out ahead: $163,091 versus $149,495 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 10.0% annual return against 9.7%.
What would $10,000 in VTR be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Ventas, Inc. (VTR) on May 5, 1997 would be worth about $163,091 as of Jul 15, 2026, a total return of 1530.9% (10.0% per year). The same $10,000 in SPY would be worth $149,495.
Which was riskier — VTR or SPY?
VTR swung with an annualized volatility of 39.6% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -86.9%; SPY ran at 19.4% volatility with a -55.2% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.20 for VTR vs 0.40 for SPY.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering May 5, 1997 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 VTR 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.