Apple DCA Calculator
$100 a month in Apple (AAPL) for the last 5 years would be worth $10,855 today, from $6,000 invested: a 23.9% annual return.
Apple makes the iPhone, Mac and a growing services business, and has been one of the world’s most valuable companies for years. A single stock carries much more risk than an index fund, so these results show what one company did, not what to expect.
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$100 a month in Apple: results by holding period
Each row invests $100 at the start of every month up to Oct 2026, and compares it with investing the same total all at once at the start. Dividends are reinvested (total return).
| Period | Invested | Value today | Annual return | Lump sum instead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year (from Nov 2025) | $1,200 | $1,478 | 45.3% | $1,554 |
| 3 years (from Nov 2023) | $3,600 | $5,532 | 30.0% | $7,455 |
| 5 years (from Nov 2021) | $6,000 | $10,855 | 23.9% | $14,328 |
| 10 years (from Nov 2016) | $12,000 | $52,147 | 27.7% | $161,253 |
| 20 years (from Nov 2006) | $24,000 | $612,540 | 27.2% | $3,453,026 |
Annual return is the money-weighted return (IRR) of the monthly contributions. Prices are monthly closes from Yahoo Finance, with data from Feb 1985 through Oct 2026. See the methodology. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Apple DCA: frequently asked questions
How much would $100 a month in Apple be worth today?
Investing $100 a month in Apple (AAPL) for the last 5 years (Nov 2021 to Oct 2026) would have turned $6,000 into about $10,855, a money-weighted annual return of 23.9%. Dividends are reinvested (total return). Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Was DCA or a lump sum better for Apple?
Over the last 20 years, investing the same $24,000 all at once in Nov 2006 would have grown to $3,453,026, compared with $612,540 by investing $100 a month. The lump sum came out ahead because it was invested for longer, which is the usual result in a rising market. Most people invest from monthly income, so DCA is the practical choice either way.
What was the best and worst time to start DCA in Apple?
Across 442 rolling 5-year periods of investing $100 a month, the best started in Nov 2002 and returned 101.0% a year; the worst started in Jul 1992 and returned −29.5% a year. 84% of those periods ended with more money than was put in.
How far has Apple fallen from a peak?
The largest fall in its month-end total-return price since Feb 1985 was −80%, from Feb 1992 to Dec 1997. Buying a fixed amount every month through a fall like that buys more shares at lower prices.