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ACWI vs. VASGX
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

ACWI vs. VASGX

Last updated Jun 5, 2026

ACWI (iShares MSCI ACWI ETF) and VASGX (Vanguard LifeStrategy Growth Fund) are both funds - ACWI is a Global Equities fund tracking the MSCI All Country World Index, while VASGX is a Diversified Portfolio fund actively managed by Vanguard. ACWI is passively managed, while VASGX is actively managed. Over the past 10 years, ACWI returned 12.82%/yr vs 10.71%/yr for VASGX. With a 0.97 correlation, they move nearly in lockstep. ACWI charges 0.32%/yr vs 0.14%/yr for VASGX.

Performance

ACWI vs. VASGX - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in iShares MSCI ACWI ETF (ACWI) and Vanguard LifeStrategy Growth Fund (VASGX). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

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Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, ACWI achieves a 12.47% return, which is significantly higher than VASGX's 10.11% return. Over the past 10 years, ACWI has outperformed VASGX with an annualized return of 12.82%, while VASGX has yielded a comparatively lower 10.71% annualized return.

ACWI

1D
0.30%
1M
4.45%
YTD
12.47%
6M
13.07%
1Y
29.24%
3Y*
21.38%
5Y*
11.35%
10Y*
12.82%

VASGX

1D
-0.68%
1M
3.18%
YTD
10.11%
6M
10.76%
1Y
24.24%
3Y*
17.63%
5Y*
8.85%
10Y*
10.71%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

ACWI vs. VASGX - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)202520242023202220212020201920182017
ACWI
iShares MSCI ACWI ETF		12.47%22.41%17.45%22.27%-18.39%18.66%16.34%26.59%-9.19%24.33%
VASGX
Vanguard LifeStrategy Growth Fund		10.11%19.65%12.95%18.76%-17.21%14.35%15.45%23.14%-6.89%19.21%

Correlation

The correlation between ACWI and VASGX is 0.99 - 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

0.99

Correlation (3Y)
Calculated over the trailing 3-year period

0.98

Correlation (5Y)
Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

0.99

Correlation (10Y)
Calculated over the trailing 10-year period

0.99

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 31, 2008

0.97

The correlation between ACWI and VASGX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.97 to 0.99 - a consistent structural relationship.

ACWI vs. VASGX - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors
ACWI
VASGX

Technology

29.4%
27.4%

Financial Services

16.1%
16.1%

Industrials

10.9%
12.3%

Consumer Cyclical

9.3%
9.4%

Communication Services

9.0%
8.0%

Healthcare

8.1%
8.3%

Consumer Defensive

5.0%
4.8%

Energy

4.2%
4.3%

Basic Materials

3.7%
4.3%

Utilities

2.6%
2.7%

Real Estate

1.8%
2.5%

Technology

ACWI
29.4%
VASGX
27.4%

Financial Services

ACWI
16.1%
VASGX
16.1%

Industrials

ACWI
10.9%
VASGX
12.3%

Consumer Cyclical

ACWI
9.3%
VASGX
9.4%

Communication Services

ACWI
9.0%
VASGX
8.0%

Healthcare

ACWI
8.1%
VASGX
8.3%

Consumer Defensive

ACWI
5.0%
VASGX
4.8%

Energy

ACWI
4.2%
VASGX
4.3%

Basic Materials

ACWI
3.7%
VASGX
4.3%

Utilities

ACWI
2.6%
VASGX
2.7%

Real Estate

ACWI
1.8%
VASGX
2.5%

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

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iShares MSCI ACWI ETF

Vanguard LifeStrategy Growth Fund

Often compared with ACWI:
ACWI vs. VTACWI vs. SPYACWI vs. VWRL.LACWI vs. ACWXACWI vs. ACWI.LACWI vs. VOOACWI vs. VTI
Often compared with VASGX:
VASGX vs. AOAVASGX vs. VOOVASGX vs. VTSAXVASGX vs. SPYVASGX vs. FASGXVASGX vs. VTWAXVASGX vs. VFORX

