ETF Time Machine

ETF return calculator — see how much your investment would be worth

Free historical ETF comparison chart with optional dividend reinvestment (DRIP). Enter up to five tickers, pick a date range, and see what a $10,000 buy-and-hold investment would be worth today.

Ticker

How it works

  1. Step 1

    Pick one or more ETFs

    Search by ticker or fund name. Compare up to five funds on the same chart.

  2. Step 2

    Choose your date range

    Use the earliest shared history, today, or any custom start and end dates.

  3. Step 3

    See $10,000 growth

    Review ending value, total return, and annual return — with DRIP on or price return only.

What is an ETF Time Machine?

An ETF Time Machine reconstructs the path of a buy-and-hold portfolio using each fund’s actual daily closing prices. You pick tickers and a date range; the chart shows portfolio value over time, rebased so every fund starts at the same $10,000. That makes percentage growth comparable even when prices differ.

How dividend reinvestment works

With DRIP enabled, cash dividends buy additional shares on each ex-dividend day at that day’s close. Stock splits adjust share count. Turn DRIP off to see price return only. Nothing is stored as an “adjusted close”; the engine applies splits and dividends to share count at runtime. Read the DRIP guide.

$10,000 backtest with optional dividend reinvestment.

Frequently asked questions

What does the ETF Time Machine calculate?
It reconstructs a buy-and-hold investment of $10,000 in one or more ETFs using historical daily closes, optional dividend reinvestment (DRIP), and stock-split adjustments, then charts portfolio value over your chosen date range.
What is DRIP / dividend reinvestment?
With DRIP on, cash dividends buy additional shares on each ex-dividend day at that day’s close, so you see total return. Turn DRIP off to chart price return only.
Can I compare multiple ETFs on one chart?
Yes. Enter up to five tickers. Each series is rebased to the same $10,000 start so percentage growth is comparable even when share prices differ.
Which ETFs are supported?
Thousands of U.S. ETFs plus many Canadian listings (tickers ending in .TO). Search by ticker or fund name in the form.
Is this investment advice?
No. Results are historical illustrations only and do not predict future performance. They are not personalized investment, tax, or financial advice.