DIA vs. ^DJI
DIA (State Street SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust) is Large Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the Dow Jones Industrial Average, while ^DJI (Dow Jones Industrial Average) is an index. Over the past 10 years, DIA returned 13.40%/yr vs 11.22%/yr for ^DJI. With a 0.98 correlation, they move nearly in lockstep.
Performance
DIA vs. ^DJI - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, DIA achieves a 7.27% return, which is significantly higher than ^DJI's 6.53% return. Over the past 10 years, DIA has outperformed ^DJI with an annualized return of 13.40%, while ^DJI has yielded a comparatively lower 11.22% annualized return.
DIA
- 1D
- 0.73%
- 1M
- 3.26%
- YTD
- 7.27%
- 6M
- 6.43%
- 1Y
- 21.01%
- 3Y*
- 16.29%
- 5Y*
- 10.14%
- 10Y*
- 13.40%
^DJI
- 1D
- 0.70%
- 1M
- 3.04%
- YTD
- 6.53%
- 6M
- 5.66%
- 1Y
- 19.16%
- 3Y*
- 14.39%
- 5Y*
- 8.23%
- 10Y*
- 11.22%
DIA vs. ^DJI - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DIA State Street SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust | 7.27% | 14.71% | 14.82% | 16.02% | -7.02% | 20.83% | 9.59% | 24.70% | -3.74% | 28.08% |
^DJI Dow Jones Industrial Average | 6.53% | 12.97% | 12.88% | 13.70% | -8.78% | 18.73% | 7.25% | 22.34% | -5.63% | 25.08% |
Correlation
The correlation between DIA and ^DJI is 1.00 - these two move nearly in lockstep. At this level, holding both provides almost no diversification benefit. If you already own one, adding the other does little to reduce portfolio risk.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.00 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 1.00 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 1.00 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 1.00 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 20, 1998 | 0.98 |
The correlation between DIA and ^DJI has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.98 to 1.00 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
DIA vs. ^DJI — Risk / Return Rank
DIA
^DJI
DIA vs. ^DJI - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for State Street SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust (DIA) and Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| DIA | ^DJI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.15 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.21 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.30 | 1.27 | +0.03 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.16 | 1.92 | +0.24 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.35 | 7.30 | +1.05 |
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Drawdowns
DIA vs. ^DJI - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum DIA drawdown since its inception was -51.87%, roughly equal to the maximum ^DJI drawdown of -53.78%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for DIA and ^DJI.
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Drawdown Indicators
| DIA | ^DJI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -51.87% | -53.78% | +1.91% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -9.76% | -10.01% | +0.25% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -15.95% | -16.37% | +0.42% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -20.76% | -21.94% | +1.18% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -36.70% | -37.09% | +0.39% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.70% | -0.70% | 0.00% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -7.14% | -8.03% | +0.89% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.53% | 2.64% | -0.11% |
Volatility
DIA vs. ^DJI - Volatility Comparison
State Street SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust (DIA) and Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) have volatilities of 4.32% and 4.45%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| DIA | ^DJI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.32% | 4.45% | -0.13% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 9.78% | 9.87% | -0.09% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 12.52% | 12.57% | -0.05% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 14.85% | 14.89% | -0.04% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 17.56% | 17.64% | -0.08% |
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 1.00, DIA and ^DJI move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.
^DJI has higher volatility (4.45%) compared to DIA (4.32%). In terms of maximum drawdown, DIA dropped -51.87% vs ^DJI's -53.78%.
DIA currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.69 vs 1.53), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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