Benchmark research · Dow Jones Industrial Average
ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed DIA (Dow Jones Industrial Average)
Any investment can look great over a single hand-picked timeframe. To find what truly kept ahead of DIA (State Street SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust), we screened DIA against the entire market of over 10,000 stocks and ETFs across 8 different time windows from 1 month to 10 years, including reinvested dividends. A contender had to come out ahead in both the short term and the long term to make the list. Data as of October 20, 2026.
Compare the entire market against DIA live →Key findings
- How hard it was to top DIA: Out of over 10,000 stocks and ETFs screened, 173 of 957 eligible ETFs (18%) and 313 of 1,502 eligible stocks (21%) outperformed in at least 3 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term periods. A smaller group kept ahead in all but one short-term period and every long-term period: 73 ETFs and 124 stocks.
- Who came out ahead across the three groups:
- Popular alternatives: XLK, QQQ, VOO, and VTI all qualified, with each outperforming in 4 of 5 short-term and 3 of 3 long-term periods. MSFT also qualified, while GS and JPM fell short because their short-term scores were below the required majority. SCHD outperformed in 5 of 5 short-term periods but 0 of 3 long-term periods, so it did not qualify. No same-index funds were excluded.
- Top ETFs: Broad-market and technology funds were the largest categories among the top ETFs, with 5 in each group. BNO, CRAK, FNDX, and DGRO each outperformed in all 5 short-term and all 3 long-term periods.
- Top stocks: 313 stocks qualified, and the top stocks shown include healthcare names NTRA, LLY, and CORT, along with energy companies CVI and MPC. These examples outperformed in all 5 short-term and all 3 long-term periods.
- The risk trade-off: Over 5 years, the top ETFs had median volatility of 26.0%, much higher than DIA's 14.8%, while the top stocks' median volatility was 42.4%, roughly double or more. Still, 14 of 15 top ETFs and 9 of 10 top stocks had higher Sharpe ratios than DIA, meaning most delivered more return per unit of risk over that period.
How popular alternatives compare
Well-known funds and stocks investors often compare against DIA, sorted by long-term periods outperformed, then short-term.
| Investment | Periods outperformed | Short term | Long term | Risk · 5 years | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatilitylower is calmer | Sharpe ratiohigher is better | ||
| DIA State Street SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust (benchmark) | — | +0.9% | +1.6% | +6.8% | +9.6% | +13.9% | +66.1% | +60.6% | +250% | 14.8% | 0.72 |
| XLK Made the listState Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −4.8% | +5.7% | +20.3% | +29.0% | +29.3% | +131% | +143% | +767% | 26.0%1.8× DIA | 0.82 |
| QQQ Made the listInvesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −3.2% | +3.2% | +11.2% | +17.4% | +17.9% | +106% | +97.2% | +553% | 23.0%1.6× DIA | 0.71 |
| VOO Made the listVanguard S&P 500 ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −0.6% | +3.9% | +9.1% | +13.5% | +15.8% | +89.7% | +82.3% | +324% | 16.9%1.1× DIA | 0.80 |
| IVV Made the listiShares Core S&P 500 ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −0.6% | +3.9% | +9.1% | +13.5% | +15.8% | +89.7% | +82.3% | +324% | 17.0%1.1× DIA | 0.80 |
| SPY Made the listState Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −0.6% | +3.9% | +9.1% | +13.5% | +15.8% | +89.3% | +81.7% | +321% | 17.1%1.2× DIA | 0.79 |
| VTI Made the listVanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −0.8% | +3.2% | +8.3% | +13.1% | +15.2% | +87.9% | +72.6% | +302% | 17.5%1.2× DIA | 0.71 |
| GS Fell shortThe Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. | 1/5 short3/3 long | −7.8% | −15.7% | −5.2% | −1.8% | +18.2% | +215% | +145% | +521% | 28.6%1.9× DIA | 0.77 |
| JPM Fell shortJPMorgan Chase & Co. | 0/5 short3/3 long | −4.3% | −0.6% | +6.8% | +5.0% | +13.0% | +150% | +122% | +537% | 24.3%1.6× DIA | 0.78 |
| MSFT Made the listMicrosoft Corporation | 4/5 short2/3 long | +6.0% | +32.5% | +27.7% | +13.2% | +3.8% | +66.6% | +80.3% | +946% | 28.2%1.9× DIA | 0.56 |
| VYM Fell shortVanguard High Dividend Yield ETF | 2/5 short2/3 long | +1.1% | +1.7% | +5.1% | +13.3% | +16.9% | +72.8% | +71.1% | +208% | 13.8%0.9× DIA | 0.85 |
| XLI Fell shortState Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF | 0/5 short2/3 long | −1.9% | −6.1% | −3.6% | +6.4% | +9.9% | +76.2% | +72.5% | +246% | 17.6%1.2× DIA | 0.71 |
| IWM Fell shortiShares Russell 2000 ETF | 1/5 short1/3 long | −3.4% | −5.4% | −0.1% | +11.6% | +12.3% | +71.3% | +29.0% | +158% | 22.4%1.5× DIA | 0.34 |
| SCHD Fell shortSchwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF | 5/5 short0/3 long | +3.7% | +6.8% | +13.6% | +28.2% | +33.0% | +67.5% | +59.1% | +252% | 14.3%1.0× DIA | 0.72 |
| UNH Fell shortUnitedHealth Group Incorporated | 4/5 short0/3 long | +11.0% | +0.1% | +31.2% | +27.1% | +18.1% | −15.3% | +5.5% | +241% | 32.1%2.2× DIA | 0.20 |
| PG Fell shortThe Procter & Gamble Company | 4/5 short0/3 long | +9.1% | +7.7% | +12.0% | +14.9% | +8.0% | +15.8% | +28.3% | +145% | 18.3%1.2× DIA | 0.37 |
| RSP Fell shortInvesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF | 3/5 short0/3 long | +1.5% | +2.0% | +6.7% | +13.3% | +15.5% | +65.4% | +48.6% | +211% | 16.1%1.1× DIA | 0.57 |
ETFs that consistently outperformed DIA
Top 15 by long-term periods outperformed, then short-term, then by 10Y return. Green cells outperformed DIA in that period. Excludes leveraged and inverse funds, ETFs under $100M in assets, stocks under $2.0B in market cap, and anything without 10 years of history.
