Compare Two Stocks

How does the comparison work?

1. Both stocks start on the same trading day: your start date, or the nearest trading day to it if markets were closed. If one stock's price history starts later, both start then, and the page says so.
2. The starting amount buys shares in each at that day's closing price, adjusted for stock splits and dividends.
3. For each 1st of a month after the start date and on or before the end date, any monthly amount buys more of each on the trading day nearest that 1st.
4. Each holding is valued at the end date's adjusted close (the nearest trading day's, if markets were closed): by default, the latest close.
5. The worst fall is the deepest drop from a closing high to a later low within the dates; the recovery is the first close back at that high.

What the figures mean

Total return

The percentage change in the value of the money put in, from the start date to the end date, counting both price changes and dividends.

Yearly return

The steady annual rate that would turn the starting amount into the final value over the same period; also called the compound annual growth rate. Shown only for a year or more.

Worst fall

The largest drop from a closing high to a later close within the dates, as a percentage of that high; often called the maximum drawdown.

Back to the pre-fall high

The time from the bottom of that fall to the first close at or above the high before it, or "not yet" if that hasn't happened by the end date.

Adjusted prices and dividends

Each closing price is adjusted for stock splits and for dividends, so a split doesn't look like a crash and each dividend counts as if it bought more of the same stock.

What is and isn't included

The comparison uses each stock's daily closing prices, adjusted for stock splits and dividends, so dividends count as reinvested. It leaves out taxes, trading fees and fund fees beyond those already in a fund's price, currency conversion, and companies that have left the S&P 500, so it can't show a stock that was later removed.

It compares two price histories. It doesn't say which to own: that depends on things like risk, fees and what you already hold.

About this calculation

What it calculates

For each of two stocks or funds over the same dates: the value of the starting amount, the total return, the yearly return (compound annual growth), the worst fall and the time back to the high before it, and, with a monthly amount, the value of the starting amount plus the monthly purchases.

Inputs

Two stocks or funds, a starting amount, an optional monthly amount, a start date and an optional end date.

Prices

Daily closing prices adjusted for stock splits and dividends.

Dates

Both start on the same trading day: the start date, or the nearest day both traded if markets were closed (the earlier one when two are equally near), and no earlier than the later of the two price histories. An end date works the same way. One monthly purchase for each 1st of a month after the start date and on or before the end date, on the trading day nearest that 1st (which can be the last trading day of the month before); a purchase whose nearest trading day is the start day itself isn't made.

Total return

(final value ÷ money put in) − 1. With a monthly amount, the money put in is the starting amount plus every monthly purchase made; the starting amount's own return is shown beside it, labelled "alone".

Yearly return

(final value ÷ starting amount)^{1 ÷ years} − 1, with years counted as days ÷ 365, shown only for a year or more.

Worst fall and recovery

As defined under "What the figures mean": measured on the same adjusted closing prices, within the dates only.

Rounding

Calculated at full precision and rounded only for display: whole dollars, whole-percent total returns (one decimal under 1%), one decimal for yearly returns and falls.

Exclusions

Taxes, fees, currency conversion and companies no longer in the index.

Reviewed

17 October 2026. Prices update after each trading day.

Who and how: SmartFin built this tool. Every figure comes from its own calculation engine on daily closing prices.

Questions about this result