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Relative Intelligence · Agricultural Products

How Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) compares with the whole market and its popular alternatives

Built by QuantCommons' quantitative engine, this page is about relative opportunity, not data on ADM alone. It places ADM (Archer-Daniels-Midland Company) against 15 popular alternatives, its neighboring categories and the entire market of over 10,000 U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs, and surfaces what has done better on consistent outperformance, return for the risk taken, behavior in real market crashes and diversification. The result is a clearer view of where ADM stands in the market, and of the alternatives worth a closer look.

Period covered: ADM's full trading record, from October 1986 through September 2026. All returns include reinvested dividends. Data as of October 20, 2026.

Data as of October 20, 2026. Full tables and charts read best on a larger screen.

Rank the market against ADM →Chart ADM vs. 15 alternatives →
On this page12 sections

Key findings

How much would $10,000 in ADM have grown?

This chart tracks a hypothetical $10,000 investment in ADM over the past 29 years, with dividends reinvested, alongside the same amount in the S&P 500, investments that ended ahead of ADM over the same span and ADM's popular alternatives, among those that traded for the entire period. A second view covers the past 5 years, the period the better options further down the page are judged on. It shows not only where each investment ended up but also how smooth or uneven the path was.

Choose a period

From the end of September 1997 to the end of September 2026. The scale is logarithmic, so equal steps up the chart are equal percentage gains. Hover over a fund in the key to pick out its line. 623 of the 1,042 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that traded the whole period ended ahead of ADM; the chart shows 5, closest alternatives first. The other 3 lines are popular alternatives, shown for context.

$1,000$10,000$100,000$1M$10M199720022007201220172022$1,000$10,000$100,000$1M$10M19972004201120182025
  • MNST$46M+456,538% total · +33.7% a year
  • DE$436,954+4,270% total · +13.9% a year
  • ANDE$354,030+3,440% total · +13.1% a year
  • NEU$344,538+3,345% total · +13.0% a year
  • SEB$139,859+1,299% total · +9.5% a year
  • SPY (S&P 500)$132,907+1,229% total · +9.3% a year
  • ADM$78,052+681% total · +7.3% a year
  • DAR$63,368+534% total · +6.6% a year
  • ALCO$26,482+165% total · +3.4% a year
  • MOS$9,028−9.7% total · −0.4% a year
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From the end of September 2021 to the end of September 2026. Hover over a fund in the key to pick out its line. 1,518 of the 3,628 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that traded the whole period ended ahead of ADM; the chart shows 5, closest alternatives first. The other 3 lines are popular alternatives, shown for context.

$0$10,000$20,000$30,000$40,000$50,000202120222023202420252026$0$10,000$20,000$30,000$40,000$50,000202120222023202420252026
  • SENEA$36,914+269% total · +29.8% a year
  • NEU$29,325+193% total · +24.0% a year
  • ANDE$23,087+131% total · +18.2% a year
  • CF$22,921+129% total · +18.0% a year
  • DE$21,391+114% total · +16.4% a year
  • SPY (S&P 500)$19,000+90.0% total · +13.7% a year
  • KO$18,994+89.9% total · +13.7% a year
  • ADM$15,236+52.4% total · +8.8% a year
  • DOLE$8,536−14.6% total · −3.1% a year
  • DAR$8,444−15.6% total · −3.3% a year
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ADM at a glance

This section summarizes the key facts about the stock, its returns over periods from one to ten years and the risk it has carried, with dividends reinvested throughout. These figures serve as the baseline for every comparison that follows.

The company

Market value
$39B
Industry
Agricultural Farm Products
Price history from
October 1986

Returns

Past 1 year
+31.1%total return
Past 3 years
+22.1%+6.9% a year
Past 5 years
+42.9%+7.4% a year
Past 10 years
+156%+9.9% a year
Best calendar year
+61.8%2013
Worst calendar year
−36.9%2008
Losing years
11 of 29full calendar years

Risk

Volatility
28.7%typical yearly swing, 5 years
Sharpe ratio
0.40return per unit of risk, 5 years
Worst decline ever
−68.0%Apr 2008 to Oct 2008
From its all-time high
−8.7%below the peak

ADM against the whole market

Where ADM ranks among every stock and fund, and what across the market has done better.

How does ADM rank among all stocks?

This section ranks ADM on return, volatility, risk-adjusted return and worst decline against every stock worth at least $300 million with enough history. Where the comparisons with its popular alternatives show how ADM stacks up against its peers, these rankings show where it stands in the market as a whole.

Ranked against U.S.-listed stocks worth at least $300M that have enough history for each measure, so the count changes from row to row; smaller stocks are left out. Lower volatility and smaller declines rank higher.

MeasureADMRankStanding
1-year return+31.1%945 of 3,287top 29%
3-year return+22.1%1,985 of 3,017bottom 35%
5-year return+42.9%1,169 of 2,893top 40%
10-year return+156%1,051 of 2,202top 48%
Volatility, 5 years28.7%610 of 2,893top 21%
Sharpe ratio, 5 years0.401,238 of 2,893top 43%
Worst decline, past 10 years−54.1%623 of 2,187top 28%

What has beaten ADM on both return and risk?

Each dot is an investment, placed by how much it earned a year over the past 5 years (higher is better) and how much its price swung, its volatility (further left is calmer). ADM sits where the dashed lines cross. Anything in the green box above and to the left earned more than ADM with smaller swings, a better trade-off over this period on both counts. Past results are no promise, but a name in the box is worth a closer look.

Annual return is the annualized total return with dividends reinvested, and volatility the annualized swing in daily prices, both over 5 years. Labeled dots are the strongest picks from the table below and the names called out above, colored by how close they sit to ADM; faint dots are 89 more of the 613 in the green region (the strongest, one per fund family). 3,633 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million were screened. Hover over a dot for its figures.

