diff --git a/src/analytics/performance.zig b/src/analytics/performance.zig
index bdd3c59..574ef30 100644
--- a/src/analytics/performance.zig
+++ b/src/analytics/performance.zig
@@ -146,20 +146,28 @@ pub const TrailingReturns = struct {
     ten_year: ?PerformanceResult = null,
 };
 
-/// Fill gaps in `primary` with results from `fallback`.
-/// Used when adj_close returns (which account for splits + dividends) are the
-/// primary source, but may return null for some periods (e.g. candle history
-/// too short). The fallback — typically dividend-reinvestment with stable-NAV
-/// synthesis — can cover those gaps.
-pub fn withFallback(primary: TrailingReturns, fallback: TrailingReturns) TrailingReturns {
+/// Merge adj_close and dividend-reinvestment returns, preferring the higher
+/// annualized return for each period. This works because:
+///   - When dividend data is complete: reinvestment >= adj_close (compounding)
+///   - When dividend data is incomplete: adj_close > reinvestment (missing dividends)
+/// So the higher value is always the more correct one.
+pub fn withDividendFallback(div_returns: TrailingReturns, adj_close_returns: TrailingReturns) TrailingReturns {
     return .{
-        .one_year = primary.one_year orelse fallback.one_year,
-        .three_year = primary.three_year orelse fallback.three_year,
-        .five_year = primary.five_year orelse fallback.five_year,
-        .ten_year = primary.ten_year orelse fallback.ten_year,
+        .one_year = bestResult(div_returns.one_year, adj_close_returns.one_year),
+        .three_year = bestResult(div_returns.three_year, adj_close_returns.three_year),
+        .five_year = bestResult(div_returns.five_year, adj_close_returns.five_year),
+        .ten_year = bestResult(div_returns.ten_year, adj_close_returns.ten_year),
     };
 }
 
+fn bestResult(a: ?PerformanceResult, b: ?PerformanceResult) ?PerformanceResult {
+    const aa = a orelse return b;
+    const bb = b orelse return a;
+    const a_ann = aa.annualized_return orelse return b;
+    const b_ann = bb.annualized_return orelse return a;
+    return if (a_ann >= b_ann) a else b;
+}
+
 /// Trailing returns from exact calendar date N years ago to latest candle date.
 /// Start dates snap forward to the next trading day (e.g., weekend → Monday).
 pub fn trailingReturns(candles: []const Candle) TrailingReturns {
@@ -583,39 +591,41 @@ test "stable-NAV synthesis -- non-$1 fund does not synthesize" {
     try std.testing.expect(result == null);
 }
 
-test "withFallback -- fills null periods from fallback" {
+test "withDividendFallback -- picks higher annualized return per period" {
     const d1 = Date.fromYmd(2020, 1, 1);
     const d2 = Date.fromYmd(2025, 1, 1);
 
-    const primary: TrailingReturns = .{
+    // div_returns: complete dividend data, higher returns from compounding
+    const div_ret: TrailingReturns = .{
         .one_year = .{ .total_return = 0.10, .annualized_return = 0.10, .from = d1, .to = d2 },
         .three_year = .{ .total_return = 0.50, .annualized_return = 0.15, .from = d1, .to = d2 },
-        .five_year = null,
-        .ten_year = null,
+        .five_year = null, // dividend data too short for 5yr
+        .ten_year = null, // dividend data too short for 10yr
     };
-    const fallback: TrailingReturns = .{
+    // adj_close_returns: always available but slightly lower due to non-compounding
+    const adj_ret: TrailingReturns = .{
         .one_year = .{ .total_return = 0.08, .annualized_return = 0.08, .from = d1, .to = d2 },
         .three_year = .{ .total_return = 0.60, .annualized_return = 0.17, .from = d1, .to = d2 },
         .five_year = .{ .total_return = 0.80, .annualized_return = 0.12, .from = d1, .to = d2 },
         .ten_year = .{ .total_return = 0.50, .annualized_return = 0.04, .from = d1, .to = d2 },
     };
 
-    const merged = withFallback(primary, fallback);
+    const merged = withDividendFallback(div_ret, adj_ret);
 
