Five years ago, Wells Fargo $WFC shares were trading around $33 each. Today, February 9, 2026, it's closed at $94.61—a solid 182% rise that reflects the bank's recovery and steady progress in consumer banking, commercial lending, wealth management, and mortgage services after earlier challenges. The chart shows a clear, gradual upward trend from 2022 lows, with consistent gains through 2024–2026, and a 52-week high of $97.76 showing the stock is currently near its strongest recent levels.

In simple terms, the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the past five years is 23.5%. That's the average yearly increase—calculated by raising the total growth factor to the 1/5 power and subtracting 1. It means growing your money by about 23–24% each year, on average.

Dollar-cost averaging (DCA) is a natural fit for this kind of reliable stock: Invest $500 every month for five years, totaling $30,000. This buys more shares when prices are temporarily lower and fewer when they're higher, helping smooth out normal market fluctuations. Projecting forward at the same historical CAGR, with a monthly growth rate of about 1.77% from $94.61, your position grows steadily.

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After 60 months, your portfolio could reach approximately $53,400. That's a gain of about $23,400—an 78% return on your invested capital. The earliest contributions benefit most from compounding, while later ones still participate in the overall upward trend.

This is based on historical performance, which does not guarantee future results. Large banks like Wells Fargo are generally more stable than many growth stocks, but they are still affected by interest rates, economic cycles, credit quality, regulatory changes, and housing market conditions. The current P/E ratio of 15.12 is attractive for a major bank, and the 1.90% dividend yield provides dependable quarterly income ($0.45 per share).

With a $292.59B market cap and the 52-week high of $97.76 already in sight, Wells Fargo remains one of the most widely held and respected U.S. financial institutions. If you value consistency and are comfortable with the typical risks of a major bank stock, DCA offers a calm, disciplined way to participate over the long term. Your $500 monthly investments could build a meaningful, reliable position by 2031.

Ready to keep the account growing?