New Delhi, Oct. 12 -- When deciding where to invest, people often compare equity, gold, debt and real estate based on their recent performance. But the longer-term picture can look very different, as returns vary across asset classes and the leader in one period may not remain the best performer in another.

A 20-year comparison by FundsIndia, using data as of 30 September 2026, shows how differently these investments have grown. An investment of Rs.1 lakh in gold would have grown to Rs.14.6 lakh, compared with Rs.8 lakh in Indian equities. Debt and real estate delivered lower growth over the same period, with Rs.1 lakh growing to around Rs.4.3 lakh and Rs.4.2 lakh, respectively.

The comparison offers a perspective on how different asset...