OriginaveMonthly returns
Follow a $10,000 investment through the year — your balance at the end of every month, in dollars and percent.
VGT
Which strategy won in 2026 so far?
Same $10,000 into VGT, two ways: everything on day one (lump sum), or $833 at the start of every month (dollar-cost averaging).
Lump sum: $10,000 into VGT on day one
You invest the whole $10,000 at the start of 2026. Follow your balance month after month — the last column shows how many days that month jumped or fell 1% or more. The current month is still running, so it is not shown yet.
| Month | Your balance | Change that month | Change in % | Big days (±1%+) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | $9,922 | −$78 | -0.78% | 8 |
| Feb | $9,641 | −$282 | -2.84% | 11 |
| Mar | $9,266 | −$375 | -3.89% | 13 |
| Apr | $10,962 | +$1,696 | +18.31% | 11 |
| May | $12,862 | +$1,900 | +17.33% | 15 |
| Jun | $12,713 | −$148 | -1.15% | 15 |
| Jul | $12,036 | −$678 | -5.33% | 14 |
| Aug | $12,816 | +$781 | +6.49% | 9 |
Dollar-cost averaging: $833 into VGT every month
Instead of investing everything at once, you split the same $10,000 into 12 equal parts and invest $833 at the start of every month of 2026.
| Month | Paid in so far | Your balance | Change that month | Change in % | Big days (±1%+) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | $833 | $827 | −$6 | -0.78% | 8 |
| Feb | $1,667 | $1,613 | −$47 | -2.84% | 11 |
| Mar | $2,500 | $2,351 | −$95 | -3.89% | 13 |
| Apr | $3,333 | $3,768 | +$583 | +18.31% | 11 |
| May | $4,167 | $5,398 | +$797 | +17.33% | 15 |
| Jun | $5,000 | $6,160 | −$72 | -1.15% | 15 |
| Jul | $5,833 | $6,620 | −$373 | -5.33% | 14 |
| Aug | $6,667 | $7,937 | +$484 | +6.49% | 9 |
Wondering when during the year to invest? The seasonality breakdown shows the average return of every calendar month and whether the day of the month you buy on matters.