What if you invested $220 monthly in gold (GLD) for 10 years?
This shows the actual historical result of investing a fixed amount each month in a gold ETF (GLD) over 10 years starting in 2014.
Investment conditions
Asset · Gold ETF (GLD) · recurring monthly purchases · 10 years
Method · Recurring monthly investment
Period · 2014-07-01 ~ 2024-07-01
Amount · $222 / month
As of · 2024-07-01
Key metrics
These results do not reflect taxes. Based on historical data.
Risk & recovery
As important as returns. This service does not hide maximum drawdown or loss periods.
Maximum drawdown (MDD)
-17.1%
Largest drop from peak
Longest loss period
12months
Months in loss: 27
Recovery period
2months
Growth over time
Invested principal (dashed) and portfolio value (solid). Values below match the calculation.
Total invested $26,889 → Final value $41,660 (+54.9%), Maximum drawdown (MDD) -17.1%
Why this period and asset
Gold is often called a 'safe-haven' asset, cited for moving differently from stocks and thus lowering portfolio volatility. The decade from 2014 was weak in its early years, then strengthened after 2019 and through the 2020 COVID and high-inflation phase. It doesn't rise as dramatically as stock indexes, but its maximum drawdown is comparatively shallow.
Interpreting the result
Gold's cumulative return tends to come out lower than stock indexes over the same period. In exchange, the metrics below show a shallower maximum drawdown than stocks — the classic profile of an asset that 'rises less but shakes less.' Don't look only at return; interpret it alongside drawdown and recovery periods and against your own risk tolerance.
Caveats & limits
Figures use adjusted close and exclude exchange rates, trading fees, and taxes. Gold pays no dividend or interest, so gains and losses come solely from price movement. This is only the result of one past decade and does not guarantee the future, nor imply gold is always safe or better than stocks.
Data sources & limits
- Price data source: Yahoo Finance / FinanceDataReader
- Collected on: 2026-07-23
- Effective trading date: 2024-07-01
- Price basis: Adjusted close (reflects dividends and stock splits)
- Trading fees and taxes are not reflected — figures are pre-tax.
- Based on historical data; does not guarantee future returns.
Frequently asked questions
Why is gold called a 'safe-haven' asset?
It tends to move differently from stocks in crises, so it is cited for lowering overall portfolio volatility. But 'safe' does not mean no losses — check the maximum drawdown metric below.
Does gold pay dividends?
No. Gold pays no dividend or interest, so gains and losses come solely from price movement. This is a major difference from stocks and ETFs.
Why is the return lower than stock indexes?
In this specific 10-year window, gold rose less than U.S. stock indexes — but its maximum drawdown was shallower. Every asset has a different balance of return and volatility.
Are FX and taxes reflected?
No. Exchange rates, trading fees, and taxes are not reflected — figures are pre-tax.
Related scenarios
📋 Results are based on historical data; past returns do not guarantee future returns.
📋 This service is provided for educational purposes to help you understand investing, not as investment advice.