Euro vs S&P 500 since 2000
17% × 425%
Updated July 2026 · BLS / FRED · daily closing prices (not exportable)
Since 2000, Euro is up 17% against the dollar and S&P 500 is 425% in dollars. S&P 500 held up better. Held as cash, Euro earns no interest, so that line is the exchange rate, not a return.
Base 100 since 2000
Why compare Euro and S&P 500
Holding euros or buying American stocks is the choice between parking money in a strong currency and owning equity that compounds, and that is what this duel lays side by side. The euro is an exchange rate held as cash it earns no interest, so its line is only the move against the dollar, never a yield. The S&P 500 is a real asset, the price index of the 500 largest U.S. companies, and its total-return figure with dividends would be higher. The durable pattern pits stability against growth: the euro trades in wide swings but pays nothing on its own, while the index trends higher over decades at the cost of brutal drops along the way. It is mature cash against a stake in corporate earnings.
Returns by window
| Window | Euro | S&P 500 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year | -0% | 15% |
| 5 years | -3% | 66% |
| 10 years | 2% | 237% |
| since 2000 | 17% | 425% |
The price of return: risk
| Asset | Annual volatility | Worst drop |
|---|---|---|
| Euro | 9% | -38% |
| S&P 500 | 15% | -53% |
$10,000 in each, since 2000
| Asset | Value today |
|---|---|
| Euro | $11,669 |
| S&P 500 | $52,466 |
Frequently asked questions
Euro or S&P 500: which held up better?
Since 2000, S&P 500 is ahead in dollar terms. But a currency held as cash earns no interest, so its figure is the move against the U.S. dollar, not a return.
Is a currency line a return?
No. Holding cash in any currency earns no interest by itself, so the line is only the exchange-rate move against the dollar. A real asset (gold, an index) carries a return — that contrast is the point of this page.
Does the bigger move mean the better holding?
Not on its own — yield and risk matter, and this is not investment advice. The page shows the dollar move and the largest drop; for cash, also weigh the interest you could earn elsewhere.
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Descriptive, educational content computed from official public data. Not investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results.