XSMW.L vs. EXUS.L

Last updated Jun 5, 2026

XSMW.L (Xtrackers MSCI World Materials UCITS ETF 1C) and EXUS.L (Xtrackers MSCI World ex USA UCITS ETF 1C USD) are both exchange-traded funds - XSMW.L is a Materials fund tracking the MSCI World Materials Index, while EXUS.L is a Global Equities fund tracking the MSCI World ex USA index. Both are passively managed. Over the past year, XSMW.L returned 33.49% vs 23.39% for EXUS.L. A 0.70 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. XSMW.L charges 0.25%/yr vs 0.15%/yr for EXUS.L.

Performance

XSMW.L vs. EXUS.L - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a £10,000 investment in Xtrackers MSCI World Materials UCITS ETF 1C (XSMW.L) and Xtrackers MSCI World ex USA UCITS ETF 1C USD (EXUS.L). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Different Trading Currencies

XSMW.L is traded in GBP, while EXUS.L is traded in USD. To make them comparable, the EXUS.L values have been converted to GBP using the latest available exchange rates.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, XSMW.L achieves a 15.77% return, which is significantly higher than EXUS.L's 9.41% return.

XSMW.L

• 1D: -0.50%
• 1M: 4.62%
• YTD: 15.77%
• 6M: 19.28%
• 1Y: 33.49%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

EXUS.L

• 1D: 0.34%
• 1M: 3.69%
• YTD: 9.41%
• 6M: 10.68%
• 1Y: 23.39%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

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

XSMW.L vs. EXUS.L - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024
XSMW.L Xtrackers MSCI World Materials UCITS ETF 1C	15.77%	17.51%	-2.96%
EXUS.L Xtrackers MSCI World ex USA UCITS ETF 1C USD	9.41%	22.57%	2.99%

Correlation

The correlation between XSMW.L and EXUS.L is 0.67, 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	0.67
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 7, 2024	0.70

The correlation between XSMW.L and EXUS.L has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.67 to 0.70 - a consistent structural relationship.

Return for Risk

XSMW.L vs. EXUS.L — Risk / Return Rank

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

XSMW.L

XSMW.L Risk / Return Rank: 55
XSMW.L Sharpe Ratio Rank: 60
XSMW.L Sortino Ratio Rank: 59
XSMW.L Omega Ratio Rank: 58
XSMW.L Calmar Ratio Rank: 47
XSMW.L Martin Ratio Rank: 53

EXUS.L

EXUS.L Risk / Return Rank: 45
EXUS.L Sharpe Ratio Rank: 44
EXUS.L Sortino Ratio Rank: 46
EXUS.L Omega Ratio Rank: 45
EXUS.L Calmar Ratio Rank: 42
EXUS.L Martin Ratio Rank: 47

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.

XSMW.L vs. EXUS.L - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Xtrackers MSCI World Materials UCITS ETF 1C (XSMW.L) and Xtrackers MSCI World ex USA UCITS ETF 1C USD (EXUS.L). 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.

	XSMW.L	EXUS.L	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.98	1.76	+0.21
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.73	2.53	+0.21
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.35	1.34	+0.01
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.28	2.39	-0.11
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	8.86	8.85	+0.01
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

XSMW.L vs. EXUS.L - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current XSMW.L Sharpe Ratio is 1.98, which is comparable to the EXUS.L Sharpe Ratio of 1.76. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of XSMW.L and EXUS.L, 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

	XSMW.L	EXUS.L	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.98	1.76	+0.21
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.88	1.14	-0.26

Drawdowns

XSMW.L vs. EXUS.L - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum XSMW.L drawdown since its inception was -18.45%, which is greater than EXUS.L's maximum drawdown of -12.97%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XSMW.L and EXUS.L.

Drawdown Indicators

	XSMW.L	EXUS.L	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-18.45%	-12.97%	-5.48%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-14.60%	-9.70%	-4.90%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-3.47%	-0.12%	-3.35%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-4.32%	-1.76%	-2.56%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	3.77%	2.63%	+1.14%

Volatility

XSMW.L vs. EXUS.L - Volatility Comparison

Xtrackers MSCI World Materials UCITS ETF 1C (XSMW.L) has a higher volatility of 6.86% compared to Xtrackers MSCI World ex USA UCITS ETF 1C USD (EXUS.L) at 3.75%. This indicates that XSMW.L's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than EXUS.L based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	XSMW.L	EXUS.L	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	6.86%	3.75%	+3.11%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	14.56%	11.22%	+3.34%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	16.87%	13.17%	+3.70%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	14.90%	13.53%	+1.37%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	14.90%	13.53%	+1.37%

XSMW.L vs. EXUS.L - Expense Ratio Comparison

XSMW.L has a 0.25% expense ratio, which is higher than EXUS.L's 0.15% expense ratio. However, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.

Dividends

XSMW.L vs. EXUS.L - Dividend Comparison

Neither XSMW.L nor EXUS.L has paid dividends to shareholders.

Tickers have no history of dividend payments

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both XSMW.L and EXUS.L in my portfolio?

XSMW.L and EXUS.L have a correlation of 0.67, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, XSMW.L or EXUS.L?

On fees, EXUS.L is cheaper at 0.15% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, XSMW.L or EXUS.L?

EXUS.L is cheaper with a 0.15% expense ratio, compared with 0.25% for XSMW.L.

What is the main difference between XSMW.L and EXUS.L?

XSMW.L is categorized as Materials, while EXUS.L is Global Equities. XSMW.L tracks MSCI World Materials Index, while EXUS.L tracks MSCI World ex USA index. Their fees differ too: 0.25% for XSMW.L and 0.15% for EXUS.L.