5.0%10.0%15.0%20.0%25.0%30.0%35.0%40.0%5.0%10.0%15.0%20.0%25.0%30.0%35.0%40.0%45.0%Volatility over 5 years (annualized)Annual return over 5 yearsMore return, less volatility than ADMRY: +17.3% a year, volatility 18.2%V: +12.8% a year, volatility 22.9%DXJ: +26.6% a year, volatility 19.1%MA: +12.4% a year, volatility 23.8%PM: +21.0% a year, volatility 23.4%CSCO: +16.8% a year, volatility 26.1%TD: +15.8% a year, volatility 20.0%COMT: +13.1% a year, volatility 21.1%CTBI: +16.0% a year, volatility 26.0%CB: +15.7% a year, volatility 20.4%XLK: +19.4% a year, volatility 26.0%CM: +19.2% a year, volatility 21.6%TRV: +22.4% a year, volatility 22.3%SCHD: +9.7% a year, volatility 14.3%GWW: +26.3% a year, volatility 24.9%BNS: +12.9% a year, volatility 19.9%CTAS: +16.5% a year, volatility 23.1%RCBC: +14.6% a year, volatility 27.2%AME: +14.4% a year, volatility 22.1%CBOE: +21.5% a year, volatility 25.1%IX: +17.9% a year, volatility 25.4%SDCI: +20.6% a year, volatility 18.4%FMX: +14.0% a year, volatility 25.7%DGX: +12.3% a year, volatility 22.5%EMXC: +11.1% a year, volatility 19.5%EXPD: +12.0% a year, volatility 27.1%EWT: +20.4% a year, volatility 24.2%CIBR: +14.1% a year, volatility 26.1%NVS: +17.1% a year, volatility 20.7%VLUE: +15.9% a year, volatility 18.4%AIZ: +13.3% a year, volatility 25.3%MSGS: +18.4% a year, volatility 25.6%ACT: +20.5% a year, volatility 24.3%GLD: +17.7% a year, volatility 18.9%THG: +14.4% a year, volatility 22.9%FLTW: +21.8% a year, volatility 24.3%RSPT: +16.9% a year, volatility 25.1%MSM: +13.3% a year, volatility 25.1%VIG: +10.4% a year, volatility 14.1%FTGC: +12.9% a year, volatility 15.6%FRDM: +17.3% a year, volatility 22.8%DIVB: +13.9% a year, volatility 15.4%HACK: +12.6% a year, volatility 25.8%WM: +9.3% a year, volatility 19.2%AEP: +12.4% a year, volatility 20.2%FBT: +10.8% a year, volatility 22.2%FAST: +15.8% a year, volatility 24.6%GNR: +10.7% a year, volatility 20.1%IHE: +12.6% a year, volatility 16.8%XOM: +27.1% a year, volatility 26.5%ATO: +14.9% a year, volatility 18.4%DJP: +11.2% a year, volatility 18.9%FYLD: +13.1% a year, volatility 16.0%EYLD: +11.9% a year, volatility 18.4%NI: +15.1% a year, volatility 20.3%THFF: +15.9% a year, volatility 26.2%SPHQ: +12.0% a year, volatility 16.7%CVX: +19.5% a year, volatility 25.2%NXTG: +16.2% a year, volatility 19.1%VTI: +11.5% a year, volatility 17.5%SHEL: +21.0% a year, volatility 24.8%PJP: +11.2% a year, volatility 16.6%DBEF: +13.1% a year, volatility 13.8%VOO: +12.8% a year, volatility 16.9%IOO: +15.7% a year, volatility 17.2%EBF: +11.2% a year, volatility 21.4%WELL: +26.0% a year, volatility 23.8%WMT: +20.8% a year, volatility 22.6%BRK-B: +13.4% a year, volatility 17.1%TTE: +18.0% a year, volatility 25.8%QYLD: +8.4% a year, volatility 15.0%JPM: +17.3% a year, volatility 24.3%E: +23.0% a year, volatility 25.6%BUD: +9.7% a year, volatility 25.0%MFC: +22.6% a year, volatility 24.0%LVHI: +17.0% a year, volatility 11.1%FTLS: +10.2% a year, volatility 10.4%PTLC: +9.5% a year, volatility 11.8%COST: +17.4% a year, volatility 22.9%HLT: +21.0% a year, volatility 26.8%QQQ: +14.5% a year, volatility 23.0%AOA: +8.6% a year, volatility 13.1%BRC: +12.0% a year, volatility 26.3%ADP: +9.0% a year, volatility 22.9%HFXI: +11.4% a year, volatility 15.3%VTV: +12.1% a year, volatility 13.7%XLE: +22.6% a year, volatility 25.5%TAK: +11.9% a year, volatility 19.4%CHCO: +15.9% a year, volatility 22.8%ADM: +7.4% a year, volatility 28.7%SPY (S&P 500): +12.7% a year, volatility 17.1%DE: +14.4% a year, volatility 29.9%CF: +16.7% a year, volatility 38.1%SENEA: +25.2% a year, volatility 36.4%NEU: +21.0% a year, volatility 26.8%KO: +14.7% a year, volatility 16.8%MNST: +17.2% a year, volatility 24.9%LIN: +11.5% a year, volatility 20.9%WTS: +15.3% a year, volatility 28.4%ITW: +6.7% a year, volatility 21.4%ABBV: +26.1% a year, volatility 23.4%JNJ: +12.7% a year, volatility 17.9%MCK: +38.7% a year, volatility 25.0%MRK: +16.3% a year, volatility 24.8%AMGN: +19.6% a year, volatility 24.9%PDBC: +11.7% a year, volatility 19.3%XLV: +8.4% a year, volatility 15.3%AAPL: +18.5% a year, volatility 28.0%CAH: +42.1% a year, volatility 24.7%WAB: +25.6% a year, volatility 26.2%ADMSPY (S&P 500)DECFSENEANEUKOMNSTWTSITWABBVJNJMCKMRKAMGNXLVAAPLCAHWAB0.0%10.0%20.0%30.0%40.0%0.0%10.0%20.0%30.0%40.0%50.0%Volatility over 5 years (annualized)Annual return over 5 yearsMore return, less volatility than ADMRY: +17.3% a year, volatility 18.2%V: +12.8% a year, volatility 22.9%DXJ: +26.6% a year, volatility 19.1%MA: +12.4% a year, volatility 23.8%PM: +21.0% a year, volatility 23.4%CSCO: +16.8% a year, volatility 26.1%TD: +15.8% a year, volatility 20.0%COMT: +13.1% a year, volatility 21.1%CTBI: +16.0% a year, volatility 26.0%CB: +15.7% a year, volatility 20.4%XLK: +19.4% a year, volatility 26.0%CM: +19.2% a year, volatility 21.6%TRV: +22.4% a year, volatility 22.3%SCHD: +9.7% a year, volatility 14.3%GWW: +26.3% a year, volatility 24.9%BNS: +12.9% a year, volatility 19.9%CTAS: +16.5% a year, volatility 23.1%RCBC: +14.6% a year, volatility 27.2%AME: +14.4% a year, volatility 22.1%CBOE: +21.5% a year, volatility 25.1%IX: +17.9% a year, volatility 25.4%SDCI: +20.6% a year, volatility 18.4%FMX: +14.0% a year, volatility 25.7%DGX: +12.3% a year, volatility 22.5%EMXC: +11.1% a year, volatility 19.5%EXPD: +12.0% a year, volatility 27.1%EWT: +20.4% a year, volatility 24.2%CIBR: +14.1% a year, volatility 26.1%NVS: +17.1% a year, volatility 20.7%VLUE: +15.9% a year, volatility 18.4%AIZ: +13.3% a year, volatility 25.3%MSGS: +18.4% a year, volatility 25.6%ACT: +20.5% a year, volatility 24.3%GLD: +17.7% a year, volatility 18.9%THG: +14.4% a year, volatility 22.9%FLTW: +21.8% a year, volatility 24.3%RSPT: +16.9% a year, volatility 25.1%MSM: +13.3% a year, volatility 25.1%VIG: +10.4% a year, volatility 14.1%FTGC: +12.9% a year, volatility 15.6%FRDM: +17.3% a year, volatility 22.8%DIVB: +13.9% a year, volatility 15.4%HACK: +12.6% a year, volatility 25.8%WM: +9.3% a year, volatility 19.2%AEP: +12.4% a year, volatility 20.2%FBT: +10.8% a year, volatility 22.2%FAST: +15.8% a year, volatility 24.6%GNR: +10.7% a year, volatility 20.1%IHE: +12.6% a year, volatility 16.8%XOM: +27.1% a year, volatility 26.5%ATO: +14.9% a year, volatility 18.4%DJP: +11.2% a year, volatility 18.9%FYLD: +13.1% a year, volatility 16.0%EYLD: +11.9% a year, volatility 18.4%NI: +15.1% a year, volatility 20.3%THFF: +15.9% a year, volatility 26.2%SPHQ: +12.0% a year, volatility 16.7%CVX: +19.5% a year, volatility 25.2%NXTG: +16.2% a year, volatility 19.1%VTI: +11.5% a year, volatility 17.5%SHEL: +21.0% a year, volatility 24.8%PJP: +11.2% a year, volatility 16.6%DBEF: +13.1% a year, volatility 13.8%VOO: +12.8% a year, volatility 16.9%IOO: +15.7% a year, volatility 17.2%EBF: +11.2% a year, volatility 21.4%WELL: +26.0% a year, volatility 23.8%WMT: +20.8% a year, volatility 22.6%BRK-B: +13.4% a year, volatility 17.1%TTE: +18.0% a year, volatility 25.8%QYLD: +8.4% a year, volatility 15.0%JPM: +17.3% a year, volatility 24.3%E: +23.0% a year, volatility 25.6%BUD: +9.7% a year, volatility 25.0%MFC: +22.6% a year, volatility 24.0%LVHI: +17.0% a year, volatility 11.1%FTLS: +10.2% a year, volatility 10.4%PTLC: +9.5% a year, volatility 11.8%COST: +17.4% a year, volatility 22.9%HLT: +21.0% a year, volatility 26.8%QQQ: +14.5% a year, volatility 23.0%AOA: +8.6% a year, volatility 13.1%BRC: +12.0% a year, volatility 26.3%ADP: +9.0% a year, volatility 22.9%HFXI: +11.4% a year, volatility 15.3%VTV: +12.1% a year, volatility 13.7%XLE: +22.6% a year, volatility 25.5%TAK: +11.9% a year, volatility 19.4%CHCO: +15.9% a year, volatility 22.8%ADM: +7.4% a year, volatility 28.7%SPY (S&P 500): +12.7% a year, volatility 17.1%DE: +14.4% a year, volatility 29.9%CF: +16.7% a year, volatility 38.1%SENEA: +25.2% a year, volatility 36.4%NEU: +21.0% a year, volatility 26.8%KO: +14.7% a year, volatility 16.8%MNST: +17.2% a year, volatility 24.9%LIN: +11.5% a year, volatility 20.9%WTS: +15.3% a year, volatility 28.4%ITW: +6.7% a year, volatility 21.4%ABBV: +26.1% a year, volatility 23.4%JNJ: +12.7% a year, volatility 17.9%MCK: +38.7% a year, volatility 25.0%MRK: +16.3% a year, volatility 24.8%AMGN: +19.6% a year, volatility 24.9%PDBC: +11.7% a year, volatility 19.3%XLV: +8.4% a year, volatility 15.3%AAPL: +18.5% a year, volatility 28.0%CAH: +42.1% a year, volatility 24.7%WAB: +25.6% a year, volatility 26.2%ADMSPY (S&P 500)DECFSENEANEUKOMNSTITWABBVMCKMRKAMGNXLVCAH
  • Popular alternatives
  • Same and neighboring categories, and shared themes
  • The whole market
  • Others in the green region

