^GSPC vs. ACWI
^GSPC (S&P 500 Index) is an index, while ACWI (iShares MSCI ACWI ETF) is Global Equities fund tracking the MSCI All Country World Index. Over the past 10 years, ^GSPC returned 13.54%/yr vs 12.95%/yr for ACWI. Their correlation of 0.94 suggests significant overlap in exposure.
Performance
^GSPC vs. ACWI - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, ^GSPC achieves a 8.39% return, which is significantly lower than ACWI's 12.21% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with ^GSPC having a 13.54% annualized return and ACWI not far behind at 12.95%.
^GSPC
- 1D
- 0.00%
- 1M
- -0.71%
- YTD
- 8.39%
- 6M
- 8.57%
- 1Y
- 24.33%
- 3Y*
- 18.94%
- 5Y*
- 12.24%
- 10Y*
- 13.54%
ACWI
- 1D
- 1.24%
- 1M
- 1.78%
- YTD
- 12.21%
- 6M
- 12.67%
- 1Y
- 29.43%
- 3Y*
- 19.93%
- 5Y*
- 11.67%
- 10Y*
- 12.95%
^GSPC vs. ACWI - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
^GSPC S&P 500 Index | 8.39% | 16.39% | 23.31% | 24.23% | -19.44% | 26.89% | 16.26% | 28.88% | -6.24% | 19.42% |
ACWI iShares MSCI ACWI ETF | 12.21% | 22.41% | 17.45% | 22.27% | -18.39% | 18.66% | 16.34% | 26.59% | -9.19% | 24.33% |
Correlation
The correlation between ^GSPC and ACWI is 0.96 - these two move nearly in lockstep. At this level, holding both provides almost no diversification benefit. If you already own one, adding the other does little to reduce portfolio risk.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.96 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.96 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.96 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.96 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 28, 2008 | 0.94 |
The correlation between ^GSPC and ACWI has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.94 to 0.96 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
^GSPC vs. ACWI — Risk / Return Rank
^GSPC
ACWI
^GSPC vs. ACWI - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for S&P 500 Index (^GSPC) and iShares MSCI ACWI ETF (ACWI). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| ^GSPC | ACWI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.21 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.30 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.35 | 1.39 | -0.04 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.66 | 2.98 | -0.32 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 11.86 | 13.02 | -1.15 |
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Drawdowns
^GSPC vs. ACWI - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum ^GSPC drawdown since its inception was -56.78%, roughly equal to the maximum ACWI drawdown of -56.00%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ^GSPC and ACWI.
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Drawdown Indicators
| ^GSPC | ACWI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -56.78% | -56.00% | -0.78% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -9.10% | -9.73% | +0.63% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -18.90% | -16.55% | -2.35% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -25.43% | -26.42% | +0.99% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -33.92% | -33.53% | -0.39% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.49% | -0.75% | -1.74% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -10.72% | -8.60% | -2.12% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.03% | 2.22% | -0.19% |
Volatility
^GSPC vs. ACWI - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for S&P 500 Index (^GSPC) is 4.65%, while iShares MSCI ACWI ETF (ACWI) has a volatility of 5.28%. This indicates that ^GSPC experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than ACWI based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| ^GSPC | ACWI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.65% | 5.28% | -0.63% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 9.86% | 11.26% | -1.40% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 12.44% | 13.49% | -1.05% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 16.99% | 16.17% | +0.82% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 18.10% | 17.16% | +0.94% |
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.96, ^GSPC and ACWI move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.
ACWI has higher volatility (5.28%) compared to ^GSPC (4.65%). In terms of maximum drawdown, ^GSPC dropped -56.78% vs ACWI's -56.00%.
ACWI currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.15 vs 1.94), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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