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EXI vs. ACWI
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

EXI vs. ACWI

Last updated Jun 24, 2026

EXI (iShares Global Industrials ETF) and ACWI (iShares MSCI ACWI ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - EXI is a Industrials Equities fund tracking the S&P Global 1200 / Industrials -SEC, while ACWI is a Global Equities fund tracking the MSCI All Country World Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, EXI returned 13.04%/yr vs 13.09%/yr for ACWI. Their correlation of 0.89 suggests significant overlap in exposure. EXI charges 0.43%/yr vs 0.32%/yr for ACWI.

Performance

EXI vs. ACWI - Performance Comparison

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

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Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, EXI achieves a 12.18% return, which is significantly higher than ACWI's 9.86% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with EXI having a 13.04% annualized return and ACWI not far ahead at 13.09%.

EXI

1D
-2.28%
1M
1.89%
YTD
12.18%
6M
11.32%
1Y
23.77%
3Y*
20.42%
5Y*
11.94%
10Y*
13.04%

ACWI

1D
-2.00%
1M
-0.35%
YTD
9.86%
6M
9.11%
1Y
25.60%
3Y*
20.00%
5Y*
10.74%
10Y*
13.09%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

EXI vs. ACWI - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)202520242023202220212020201920182017
EXI
iShares Global Industrials ETF		12.18%25.88%12.47%22.04%-12.36%17.37%11.33%27.13%-14.41%25.16%
ACWI
iShares MSCI ACWI ETF		9.86%22.41%17.45%22.27%-18.39%18.66%16.34%26.59%-9.19%24.33%

Correlation

The correlation between EXI and ACWI is 0.82, 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

0.82

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

0.85

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

0.88

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

0.87

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 28, 2008

0.89

The correlation between EXI and ACWI has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.82 to 0.89 - a consistent structural relationship.

EXI vs. ACWI - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors
EXI
ACWI

Industrials

94.4%
10.3%

Technology

4.0%
33.0%

Utilities

2.6%
2.7%

Communication Services

1.1%
8.0%

Consumer Cyclical

0.2%
8.6%

Basic Materials

0.2%
3.6%

Financial Services

0.1%
15.9%

Consumer Defensive

0.1%
4.7%

Energy

-

3.6%

Healthcare

-

7.7%

Real Estate

-

1.6%

Industrials

EXI
94.4%
ACWI
10.3%

Technology

EXI
4.0%
ACWI
33.0%

Utilities

EXI
2.6%
ACWI
2.7%

Communication Services

EXI
1.1%
ACWI
8.0%

Consumer Cyclical

EXI
0.2%
ACWI
8.6%

Basic Materials

EXI
0.2%
ACWI
3.6%

Financial Services

EXI
0.1%
ACWI
15.9%

Consumer Defensive

EXI
0.1%
ACWI
4.7%

Energy

EXI

-

ACWI
3.6%

Healthcare

EXI

-

ACWI
7.7%

Real Estate

EXI

-

ACWI
1.6%

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.

iShares Global Industrials ETF

iShares MSCI ACWI ETF

Often compared with EXI:
EXI vs. XLIEXI vs. FIDUEXI vs. IYJEXI vs. PSCCEXI vs. KXIEXI vs. SPYEXI vs. IEFA
Often compared with ACWI:
ACWI vs. VTACWI vs. SPYACWI vs. VWRL.LACWI vs. ACWXACWI vs. ACWI.LACWI vs. VOOACWI vs. VTI

Return for Risk

EXI vs. ACWI — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.
EXI
EXI Risk / Return Rank: 4343
Overall Rank
EXI Sharpe Ratio Rank: 4242
Sharpe Ratio Rank
EXI Sortino Ratio Rank: 4343
Sortino Ratio Rank
EXI Omega Ratio Rank: 4343
Omega Ratio Rank
EXI Calmar Ratio Rank: 4040
Calmar Ratio Rank
EXI Martin Ratio Rank: 4848
Martin Ratio Rank
ACWI
ACWI Risk / Return Rank: 5858
Overall Rank
ACWI Sharpe Ratio Rank: 5858
Sharpe Ratio Rank
ACWI Sortino Ratio Rank: 5656
Sortino Ratio Rank
ACWI Omega Ratio Rank: 5858
Omega Ratio Rank
ACWI Calmar Ratio Rank: 5555
Calmar Ratio Rank
ACWI Martin Ratio Rank: 6565
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.

EXI vs. ACWI - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Global Industrials ETF (EXI) and iShares MSCI ACWI ETF (ACWI). 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.

EXIACWIDifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
1.43
1.89

-0.46

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
2.10
2.60

-0.50

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.26

1.34

-0.08

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

1.93

2.64

-0.71

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

7.68

11.51

-3.83

EXI vs. ACWI - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current EXI Sharpe Ratio is 1.43, which is comparable to the ACWI Sharpe Ratio of 1.89. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of EXI and ACWI, 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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Drawdowns

EXI vs. ACWI - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum EXI drawdown since its inception was -62.60%, which is greater than ACWI's maximum drawdown of -56.00%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for EXI and ACWI.

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Drawdown Indicators

EXIACWIDifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-62.60%

-56.00%

-6.60%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-12.35%

-9.73%

-2.62%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-14.38%

-16.55%

+2.17%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-27.23%

-26.42%

-0.81%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

-39.56%

-33.53%

-6.03%

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-2.28%

-2.83%

+0.55%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-9.94%

-8.59%

-1.35%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

3.10%

2.23%

+0.87%

Volatility

EXI vs. ACWI - Volatility Comparison

iShares Global Industrials ETF (EXI) has a higher volatility of 6.03% compared to iShares MSCI ACWI ETF (ACWI) at 5.57%. This indicates that EXI's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than ACWI based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

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Volatility by Period

EXIACWIDifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

6.03%

5.57%

+0.46%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

14.19%

11.38%

+2.81%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

16.74%

13.64%

+3.10%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

17.12%

16.20%

+0.92%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

18.36%

17.08%

+1.28%

EXI vs. ACWI - Expense Ratio Comparison

EXI has a 0.43% expense ratio, which is higher than ACWI's 0.32% expense ratio.

Dividends

EXI vs. ACWI - Dividend Comparison

EXI's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.08%, less than ACWI's 1.45% yield.

PositionTTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
ACWI
iShares MSCI ACWI ETF		1.45%1.55%1.70%1.88%1.79%1.71%1.43%2.33%2.18%1.94%2.19%2.56%
EXI
iShares Global Industrials ETF		1.08%1.32%1.47%1.84%1.63%1.42%1.26%1.72%2.21%1.48%1.75%1.95%

Frequently Asked Questions

EXI and ACWI have a correlation of 0.82, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

EXI has higher volatility (6.03%) compared to ACWI (5.57%). In terms of maximum drawdown, EXI dropped -62.60% vs ACWI's -56.00%.

On 10-year performance, ACWI leads with 13.09% vs 13.04% for EXI. On fees, ACWI is cheaper at 0.32% per year. On volatility, ACWI has been the lower-risk option at 5.57%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Over the 10-year period, ACWI has performed better with a 13.09% return vs 13.04%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

ACWI is cheaper with a 0.32% expense ratio, compared with 0.43% for EXI.

ACWI has the higher dividend yield at 1.45%, compared with 1.08% for EXI.

EXI is categorized as Industrials Equities, while ACWI is Global Equities. EXI tracks S&P Global 1200 / Industrials -SEC, while ACWI tracks MSCI All Country World Index. Their fees differ too: 0.43% for EXI and 0.32% for ACWI.

ACWI currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.89 vs 1.43), 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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