| # | Investment | Periods outperformed | Short term | Long term | Risk · 5 years | Fund | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatilitylower is calmer | Sharpe ratiohigher is better | Expense | Assets | |||
| — | DIA State Street SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust (benchmark) | — | +0.9% | +1.6% | +6.8% | +9.6% | +13.9% | +66.1% | +60.6% | +250% | 14.8% | 0.72 | ||
| 1 | BNO CommoditiesUnited States Brent Oil Fund LP | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +13.6% | +35.6% | +40.9% | +137% | +141% | +108% | +196% | +348% | 37.1%2.5× DIA | 0.77 | 1.15% | $768M |
| 2 | CRAK EnergyVanEck Oil Refiners ETF | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +1.6% | +20.3% | +41.5% | +73.9% | +81.5% | +121% | +146% | +336% | 20.9%1.4× DIA | 0.97 | 0.61% | $810M |
| 3 | FNDX Broad MarketSchwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company ETF | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +1.6% | +4.7% | +11.9% | +20.5% | +25.4% | +88.2% | +88.6% | +291% | 14.9%1.0× DIA | 0.93 | 0.25% | $28B |
| 4 | RWL Broad MarketInvesco S&P 500 Revenue ETF | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +2.4% | +4.5% | +11.7% | +18.4% | +22.9% | +84.0% | +90.2% | +287% | 14.4%1.0× DIA | 0.97 | 0.39% | $10B |
| 5 | QUS Broad MarketState Street SPDR MSCI USA StrategicFactors ETF | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +1.8% | +5.1% | +9.5% | +13.4% | +15.9% | +71.9% | +69.3% | +273% | 14.2%1.0× DIA | 0.81 | 0.15% | $1.6B |
| 6 | DGRO Dividend & IncomeiShares Core Dividend Growth ETF | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +2.8% | +3.9% | +9.4% | +15.1% | +18.1% | +74.2% | +68.0% | +267% | 13.7%0.9× DIA | 0.83 | 0.08% | $44B |
| 7 | DBE AlternativesInvesco DB Energy Fund | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +8.4% | +28.7% | +39.3% | +126% | +126% | +91.6% | +144% | +264% | 30.6%2.1× DIA | 0.74 | 0.79% | $132M |
| 8 | IYW Broad MarketiShares U.S. Technology ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −4.2% | +5.6% | +20.4% | +26.8% | +27.0% | +143% | +138% | +805% | 26.6%1.8× DIA | 0.79 | 0.37% | $24B |
| 9 | VGT TechnologyVanguard Information Technology ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −4.2% | +6.3% | +19.1% | +27.6% | +26.7% | +138% | +133% | +779% | 26.0%1.8× DIA | 0.78 | 0.09% | $178B |
| 10 | XLK TechnologyState Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −4.8% | +5.7% | +20.3% | +29.0% | +29.3% | +131% | +143% | +767% | 26.0%1.8× DIA | 0.82 | 0.08% | $125B |
| 11 | FTEC TechnologyFidelity MSCI Information Technology Index ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −4.2% | +6.3% | +19.1% | +27.6% | +27.0% | +139% | +135% | +763% | 26.1%1.8× DIA | 0.79 | 0.08% | $22B |
| 12 | XNTK TechnologyState Street SPDR NYSE Technology ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −6.7% | +3.7% | +18.9% | +27.2% | +26.2% | +168% | +119% | +728% | 29.3%2.0× DIA | 0.68 | 0.35% | $2.0B |
| 13 | IXN InternationaliShares Global Tech ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −6.2% | +4.4% | +19.3% | +31.2% | +32.0% | +145% | +141% | +720% | 26.2%1.8× DIA | 0.81 | 0.37% | $9.1B |
| 14 | IGM Broad MarketiShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −5.1% | +4.5% | +16.2% | +24.4% | +24.3% | +156% | +130% | +720% | 26.5%1.8× DIA | 0.76 | 0.37% | $11B |
| 15 | RSPT TechnologyInvesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Technology ETF | 4/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | −2.8% | +8.4% | +24.4% | +41.0% | +42.9% | +141% | +119% | +572% | 25.1%1.7× DIA | 0.75 | 0.40% | $6.1B |
Stocks that consistently outperformed DIA
Top 10 by long-term periods outperformed, then short-term, then by 10Y return. Individual stocks swing far more than funds; check the volatility column.
