DIA vs GLD Investment Comparison Calculator
What-If you invested in one stock or ETF or crypto instead of another? Compare their historical returns over any period
Calculator inputs
This amount is invested independently in each investment below -- not split between them.
| Investment 1 | Allocation | Starting Value | Final Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100% |
| Investment 2 | Allocation | Starting Value | Final Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100% |
Investment 1
- Market Return
- Market Earned
- Investment Duration
- Annualized Market Return
Investment 2
- Market Return
- Market Earned
- Investment Duration
- Annualized Market Return
Investment 1 vs Investment 2: Comparison
The Gap
Investment 1 vs Investment 2: Growth Over Time
Note: crypto prices reflect the close at UTC midnight (roughly 7-8 PM ET the evening before); stock and ETF prices reflect the 4:00 PM ET market close. The two are not captured at the exact same moment, even on the same labeled date.
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What Does It Mean to Compare Two Investments?
Comparing two investments side by side means putting the same amount independently into each one over the exact same historical period, then seeing which one grew more -- unlike comparing an investment to a savings account, both sides here carry market risk, with no guaranteed floor on either side. This is useful for a different question than "should I save or invest": it helps you see how one ETF or company stacked up against another over a specific window, which helps illustrate how two investments performed relative to each other over the same historical period.
Three Ways to Compare, and How Risk Changes With Each
Comparing two ETFs (like SPY vs QQQ) shows how two diversified baskets performed against each other, with a diversification cushion on both sides. Comparing an ETF against a stock (like AAPL vs SPY) answers whether one company outperformed the broader market it belongs to, mixing a diversified side with a concentrated one. Comparing two stocks (like AAPL vs MSFT) shows how two specific companies diverged, with no cushion on either side -- so the risk profile of this comparison depends entirely on which combination you pick.
How This Calculator Works
This calculator invests your full initial amount independently in Investment 1 and separately (not split) in Investment 2, so you see what the same dollar amount would have grown to in each one on its own, rather than a blended outcome. You can also select the same ETF or stock for both slots -- in that case both sides will show identical results and no difference in final value, which can be a useful way to confirm the calculator is working before comparing two different investments.
Historical Performance Context
Two investments selected for the same historical window can show dramatically different results depending on company-specific news, sector trends, and broader market conditions during that period. Past performance over any historical window, including the one you selected above, does not predict future results for either side.
Important Investment Risks
Both sides compared here can lose substantial value, including the possibility of losing most or all of the invested principal, and neither side is insured the way a bank deposit would be. The calculations on this page use historical adjusted closing prices, which already reflect reinvested dividends, and exclude trading fees and taxes, so real-world brokerage results will differ. This tool is for educational purposes only and is not personalized financial, investment, or tax advice.
No. Unlike the other calculators on this site, the Compare calculator is investment vs investment only -- it does not include a savings account or interest rate. Both sides carry full market risk.
Yes. Both dropdowns list ETFs and stocks together, so you can compare any combination -- two ETFs, two stocks, or one of each -- including a popular question like whether a specific company outperformed a broad market index.
No. The full initial investment amount is applied independently to each side, as if you made two separate investments of that same amount -- one in Investment 1 and one in Investment 2 -- rather than dividing one investment between them.
The calculator will run normally and show identical results on both sides, with no difference in final value. This is allowed rather than blocked, since it can be a useful sanity check, and applies whether you pick two ETFs, two stocks, or the same one twice.
Yes. Both sides of the comparison use actual historical adjusted closing prices for whichever two ETFs or stocks you select, over the exact start and end dates you choose. 'Closing price' refers to the officially reported price of a security at the close of regular trading on its primary exchange (4:00 PM Eastern Time for U.S. markets), and does not reflect after-hours or extended-trading activity.
U.S. markets are closed on Saturdays and Sundays, so no closing price exists for those days for either ETFs or stocks. The calculator requires a business day (Monday through Friday) for both sides so the comparison can use real, recorded closing prices.
This calculator uses historical adjusted closing prices for both sides, so dividends and dividend reinvestment are already reflected in the price. It does not include trading fees or taxes.
Both dropdowns offer the same list, grouped into an ETFs section and a Stocks section -- the ETFs currently available on this site, plus the full S&P 500 for stocks -- so you can compare any two of them against each other, including picking one of each.
CAGR (compound annual growth rate) is calculated separately for each investment: CAGR equals the Final Value divided by the Principal, raised to the power of one divided by Years, minus 1, where Final Value is what that investment grew to and Years is the exact time span between your selected start and end dates. This lets you compare both investments on the same annualized basis.
This calculator is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or tax advice. Returns shown are based on the historical closing-price performance of the two selected investments and do not reflect dividends, trading fees, or taxes. Historical performance does not guarantee future results.