Is there a better investment than ADM?

Investments that beat ADM over the past 5 years on return, volatility, drawdowns, consistency, crash losses or fees, from its popular alternatives out to the whole market.

How this works

The table below lists investments that beat ADM over the past 5 years on at least one of these measures: a higher annual return with lower volatility, a higher annual return at similar volatility, a similar return with lower volatility, a higher Sharpe ratio with a smaller worst decline, a higher total return in most periods from 3 months to 10 years, or smaller losses in recent market crashes. It checks ADM's popular alternatives first, then the rest of its own and neighboring categories, then every stock and fund worth at least $500 million, and shows the strongest few in each group. The full list of those with a higher return and lower volatility than ADM follows the table.

Annual return is the annualized total return with dividends reinvested. Annual return, volatility and the Sharpe ratio cover 5 years; the worst decline covers the past 10 years. Green marks a better figure than ADM's. "On the frontier" means no other option shown or tested earned more with less volatility. Funds that hold the same thing are shown once. Beyond the popular alternatives, nothing with more than 1.5× ADM's volatility counts as better.

These figures cover the past 5 years. Green marks a better figure than ADM's.

Screen the whole market against ADM for any period in BetterThanSPYOpen these 18 in EasyCompare
InvestmentWhy it is betterPast 5 yearsDownsideLong runFit
Annual return?higher is betterVolatility?lower is calmerSharpe?return per unit of riskWorst decline?past 10 years10Y returntotalCorr. with ADM?lower diversifies moreExpenseper year
ADMArcher-Daniels-Midland Company · this page
+7.4%28.7%0.40−54.1%+156%1.00—
SPYState Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF · S&P 500
+12.7%17.1%0.79−33.7%+321%0.360.09%
Popular alternativesbest 3 shownThe investments people most often weigh against ADM. 3 of 15 passed at least one test.
DEDeere & Company · Industrial Machinery
Higher return, similar volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+14.4%29.9%0.60−37.9%+755%0.45—
CFCF Industries Holdings, Inc. · Chemicals
Higher return in most periods+16.7%38.1%0.60−60.7%+516%0.50—
SENEASeneca Foods Corporation · Packaged Foods
Higher return in most periods+25.2%36.4%0.81−51.3%+455%0.23—
Same and neighboring categories, and shared themesbest 6 shownEverything else in Agricultural Products and the categories next to it (Chemicals, Food & Beverages, Industrial Machinery, Packaged Foods), plus ADM's specific themes. 29 of 84 passed at least one test.
NEUNewMarket Corporation · Specialty Chemicals
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes+21.0%26.8%0.85−40.7%+165%0.19—
KOThe Coca-Cola Company · Food & Beverages
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+14.7%16.8%0.91−37.0%+204%0.37—
MNSTMonster Beverage Corporation · Food & Beverages
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+17.2%24.9%0.77−30.4%+285%0.06—
LINLinde plc · Chemicals
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineSmaller losses in recent crashes+11.5%20.9%0.63−32.6%+394%0.36—
WTSWatts Water Technologies, Inc. · Industrial Machinery
Higher return, similar volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+15.3%28.4%0.65−44.1%+539%0.23—
ITWIllinois Tool Works Inc. · Industrial Machinery
Similar return, lower volatility+6.7%21.4%0.41−37.9%+208%0.38—
The whole marketbest 8 shownEvery other stock and fund worth at least $500 million. 1,141 of 3,536 passed at least one test.
ABBVAbbVie Inc. · Pharmaceuticals
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes+26.1%23.4%1.11−45.1%+603%0.18—
JNJJohnson & Johnson · Pharmaceuticals
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes+12.7%17.9%0.76−27.4%+196%0.32—
MCKMcKesson Corporation · Health Care Distribution
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes+38.7%25.0%1.44−38.1%+586%0.15—
MRKMerck & Co., Inc. · Pharmaceuticals
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes+16.3%24.8%0.74−43.4%+241%0.24—
AMGNAmgen Inc. · Biotechnology
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes+19.6%24.9%0.85−24.9%+266%0.31—
PDBCInvesco Optimum Yield Diversified Commodity Strategy No K-1 ETF · Broad Commodities
Higher return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes+11.7%19.3%0.67−40.7%+153%0.480.74%
XLVState Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF · Health Care Equity
Similar return, lower volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periodsSmaller losses in recent crashes+8.4%15.3%0.60−28.4%+202%0.340.08%
AAPLApple Inc. · Computer Hardware
Higher return, similar volatilityHigher Sharpe, smaller worst declineHigher return in most periods+18.5%28.0%0.75−38.5%+1,168%0.28—
What these numbers mean for ADM
Annual return
ADM returned 7.4% a year over the past 5 years with dividends reinvested, against 12.7% a year for the S&P 500. At that pace, $10,000 became about $14,300. Annual return is the steady yearly rate that would produce the same total result, so investments held over the same span compare fairly. Guide: What is performance and return? →
Volatility
ADM's volatility over the past 5 years was 28.7%, 1.7 times the S&P 500's 17.1%. Volatility measures how widely returns swing around their average: in roughly two years out of three, ADM's return lands within 28.7% of its average, either way. The higher it is, the rougher the ride and the harder it is to hold through a slump. Guide: Understanding and measuring risk (volatility) →
Sharpe ratio
ADM's Sharpe ratio over the past 5 years was 0.40, against 0.79 for the S&P 500, so ADM earned less for each unit of risk than an index fund did. The Sharpe ratio is the return earned above cash for each unit of volatility: two investments with the same return are not equal if one got there with far bigger swings. Guide: Balancing reward with risk (Sharpe ratio) →
Worst decline
ADM's worst fall from a peak to a low over the past 10 years was 54.1%, against 33.7% for the S&P 500. Losses and gains are not symmetric: climbing back from a 54.1% fall takes a 118% gain. Guide: Market crash risk and tail risk →
Correlation
Over the past 5 years, ADM's monthly returns had a correlation of 0.36 with the S&P 500. Correlation runs from 1 (moving in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to −1 (moving in opposite directions). They are only loosely linked, which makes it a real diversifier next to an index fund. In the table, the correlation column measures each option against ADM instead: the lower it is, the more that option would diversify a ADM holding. Guide: Correlation and diversification →
Show all 613 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million that earned more than ADM with less volatility

Out of 3,633 tested over 5 years. The strongest 100 are listed, best first, with funds that hold the same thing listed once.

