# How Stryker (SYK) compares with the whole market and its popular alternatives

> Source: EasyCompare research, https://easycompare.io/research/syk
> Data as of October 20, 2026. Total returns include reinvested dividends. Past performance does not predict future results; nothing here is investment advice.

Built by QuantCommons' quantitative engine, this page is about relative opportunity, not data on SYK alone. It places SYK (Stryker Corporation) against 20+ 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 SYK stands in the market, and of the alternatives worth a closer look.

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

## Key findings

- **Right now:** Over the past 6 months, SYK fell 9.5% while the S&P 500 rose 9.1%. The slide is SYK's own: it is 23.5% below its high, against 1.3% for the S&P 500.
- **Stock or market?:** The weakness is SYK's own: it fell 4.3% over the past 3 months while the medical devices ETF IHI (iShares U.S. Medical Devices ETF) rose 7.5%. The S&P 500 rose 3.9%. On the flip side, last month cut against the tape: SYK rose 11.4% while the S&P 500 fell 0.6%.
- **Past 1 to 3 years:** SYK has gone against the market, falling 19.2% over the past year while the S&P 500 rose 15.8%. The same gap shows up over 3 years (18.0% against 89.3%). SYK led its medical device peers in 2023, then fell behind JNJ (Johnson & Johnson) and ISRG (Intuitive Surgical) in 2025.
- **Long term:** SYK turned $10,000 into $29,700 over the past decade, against $42,100 in the S&P 500.
- **In a crash:** In the Covid crash, SYK fell 43.8%, against 33.7% for the S&P 500. That was more than JNJ (Johnson & Johnson, 25.4%) but less than ZBH (Zimmer Biomet, 49.6%). SYK fell further than the S&P 500 in three of the last three sell-offs, including the Covid crash (43.8% against 33.7%).
- **Diversification:** SYK is some diversification, but not a hedge: a correlation of 0.52 with the S&P 500 over 5 years and 0.52 with the total US market, more closely than 76% of stocks worth at least $300 million. Over 10 years, SYK's beta versus the S&P 500 was 0.88: in the S&P 500's rising months it gained 82% as much as the index, and in falling months it lost 1.0 times as much.
- **Better options**
  - **Nearby categories and themes:** NVS (Novartis, pharmaceuticals) and COR (Cencora, health care distribution) earned more than SYK with less volatility over the past 5 years. NVS returned 17.1% a year at 20.7% volatility, against 3.2% a year at 25.7%.
  - **Whole market:** 774 of the 3,633 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million earned more than SYK with less volatility over the past 5 years, among them VTI (Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF), VOO (Vanguard S&P 500 ETF) and BRK-B (Berkshire Hathaway).

## How much would $10,000 in SYK have grown?

This chart tracks a hypothetical $10,000 investment in SYK over the past 29 years, with dividends reinvested, alongside the same amount in the S&P 500, investments that ended ahead of SYK over the same span and SYK's popular alternatives, among those that traded for the entire period.

- $10,000 invested in SYK at the end of September 1997 would have grown to $323,233 by September 2026, more than the $132,907 it would have become in SPY, an S&P 500 fund.
- Five of the eight other investments on the chart ended ahead of SYK, and RMD finished highest, at $1,650,038.

## SYK 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.

- SYK is still 23.5% below its all-time high.
- SYK's deepest decline since it began trading in 1986 was 58.6%, from December 2007 to March 2009. It took about four years from the low to climb back to its old high.
- Over 29 full calendar years, SYK's best was 1998, when it returned 47.9%, and its worst was 2008, when it lost 46.0%. It lost money in five of those years.

- Type: Stock, Healthcare (Medical - Devices)
- Trading since: October 17, 1986
- Market value: $117B
- Volatility (5 years): 25.7%; Sharpe ratio: 0.25
- Worst decline ever: −58.6%, from December 26, 2007 to March 9, 2009; back at its high by September 17, 2013

| Period | SYK total return |
| --- | --- |
| 1 month | +11.4% |
| 3 months | −4.3% |
| 6 months | −9.5% |
| year to date | −11.8% |
| 1 year | −19.2% |
| 3 years | +18.0% |
| 5 years | +17.2% |
| 10 years | +197% |

## SYK against the whole market

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

### How does SYK rank among all stocks?

This section ranks SYK on return, volatility, risk-adjusted return and worst decline against every stock worth at least $300 million with enough history.

