^NDX vs. ACWI
^NDX (NASDAQ 100 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, ^NDX returned 20.95%/yr vs 13.02%/yr for ACWI. Their correlation of 0.85 suggests significant overlap in exposure.
Performance
^NDX vs. ACWI - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, ^NDX achieves a 17.37% return, which is significantly higher than ACWI's 10.59% return. Over the past 10 years, ^NDX has outperformed ACWI with an annualized return of 20.95%, while ACWI has yielded a comparatively lower 13.02% annualized return.
^NDX
- 1D
- 0.64%
- 1M
- 0.19%
- YTD
- 17.37%
- 6M
- 17.62%
- 1Y
- 37.01%
- 3Y*
- 25.76%
- 5Y*
- 16.18%
- 10Y*
- 20.95%
ACWI
- 1D
- 0.41%
- 1M
- -0.11%
- YTD
- 10.59%
- 6M
- 11.34%
- 1Y
- 26.86%
- 3Y*
- 19.78%
- 5Y*
- 10.88%
- 10Y*
- 13.02%
^NDX vs. ACWI - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
^NDX NASDAQ 100 Index | 17.37% | 20.17% | 24.88% | 53.81% | -32.97% | 26.63% | 47.58% | 37.96% | -1.04% | 31.52% |
ACWI iShares MSCI ACWI ETF | 10.59% | 22.41% | 17.45% | 22.27% | -18.39% | 18.66% | 16.34% | 26.59% | -9.19% | 24.33% |
Correlation
The correlation between ^NDX and ACWI is 0.90, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.90 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.89 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.90 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.87 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 28, 2008 | 0.85 |
The correlation between ^NDX and ACWI has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.85 to 0.90 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
^NDX vs. ACWI — Risk / Return Rank
^NDX
ACWI
^NDX vs. ACWI - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for NASDAQ 100 Index (^NDX) 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.
| ^NDX | ACWI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.15 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.06 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.36 | 1.35 | +0.01 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.92 | 2.62 | +0.30 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 10.85 | 11.46 | -0.61 |
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Drawdowns
^NDX vs. ACWI - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum ^NDX drawdown since its inception was -82.90%, which is greater than ACWI's maximum drawdown of -56.00%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ^NDX and ACWI.
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Drawdown Indicators
| ^NDX | ACWI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -82.90% | -56.00% | -26.90% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -12.12% | -9.73% | -2.39% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -22.93% | -16.55% | -6.38% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -35.56% | -26.42% | -9.14% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -35.56% | -33.53% | -2.03% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -3.34% | -2.19% | -1.15% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -24.61% | -8.60% | -16.01% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.26% | 2.22% | +1.04% |
Volatility
^NDX vs. ACWI - Volatility Comparison
NASDAQ 100 Index (^NDX) has a higher volatility of 7.51% compared to iShares MSCI ACWI ETF (ACWI) at 5.17%. This indicates that ^NDX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier 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
| ^NDX | ACWI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.51% | 5.17% | +2.34% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 13.84% | 11.09% | +2.75% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 17.29% | 13.42% | +3.87% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 22.76% | 16.15% | +6.61% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 22.61% | 17.14% | +5.47% |
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.90, ^NDX 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.
^NDX has higher volatility (7.51%) compared to ACWI (5.17%). In terms of maximum drawdown, ^NDX dropped -82.90% vs ACWI's -56.00%.
^NDX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.05 vs 1.90), 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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