WFC vs USB: which was the better investment?
Wells Fargo & Company against U.S. Bancorp on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from May 3, 1973 to Jul 13, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did WFC beat USB?
Yes — measured from May 3, 1973 to Jul 13, 2026 with dividends reinvested, WFC came out ahead: $4,657,316 versus $4,545,309 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 12.2% annual return against 12.2%.
What would $10,000 in WFC be worth today?
$10,000 invested in Wells Fargo & Company (WFC) on May 3, 1973 would be worth about $4,657,316 as of Jul 13, 2026, a total return of 46473.2% (12.2% per year). The same $10,000 in USB would be worth $4,545,309.
Which was riskier — WFC or USB?
WFC swung with an annualized volatility of 33.1% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -79.0%; USB ran at 29.0% volatility with a -76.1% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.31 for WFC vs 0.35 for USB.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering May 3, 1973 through Jul 13, 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 WFC vs USB. 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.