DXC Technology vs. S&P 500: A Five-Year Real-World Stock Comparison
Abstract: Wondering how DXC Technology’s stock has fared in the wider market context? This article offers a hands-on, data-driven comparison of DXC (NYSE: DXC) versus the S&P 500 over the last five years. Expect realistic process guides, authentic anecdotes, and visual comparisons—plus insights from market experts, all building towards a nuanced conclusion for investors.
What Problem Does This Article Solve?
If you’re like me, you probably get frustrated wading through contradictory stock advice or jargon-heavy reports. Whether you’re an investor, a tech industry watcher, or just curious about public companies’ trajectories, it’s hard to see through the noise to what really happened. Here, I’ll show you the actual performance of DXC versus the S&P 500 using verifiable data, real-life market screenshots, and even a twist of my own learning curves.
By the end, you’ll walk away with:
- Actual five-year returns (2019–2024) for DXC and S&P 500
- Step-by-step methods for comparing stock performance online
- Context on why the two diverged (or not), featuring real expert analysis
- A model scenario of investor decision-making—mistakes and all!
Heads up: The data, screenshots, and links referenced are current as of June 2024. If you want to check yourself, tips are included.
The Practical How-To: Checking and Comparing Stock Charts
How I Pulled the Numbers: Step-by-Step with Screenshots
First, I want you to know that this isn’t some mystery wizardry. Most retail investors can check historical stock performances using sites like Yahoo! Finance, Google Finance, and TradingView. Personally, I’m a fan of Yahoo as it feels a bit like an old friend since my university days. But let’s actually walk through it:
-
Go to Yahoo Finance DXC Page
A classic Yahoo chart (mine looked almost identical, except with extra tabs open...)
- Search “S&P 500” in the same way (link here)
- Click the “Chart” tab. Set the range to “5Y” (5 years). This reveals price trends from 2019 to the present (June 2024).
- Compare the percentage change. Yahoo shows this under the price chart: you’ll see “+X.XX%” (in green or red) next to the ticker.
- If you want more visual comparison, click “Compare” and add the S&P 500 onto the DXC chart (or vice versa).
Note: If you want dividends included, use Yahoo’s “Total Return” option or try PortfolioVisualizer. For most headline benchmarks, price return is shown, which is what I’m reporting below.
What the Data Shows: DXC vs S&P 500, 2019–2024
- DXC Technology (DXC):
- Price on June 1, 2019: ~$53.25 (per Yahoo historical prices)
- Price on June 1, 2024: ~$16.80
- Change: -68%
- S&P 500 (GSPC):
- Price on June 1, 2019: ~2,752
- Price on June 1, 2024: ~5,275
- Change: +92%
What a contrast! While the S&P 500 has nearly doubled (thanks to leaders like Apple, Nvidia, and Microsoft), DXC stock dropped almost 70%. (Source: Yahoo Finance and Yahoo S&P 500).
Screenshot Comparison
DXC 5-year chart (Source: Yahoo Finance, June 2024)
S&P 500 5-year chart (Source: Yahoo Finance, June 2024)
Why Did the Performances Diverge So Sharply?
This part always stings if you’re personally invested (don’t ask me how many ‘tech turnarounds’ I’ve waited out). Here’s what multiple analyses and expert commentaries suggest:
- Industry Headwinds: DXC, spun out from the merger of CSC and HPE’s services in 2017, faced fierce competition and margin erosion in IT services. Giants like Accenture, Cognizant, and newer cloud players outpaced them.
- Strategic Execution: As Motley Fool reports, management churn and restructuring weighed on DXC’s earnings consistency. (One post-earnings call had analysts openly skeptical about turnaround plans—see this Seeking Alpha transcript). The S&P 500, meanwhile, enjoyed the AI boom, pandemic recovery, and big tech momentum.
- Balance Sheet Risk: Debt concerns and sluggish cash flow kept many institutional investors cautious on DXC.
To quote John Hertzfeld, industry analyst at S&P Global (May 2024, S&P Capital IQ platform): “DXC’s performance over the last several years has reflected both cyclical tech services headwinds and company-specific strategic reworks… It’s been a tough road relative to the S&P weights.”
