DIA vs. BRK-B

Last updated Jun 9, 2026

DIA (State Street SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust) is Large Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the Dow Jones Industrial Average, while BRK-B (Berkshire Hathaway Inc.) is a stock. Over the past 10 years, DIA returned 13.18%/yr vs 13.14%/yr for BRK-B. A 0.53 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined.

Performance

DIA vs. BRK-B - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in State Street SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust (DIA) and Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-B). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, DIA achieves a 6.40% return, which is significantly higher than BRK-B's -3.11% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with DIA having a 13.18% annualized return and BRK-B not far behind at 13.14%.

DIA

• 1D: -0.15%
• 1M: 2.63%
• YTD: 6.40%
• 6M: 7.17%
• 1Y: 20.62%
• 3Y*: 16.36%
• 5Y*: 9.98%
• 10Y*: 13.18%

BRK-B

• 1D: -0.23%
• 1M: 2.32%
• YTD: -3.11%
• 6M: -2.06%
• 1Y: -1.32%
• 3Y*: 13.25%
• 5Y*: 11.03%
• 10Y*: 13.14%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

DIA vs. BRK-B - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
DIA State Street SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust	6.40%	14.71%	14.82%	16.02%	-7.02%	20.83%	9.59%	24.70%	-3.74%	28.08%
BRK-B Berkshire Hathaway Inc.	-3.11%	10.89%	27.09%	15.46%	3.31%	28.95%	2.37%	10.93%	3.01%	21.62%

Correlation

The correlation between DIA and BRK-B is 0.32, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.32
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.50
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.64
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.70
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 20, 1998	0.53

Over the past year, the correlation between DIA and BRK-B has dropped to 0.32 - well below their long-term average of 0.53, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.

Return for Risk

DIA vs. BRK-B — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

DIA

DIA Risk / Return Rank: 53
DIA Sharpe Ratio Rank: 55
DIA Sortino Ratio Rank: 58
DIA Omega Ratio Rank: 53
DIA Calmar Ratio Rank: 47
DIA Martin Ratio Rank: 53

BRK-B

BRK-B Risk / Return Rank: 35
BRK-B Sharpe Ratio Rank: 38
BRK-B Sortino Ratio Rank: 30
BRK-B Omega Ratio Rank: 30
BRK-B Calmar Ratio Rank: 38
BRK-B Martin Ratio Rank: 37

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

DIA vs. BRK-B - 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 Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-B). 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.

	DIA	BRK-B	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.69	-0.09	+1.79
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.48	-0.03	+2.51
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.30	1.00	+0.30
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.12	-0.14	+2.26
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	8.20	-0.30	+8.50
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

DIA vs. BRK-B - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current DIA Sharpe Ratio is 1.69, which is higher than the BRK-B Sharpe Ratio of -0.09. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of DIA and BRK-B, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	DIA	BRK-B	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.69	-0.09	+1.79
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.68	0.65	+0.03
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.75	0.68	+0.08
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.49	0.48	+0.01

Drawdowns

DIA vs. BRK-B - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum DIA drawdown since its inception was -51.87%, roughly equal to the maximum BRK-B drawdown of -53.86%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for DIA and BRK-B.

Drawdown Indicators

	DIA	BRK-B	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-51.87%	-53.86%	+1.99%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-9.76%	-9.42%	-0.34%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-15.95%	-14.95%	-1.00%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-20.76%	-26.58%	+5.82%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-36.70%	-29.57%	-7.13%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-1.51%	-9.78%	+8.27%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-7.14%	-11.07%	+3.93%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	2.52%	4.49%	-1.97%

Volatility

DIA vs. BRK-B - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for State Street SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust (DIA) is 3.39%, while Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-B) has a volatility of 3.98%. This indicates that DIA experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than BRK-B based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	DIA	BRK-B	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	3.39%	3.98%	-0.59%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	9.49%	10.87%	-1.38%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	12.26%	14.38%	-2.12%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	14.81%	17.13%	-2.32%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	17.55%	19.44%	-1.89%

Dividends

DIA vs. BRK-B - Dividend Comparison

DIA's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.38%, while BRK-B has not paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
BRK-B Berkshire Hathaway Inc.	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
DIA State Street SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust	1.38%	1.43%	1.61%	1.81%	1.91%	1.58%	1.87%	1.85%	2.24%	1.97%	2.26%	2.33%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both DIA and BRK-B in my portfolio?

DIA and BRK-B have a correlation of 0.32, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, DIA or BRK-B?

BRK-B has higher volatility (3.98%) compared to DIA (3.39%). In terms of maximum drawdown, DIA dropped -51.87% vs BRK-B's -53.86%.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

DIA currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.69 vs -0.09), 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.