#InvestmentFound inAnnual returnVolatilitySharpeWorst decline10Y returnCorr. with ADMExpense
1
ABBVAbbVie Inc. · Pharmaceuticals
Whole market+26.1%23.4%1.11−45.1%+603%0.18—
2
JNJJohnson & Johnson · Pharmaceuticals
Whole market+12.7%17.9%0.76−27.4%+196%0.32—
3
MCKMcKesson Corporation · Health Care Distribution
Whole market+38.7%25.0%1.44−38.1%+586%0.15—
4
MRKMerck & Co., Inc. · Pharmaceuticals
Whole market+16.3%24.8%0.74−43.4%+241%0.24—
5
AMGNAmgen Inc. · Biotechnology
Whole market+19.6%24.9%0.85−24.9%+266%0.31—
6
RYRoyal Bank of Canada · Banks
Whole market+17.3%18.2%0.97−40.0%+352%0.37—
7
CAHCardinal Health, Inc. · Health Care Distribution
Whole market+42.1%24.7%1.55−46.1%+349%0.19—
8
PDBCInvesco Optimum Yield Diversified Commodity Strategy No K-1 ETF · Broad Commodities
Whole market+11.7%19.3%0.67−40.7%+153%0.480.74%
9
VVisa Inc. · Payment Processing
Whole market+12.8%22.9%0.64−36.4%+429%0.14—
10
DXJWisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund · International Equity
Whole market+26.6%19.1%1.34−39.1%+428%0.180.48%
11
NEUNewMarket Corporation · Specialty Chemicals
Same or nearby category+21.0%26.8%0.85−40.7%+165%0.19—
12
MAMastercard Incorporated · Payment Processing
Whole market+12.4%23.8%0.61−41.0%+541%0.23—
13
PMPhilip Morris International Inc. · Tobacco
Whole market+21.0%23.4%0.94−42.9%+242%0.30—
14
CSCOCisco Systems, Inc. · Communications Equipment
Whole market+16.8%26.1%0.73−42.0%+374%0.25—
15
TDThe Toronto-Dominion Bank · Banks
Whole market+15.8%20.0%0.84−42.0%+310%0.35—
16
COMTiShares GSCI Commodity Dynamic Roll Strategy ETF · Commodities
Whole market+13.1%21.1%0.69−39.2%+160%0.460.49%
17
CTBICommunity Trust Bancorp, Inc. · Banks - Regional
Whole market+16.0%26.0%0.70−43.0%+192%0.48—
18
CBChubb Limited · Property & Casualty Insurance
Whole market+15.7%20.4%0.82−42.6%+248%0.29—
19
XLKState Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF · Technology Equity
Whole market+19.4%26.0%0.82−33.6%+767%0.180.08%
20
CMCanadian Imperial Bank of Commerce · Banks
Whole market+19.2%21.6%0.93−47.3%+395%0.32—
21
TRVThe Travelers Companies, Inc. · Property & Casualty Insurance
Whole market+22.4%22.3%1.02−46.3%+347%0.24—
22
SCHDSchwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF · US Dividend Equity
Whole market+9.7%14.3%0.72−33.4%+252%0.580.06%
23
GWWW.W. Grainger, Inc. · Industrial Distribution
Whole market+26.3%24.9%1.07−41.6%+654%0.28—
24
BNSThe Bank of Nova Scotia · Banks
Whole market+12.9%19.9%0.71−46.9%+187%0.37—
25
CTASCintas Corporation · Business Services
Whole market+16.5%23.1%0.78−48.4%+808%0.25—
26
RCBCRiver City Bank · Banks - Regional
Whole market+14.6%27.2%0.64−45.5%+345%-0.03—
27
AMEAMETEK, Inc. · Electronic Instruments
Whole market+14.4%22.1%0.72−42.7%+481%0.24—
28
CBOECboe Global Markets, Inc. · Capital Markets
Whole market+21.5%25.1%0.91−43.2%+463%0.10—
29
IXORIX Corporation · Diversified Financials
Whole market+17.9%25.4%0.78−42.5%+284%0.37—
30
SDCIUSCF SummerHaven Dynamic Commodity Strategy No K-1 Fund · Bonds
Whole market+20.6%18.4%1.12−45.7%—0.570.80%
31
FMXFomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. · Convenience Stores
Whole market+14.0%25.7%0.64−45.5%+79.7%0.12—
32
KOThe Coca-Cola Company · Food & Beverages
Same or nearby category+14.7%16.8%0.91−37.0%+204%0.37—
33
DGXQuest Diagnostics Incorporated · Medical Diagnostics
Whole market+12.3%22.5%0.63−36.6%+243%0.34—
34
EMXCiShares MSCI Emerging Markets ex China ETF · Emerging Markets Equity
Whole market+11.1%19.5%0.64−42.8%—0.350.25%
35
EXPDExpeditors International of Washington, Inc. · Freight & Logistics
Whole market+12.0%27.1%0.56−35.6%+349%0.36—
36
EWTiShares MSCI Taiwan ETF · International Equity
Whole market+20.4%24.2%0.89−38.9%+468%0.170.59%
37
CIBRFirst Trust Nasdaq Cybersecurity ETF · Cybersecurity
Whole market+14.1%26.1%0.64−33.9%+454%0.160.58%
38
NVSNovartis AG · Pharmaceuticals
Whole market+17.1%20.7%0.87−26.8%+226%0.34—
39
VLUEiShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF · US Large-Cap Value
Whole market+15.9%18.4%0.90−39.5%+286%0.490.15%
40
AIZAssurant, Inc. · Property & Casualty Insurance
Whole market+13.3%25.3%0.62−44.6%+312%0.18—
41
MSGSMadison Square Garden Sports Corp. · Entertainment
Whole market+18.4%25.6%0.79−41.6%+432%0.32—
42
MNSTMonster Beverage Corporation · Food & Beverages
Same or nearby category+17.2%24.9%0.77−30.4%+285%0.06—
43
ACTEnact Holdings Inc. · Insurance
Whole market+20.5%24.3%0.89−20.2%—0.53—
44
GLDSPDR Gold Shares · Gold
Whole market+17.7%18.9%0.96−26.4%+213%0.170.40%
45
THGThe Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. · Property & Casualty Insurance
Whole market+14.4%22.9%0.70−40.1%+291%0.12—
46
FLTWFranklin FTSE Taiwan ETF · Technology
Whole market+21.8%24.3%0.94−38.0%—0.190.19%
47
RSPTInvesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Technology ETF · Technology Equity
Whole market+16.9%25.1%0.75−33.7%+572%0.270.40%
48
MSMMSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. · Industrial Distribution
Whole market+13.3%25.1%0.63−48.2%+184%0.42—
49
VIGVanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF · US Dividend Equity
Whole market+10.4%14.1%0.78−31.7%+258%0.430.04%
50
FTGCFirst Trust Global Tactical Commodity Strategy Fund · Alternatives
Whole market+12.9%15.6%0.86−35.9%+139%0.540.98%
51
FRDMFreedom 100 Emerging Markets ETF · International
Whole market+17.3%22.8%0.82−40.5%—0.400.49%
52
DIVBiShares Core Dividend ETF · Dividend & Income
Whole market+13.9%15.4%0.93−36.9%—0.520.05%
53
HACKAmplify Cybersecurity ETF · Technology
Whole market+12.6%25.8%0.59−38.7%+373%0.110.60%
54
WMWaste Management, Inc. · Environmental Services
Whole market+9.3%19.2%0.56−30.1%+344%0.05—
55
AEPAmerican Electric Power Company, Inc. · Electric Utilities
Whole market+12.4%20.2%0.68−32.9%+185%0.36—
56
FBTFirst Trust NYSE Arca Biotechnology Index Fund · Healthcare
Whole market+10.8%22.2%0.58−33.3%+203%0.280.55%
57
FASTFastenal Company · Industrial Distribution
Whole market+15.8%24.6%0.72−30.7%+576%0.24—
58
GNRState Street SPDR S&P Global Natural Resources ETF · Natural Resources Equity · Agricultural Commodities theme
Same or nearby category+10.7%20.1%0.61−48.6%+173%0.700.40%
59
IHEiShares U.S. Pharmaceuticals ETF · Broad Market
Whole market+12.6%16.8%0.80−29.6%+151%0.260.37%
60
XOMExxonmobil Holdings Corporation · Integrated Oil & Gas
Whole market+27.1%26.5%1.04−61.0%+214%0.54—
61
ATOAtmos Energy Corporation · Gas Utilities
Whole market+14.9%18.4%0.85−32.9%+194%0.33—
62
DJPiPath Bloomberg Commodity Index Total Return(SM) ETN · Commodities
Whole market+11.2%18.9%0.66−38.4%+120%0.550.70%
63
FYLDCambria Foreign Shareholder Yield ETF · Dividend & Income
Whole market+13.1%16.0%0.85−44.6%+203%0.470.59%
64
EYLDCambria Emerging Shareholder Yield ETF · International
Whole market+11.9%18.4%0.70−41.8%+199%0.330.63%
65
NINiSource Inc · Gas Utilities
Whole market+15.1%20.3%0.80−30.9%+158%0.38—
66
THFFFirst Financial Corporation · Banks - Regional
Whole market+15.9%26.2%0.69−42.8%+161%0.39—
67
SPHQInvesco S&P 500 Quality ETF · US Quality Equity
Whole market+12.0%16.7%0.76−31.6%+300%0.340.20%
68
CVXChevron Corporation · Integrated Oil & Gas
Whole market+19.5%25.2%0.84−55.8%+238%0.60—
69
NXTGFirst Trust Indxx NextG ETF · Technology
Whole market+16.2%19.1%0.89−33.6%+330%0.270.70%
70
VTIVanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF · US Total Market
Whole market+11.5%17.5%0.71−35.0%+302%0.360.03%
71
SHELShell plc · Integrated Oil & Gas
Whole market+21.0%24.8%0.90−67.2%+233%0.48—
72
PJPInvesco Pharmaceuticals ETF · Healthcare
Whole market+11.2%16.6%0.72−34.0%+135%0.400.58%
73
DBEFXtrackers MSCI EAFE Hedged Equity ETF · International Equity
Whole market+13.1%13.8%0.96−32.5%+206%0.310.35%
74
VOOVanguard S&P 500 ETF · US Large-Cap Equity
Whole market+12.8%16.9%0.80−34.0%+324%0.360.03%
75
IOOiShares Global 100 ETF · Global Equity
Whole market+15.7%17.2%0.94−31.4%+361%0.350.40%
76
LINLinde plc · Chemicals
Same or nearby category+11.5%20.9%0.63−32.6%+394%0.36—
77
EBFEnnis, Inc. · Specialty Business Services
Whole market+11.2%21.4%0.60−35.4%+163%0.31—
78
WELLWelltower Inc. · Healthcare REITs
Whole market+26.0%23.8%1.09−63.3%+379%0.14—
79
WMTWalmart Inc. · Discount Retail
Whole market+20.8%22.6%0.96−25.7%+508%0.17—
80
BRK-BBerkshire Hathaway Inc. · Insurance
Whole market+13.4%17.1%0.82−29.6%+274%0.31—
81
TTETotalEnergies SE · Integrated Oil & Gas
Whole market+18.0%25.8%0.78−59.6%+234%0.48—
82
QYLDGlobal X - Nasdaq 100 Covered Call ETF · Equity Income
Whole market+8.4%15.0%0.62−24.7%+156%0.110.60%
83
JPMJPMorgan Chase & Co. · Banks
Whole market+17.3%24.3%0.78−43.6%+537%0.28—
84
EEni S.p.A. · Integrated Oil & Gas
Whole market+23.0%25.6%0.94−61.4%+278%0.51—
85
BUDAnheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV · Alcoholic Beverages
Whole market+9.7%25.0%0.50−69.8%−20.0%0.31—
86
MFCManulife Financial Corporation · Life Insurance
Whole market+22.6%24.0%0.97−57.5%+373%0.27—
87
LVHIFranklin International Low Volatility High Dividend Index ETF · International Equity
Whole market+17.0%11.1%1.48−32.4%+194%0.440.40%
88
FTLSFirst Trust Long/Short Equity ETF · Broad Market
Whole market+10.2%10.4%0.99−20.6%+158%0.310.95%
89
PTLCPacer Trendpilot US Large Cap ETF · Broad Market
Whole market+9.5%11.8%0.83−26.6%+188%0.220.60%
90
COSTCostco Wholesale Corporation · Discount Retail
Whole market+17.4%22.9%0.82−31.4%+685%0.11—
91
HLTHilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. · Hotels & Resorts
Whole market+21.0%26.8%0.85−50.8%+694%0.31—
92
QQQInvesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 · US Large-Cap Growth
Whole market+14.5%23.0%0.71−35.1%+553%0.170.18%
93
AOAiShares Core 80/20 Aggressive Allocation ETF · Multi-Asset
Whole market+8.6%13.1%0.69−28.4%+165%0.370.19%
94
BRCBrady Corporation · Security & Protection Services
Whole market+12.0%26.3%0.56−36.2%+188%0.30—
95
ADPAutomatic Data Processing, Inc. · Business Services
Whole market+9.0%22.9%0.49−40.8%+320%0.23—
96
HFXINYLI FTSE International Equity Currency Neutral ETF · International
Whole market+11.4%15.3%0.79−32.4%+180%0.340.19%
97
VTVVanguard Morningstar Value ETF · US Large-Cap Value
Whole market+12.1%13.7%0.90−36.8%+235%0.550.03%
98
XLEState Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF · Energy Equity
Whole market+22.6%25.5%0.93−66.8%+189%0.660.08%
99
TAKTakeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited · Pharmaceuticals
Whole market+11.9%19.4%0.68−54.4%+30.4%0.11—
100
CHCOCity Holding Company · Banks - Regional
Whole market+15.9%22.8%0.77−32.3%+286%0.44—

