ACWX vs. VFINX
ACWX (iShares MSCI ACWI ex U.S. ETF) and VFINX (Vanguard 500 Index Fund Investor Shares) are both funds - ACWX is a Foreign Large Cap Equities fund tracking the MSCI All Country World ex-U.S. Index, while VFINX is a Large Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the S&P 500 Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, ACWX returned 9.87%/yr vs 15.00%/yr for VFINX. Their correlation of 0.82 suggests significant overlap in exposure. ACWX charges 0.32%/yr vs 0.14%/yr for VFINX.
Performance
ACWX vs. VFINX - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, ACWX achieves a 13.42% return, which is significantly higher than VFINX's 6.66% return. Over the past 10 years, ACWX has underperformed VFINX with an annualized return of 9.87%, while VFINX has yielded a comparatively higher 15.00% annualized return.
ACWX
- 1D
- 3.41%
- 1M
- 1.94%
- YTD
- 13.42%
- 6M
- 14.35%
- 1Y
- 28.83%
- 3Y*
- 18.66%
- 5Y*
- 8.17%
- 10Y*
- 9.87%
VFINX
- 1D
- -1.62%
- 1M
- -1.70%
- YTD
- 6.66%
- 6M
- 5.86%
- 1Y
- 21.97%
- 3Y*
- 20.58%
- 5Y*
- 12.79%
- 10Y*
- 15.00%
ACWX vs. VFINX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ACWX iShares MSCI ACWI ex U.S. ETF | 13.42% | 32.59% | 5.17% | 15.63% | -16.07% | 7.67% | 10.29% | 21.05% | -13.99% | 27.20% |
VFINX Vanguard 500 Index Fund Investor Shares | 6.66% | 17.71% | 24.84% | 26.12% | -18.24% | 28.53% | 18.20% | 31.33% | -4.55% | 21.66% |
Correlation
The correlation between ACWX and VFINX is 0.81, 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 | 0.81 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.74 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.77 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.79 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 31, 2008 | 0.82 |
The correlation between ACWX and VFINX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.74 to 0.82 - a consistent structural relationship.
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
ACWX vs. VFINX — Risk / Return Rank
ACWX
VFINX
ACWX vs. VFINX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares MSCI ACWI ex U.S. ETF (ACWX) and Vanguard 500 Index Fund Investor Shares (VFINX). 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.
| ACWX | VFINX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.01 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.01 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.32 | 1.32 | 0.00 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.53 | 2.44 | +0.10 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 9.69 | 11.11 | -1.42 |
Loading charts...
Drawdowns
ACWX vs. VFINX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum ACWX drawdown since its inception was -60.40%, which is greater than VFINX's maximum drawdown of -55.25%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ACWX and VFINX.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| ACWX | VFINX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -60.40% | -55.25% | -5.15% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.42% | -8.92% | -2.50% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -13.84% | -18.76% | +4.92% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -30.07% | -24.59% | -5.48% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -35.38% | -33.83% | -1.55% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.82% | -4.46% | +2.64% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -13.32% | -8.28% | -5.04% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.98% | 1.95% | +1.03% |
Volatility
ACWX vs. VFINX - Volatility Comparison
iShares MSCI ACWI ex U.S. ETF (ACWX) has a higher volatility of 7.03% compared to Vanguard 500 Index Fund Investor Shares (VFINX) at 4.04%. This indicates that ACWX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VFINX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| ACWX | VFINX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.03% | 4.04% | +2.99% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 14.36% | 9.56% | +4.80% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 16.43% | 12.26% | +4.17% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 16.46% | 16.96% | -0.50% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 17.43% | 18.09% | -0.66% |
ACWX vs. VFINX - Expense Ratio Comparison
ACWX has a 0.32% expense ratio, which is higher than VFINX's 0.14% expense ratio.
Dividends
ACWX vs. VFINX - Dividend Comparison
ACWX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.49%, more than VFINX's 0.97% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ACWX iShares MSCI ACWI ex U.S. ETF | 2.49% | 2.82% | 2.97% | 2.96% | 2.68% | 2.74% | 1.88% | 3.22% | 2.60% | 2.40% | 2.77% | 2.51% |
VFINX Vanguard 500 Index Fund Investor Shares | 0.97% | 1.02% | 1.14% | 1.36% | 1.57% | 1.15% | 1.45% | 1.77% | 1.94% | 1.69% | 1.92% | 1.99% |
Frequently Asked Questions
ACWX and VFINX have a correlation of 0.81, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
ACWX has higher volatility (7.03%) compared to VFINX (4.04%). In terms of maximum drawdown, ACWX dropped -60.40% vs VFINX's -55.25%.
VFINX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.77 vs 1.76), 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.
Find the right allocation for ACWX and VFINX
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer