UDEC vs. ACWV

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

UDEC (Innovator U.S. Equity Ultra Buffer ETF - December) and ACWV (iShares MSCI Global Min Vol Factor ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - UDEC is a Defined Outcome fund tracking the S&P 500, while ACWV is a Large Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the MSCI AC World Minimum Volatility (USD). Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, UDEC returned 7.26%/yr vs 5.47%/yr for ACWV. A 0.66 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. UDEC charges 0.79%/yr vs 0.20%/yr for ACWV.

Performance

UDEC vs. ACWV - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Innovator U.S. Equity Ultra Buffer ETF - December (UDEC) and iShares MSCI Global Min Vol Factor ETF (ACWV). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, UDEC achieves a 5.14% return, which is significantly higher than ACWV's 2.36% return.

UDEC

• 1D: -0.12%
• 1M: 2.11%
• YTD: 5.14%
• 6M: 5.49%
• 1Y: 17.31%
• 3Y*: 12.44%
• 5Y*: 7.26%
• 10Y*: —

ACWV

• 1D: -0.62%
• 1M: 1.01%
• YTD: 2.36%
• 6M: 2.56%
• 1Y: 4.79%
• 3Y*: 10.06%
• 5Y*: 5.47%
• 10Y*: 7.36%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

UDEC vs. ACWV - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019
UDEC Innovator U.S. Equity Ultra Buffer ETF - December	5.14%	12.97%	9.52%	16.80%	-9.44%	6.44%	6.72%	1.16%
ACWV iShares MSCI Global Min Vol Factor ETF	2.36%	11.04%	11.38%	8.23%	-10.36%	13.97%	3.04%	2.20%

Correlation

The correlation between UDEC and ACWV is 0.54, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.54
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.56
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.62
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Dec 3, 2019	0.66

The correlation between UDEC and ACWV shifts across timeframes, from 0.54 (1 year) to 0.66 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

UDEC vs. ACWV - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	UDEC	ACWV
Technology	36.2%	22.6%
Financial Services	11.9%	13.1%
Communication Services	10.9%	12.2%
Consumer Cyclical	10.1%	5.1%
Healthcare	8.4%	13.2%
Industrials	8.1%	7.9%
Consumer Defensive	4.9%	10.3%
Energy	3.5%	3.4%
Utilities	2.3%	7.8%
Real Estate	1.9%	0.8%
Basic Materials	1.8%	1.8%

Return for Risk

UDEC vs. ACWV — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

UDEC

UDEC Risk / Return Rank: 84
UDEC Sharpe Ratio Rank: 82
UDEC Sortino Ratio Rank: 86
UDEC Omega Ratio Rank: 86
UDEC Calmar Ratio Rank: 77
UDEC Martin Ratio Rank: 88

ACWV

ACWV Risk / Return Rank: 18
ACWV Sharpe Ratio Rank: 19
ACWV Sortino Ratio Rank: 17
ACWV Omega Ratio Rank: 17
ACWV Calmar Ratio Rank: 18
ACWV Martin Ratio Rank: 20

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.

UDEC vs. ACWV - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Innovator U.S. Equity Ultra Buffer ETF - December (UDEC) and iShares MSCI Global Min Vol Factor ETF (ACWV). 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.

	UDEC	ACWV	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	2.66	0.62	+2.04
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	3.89	0.92	+2.97
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.53	1.11	+0.42
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	3.91	0.76	+3.16
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	19.15	2.37	+16.78
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

UDEC vs. ACWV - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current UDEC Sharpe Ratio is 2.66, which is higher than the ACWV Sharpe Ratio of 0.62. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of UDEC and ACWV, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	UDEC	ACWV	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.66	0.62	+2.04
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	1.02	0.54	+0.48
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	—	0.60	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.91	0.71	+0.21

Drawdowns

UDEC vs. ACWV - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum UDEC drawdown since its inception was -13.37%, smaller than the maximum ACWV drawdown of -28.82%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for UDEC and ACWV.

Drawdown Indicators

	UDEC	ACWV	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-13.37%	-28.82%	+15.45%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-4.44%	-6.37%	+1.93%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-8.94%	-7.56%	-1.38%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-10.26%	-18.14%	+7.88%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-28.82%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.15%	-2.92%	+2.77%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-2.16%	-3.11%	+0.95%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	0.91%	2.03%	-1.12%

Volatility

UDEC vs. ACWV - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Innovator U.S. Equity Ultra Buffer ETF - December (UDEC) is 0.93%, while iShares MSCI Global Min Vol Factor ETF (ACWV) has a volatility of 1.79%. This indicates that UDEC experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than ACWV based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	UDEC	ACWV	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	0.93%	1.79%	-0.86%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	4.27%	5.54%	-1.27%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	6.53%	7.71%	-1.18%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	7.18%	10.23%	-3.05%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	8.02%	12.30%	-4.28%

UDEC vs. ACWV - Expense Ratio Comparison

UDEC has a 0.79% expense ratio, which is higher than ACWV's 0.20% expense ratio.

Dividends

UDEC vs. ACWV - Dividend Comparison

UDEC has not paid dividends to shareholders, while ACWV's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.04%.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
ACWV iShares MSCI Global Min Vol Factor ETF	2.04%	2.09%	2.33%	2.41%	2.18%	1.92%	1.77%	2.54%	2.32%	2.04%	2.56%	2.28%
UDEC Innovator U.S. Equity Ultra Buffer ETF - December	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both UDEC and ACWV in my portfolio?

UDEC and ACWV have a correlation of 0.54, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, UDEC or ACWV?

ACWV has higher volatility (1.79%) compared to UDEC (0.93%). In terms of maximum drawdown, UDEC dropped -13.37% vs ACWV's -28.82%.

Which ETF is better, UDEC or ACWV?

On 5-year performance, UDEC leads with 7.26% vs 5.47% for ACWV. On fees, ACWV is cheaper at 0.20% per year. On volatility, UDEC has been the lower-risk option at 0.93%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, UDEC or ACWV?

Over the 5-year period, UDEC has performed better with a 7.26% return vs 5.47%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, UDEC or ACWV?

ACWV is cheaper with a 0.20% expense ratio, compared with 0.79% for UDEC.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, UDEC or ACWV?

ACWV has the higher dividend yield at 2.04%, compared with 0.00% for UDEC.

What is the main difference between UDEC and ACWV?

UDEC is categorized as Defined Outcome, while ACWV is Large Cap Blend Equities. UDEC tracks S&P 500, while ACWV tracks MSCI AC World Minimum Volatility (USD). They also come from different issuers: Innovator and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.79% for UDEC and 0.20% for ACWV.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

UDEC currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.66 vs 0.62), 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.