ADM against its popular alternatives

The investments people most often weigh against ADM, compared period by period and year by year.

How do ADM's risk and return compare with its alternatives?

This map plots each investment's annual return over the past 5 years against its volatility, the size of its typical price swings. Investments toward the upper left earned more for a smoother ride, and those toward the lower right earned less for a rougher one. The dashed lines cross at ADM, which divides the map into what did better or worse on each measure.

Green points earned more than ADM with less volatility; red points earned less with more. Hover over a point for its figures. Total returns with dividends reinvested, annualized.

15.0%20.0%25.0%30.0%35.0%40.0%45.0%50.0%−30.0%−20.0%−10.0%0.0%10.0%20.0%30.0%Volatility over 5 years (annualized)Annual return over 5 yearsHigher return, lower volatilityLower return, higher volatilityADM: 7.4% a year, volatility 28.7%SPY (S&P 500): 12.7% a year, volatility 17.1%DAR: −5.2% a year, volatility 40.3%DOLE: −0.3% a year, volatility 28.7%ALCO: 2.9% a year, volatility 30.3%CTVA: −21.0% a year, volatility 47.6%BG: 6.1% a year, volatility 29.9%AGRO: 2.9% a year, volatility 42.0%MOS: −13.8% a year, volatility 42.2%LMNR: −5.1% a year, volatility 36.4%CF: 16.7% a year, volatility 38.1%SENEA: 25.2% a year, volatility 36.4%DE: 14.4% a year, volatility 29.9%ANDE: 17.3% a year, volatility 39.3%INGR: 2.9% a year, volatility 21.3%SEB: −1.7% a year, volatility 28.3%GIS: −8.1% a year, volatility 22.6%ADMSPY (S&P 500)DARDOLEALCOCTVAAGROMOSLMNRCFSENEADEANDEINGRSEBGIS10.0%20.0%30.0%40.0%50.0%−30.0%−20.0%−10.0%0.0%10.0%20.0%30.0%Volatility over 5 years (annualized)Annual return over 5 yearsHigher return, lower volatilityLower return, higher volatilityADM: 7.4% a year, volatility 28.7%SPY (S&P 500): 12.7% a year, volatility 17.1%DAR: −5.2% a year, volatility 40.3%DOLE: −0.3% a year, volatility 28.7%ALCO: 2.9% a year, volatility 30.3%CTVA: −21.0% a year, volatility 47.6%BG: 6.1% a year, volatility 29.9%AGRO: 2.9% a year, volatility 42.0%MOS: −13.8% a year, volatility 42.2%LMNR: −5.1% a year, volatility 36.4%CF: 16.7% a year, volatility 38.1%SENEA: 25.2% a year, volatility 36.4%DE: 14.4% a year, volatility 29.9%ANDE: 17.3% a year, volatility 39.3%INGR: 2.9% a year, volatility 21.3%SEB: −1.7% a year, volatility 28.3%GIS: −8.1% a year, volatility 22.6%ADMSPY (S&P 500)DARDOLEALCOCTVABGAGROMOSLMNRCFSENEADEANDEINGRSEBGIS
All figures
InvestmentAnnual returnVolatility
SENEA Seneca Foods Corporation+25.2%36.4%
ANDE The Andersons, Inc.+17.3%39.3%
CF CF Industries Holdings, Inc.+16.7%38.1%
DE Deere & Company+14.4%29.9%
SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF+12.7%17.1%
ADM This pageArcher-Daniels-Midland Company+7.4%28.7%
BG Bunge Global S.A.+6.1%29.9%
ALCO Alico, Inc.+2.9%30.3%
INGR Ingredion Incorporated+2.9%21.3%
AGRO Adecoagro S.A.+2.9%42.0%
DOLE Dole plc−0.3%28.7%
SEB Seaboard Corporation−1.7%28.3%
LMNR Limoneira Company−5.1%36.4%
DAR Darling Ingredients Inc.−5.2%40.3%
GIS General Mills, Inc.−8.1%22.6%
MOS The Mosaic Company−13.8%42.2%
CTVA Corteva, Inc.−21.0%47.6%
Open these 17 in EasyCompare

Has ADM consistently beaten its popular alternatives?

