What were the best and worst years for Amazon since 1997?

The best year was 1998, up about 124%. The toughest was 2001, when it fell about 41%. Across the window, 139 of 342 years finished lower than they started.

What was the biggest drop along the way?

The steepest decline was about 93%, from a peak in 1999 to a low in 2001, with the value recovering above its prior high by 2007.

Would I have done better in S&P 500?

No — the S&P 500 turned $1,000 into about $7,642 over the same window, while Amazon reached $954,200. Amazon came out ahead.

How much would I haveif…

If I'd invested in Amazon since 1997

$1,000 put into Amazon at the end of 1997 would be worth about $954,200 today — a 954× return, or roughly 27.3% a year. Change the amount below to run your own number.

Invested in

I'd have invested

Starting in 1997

19972025

How

You'd have

$954,200

from $1,000 invested — up 95320%.

Multiple954×

Per year27.3%

In today's $$954,200

shares held4,000 shares

The story behind the number

Best year+124%1998

Worst year−41%2001

Steepest drop−93%1999→2001

vs S&P 500125× aheadS&P 500 → $7,642

Amazon since 1997 has been a fairly steady climb. $1,000 put in at the end of 1997 grew to $954,200 — a 954× return, or about 27.3% a year. That beat the S&P 500, which turned the same $1,000 into $7,642 — you'd have come out roughly 125× ahead of simply buying the index.

The ride mattered as much as the destination. The strongest single year was 1998, up 124%; the worst was 2001, down 41%.

Holding on took nerve: the position fell as much as 93% from its 1999 peak to its 2001 low, before climbing back above that high by 2007.

Common questions

How much would I have if I'd invested $1,000 in Amazon in 1997?: $1,000 invested in Amazon at the end of 1997 would be worth about $954,200 today — a 954× return, or roughly 27.3% per year.
What were the best and worst years for Amazon since 1997?: The best year was 1998, up about 124%. The toughest was 2001, when it fell about 41%. Across the window, 139 of 342 years finished lower than they started.
What was the biggest drop along the way?: The steepest decline was about 93%, from a peak in 1999 to a low in 2001, with the value recovering above its prior high by 2007.
Would I have done better in S&P 500?: No — the S&P 500 turned $1,000 into about $7,642 over the same window, while Amazon reached $954,200. Amazon came out ahead.

The chart above shows the whole journey, not just the destination. Try switching to a bit each year to see how spreading your buying would have changed the outcome — or skip the latte to find out what a small daily habit could have grown into instead.

Compare Amazon head-to-head since 1997 →

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