CWI vs. XLU
Compare and contrast key facts about SPDR MSCI ACWI ex-US ETF (CWI) and Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLU).
CWI and XLU are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. CWI is a passively managed fund by State Street that tracks the performance of the MSCI All Country World ex-U.S. Index. It was launched on Jan 10, 2007. XLU is a passively managed fund by State Street that tracks the performance of the Utilities Select Sector Index. It was launched on Dec 16, 1998. Both CWI and XLU 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
CWI vs. XLU - Performance Comparison
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CWI vs. XLU - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CWI SPDR MSCI ACWI ex-US ETF | 1.87% | 32.75% | 6.27% | 15.74% | -15.39% | 8.81% | 9.83% | 21.92% | -13.83% | 26.89% |
XLU Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund | 8.25% | 16.03% | 23.31% | -7.18% | 1.44% | 17.70% | 0.51% | 25.93% | 3.94% | 12.05% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, CWI achieves a 1.87% return, which is significantly lower than XLU's 8.25% return. Over the past 10 years, CWI has underperformed XLU with an annualized return of 9.02%, while XLU has yielded a comparatively higher 9.74% annualized return.
CWI
- 1D
- 3.22%
- 1M
- -8.11%
- YTD
- 1.87%
- 6M
- 6.68%
- 1Y
- 27.73%
- 3Y*
- 15.86%
- 5Y*
- 7.61%
- 10Y*
- 9.02%
XLU
- 1D
- -0.07%
- 1M
- -3.18%
- YTD
- 8.25%
- 6M
- 6.77%
- 1Y
- 19.71%
- 3Y*
- 14.12%
- 5Y*
- 10.80%
- 10Y*
- 9.74%
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CWI vs. XLU - Expense Ratio Comparison
CWI has a 0.30% expense ratio, which is higher than XLU's 0.13% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
CWI vs. XLU — Risk / Return Rank
CWI
XLU
CWI vs. XLU - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for SPDR MSCI ACWI ex-US ETF (CWI) and Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLU). 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.
| CWI | XLU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.61 | 1.25 | +0.35 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.21 | 1.71 | +0.50 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.33 | 1.23 | +0.10 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.34 | 2.29 | +0.05 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 9.07 | 5.51 | +3.56 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| CWI | XLU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.61 | 1.25 | +0.35 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.48 | 0.63 | -0.15 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.53 | 0.51 | +0.02 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.22 | 0.41 | -0.19 |
Correlation
The correlation between CWI and XLU is 0.43, which is considered to be moderate. This suggests that the two assets have some degree of positive relationship in their price movements. Moderate correlation can be acceptable for portfolio diversification, offering a balance between risk and potential returns.
Dividends
CWI vs. XLU - Dividend Comparison
CWI's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.91%, more than XLU's 2.59% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CWI SPDR MSCI ACWI ex-US ETF | 2.91% | 2.97% | 2.89% | 2.80% | 3.17% | 2.65% | 2.07% | 3.05% | 2.81% | 2.29% | 2.45% | 2.62% |
XLU Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund | 2.59% | 2.71% | 2.96% | 3.39% | 2.92% | 2.79% | 3.14% | 2.95% | 3.33% | 3.33% | 3.41% | 3.67% |
Drawdowns
CWI vs. XLU - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum CWI drawdown since its inception was -60.77%, which is greater than XLU's maximum drawdown of -51.98%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for CWI and XLU.
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Drawdown Indicators
| CWI | XLU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -60.77% | -51.98% | -8.79% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.47% | -9.18% | -2.29% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -29.45% | -25.26% | -4.19% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -34.64% | -36.07% | +1.43% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -8.57% | -3.18% | -5.39% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -12.95% | -10.26% | -2.69% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.96% | 3.82% | -0.86% |
Volatility
CWI vs. XLU - Volatility Comparison
SPDR MSCI ACWI ex-US ETF (CWI) has a higher volatility of 8.14% compared to Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLU) at 5.09%. This indicates that CWI's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than XLU based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| CWI | XLU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 8.14% | 5.09% | +3.05% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 11.60% | 10.35% | +1.25% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 17.37% | 15.82% | +1.55% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 16.01% | 17.18% | -1.17% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 17.05% | 19.21% | -2.16% |