- SYK's worst decline of the past 10 years ranks in the top 12% of the 2,187 stocks worth at least $300 million, where the top fell the least.
- SYK's 1-year return ranks in the bottom 20% of the 3,287 stocks worth at least $300 million with 1 year of history.

| Measure | SYK | Rank |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1-year return | −19.2% | 2,616 of 3,287 (top 80%) |
| 3-year return | +18.0% | 2,052 of 3,017 (top 69%) |
| 5-year return | +17.2% | 1,491 of 2,893 (top 52%) |
| 10-year return | +197% | 874 of 2,202 (top 40%) |
| Volatility, 5 years | 25.7% | 384 of 2,893 (top 14%) |
| Sharpe ratio, 5 years | 0.25 | 1,689 of 2,893 (top 59%) |
| Worst decline, past 10 years | −43.8% | 252 of 2,187 (top 12%) |

### What has beaten SYK 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).

- 151 stocks and 623 ETFs worth at least $500 million sit in the green region: each earned more than SYK over the past 5 years with smaller price swings. That is 21% of the 3,633 screened.
- Among those with at least half SYK's swings, DXJ has the best return for its risk: 26.6% a year at 19.1% volatility, 26% less than SYK's 25.7%, and a Sharpe ratio (return above cash per unit of volatility) of 1.34 against 0.25 for SYK.
- Among SYK's popular alternatives, JNJ is in the region. JNJ earned 12.7% a year against 3.2% a year for SYK, at 17.9% volatility, 30% less than SYK's 25.7%.

### Is there a better investment than SYK?

The table below lists investments that beat SYK 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.

- Among SYK's popular alternatives, JNJ earned more than SYK with less volatility over the past 5 years: 12.7% a year at 17.9% volatility, against 3.2% a year at 25.7%.
- Looking beyond its popular alternatives, NVS (pharmaceuticals) and COR (health care distribution) earned more than SYK with less volatility over the past 5 years. NVS returned 17.1% a year at 20.7% volatility, against 3.2% a year at 25.7%.
- Across the whole market, 774 of the 3,633 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million earned more than SYK with less volatility over the past 5 years, among them VTI, VOO and BRK-B.

The 15 strongest of 774 investments that beat SYK over the past 5 years, out of 3,633 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million.

| Investment | Group | Annual return (5 years) | Volatility | Sharpe | Worst decline (10 years) | 10Y return | Correlation with SYK | Better on |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| SYK: Stryker Corporation (this page) |  | +3.2% | 25.7% | 0.25 | −43.8% | +197% |  |  |
| [BRK-B](https://easycompare.io/research/brk-b): Berkshire Hathaway Inc. | Insurance | +13.4% | 17.1% | 0.82 | −29.6% | +274% | 0.62 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline; Higher return in most periods; Smaller losses in recent crashes |
| [KO](https://easycompare.io/research/ko): The Coca-Cola Company | Food & Beverages | +14.7% | 16.8% | 0.91 | −37.0% | +204% | 0.46 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline; Higher return in most periods; Smaller losses in recent crashes |
| [VTV](https://easycompare.io/research/vtv): Vanguard Morningstar Value ETF | US Large-Cap Value | +12.1% | 13.7% | 0.90 | −36.8% | +235% | 0.65 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline; Higher return in most periods; Smaller losses in recent crashes |
| [GLD](https://easycompare.io/research/gld): SPDR Gold Shares | Gold | +17.7% | 18.9% | 0.96 | −26.4% | +213% | 0.24 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline; Higher return in most periods; Smaller losses in recent crashes |
| [VIG](https://easycompare.io/research/vig): Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF | US Dividend Equity | +10.4% | 14.1% | 0.78 | −31.7% | +258% | 0.64 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline; Higher return in most periods; Smaller losses in recent crashes |
| [SCHD](https://easycompare.io/research/schd): Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF | US Dividend Equity | +9.7% | 14.3% | 0.72 | −33.4% | +252% | 0.57 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline; Higher return in most periods; Smaller losses in recent crashes |
| [RSG](https://easycompare.io/research/rsg): Republic Services, Inc. | Environmental Services | +13.9% | 18.5% | 0.80 | −34.0% | +446% | 0.51 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline; Higher return in most periods; Smaller losses in recent crashes |
| JAAA: Janus Henderson AAA CLO ETF | CLO Bonds | +5.1% | 1.7% | 2.98 | −2.6% | — | 0.13 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline; Higher return in most periods |
| [WM](https://easycompare.io/research/wm): Waste Management, Inc. | Environmental Services | +9.3% | 19.2% | 0.56 | −30.1% | +344% | 0.52 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline; Higher return in most periods; Smaller losses in recent crashes |
| [WCN](https://easycompare.io/research/wcn): Waste Connections, Inc. | Environmental Services | +6.1% | 20.0% | 0.40 | −31.6% | +270% | 0.49 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline; Higher return in most periods; Smaller losses in recent crashes |
| AEE: Ameren Corporation | Electric Utilities | +7.9% | 19.4% | 0.49 | −29.1% | +192% | 0.37 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline; Higher return in most periods; Smaller losses in recent crashes |
| [VTI](https://easycompare.io/research/vti): Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF | US Total Market | +11.5% | 17.5% | 0.71 | −35.0% | +302% | 0.52 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline; Higher return in most periods |
| [VOO](https://easycompare.io/research/voo): Vanguard S&P 500 ETF | US Large-Cap Equity | +12.8% | 16.9% | 0.80 | −34.0% | +324% | 0.52 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline; Higher return in most periods |
| IOO: iShares Global 100 ETF | Global Equity | +15.7% | 17.2% | 0.94 | −31.4% | +361% | 0.45 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline; Higher return in most periods; Smaller losses in recent crashes |
| [JNJ](https://easycompare.io/research/jnj): Johnson & Johnson | Pharmaceuticals | +12.7% | 17.9% | 0.76 | −27.4% | +196% | 0.37 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline; Higher return in most periods; Smaller losses in recent crashes |

