ACWX vs. IWM
Compare and contrast key facts about iShares MSCI ACWI ex U.S. ETF (ACWX) and iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM).
ACWX and IWM are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. ACWX is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the MSCI All Country World ex-U.S. Index. It was launched on Mar 26, 2008. IWM is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the Russell 2000 Index. It was launched on May 22, 2000. Both ACWX and IWM are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.
Performance
ACWX vs. IWM - Performance Comparison
Loading graphics...
ACWX vs. IWM - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ACWX iShares MSCI ACWI ex U.S. ETF | 2.00% | 32.59% | 5.17% | 15.63% | -16.07% | 7.67% | 10.29% | 21.05% | -13.99% | 27.20% |
IWM iShares Russell 2000 ETF | 0.93% | 12.66% | 11.38% | 16.83% | -20.48% | 14.54% | 20.03% | 25.39% | -11.12% | 14.58% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, ACWX achieves a 2.00% return, which is significantly higher than IWM's 0.93% return. Over the past 10 years, ACWX has underperformed IWM with an annualized return of 8.67%, while IWM has yielded a comparatively higher 9.76% annualized return.
ACWX
- 1D
- 3.29%
- 1M
- -8.03%
- YTD
- 2.00%
- 6M
- 6.99%
- 1Y
- 27.22%
- 3Y*
- 15.34%
- 5Y*
- 7.11%
- 10Y*
- 8.67%
IWM
- 1D
- 3.50%
- 1M
- -4.96%
- YTD
- 0.93%
- 6M
- 3.02%
- 1Y
- 25.66%
- 3Y*
- 12.94%
- 5Y*
- 3.34%
- 10Y*
- 9.76%
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
ACWX vs. IWM - Expense Ratio Comparison
ACWX has a 0.32% expense ratio, which is higher than IWM's 0.19% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
ACWX vs. IWM — Risk / Return Rank
ACWX
IWM
ACWX vs. IWM - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares MSCI ACWI ex U.S. ETF (ACWX) and iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM). 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.
| ACWX | IWM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.58 | 1.11 | +0.46 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.17 | 1.66 | +0.51 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.32 | 1.21 | +0.11 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.31 | 1.82 | +0.48 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.90 | 6.76 | +2.14 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
Loading graphics...
Sharpe Ratios by Period
| ACWX | IWM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.58 | 1.11 | +0.46 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.45 | 0.15 | +0.30 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.50 | 0.43 | +0.08 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.20 | 0.34 | -0.14 |
Correlation
The correlation between ACWX and IWM is 0.75, 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.
Dividends
ACWX vs. IWM - Dividend Comparison
ACWX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.77%, more than IWM's 1.02% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ACWX iShares MSCI ACWI ex U.S. ETF | 2.77% | 2.82% | 2.97% | 2.96% | 2.68% | 2.74% | 1.88% | 3.22% | 2.60% | 2.40% | 2.77% | 2.51% |
IWM iShares Russell 2000 ETF | 1.02% | 1.04% | 1.15% | 1.35% | 1.48% | 0.94% | 1.04% | 1.26% | 1.40% | 1.26% | 1.38% | 1.54% |
Drawdowns
ACWX vs. IWM - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum ACWX drawdown since its inception was -60.40%, roughly equal to the maximum IWM drawdown of -59.05%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ACWX and IWM.
Loading graphics...
Drawdown Indicators
| ACWX | IWM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -60.40% | -59.05% | -1.35% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.42% | -13.74% | +2.32% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -30.07% | -31.91% | +1.84% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -35.38% | -41.13% | +5.75% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -8.51% | -7.91% | -0.60% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -13.45% | -10.83% | -2.62% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.96% | 3.70% | -0.74% |
Volatility
ACWX vs. IWM - Volatility Comparison
iShares MSCI ACWI ex U.S. ETF (ACWX) has a higher volatility of 8.42% compared to iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) at 7.47%. This indicates that ACWX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than IWM based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading graphics...
Volatility by Period
| ACWX | IWM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 8.42% | 7.47% | +0.95% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 11.71% | 14.47% | -2.76% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 17.35% | 23.18% | -5.83% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 16.05% | 22.55% | -6.50% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 17.29% | 22.99% | -5.70% |