| # | Investment | Periods outperformed | Short term | Long term | Risk · 5 years | Company | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatilitylower is calmer | Sharpe ratiohigher is better | Market cap | |||
| — | DIA State Street SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust (benchmark) | — | +0.9% | +1.6% | +6.8% | +9.6% | +13.9% | +66.1% | +60.6% | +250% | 14.8% | 0.72 | |
| 1 | NTRA Medical - Diagnostics & ResearchNatera, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +9.5% | +54.6% | +95.4% | +77.4% | +115% | +896% | +261% | +3,841% | 57.6%3.9× DIA | 0.74 | $59B |
| 2 | LLY Drug Manufacturers - GeneralEli Lilly and Company | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +10.2% | +12.1% | +40.0% | +19.4% | +59.7% | +124% | +451% | +1,807% | 32.8%2.2× DIA | 1.21 | $1.2T |
| 3 | CORT Medical - PharmaceuticalsCorcept Therapeutics Incorporated | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +2.4% | +27.2% | +151% | +205% | +48.2% | +317% | +498% | +1,593% | 75.9%5.1× DIA | 0.81 | $13B |
| 4 | COKE Beverages - Non-AlcoholicCoca-Cola Consolidated, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +12.3% | +17.3% | +14.9% | +42.9% | +61.7% | +255% | +461% | +1,569% | 38.0%2.6× DIA | 1.10 | $14B |
| 5 | CVI Oil & Gas Refining & MarketingCVR Energy, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +16.4% | +79.1% | +106% | +147% | +78.5% | +115% | +304% | +1,424% | 52.3%3.5× DIA | 0.80 | $6.2B |
| 6 | MPC Oil & Gas Refining & MarketingMarathon Petroleum Corporation | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +18.1% | +51.1% | +123% | +191% | +159% | +234% | +690% | +1,387% | 33.4%2.3× DIA | 1.41 | $133B |
| 7 | WSM Specialty RetailWilliams-Sonoma, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +12.2% | +14.1% | +26.5% | +37.0% | +35.6% | +238% | +199% | +1,268% | 44.4%3.0× DIA | 0.71 | $30B |
| 8 | HALO BiotechnologyHalozyme Therapeutics, Inc. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +11.6% | +61.3% | +78.8% | +76.9% | +87.1% | +254% | +226% | +1,196% | 40.4%2.7× DIA | 0.79 | $14B |
| 9 | ANF Apparel - RetailAbercrombie & Fitch Co. | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +18.3% | +71.3% | +66.3% | +30.7% | +143% | +166% | +328% | +1,117% | 62.9%4.2× DIA | 0.77 | $6.9B |
| 10 | VLO Oil & Gas Refining & MarketingValero Energy Corporation | 5/5 short3/3 longAll-weather | +10.2% | +38.9% | +93.2% | +166% | +176% | +259% | +524% | +1,061% | 36.9%2.5× DIA | 1.18 | $125B |
What stands out
The leading ETFs span broad-market and technology strategies, while the standout stocks include several healthcare and energy companies. The consistency rule requires outperformance across both short- and long-term periods, so these leaders' records were not limited to recent results. Still, the table shows only the top 15 ETFs and top 10 stocks, not the full set of qualifiers.
The risk figures show that higher returns came with a bumpier ride, especially among individual stocks. Over 5 years, the median volatility for the top stocks was 42.4%, compared with 14.8% for DIA. Yet most of the top ETFs and stocks had higher Sharpe ratios, a measure of risk-adjusted performance, suggesting their added volatility was accompanied by stronger returns relative to risk.
Methodology
- Short-term periods: 1M, 3M, 6M, YTD, 1Y. Long-term periods: 3Y, 5Y, 10Y. An investment outperformed a period when its total return, with dividends reinvested, was higher than DIA's. Returns within 0.5 points or 3% of DIA's (whichever is larger) count as a tie and are shown in gray.
- Consistent means outperforming in at least 3 of 5 short-term periods and 2 of 3 long-term periods, so a recent hot streak alone is not enough. All-weather means outperforming in every long-term period and all but one short-term period. Rankings use long-term periods outperformed, then short-term, then the 10Y return.
- Excludes leveraged and inverse funds, ETFs under $100M in assets, stocks under $2.0B in market cap, and anything without 10 years of history.
- Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily returns over 5 years. The Sharpe ratio is return above cash divided by volatility over the same period: higher means more return per unit of risk.
- Returns and risk figures are computed from daily adjusted prices and update with each market day. Past performance does not predict future results.