-    // one_year: primary has data, keeps it (not overwritten by fallback)
+    // one_year: div wins (0.10 > 0.08, complete dividend data compounds better)
     try std.testing.expectApproxEqAbs(@as(f64, 0.10), merged.one_year.?.annualized_return.?, 0.001);
-    // three_year: primary has data, keeps it
-    try std.testing.expectApproxEqAbs(@as(f64, 0.15), merged.three_year.?.annualized_return.?, 0.001);
-    // five_year: primary null, filled from fallback
+    // three_year: adj_close wins (0.17 > 0.15, incomplete dividend data here)
+    try std.testing.expectApproxEqAbs(@as(f64, 0.17), merged.three_year.?.annualized_return.?, 0.001);
+    // five_year: div null, filled from adj_close
     try std.testing.expectApproxEqAbs(@as(f64, 0.12), merged.five_year.?.annualized_return.?, 0.001);
-    // ten_year: primary null, filled from fallback
+    // ten_year: div null, filled from adj_close
     try std.testing.expectApproxEqAbs(@as(f64, 0.04), merged.ten_year.?.annualized_return.?, 0.001);
 }
 
-test "withFallback -- both null stays null" {
+test "withDividendFallback -- both null stays null" {
     const a: TrailingReturns = .{};
     const b: TrailingReturns = .{};
-    const merged = withFallback(a, b);
+    const merged = withDividendFallback(a, b);
     try std.testing.expect(merged.one_year == null);
     try std.testing.expect(merged.ten_year == null);
 }
@@ -652,15 +662,16 @@ test "splits-only adj_close -- dividend reinvestment preferred" {
     try std.testing.expect(div_result.?.total_return > 0.05);
 
     // When adj_close is splits-only, dividend reinvestment should be primary.
-    // Wrapping in TrailingReturns to test withFallback:
+    // Wrapping in TrailingReturns to test withDividendFallback:
     const adj_tr: TrailingReturns = .{ .one_year = adj_result };
     const div_tr: TrailingReturns = .{ .one_year = div_result };
 
-    // withFallback(div, adj) keeps div_result where available
-    const total = withFallback(div_tr, adj_tr);
+    // withDividendFallback picks the higher return for each period,
+    // so dividend reinvestment wins regardless of argument order
+    const total = withDividendFallback(div_tr, adj_tr);
     try std.testing.expect(total.one_year.?.total_return > 0.05);
 
-    // Reversed order (adj_close primary) would give ~0% — wrong for splits-only
-    const wrong = withFallback(adj_tr, div_tr);
-    try std.testing.expectApproxEqAbs(@as(f64, 0.0), wrong.one_year.?.total_return, 0.01);
+    // Same result with reversed order — bestResult always picks higher
+    const also_total = withDividendFallback(adj_tr, div_tr);
+    try std.testing.expect(also_total.one_year.?.total_return > 0.05);
 }
diff --git a/src/service.zig b/src/service.zig
index 8b5061f..7489705 100644
--- a/src/service.zig
+++ b/src/service.zig
@@ -644,13 +644,13 @@ pub const DataService = struct {
 
         if (self.getDividends(symbol)) |div_result| {
             divs = div_result.data;
-            // adj_close is the primary total return source (accounts for splits +
-            // dividends). Dividend-reinvestment only fills gaps where adj_close
-            // returns null (e.g. stable-NAV funds with short candle history).
             const asof_div = performance.trailingReturnsWithDividends(c, div_result.data);
-            asof_total = performance.withFallback(asof_price, asof_div);
             const me_div = performance.trailingReturnsMonthEndWithDividends(c, div_result.data, today);
-            me_total = performance.withFallback(me_price, me_div);
+            // Dividend reinvestment is preferred (compounds correctly).
+            // adj_close fills gaps where dividend data is insufficient
+            // (e.g. stable-NAV funds with short candle history).
+            asof_total = performance.withDividendFallback(asof_div, asof_price);
+            me_total = performance.withDividendFallback(me_div, me_price);
         } else |_| {}
 
         return .{