This section compares ADM with the investments people most often weigh against it, checking each one over eight periods from one month to ten years. Counting how often an alternative earned more than ADM helps separate lasting outperformance from a single strong stretch.

A green cell means the alternative earned more than ADM over that period. "Qualified" marks those that did so in at least 3 of 5 short-term periods and 2 of 3 long-term periods.

InvestmentPeriods outperformed Short termLong termRisk · 5 yearsFund
1M3M6MYTD1Y3Y5Y10YVolatilitylower is calmerSharpehigher is betterWorst declinepast 10 yearsExpenseAssetsOverlapsame sectors
ADM Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (this page)—−3.5%−5.5%+19.2%+39.1%+31.1%+22.1%+42.9%+156%28.7%0.40−54.1%—$39B—
CF QualifiedCF Industries Holdings, Inc.3/5 short3/3 long−4.3%−4.1%+2.7%+49.3%+43.4%+52.2%+117%+516%38.1%0.60−60.7%—$18B—
SENEA QualifiedSeneca Foods Corporation3/5 short3/3 long−9.7%+1.2%+18.7%+51.0%+37.0%+204%+208%+455%36.4%0.81−51.3%—$1.1B—
DE Agricultural - MachineryDeere & Company2/5 short3/3 long−7.5%+8.1%+6.9%+36.5%+38.3%+75.4%+96.1%+755%29.9%0.60−37.9%—$170B—
DAR Packaged FoodsDarling Ingredients Inc.2/5 short2/3 long−6.4%−6.7%+0.2%+57.3%+86.2%+42.0%−23.4%+342%40.3%0.07−68.3%—$9.3B—
ANDE Agricultural Farm ProductsThe Andersons, Inc.1/5 short2/3 long−4.1%−15.4%−9.9%+24.4%+39.5%+39.1%+122%+118%39.3%0.61−72.7%—$2.2B—
DOLE Agricultural Farm ProductsDole plc1/5 short1/3 long+1.9%−6.6%−10.2%−7.8%+2.9%+34.4%−1.5%—28.7%0.13−55.7%—$1.3B—
ALCO Agricultural Farm ProductsAlico, Inc.0/5 short1/3 long−4.8%−7.1%−12.6%+2.1%+7.7%+58.1%+15.7%+62.3%30.3%0.25−45.6%—$277M—
INGR Packaged FoodsIngredion Incorporated2/5 short0/3 long+0.7%−4.7%−13.7%−9.6%−17.7%+16.3%+15.2%−2.7%21.3%0.24−56.1%—$6.1B—
CTVA Agricultural InputsCorteva, Inc.1/5 short0/3 long+8.7%−85.1%−83.9%−80.8%−79.0%−73.5%−69.2%—47.6%0.04−87.1%—$8.6B—
BG Agricultural Farm ProductsBunge Global S.A.0/5 short0/3 long−8.5%−14.0%−14.9%+13.2%+8.6%+10.6%+34.5%+131%29.9%0.35−60.5%—$20B—
SEB ConglomeratesSeaboard Corporation0/5 short0/3 long−8.6%−15.9%−32.3%−13.8%+11.1%+10.1%−8.1%+9.0%28.3%0.08−48.4%—$3.6B—
AGRO Agricultural Farm ProductsAdecoagro S.A.0/5 short0/3 long−14.2%−9.9%−24.2%+24.3%+29.2%−4.1%+15.2%−2.0%42.0%0.28−72.0%—$5.4B—
MOS Agricultural InputsThe Mosaic Company0/5 short0/3 long−25.8%−19.6%−24.5%−26.7%−37.4%−44.6%−52.3%−12.6%42.2%-0.14−80.8%—$5.7B—
GIS Packaged FoodsGeneral Mills, Inc.0/5 short0/3 long−3.8%−9.4%−1.8%−21.8%−26.8%−38.8%−34.5%−19.1%22.6%-0.26−59.6%—$18B—
LMNR Agricultural Farm ProductsLimoneira Company0/5 short0/3 long−11.3%−15.9%−13.7%−12.6%−23.9%−16.9%−22.8%−33.4%36.4%0.04−65.8%—$203M—
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How did ADM do year by year?

This table shows each investment's total return in every full calendar year since 1997, along with where ADM ranked among its popular alternatives each year. Annual results reveal how consistently each one kept pace with ADM and how far its good and bad years diverged, detail that multiyear averages tend to smooth over.

Newest year first. Green marks a year in which the fund came out ahead of ADM; gray means the two finished within a fraction of a point. The rank row places ADM among the alternatives that traded the full year; dark green is the top quarter and red the bottom quarter.

