What were the best and worst years for Amazon since 1998?

The best year was 2001, up about 63%. The toughest was 2001, when it fell about 41%. Across the window, 137 of 330 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 $6,015 over the same window, while Amazon reached $89,011. Amazon came out ahead.

How much would I haveif…

If I'd invested in Amazon since 1998

$1,000 put into Amazon at the end of 1998 would be worth about $89,011 today — a 89.0× return, or roughly 17.8% a year. Change the amount below to run your own number.

Invested in

I'd have invested

Starting in 1998

19972025

How

You'd have

$89,011

from $1,000 invested — up 8801%.

Multiple89.0×

Per year17.8%

In today's $$89,011

shares held373.13 shares

The story behind the number

Best year+63%2001

Worst year−41%2001

Steepest drop−93%1999→2001

vs S&P 50014.8× aheadS&P 500 → $6,015

Amazon since 1998 has been a fairly steady climb. $1,000 put in at the end of 1998 grew to $89,011 — a 89.0× return, or about 17.8% a year. That beat the S&P 500, which turned the same $1,000 into $6,015 — you'd have come out roughly 14.8× ahead of simply buying the index.

The ride mattered as much as the destination. The strongest single year was 2001, up 63%; 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 1998?: $1,000 invested in Amazon at the end of 1998 would be worth about $89,011 today — a 89.0× return, or roughly 17.8% per year.
What were the best and worst years for Amazon since 1998?: The best year was 2001, up about 63%. The toughest was 2001, when it fell about 41%. Across the window, 137 of 330 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 $6,015 over the same window, while Amazon reached $89,011. 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 1998 →

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