## SYK against its popular alternatives

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

### How do SYK'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.

- Only CAH and JNJ were both more rewarding and calmer than SYK over the past 5 years, earning a higher annual return with lower volatility.
- 11 of the 20 popular alternatives earned less than SYK over the past 5 years while swinging more, the weaker corner of the map.
- Over the past 5 years, SYK returned 3.2% a year, less than the S&P 500's 12.7%, with higher volatility (25.7% against 17.1%).

### Has SYK consistently beaten its popular alternatives?

This section compares SYK with the investments people most often weigh against it, checking each one over eight periods from one month to ten years.

- Seven of the 21 popular alternatives, led by CAH, THC and ITGR, outperformed SYK in at least 3 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term timeframes.
- CAH, THC and ITGR outperformed SYK in every long-term period and in all but one short-term period, the most consistent record in the group.
- JNJ earned more for the risk it took than SYK (a higher Sharpe ratio) and fell less in its worst decline of the past 10 years.

| Investment | 1Y return | 3Y return | 5Y return | 10Y return | Periods ahead of SYK | Verdict | Sharpe |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| SYK: Stryker Corporation (this page) | −19.2% | +18.0% | +17.2% | +197% |  |  | 0.25 |
| [CAH](https://easycompare.io/research/cah): Cardinal Health, Inc. | +65.3% | +191% | +479% | +349% | 5/5 short-term, 3/3 long-term | all-weather | 1.55 |
| THC: Tenet Healthcare Corporation | +34.7% | +399% | +315% | +1,058% | 4/5 short-term, 3/3 long-term | all-weather | 0.86 |
| ITGR: Integer Holdings Corporation | +18.0% | +76.0% | +39.4% | +557% | 4/5 short-term, 3/3 long-term | all-weather | 0.37 |
| [HCA](https://easycompare.io/research/hca): HCA Healthcare, Inc. | +8.3% | +97.6% | +93.6% | +513% | 4/5 short-term, 3/3 long-term | all-weather | 0.59 |
| [ISRG](https://easycompare.io/research/isrg): Intuitive Surgical, Inc. | −4.5% | +64.1% | +28.9% | +478% | 3/5 short-term, 3/3 long-term | consistent | 0.32 |
| [JNJ](https://easycompare.io/research/jnj): Johnson & Johnson | +36.9% | +84.6% | +82.1% | +196% | 4/5 short-term, 2/3 long-term | consistent | 0.76 |
| GMED: Globus Medical, Inc. | +28.2% | +53.9% | +1.3% | +243% | 3/5 short-term, 2/3 long-term | consistent | 0.20 |
| STE: STERIS plc | −6.0% | +7.0% | +4.5% | +262% | 4/5 short-term, 1/3 long-term |  | 0.17 |
| [EW](https://easycompare.io/research/ew): Edwards Lifesciences Corporation | +17.3% | +27.1% | −23.6% | +125% | 4/5 short-term, 1/3 long-term |  | 0.01 |
| [MDT](https://easycompare.io/research/mdt): Medtronic Plc | +1.9% | +43.6% | −8.8% | +46.7% | 4/5 short-term, 1/3 long-term |  | 0.03 |
| SNN: Smith & Nephew plc | −17.1% | +41.6% | −5.9% | +20.5% | 3/5 short-term, 1/3 long-term |  | 0.09 |
| [ABT](https://easycompare.io/research/abt): Abbott Laboratories | −18.7% | +13.0% | −8.0% | +204% | 2/5 short-term, 1/3 long-term |  | 0.04 |