InvestmentYears ahead of ADM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015201420132012201120102009200820072006200520042003200220012000199919981997
ADM This pageArcher-Daniels-Midland Company—+18.2%−27.5%−20.4%+40.0%+37.3%+12.4%+17.1%+5.3%−9.5%+28.4%−27.7%+22.3%+61.8%−1.8%−2.9%−2.0%+10.8%−36.9%+47.2%+31.1%+12.2%+49.3%+24.9%−12.1%+1.9%+32.4%−24.6%−16.2%+6.6%
Rank among alternativesTop quarter in 5 of 297 of 1612 of 1616 of 161 of 165 of 156 of 158 of 143 of 1411 of 147 of 149 of 144 of 142 of 1414 of 147 of 1312 of 1311 of 136 of 136 of 137 of 134 of 129 of 127 of 117 of 118 of 101 of 107 of 105 of 95 of 8
SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF14 of 29+17.7%+24.9%+26.2%−18.2%+28.7%+18.3%+31.2%−4.6%+21.7%+12.0%+1.2%+13.5%+32.3%+16.0%+1.9%+15.1%+26.4%−36.8%+5.1%+15.9%+4.8%+10.7%+28.2%−21.6%−11.7%−9.8%+20.4%+28.7%+33.5%
CF CF Industries Holdings, Inc.11 of 20−7.2%+10.1%−4.7%+22.3%+87.2%−15.7%+12.7%+5.1%+40.3%−19.3%−23.5%+19.4%+15.9%+41.3%+8.0%+49.6%+85.8%−55.2%+330%+69.1%—————————
SENEA Seneca Foods Corporation14 of 27+39.6%+51.1%−14.0%+27.1%+20.2%−2.2%+44.5%−8.2%−23.2%+38.2%+7.2%−15.2%+4.9%+17.7%−4.3%+13.0%+15.3%−12.8%−3.3%+29.2%+5.6%−16.3%+43.8%+3.9%+2.8%+21.7%−6.1%——
DE Deere & Company16 of 29+11.4%+7.6%−5.5%+26.6%+28.9%+58.0%+18.3%−2.9%+54.8%+39.0%−11.3%−0.5%+8.2%+14.3%−5.0%+56.3%+44.8%−58.1%+98.6%+42.3%−6.6%+16.3%+44.4%+7.1%−2.6%+8.1%+34.8%−42.3%+46.1%
DAR Darling Ingredients Inc.14 of 29+6.9%−32.4%−20.4%−9.7%+20.1%+105%+45.9%+6.1%+40.4%+22.7%−42.1%−13.0%+30.2%+20.7%+0.1%+58.5%+52.6%−52.5%+110%+38.8%−8.9%+58.0%+54.2%+156%+86.7%−82.4%−30.4%−64.0%−13.5%
ANDE The Andersons, Inc.16 of 29+33.8%−28.8%+67.0%−7.8%+61.5%+0.8%−13.2%−2.1%−29.0%+43.8%−39.5%−9.9%+110%−0.3%+21.6%+42.3%+59.0%−62.8%+6.3%+97.7%+70.6%+62.2%+28.6%+29.5%+19.1%+8.0%−27.2%+32.0%−1.1%
DOLE Dole plc2 of 4+13.4%+12.9%+30.8%−25.3%—————————————————————————
ALCO Alico, Inc.14 of 29+40.9%−10.2%+22.8%−32.6%+25.3%−12.1%+22.5%+0.8%+9.5%−29.2%−22.3%+29.7%+7.0%+90.4%−18.1%−15.9%−28.9%+14.6%−26.3%+14.3%−20.3%+68.4%+33.3%−14.1%+97.6%+4.7%−5.0%−20.1%+27.0%
INGR Ingredion Incorporated15 of 28−17.9%+29.2%+14.1%+4.5%+26.4%−12.6%+4.7%−33.1%+13.9%+32.4%+15.3%+26.7%+8.8%+24.6%+15.9%+59.7%+4.0%−20.4%+7.4%+45.7%−9.7%+57.2%+15.9%−13.4%+23.0%−9.8%+9.2%+2.4%—
CTVA Corteva, Inc.4 of 6+18.9%+20.2%−17.5%+25.6%+23.5%+33.5%———————————————————————
BG Bunge Global S.A.13 of 24+18.6%−20.7%+3.8%+9.3%+45.9%+18.9%+11.8%−18.0%−4.8%+8.7%−23.5%+12.5%+14.7%+29.1%−11.4%+4.3%+25.1%−55.1%+61.8%+29.5%+0.3%+75.2%+39.0%+5.2%—————
SEB Seaboard Corporation16 of 29+83.5%−31.8%−5.2%−3.8%+30.1%−28.5%+20.4%−19.7%+11.8%+36.5%−31.0%+50.2%+10.5%+24.9%+2.3%+48.3%+13.3%−18.6%−16.6%+17.0%+51.7%+256%+18.0%−20.1%+97.0%−19.2%−53.8%−3.8%+66.0%
AGRO Adecoagro S.A.6 of 14−12.5%−12.4%+38.7%+11.5%+13.0%−18.8%+20.3%−32.7%−0.4%−15.5%+53.5%−1.0%−4.5%+2.5%———————————————
MOS The Mosaic Company10 of 29+1.1%−29.1%−16.5%+12.8%+72.2%+7.6%−25.3%+14.2%−10.4%+10.7%−38.0%−1.4%−15.0%+13.7%−33.8%+28.3%+73.4%−63.3%+342%+46.0%−10.4%+64.4%−6.2%−17.4%−16.1%−2.8%−22.0%−33.9%−15.5%
GIS General Mills, Inc.15 of 29−23.7%+1.4%−20.0%+28.1%+18.5%+13.6%+43.1%−31.6%−0.7%+10.3%+11.5%+10.3%+27.3%+3.3%+17.2%+3.5%+20.2%+9.5%+1.6%+20.0%+1.2%+12.6%−1.2%−7.5%+19.7%+28.4%−5.4%+11.8%+16.3%
LMNR Limoneira Company9 of 22−47.3%+20.2%+72.2%−16.8%−8.2%−11.6%−0.1%−11.8%+5.2%+45.6%−39.6%−5.4%+38.1%+15.6%−40.7%+99.1%+12.0%−41.1%−15.8%+11.8%+53.9%+173%———————
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Risk and diversification

How ADM has fallen, how it held up in crashes beside the S&P 500 and its popular alternatives, and what moves independently of it.

What were ADM's worst declines?

A drawdown is the decline from a peak to the lowest point before a new high. This section presents ADM's five deepest drawdowns since it began trading in 1986, alongside the S&P 500's return over the same dates, and how long each took to recover. Together, these figures show how much an investor could have lost and how long it took to get back to even.

Green means ADM fell less than the S&P 500 over the same dates. Based on daily closing prices with dividends reinvested.

DuringADM fellS&P 500, same datesPeakLowTime to the lowBack at the peakTime to recover
2008 financial crisis−68.0%−33.8%Apr 2008Oct 20086 monthsDec 20135.2 years
Dot-com bust−57.7%+52.1%Oct 1997Sep 20002.9 yearsOct 20044.1 years
2023 regional bank crisis−54.1%+28.6%Nov 2022Apr 20252.4 yearsSep 202617 months
2015 China and oil sell-off−41.9%−10.2%May 2015Jan 20168 monthsAug 20182.6 years
Late-2018 sell-off−40.5%−20.1%Oct 2018Mar 202017 monthsOct 20207 months

How did ADM do in stock market crashes?

This section measures how far ADM, the S&P 500 and each alternative fell from peak to trough during every major market crash since 2000. A smaller decline means an investment held up better, and comparing results across crashes shows whether that resilience was consistent or a one-off.

Newest crash first. Each figure is the fund's deepest fall within the crash window; green means a smaller fall than ADM.

InvestmentHeld up better2023 regional bank crisisMar 20232022 bear marketJan 2022Covid crashFeb 2020Late-2018 sell-offSep 2018February 2018 volatility shockFeb 20182015 China and oil sell-offAug 20152011 euro debt crisisJul 20112010 flash crashMay 20102008 financial crisisOct 2007Dot-com bustMar 2000
ADM This pageArcher-Daniels-Midland Company—−4.1%−26.7%−33.7%−22.9%−2.0%−35.5%−24.4%0.0%−68.0%−31.0%
SPY S&P 500State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF6 of 10−3.4%−24.5%−33.7%−19.3%−6.5%−12.8%−17.9%−1.5%−55.2%−47.5%
CF CF Industries Holdings, Inc.0 of 9−10.7%−26.4%−46.4%−28.0%−6.1%−56.0%−36.3%−1.2%−76.8%—
SENEA Seneca Foods Corporation5 of 10−4.3%−22.4%−29.7%−23.8%−8.3%−14.1%−29.2%−1.5%−43.1%−28.3%
DE Deere & Company2 of 10−6.7%−33.8%−37.4%−17.5%−6.9%−24.9%−24.2%0.0%−73.3%−37.3%
DAR Darling Ingredients Inc.1 of 10−7.6%−34.8%−51.0%−18.8%−5.6%−43.0%−36.4%−4.9%−83.0%−85.7%
ANDE The Andersons, Inc.2 of 10−10.0%−48.8%−29.6%−28.0%−6.2%−37.3%−29.6%−3.7%−78.0%−22.8%
DOLE Dole plc0 of 2−3.7%−52.3%————————
ALCO Alico, Inc.3 of 10−3.8%−33.6%−36.8%−13.6%−4.3%−50.0%−24.3%−4.0%−57.1%−22.3%
INGR Ingredion Incorporated5 of 10−2.5%−20.6%−35.9%−16.8%−5.7%−12.4%−35.9%−2.4%−64.2%−32.3%
CTVA Corteva, Inc.1 of 3−5.8%−19.4%−34.0%———————
BG Bunge Global S.A.1 of 9−5.6%−34.7%−44.0%−25.8%−3.1%−39.5%−23.7%0.0%−77.3%—
SEB Seaboard Corporation6 of 10−2.2%−21.1%−32.7%−8.8%−6.0%−27.8%−34.4%−4.2%−58.0%−38.0%
AGRO Adecoagro S.A.3 of 7−2.8%−45.3%−51.9%−20.6%−3.7%−11.9%−30.8%———
MOS The Mosaic Company0 of 10−12.4%−44.0%−63.8%−25.2%−7.3%−50.4%−35.6%0.0%−86.1%−52.7%
GIS General Mills, Inc.8 of 10−0.8%−10.9%−20.8%−19.7%−3.5%−8.2%−7.6%−1.7%−28.2%−26.1%
LMNR Limoneira Company2 of 9−0.4%−33.7%−44.6%−33.5%−5.6%−43.0%−40.2%0.0%−61.2%—
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How closely does ADM move with the S&P 500?