Return for Risk

ACWI vs. VASGX — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.
ACWI
ACWI Risk / Return Rank: 7070
Overall Rank
ACWI Sharpe Ratio Rank: 7171
Sharpe Ratio Rank
ACWI Sortino Ratio Rank: 7171
Sortino Ratio Rank
ACWI Omega Ratio Rank: 7171
Omega Ratio Rank
ACWI Calmar Ratio Rank: 6262
Calmar Ratio Rank
ACWI Martin Ratio Rank: 7373
Martin Ratio Rank
VASGX
VASGX Risk / Return Rank: 6464
Overall Rank
VASGX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 6565
Sharpe Ratio Rank
VASGX Sortino Ratio Rank: 6262
Sortino Ratio Rank
VASGX Omega Ratio Rank: 6161
Omega Ratio Rank
VASGX Calmar Ratio Rank: 6262
Calmar Ratio Rank
VASGX Martin Ratio Rank: 6969
Martin Ratio Rank
The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

ACWI vs. VASGX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares MSCI ACWI ETF (ACWI) and Vanguard LifeStrategy Growth Fund (VASGX). 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.

ACWIVASGXDifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
2.30
2.38

-0.09

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
3.17
3.33

-0.16

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.42

1.44

-0.02

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

3.02

3.02

0.00

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

13.55

13.35

+0.20

Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

ACWI vs. VASGX - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current ACWI Sharpe Ratio is 2.30, which is comparable to the VASGX Sharpe Ratio of 2.38. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of ACWI and VASGX, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

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Sharpe Ratios by Period

ACWIVASGXDifference

Sharpe Ratio (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

2.30

2.38

-0.09

Sharpe Ratio (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

0.71

0.70

+0.01

Sharpe Ratio (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period

0.75

0.80

-0.05

Sharpe Ratio (All Time)

Calculated using the full available price history

0.43

0.58

-0.15

Drawdowns

ACWI vs. VASGX - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum ACWI drawdown since its inception was -56.00%, which is greater than VASGX's maximum drawdown of -51.16%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ACWI and VASGX.

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Drawdown Indicators

ACWIVASGXDifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-56.00%

-51.16%

-4.84%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-9.73%

-8.17%

-1.56%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-16.55%

-12.89%

-3.66%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-26.42%

-24.43%

-1.99%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

-33.53%

-28.53%

-5.00%

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-0.53%

-0.68%

+0.15%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-8.61%

-7.25%

-1.36%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

2.16%

1.85%

+0.31%

Volatility

ACWI vs. VASGX - Volatility Comparison

iShares MSCI ACWI ETF (ACWI) has a higher volatility of 3.83% compared to Vanguard LifeStrategy Growth Fund (VASGX) at 3.22%. This indicates that ACWI's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VASGX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

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Volatility by Period

ACWIVASGXDifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

3.83%

3.22%

+0.61%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

10.30%

8.29%

+2.01%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

12.79%

10.36%

+2.43%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

16.05%

12.77%

+3.28%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

17.11%

13.48%

+3.63%

ACWI vs. VASGX - Expense Ratio Comparison

ACWI has a 0.32% expense ratio, which is higher than VASGX's 0.14% expense ratio.

Dividends

ACWI vs. VASGX - Dividend Comparison

ACWI's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.38%, less than VASGX's 3.72% yield.

PositionTTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
ACWI
iShares MSCI ACWI ETF		1.38%1.55%1.70%1.88%1.79%1.71%1.43%2.33%2.18%1.94%2.19%2.56%
VASGX
Vanguard LifeStrategy Growth Fund		3.72%4.09%6.15%3.00%2.10%3.54%3.54%2.34%4.36%2.13%2.23%4.54%

Frequently Asked Questions

With a correlation of 0.99, ACWI and VASGX 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 (3.83%) compared to VASGX (3.22%). In terms of maximum drawdown, ACWI dropped -56.00% vs VASGX's -51.16%.

VASGX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.38 vs 2.30), 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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