| [BDX](https://easycompare.io/research/bdx): Becton, Dickinson and Company | +32.3% | +1.6% | +12.2% | +71.4% | 4/5 short-term, 0/3 long-term |  | 0.22 |
| CNMD: CONMED Corporation | −0.4% | −47.3% | −65.9% | +30.2% | 4/5 short-term, 0/3 long-term |  | -0.32 |
| ZBH: Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. | −5.6% | −5.5% | −31.1% | −16.1% | 4/5 short-term, 0/3 long-term |  | -0.14 |
| GEHC: GE HealthCare Technologies Inc. | −6.8% | +10.1% | — | — | 3/5 short-term, 0/3 long-term |  | — |
| INSP: Inspire Medical Systems, Inc. | −11.7% | −54.3% | −71.6% | — | 3/5 short-term, 0/3 long-term |  | -0.10 |
| ATEC: Alphatec Holdings, Inc. | −29.9% | −11.3% | −11.4% | +81.6% | 2/5 short-term, 0/3 long-term |  | 0.28 |
| [BSX](https://easycompare.io/research/bsx): Boston Scientific Corporation | −54.7% | −8.9% | +2.5% | +98.1% | 1/5 short-term, 0/3 long-term |  | 0.15 |
| ENOV: Enovis Corporation | −36.2% | −53.5% | −76.4% | −59.0% | 1/5 short-term, 0/3 long-term |  | -0.46 |
| OFIX: Orthofix Medical Inc. | −36.9% | −10.4% | −73.1% | −75.3% | 0/5 short-term, 0/3 long-term |  | -0.33 |

### How did SYK do year by year?

This table shows each investment's total return in every full calendar year since 1997, along with where SYK ranked among its popular alternatives each year.

- SYK finished ahead of the S&P 500 in 15 of its 29 full calendar years, and behind it in each of the last three.
- Ranked against its popular alternatives each year, SYK finished in the top quarter in seven of 29 years and in the bottom quarter in no. In 2025, it ranked 15 of 22.
- Among its popular alternatives, ISRG came out ahead of SYK most often, in 16 of the 25 years both traded.

| Year | SYK | SPY |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2025 | −1.5% | +17.7% |
| 2024 | +21.3% | +24.9% |
| 2023 | +23.8% | +26.2% |
| 2022 | −7.4% | −18.2% |
| 2021 | +10.2% | +28.7% |
| 2020 | +18.2% | +18.3% |
| 2019 | +35.3% | +31.2% |
| 2018 | +2.4% | −4.6% |
| 2017 | +30.8% | +21.7% |
| 2016 | +30.7% | +12.0% |

## Risk and diversification

How SYK 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 SYK's worst declines?

A drawdown is the decline from a peak to the lowest point before a new high.

- In all three of SYK's worst declines, the S&P 500 held up better over the same dates.
- The slowest recovery came after SYK fell 58.6% from December 2007 to March 2009; it did not regain that peak until September 2013, four years later.

| Decline | Peak | Low | Back at the high | SPY over the same dates | Market event |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| −58.6% | December 26, 2007 | March 9, 2009 | September 17, 2013 | −53.4% | 2008 financial crisis |
| −57.0% | December 30, 1991 | June 23, 1993 | November 27, 1995 | — |  |
| −55.2% | July 31, 1987 | December 4, 1987 | May 2, 1989 | — |  |
| −43.8% | February 19, 2020 | March 23, 2020 | October 9, 2020 | −33.7% | Covid crash |
| −36.0% | January 19, 2000 | March 8, 2000 | June 14, 2000 | −6.9% |  |

### How did SYK do in stock market crashes?

This section measures how far SYK, the S&P 500 and each alternative fell from peak to trough during every major market crash since 2000.