Upside capture measures how much of the S&P 500's gains an investment kept in the months the market rose, and downside capture how much of its losses it took in the months the market fell. An investment that captures more of the gains than the losses has compounded ahead of the market over time. This section compares ADM with its popular alternatives on both measures, and on beta (how strongly each has moved with the market), over the past 10 years.

Monthly total returns over the past 10 years, measured against SPY. 100% capture or a beta of 1.00 means moving in line with the S&P 500. Green marks a better figure than ADM's: more upside, less downside or a higher capture ratio. Sorted by capture ratio.

InvestmentUpside captureDownside captureCapture ratioBeta
ADM This pageArcher-Daniels-Midland Company72%79%0.910.75
SENEA Seneca Foods Corporation73%20%3.700.34
DE Deere & Company110%66%1.670.98
CF CF Industries Holdings, Inc.102%78%1.320.82
ANDE The Andersons, Inc.54%54%1.010.65
DAR Darling Ingredients Inc.118%127%0.921.05
BG Bunge Global S.A.67%72%0.920.66
ALCO Alico, Inc.79%120%0.660.72
SEB Seaboard Corporation30%49%0.610.30
MOS The Mosaic Company82%154%0.531.32
AGRO Adecoagro S.A.51%100%0.510.63
INGR Ingredion Incorporated56%114%0.490.72
LMNR Limoneira Company47%115%0.410.66
GIS General Mills, Inc.22%65%0.340.27
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What diversifies ADM?

Correlation measures how closely two investments move together, on a scale from 1 (in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to -1 (in opposite directions). This section lists large ETFs and stocks whose returns have had a low correlation with ADM's. Because such investments tend not to fall at the same time, pairing ADM with them can reduce a portfolio's overall swings.

Only ETFs with at least $1.0B in assets and stocks worth at least $10B, with a correlation below 0.5 over the past 5 years and a positive return, are included, ranked by Sharpe ratio; funds that hold the same thing are shown once. The year columns are the years in which ADM lost money. The last two columns show a portfolio that is 80% ADM and 20% the other investment, rebalanced monthly.

ETFs

InvestmentCorrelation5Y returnSharpe2024202320172015201220112010200820021999199880/20 mix volatility80/20 mix annual return
ADM Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (this page)1.00+42.9%0.40−27.5%−20.4%−9.5%−27.7%−1.8%−2.9%−2.0%−36.9%−12.1%−24.6%−16.2%27.9%+8.8%
LVHI InternationalFranklin International Low Volatility High Dividend Index ETF0.44+119%1.48+15.9%+17.4%+10.0%————————23.2%+10.9%
DXJ InternationalWisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund0.18+225%1.34+29.8%+42.0%+22.8%+7.7%+19.6%−16.1%−1.8%−20.8%———22.9%+13.0%
SMH TechnologyVanEck Semiconductor ETF0.13+323%0.97+39.1%+73.4%+38.5%−0.3%+8.6%+6.8%+19.0%−44.7%−47.0%——24.2%+15.6%
DBEF InternationalXtrackers MSCI EAFE Hedged Equity ETF0.31+85.0%0.96+13.4%+20.1%+16.7%+4.1%+20.9%——————23.1%+10.4%
GLD CommoditiesSPDR Gold Shares0.17+126%0.96+26.7%+12.7%+12.8%−10.7%+6.6%+9.6%+29.3%+4.9%———23.1%+11.4%
SPMO Broad MarketInvesco S&P 500 Momentum ETF0.26+136%0.93+45.8%+17.6%+27.8%————————23.7%+12.0%
VLUE Broad MarketiShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF0.49+109%0.90+7.2%+14.2%+21.9%−4.1%———————24.6%+11.0%
EWT TechnologyiShares MSCI Taiwan ETF0.17+153%0.89+16.1%+29.0%+26.9%−12.9%+18.6%−21.8%+22.8%−45.3%−24.4%——23.7%+12.3%

Stocks

InvestmentCorrelation5Y returnSharpe2024202320172015201220112010200820021999199880/20 mix volatility80/20 mix annual return
ADM Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (this page)1.00+42.9%0.40−27.5%−20.4%−9.5%−27.7%−1.8%−2.9%−2.0%−36.9%−12.1%−24.6%−16.2%27.9%+8.8%
CAH Medical - DistributionCardinal Health, Inc.0.19+479%1.55+19.0%+34.1%−12.7%+12.6%+3.8%+8.1%+21.4%−39.6%−8.3%−36.8%+51.7%23.9%+15.1%
CLS Hardware, Equipment & PartsCelestica Inc.0.14+3,143%1.47+215%+160%−11.6%−6.0%+11.2%−24.4%+2.8%−20.5%−65.1%+350%—26.6%+27.7%
FIX Engineering & ConstructionComfort Systems USA, Inc.0.22+1,636%1.46+107%+79.6%+32.1%+67.7%+15.7%−17.0%+8.7%−15.2%−9.4%−58.7%−9.5%25.8%+23.6%
MCK Medical - DistributionMcKesson Corporation0.15+413%1.44+23.7%+24.1%+12.0%−4.5%+25.6%+11.8%+13.8%−40.4%−27.2%−71.3%+46.9%23.6%+14.6%
MPC Oil & Gas Refining & MarketingMarathon Petroleum Corporation0.49+690%1.41−4.0%+30.4%+34.8%+17.4%+94.3%——————26.1%+16.7%
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Common questions

What was ADM's worst drawdown?

ADM's deepest decline since it began trading in 1986 was 68.0%, from April to October 2008. It took about five years from the low to climb back to its old high.

What were ADM's best and worst years?

Over 29 full calendar years, ADM's best year was 2013, when it returned 61.8%. Its worst was 2008, with a return of -36.9%.

Is there a better investment than ADM?

Among ADM's popular alternatives, DE earned more for the risk it took than ADM over the past 5 years, and its worst fall in 10 years was 37.9%, against 54.1% for ADM. Looking beyond its popular alternatives, NEU (specialty chemicals) and KO (food & beverages) earned more than ADM with less volatility over the past 5 years. NEU returned 21.0% a year at 26.8% volatility, against 7.4% a year at 28.7%.

Is ADM more volatile than the S&P 500?

Yes. ADM's volatility over the past 5 years was 28.7%, 1.7 times the S&P 500's 17.1%. Volatility measures how widely returns swing around their average: in roughly two years out of three, ADM's return lands within 28.7% of its average, either way. The higher it is, the rougher the ride and the harder it is to hold through a slump.

What is ADM's Sharpe ratio?

ADM's Sharpe ratio over the past 5 years was 0.40, against 0.79 for the S&P 500, so ADM earned less for each unit of risk than an index fund did. The Sharpe ratio is the return earned above cash for each unit of volatility: two investments with the same return are not equal if one got there with far bigger swings.

How correlated is ADM with the S&P 500?

Over the past 5 years, ADM's monthly returns had a correlation of 0.36 with the S&P 500. Correlation runs from 1 (moving in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to −1 (moving in opposite directions). They are only loosely linked, which makes it a real diversifier next to an index fund. In the table, the correlation column measures each option against ADM instead: the lower it is, the more that option would diversify a ADM holding.

What are the best alternatives to ADM?

Of the 15 popular alternatives we compared, two outperformed ADM in at least 3 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term timeframes, with dividends reinvested: CF and SENEA.

Did ADM outperform the S&P 500?

ADM finished ahead of the S&P 500 (SPY) in 13 of 29 full calendar years. In 2025, it returned +18.2%, against +17.7% for the index.

How did ADM do in stock market crashes?

ADM fell less than the S&P 500 (SPY) in three of the ten major crashes it has traded through, and further in six. The clearest case was the 2015 China and oil sell-off, when ADM fell 35.5% and the S&P 500 fell 12.8%.

What diversifies ADM?

These had a low correlation with ADM over the past 5 years and still earned a positive 5-year return: among large ETFs, LVHI (correlation 0.44), DXJ (correlation 0.18) and SMH (correlation 0.13); among large stocks, CAH (correlation 0.19), CLS (correlation 0.14) and FIX (correlation 0.22). A correlation near zero means the two have moved largely independently.

How we measure

More research

Popular alternatives to ADM

Other stocks and ETFs