URTH vs. ^GSPC
URTH (iShares MSCI World ETF) is Global Equities fund tracking the MSCI World Index (Net), while ^GSPC (S&P 500 Index) is an index. Over the past 10 years, URTH returned 13.38%/yr vs 13.61%/yr for ^GSPC. Their correlation of 0.86 suggests significant overlap in exposure.
Performance
URTH vs. ^GSPC - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
The year-to-date returns for both stocks are quite close, with URTH having a 8.91% return and ^GSPC slightly lower at 8.56%. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with URTH having a 13.38% annualized return and ^GSPC not far ahead at 13.61%.
URTH
- 1D
- 0.39%
- 1M
- 1.20%
- YTD
- 8.91%
- 6M
- 9.60%
- 1Y
- 24.56%
- 3Y*
- 19.60%
- 5Y*
- 11.45%
- 10Y*
- 13.38%
^GSPC
- 1D
- 0.50%
- 1M
- 0.31%
- YTD
- 8.56%
- 6M
- 8.85%
- 1Y
- 24.33%
- 3Y*
- 19.37%
- 5Y*
- 11.84%
- 10Y*
- 13.61%
URTH vs. ^GSPC - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
URTH iShares MSCI World ETF | 8.91% | 21.36% | 18.66% | 23.95% | -17.97% | 22.27% | 15.78% | 28.15% | -8.56% | 22.95% |
^GSPC S&P 500 Index | 8.56% | 16.39% | 23.31% | 24.23% | -19.44% | 26.89% | 16.26% | 28.88% | -6.24% | 19.42% |
Correlation
The correlation between URTH and ^GSPC is 0.98 - these two move nearly in lockstep. At this level, holding both provides almost no diversification benefit. If you already own one, adding the other does little to reduce portfolio risk.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.98 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.97 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.98 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.96 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 12, 2012 | 0.86 |
The correlation between URTH and ^GSPC shifts across timeframes, from 0.86 (all time) to 0.98 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
URTH vs. ^GSPC — Risk / Return Rank
URTH
^GSPC
URTH vs. ^GSPC - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares MSCI World ETF (URTH) and S&P 500 Index (^GSPC). 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.
| URTH | ^GSPC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.02 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.02 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.33 | 1.34 | -0.01 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.56 | 2.53 | +0.03 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 11.37 | 11.37 | 0.00 |
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Drawdowns
URTH vs. ^GSPC - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum URTH drawdown since its inception was -34.01%, smaller than the maximum ^GSPC drawdown of -56.78%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for URTH and ^GSPC.
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Drawdown Indicators
| URTH | ^GSPC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -34.01% | -56.78% | +22.77% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -9.06% | -9.10% | +0.04% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -16.94% | -18.90% | +1.96% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -26.05% | -25.43% | -0.62% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -34.01% | -33.92% | -0.09% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.87% | -2.34% | +0.47% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -4.37% | -10.72% | +6.35% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.04% | 2.02% | +0.02% |
Volatility
URTH vs. ^GSPC - Volatility Comparison
iShares MSCI World ETF (URTH) and S&P 500 Index (^GSPC) have volatilities of 4.55% and 4.43%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| URTH | ^GSPC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.55% | 4.43% | +0.12% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 10.11% | 9.70% | +0.41% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 12.57% | 12.38% | +0.19% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 16.26% | 16.97% | -0.71% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 17.29% | 18.09% | -0.80% |
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.98, URTH and ^GSPC move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.
URTH has higher volatility (4.55%) compared to ^GSPC (4.43%). In terms of maximum drawdown, URTH dropped -34.01% vs ^GSPC's -56.78%.
^GSPC currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.86 vs 1.85), 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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