- SYK fell further than the S&P 500 in seven of the ten crashes it has traded through. The clearest case was the Covid crash, when SYK fell 43.8% and the S&P 500 fell 33.7%.
- Among its popular alternatives, JNJ held up best, falling less than SYK in eight of the ten crashes they both traded through.

| Crash | Dates | SYK fall | SPY fall |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Dot-com bust | March 10, 2000 to October 9, 2002 | −26.9% | −47.5% |
| Global financial crisis | October 9, 2007 to March 9, 2009 | −58.6% | −55.2% |
| Flash crash | May 6, 2010 to May 7, 2010 | −3.8% | −1.5% |
| Euro debt crisis | July 22, 2011 to October 3, 2011 | −23.0% | −17.9% |
| China devaluation & oil rout | August 10, 2015 to February 11, 2016 | −15.6% | −12.8% |
| Volmageddon | February 2, 2018 to February 9, 2018 | −8.8% | −6.5% |
| Q4 2018 selloff | September 21, 2018 to December 24, 2018 | −18.8% | −19.3% |
| COVID crash | February 19, 2020 to March 23, 2020 | −43.8% | −33.7% |
| 2022 bear market | January 4, 2022 to October 12, 2022 | −31.4% | −24.5% |
| SVB / regional bank stress | March 8, 2023 to March 13, 2023 | −1.4% | −3.4% |

### How closely does SYK 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.

- CAH took just 51% of the S&P 500's losses, against 96% for SYK, while still keeping 71% of its gains.
- Over the past 10 years, SYK captured 82% of the S&P 500's gains in rising months and 96% of its losses in falling months, with a beta of 0.88. Its share of the market's losses was larger than its share of the gains.
- Eight of the 19 popular alternatives had a higher capture ratio (upside capture divided by downside capture) than SYK's 0.86, led by CAH, JNJ and ITGR.

Measured over the past 10 years of monthly returns against SPY.

| Investment | Upside capture | Downside capture | Beta |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| SYK: Stryker Corporation (this page) | 82.0% | 96.0% | 0.88 |
| [CAH](https://easycompare.io/research/cah): Cardinal Health, Inc. | 71.0% | 51.0% | 0.75 |
| THC: Tenet Healthcare Corporation | 173% | 168% | 1.87 |
| ITGR: Integer Holdings Corporation | 118% | 111% | 1.00 |
| [HCA](https://easycompare.io/research/hca): HCA Healthcare, Inc. | 135% | 140% | 1.37 |
| [ISRG](https://easycompare.io/research/isrg): Intuitive Surgical, Inc. | 136% | 154% | 1.28 |
| [JNJ](https://easycompare.io/research/jnj): Johnson & Johnson | 64.0% | 53.0% | 0.46 |
| GMED: Globus Medical, Inc. | 118% | 148% | 1.03 |
| STE: STERIS plc | 89.0% | 97.0% | 0.76 |
| [EW](https://easycompare.io/research/ew): Edwards Lifesciences Corporation | 88.0% | 120% | 0.97 |
| [MDT](https://easycompare.io/research/mdt): Medtronic Plc | 62.0% | 105% | 0.68 |
| SNN: Smith & Nephew plc | 50.0% | 98.0% | 0.63 |
| [ABT](https://easycompare.io/research/abt): Abbott Laboratories | 76.0% | 79.0% | 0.64 |
| [BDX](https://easycompare.io/research/bdx): Becton, Dickinson and Company | 53.0% | 77.0% | 0.48 |
| CNMD: CONMED Corporation | 90.0% | 159% | 1.25 |
| ZBH: Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. | 62.0% | 139% | 0.88 |
| ATEC: Alphatec Holdings, Inc. | 63.0% | 117% | 1.28 |
| [BSX](https://easycompare.io/research/bsx): Boston Scientific Corporation | 76.0% | 109% | 0.72 |
| ENOV: Enovis Corporation | 95.0% | 252% | 1.65 |
| OFIX: Orthofix Medical Inc. | 41.0% | 180% | 0.88 |

### What diversifies SYK?

Correlation measures how closely two investments move together, on a scale from 1 (in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to -1 (in opposite directions).

