Silver vs. the S&P 500: which did better?

This calculator shows what the same amount of money did in silver and in the S&P 500 over any period since 1970. You can also compare silver with the Dow Jones, the Nasdaq, oil and cash held in Treasury bills, and pick any start and end date.

How the comparison works

We use the weekly closing price of each asset at the start and end of your chosen period and grow your amount by the same percentage. Silver is the spot price per troy ounce. Stock indexes are shown without dividends, and for the S&P 500 we also show the total return with dividends reinvested from 1988 on. Prices update every day.

A precious metal and an industrial metal

Silver is both a monetary metal and a key industrial material used in electronics and solar panels. Its market is much smaller than gold’s, so its price tends to swing more, and results depend heavily on the period you choose.

Holding silver for retirement

Many investors hold silver alongside gold as part of a diversified retirement plan. A precious metals IRA lets you own physical silver and gold in a tax-advantaged account, and our free guide explains how it works.

This tool is for educational purposes only and is not investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results.