ACWI vs. SPY
Compare and contrast key facts about iShares MSCI ACWI ETF (ACWI) and SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY).
ACWI and SPY are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. ACWI is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the MSCI All Country World Index. It was launched on Mar 26, 2008. SPY is a passively managed fund by State Street that tracks the performance of the S&P 500 Index. It was launched on Jan 22, 1993. Both ACWI and SPY are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.
Scroll down to visually compare performance, riskiness, drawdowns, and other indicators and decide which better suits your portfolio: ACWI or SPY.
Key characteristics
| ACWI | SPY | |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | 4.86% | 6.66% |
| 1Y Return | 19.95% | 26.26% |
| 3Y Return (Ann) | 4.21% | 8.24% |
| 5Y Return (Ann) | 9.57% | 13.33% |
| 10Y Return (Ann) | 8.49% | 12.52% |
| Sharpe Ratio | 1.55 | 2.06 |
| Daily Std Dev | 11.62% | 11.78% |
| Max Drawdown | -56.00% | -55.19% |
| Current Drawdown | -3.11% | -3.39% |
Correlation
The correlation between ACWI and SPY is 0.94, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.
Performance
ACWI vs. SPY - Performance Comparison
In the year-to-date period, ACWI achieves a 4.86% return, which is significantly lower than SPY's 6.66% return. Over the past 10 years, ACWI has underperformed SPY with an annualized return of 8.49%, while SPY has yielded a comparatively higher 12.52% annualized return. The chart below displays the growth of a $10,000 investment in both assets, with all prices adjusted for splits and dividends.
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ACWI vs. SPY - Expense Ratio Comparison
ACWI has a 0.32% expense ratio, which is higher than SPY's 0.09% expense ratio.
Risk-Adjusted Performance
ACWI vs. SPY - Risk-Adjusted Performance Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares MSCI ACWI ETF (ACWI) and SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY). 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.
Dividends
ACWI vs. SPY - Dividend Comparison
ACWI's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.79%, more than SPY's 1.33% yield.
| TTM | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ACWI iShares MSCI ACWI ETF | 1.79% | 1.88% | 1.79% | 1.71% | 1.43% | 2.33% | 2.25% | 1.94% | 2.19% | 2.56% | 2.26% | 1.89% |
SPY SPDR S&P 500 ETF | 1.33% | 1.40% | 1.65% | 1.20% | 1.52% | 1.75% | 2.04% | 1.80% | 2.03% | 2.06% | 1.87% | 1.81% |
Drawdowns
ACWI vs. SPY - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum ACWI drawdown since its inception was -56.00%, roughly equal to the maximum SPY drawdown of -55.19%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ACWI and SPY. For additional features, visit the drawdowns tool.
Volatility
ACWI vs. SPY - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares MSCI ACWI ETF (ACWI) is 3.32%, while SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) has a volatility of 3.54%. This indicates that ACWI experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than SPY based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.