- Moving a fifth of the money in SYK into GLD would have cut the portfolio's volatility by 15% over the past 5 years and raised its annual return (+1.9% for SYK alone, +5.6% for the mix).
- GLD made money in four of the five calendar years in which SYK lost money.
- Among large ETFs, DXJ, SMH and GLD have moved largely independently of SYK over the past 5 years, with correlations of 0.43 or lower, and each still earned a positive 5-year return.

| Investment | Correlation with SYK | 5Y return | Volatility | Sharpe | Rose in SYK's 5 down years |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| DXJ: WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund | 0.43 | +225% | 19.1% | 1.34 | 2 of 5 |
| [SMH](https://easycompare.io/research/smh): VanEck Semiconductor ETF | 0.17 | +323% | 36.9% | 0.97 | 3 of 5 |
| [GLD](https://easycompare.io/research/gld): SPDR Gold Shares | 0.24 | +126% | 18.9% | 0.96 | 4 of 5 |
| IOO: iShares Global 100 ETF | 0.45 | +107% | 17.2% | 0.94 | 2 of 5 |
| SPMO: Invesco S&P 500 Momentum ETF | 0.44 | +136% | 20.8% | 0.93 | 1 of 5 |
| [XLE](https://easycompare.io/research/xle): State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF | 0.32 | +177% | 25.5% | 0.93 | 4 of 5 |
| VLUE: iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF | 0.39 | +109% | 18.4% | 0.90 | 1 of 5 |
| EWT: iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF | 0.12 | +153% | 24.2% | 0.89 | 2 of 5 |

## Common questions

### What was SYK's worst drawdown?

SYK's deepest decline since it began trading in 1986 was 58.6%, from December 2007 to March 2009. It took about four years from the low to climb back to its old high.

### What were SYK's best and worst years?

Over 29 full calendar years, SYK's best year was 1998, when it returned 47.9%. Its worst was 2008, with a return of -46.0%.

### Is there a better investment than SYK?

Among SYK's popular alternatives, JNJ earned more than SYK with less volatility over the past 5 years: 12.7% a year at 17.9% volatility, against 3.2% a year at 25.7%. Looking beyond its popular alternatives, NVS (pharmaceuticals) and COR (health care distribution) earned more than SYK with less volatility over the past 5 years. NVS returned 17.1% a year at 20.7% volatility, against 3.2% a year at 25.7%.

### Is SYK more volatile than the S&P 500?

Yes. SYK's volatility over the past 5 years was 25.7%, 1.5 times the S&P 500's 17.1%. Volatility measures how widely returns swing around their average: in roughly two years out of three, SYK's return lands within 25.7% 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 SYK's Sharpe ratio?

SYK's Sharpe ratio over the past 5 years was 0.25, against 0.79 for the S&P 500, so SYK 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 SYK with the S&P 500?

Over the past 5 years, SYK's monthly returns had a correlation of 0.52 with the S&P 500. Correlation runs from 1 (moving in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to −1 (moving in opposite directions). They often move together: some diversification next to an index fund, but not a cushion. In the table, the correlation column measures each option against SYK instead: the lower it is, the more that option would diversify a SYK holding.

### What are the best alternatives to SYK?

Of the 21 popular alternatives we compared, seven outperformed SYK in at least 3 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term timeframes, with dividends reinvested: CAH, THC and ITGR.

### Did SYK outperform the S&P 500?

SYK finished ahead of the S&P 500 (SPY) in 15 of 29 full calendar years. In 2025, it returned -1.5%, against +17.7% for the index.

### How did SYK do in stock market crashes?

SYK fell less than the S&P 500 (SPY) in two of the ten major crashes it has traded through, and further in seven. The clearest case was the Covid crash, when SYK fell 43.8% and the S&P 500 fell 33.7%.

### What diversifies SYK?

These had a low correlation with SYK over the past 5 years and still earned a positive 5-year return: among large ETFs, DXJ (correlation 0.43), SMH (correlation 0.17) and GLD (correlation 0.24); among large stocks, CLS (correlation 0.09), FIX (correlation 0.33) and MCK (correlation 0.41). A correlation near zero means the two have moved largely independently.

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## Explore further

- Full page with charts: https://easycompare.io/research/syk
- All research pages: https://easycompare.io/llms.txt
- Compare the entire market against SYK live: https://betterthanspy.com/?b=SYK&utm_source=easycompare&utm_medium=research