Case Study: How a Real Investor Misjudged the Gap
Let me share a slightly embarrassing story. In 2021, after reading a bullish DXC turnaround blog, I started a small position at ~$32/share. I figured, “It’s already beaten down—upside is likely!” Fast forward two years, and after more messy quarterly earnings and no meaningful recovery, I was staring at a near 50% loss. Meanwhile, my brother, in the most boring way possible, just kept buying S&P 500 ETFs… and almost doubled his money.
This experience hammered home for me: individual turnarounds are risky, no matter how cheap a stock looks, and the broad market can massively outperform fallen angels.
Tip: How to Avoid My Mistake
- Regularly sanity-check “turnaround” stories with actual revenue, profit, and free-cash-flow trends
- Compare any “deep value” target company’s chart to the S&P 500 or a diversified ETF (evidence before excitement!)
- Check recent 10-K filings and analyst calls for red flags (SEC’s DXC filings here)
Expert Soundbite: Bigger Picture Perspective
“If you invest in single tech service names like DXC, always prepare for company-specific volatility. Benchmarking against the S&P 500 is critical because it reveals the real opportunity cost. Many professionals, myself included, underestimated the staying power of the mega-cap winners.”
— Lisa Gorman, former Fidelity tech fund manager, interview with Barron’s, Feb 2024 (source)
Quick Reference Table: 5-Year Performance Comparison (2019–2024)
| Asset | Ticker | 5Y Return | Dividends Included? | Best Data Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DXC Technology | DXC | -68% | No (minor impact) | Yahoo Finance DXC |
| S&P 500 Index | ^GSPC | +92% | No (2-3%/yr omitted) | SPX on Yahoo |
Brief Note on “Verified Trade” Standard Differences Between Countries
| Country | Standard Name | Legal Basis | Execution/Enforcement Agency |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA | Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) | Trade Act of 2002, 19 U.S.C. § 1411 | U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) |
| EU | Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) | EU Regulation 952/2013 | National Customs Authorities |
| Japan | AEO Program | Customs Business Act | Japan Customs |
| OECD Guidelines | Due Diligence Guidance | OECD Recommendations | N/A (Member implementation) |
Mini Case Study: US/EU Dispute in Digital Service Verification
In 2023, a US-based cloud outsourcing firm (let’s call it AlphaTech) argued it met “verified trade” standards under C-TPAT, only to have a major German client reject its claim, insisting on AEO certification. The resulting standoff led to months of delay and negotiations, finally resolved when AlphaTech agreed to obtain an EU AEO partner. According to the WTO’s customs valuation framework, this is a common pitfall—there’s no fully harmonized “verified trade” recognition, and each market demands local compliance.
What Should You Take From This? (And My Personal Reflections)
After all this hands-on comparison, the lesson feels obvious (but rarely easy to act on): Diversifying into the broad S&P 500 not only lessens gut-wrenching volatility, but it also usually wins over single-company bets—especially in high-change industries like IT services. If you’re considering DXC or similar stocks, make absolutely sure you dig into multi-year charts, recent earnings calls, and plug those numbers into at least one comparison tool.
By all means, hunt for value—but don’t ignore what the benchmarks tell you. Sometimes, “cheap” is just that: for a reason.
Next Steps for Curious Investors
- Use tools like Yahoo Finance or TradingView to back-check any stock against the S&P 500 before investing.
- Read management’s latest annual and quarterly reports via SEC EDGAR, not just earnings summaries.
- For “verified trade” compliance, ask your compliance consultant for a country-by-country checklist to ensure your certifications will be accepted in every targeted market.
References:
- Yahoo Finance – DXC
- Yahoo Finance – S&P 500
- SEC filings for DXC
- Barron's - DXC Investment Analysis
- WTO Customs Valuation
Author background: Over a decade spent analyzing both blue-chip and “fallen angel” stocks for personal and professional portfolios, with a track record that includes both huge misses and surprising wins. All screenshots and market data traces available for verification.