Dollar-cost averaging comparison

What if you invested C$50 every week?

This chart compares a simple dollar-cost averaging strategy from 2015 through 2025 across Bitcoin, the S&P 500, gold, silver, Canadian housing, the TSX and Canadian bonds. Every investment receives the same C$50 contribution each week, so the comparison focuses on what happened to an equal stream of savings over time.

2015–2025 DCA chart

Logarithmic chart showing the value of investing 50 Canadian dollars per week from 2015 to 2025 in Bitcoin, S&P 500 total return in Canadian dollars, gold, silver, Canadian housing, TSX total return and Canadian bonds.

The vertical axis uses a logarithmic scale because Bitcoin grew far more than the other series. A log scale lets the conventional investments remain visible instead of being compressed along the bottom of the chart.

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Why C$50 per week?

Most people do not invest a large lump sum at exactly the right time. A more realistic approach is to save a fixed amount from each paycheque or each week. This is called dollar-cost averaging (DCA). When prices fall, C$50 buys more units. When prices rise, the same C$50 buys fewer units.

DCA does not remove market risk and it does not guarantee a profit. What it does is remove the need to make one perfect market-timing decision. The discipline is in continuing to contribute through both strong and weak markets.

What this comparison illustrates

Over this particular 2015–2025 period, the results were dramatically different even though every series received exactly the same C$28,600 of contributions. Bitcoin produced the largest ending value, but it also experienced severe drawdowns. Silver and gold finished strongly, while broad stock indexes compounded more steadily. Bonds and the housing price index showed much smaller growth in this simplified comparison.

The lesson is not that one asset will always win. It is that return, volatility, timing and the order of gains and losses matter greatly when money is added gradually over many years.

Approximate value at the end of 2025

Each line received the same C$28,600 in total contributions.

Investment	Total contributed	End-2025 value	Gain above contributions	Ending value / contributions
Bitcoin (CAD)	C$28,600	C$1,258,490	C$1,229,890	44.00×
Silver (CAD)	C$28,600	C$103,730	C$75,130	3.63×
Gold (CAD)	C$28,600	C$82,147	C$53,547	2.87×
S&P 500 total return (CAD)	C$28,600	C$71,366	C$42,766	2.50×
TSX total return	C$28,600	C$62,366	C$33,766	2.18×
Canadian housing index	C$28,600	C$35,737	C$7,137	1.25×
Canadian bonds	C$28,600	C$31,477	C$2,877	1.10×

Important methodology note: this is a comparative model, not a transaction-by-transaction brokerage statement. Published annual returns were converted to equivalent compounded weekly rates, and C$50 was added during each modeled week. This preserves each calendar year's return while providing a consistent weekly-contribution comparison across all seven series.

How to read the housing line

The Canadian housing series is a house-price index, not an investable fund. It represents price movement only. It does not include mortgage leverage, rent, property taxes, maintenance, insurance, renovations, legal costs, commissions or other real-estate expenses. Therefore it should not be interpreted as the complete return from owning a house or rental property.

Why total return matters

For the S&P 500 and TSX comparisons, total return is more meaningful than price movement alone because it assumes distributions such as dividends are reinvested. For a long-term savings comparison, ignoring reinvested income would understate the historical return of stock-market investments.

Disclaimer — not investment advice

This page is provided for educational and historical comparison only. It is not financial, investment, tax, legal or accounting advice, and it is not a recommendation to buy or sell Bitcoin, precious metals, stocks, bonds, real estate or any other asset. Historical returns do not predict future results. Bitcoin and other investments can be highly volatile and can lose substantial value. Taxes, fees, spreads, custody costs, fund expenses and individual circumstances can materially change real-world results.

Before making an investment decision, consider your objectives, time horizon, liquidity needs, tolerance for loss and, where appropriate, obtain advice from qualified professionals.

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