ACWI vs IVV
iShares MSCI ACWI ETF vs iShares Core S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, ACWI or IVV?
Nearly the same fund. IVV costs less.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. ACWI led over 1Y, IVV over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.96. ACWI is less concentrated, with 24.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.9%.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | ACWI | IVV |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.32% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $33.0B | $886.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.40% | 1.10% |
| Holdings | 2,280 | 508 |
| YTD Return | +13.82%Best | +12.70% |
| 1Y Return | +21.44%Best | +19.36% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.50% | +21.16%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.78% | +12.75%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.6% | 15.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -56.3% | -52.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,684 | $18,221Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 24.4%Best | 37.9% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 26, 2008 | May 15, 2000 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 28, 2008 to Sep 8, 2026 (18.4 years).
ACWI vs IVV growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 18.4 years both funds cover.
ACWI vs IVV Performance
iShares MSCI ACWI ETF (ACWI) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Over the past year ACWI returned +21.44% while IVV returned +19.36%. Year to date, ACWI is up 13.82% versus a gain of 12.70% for IVV.
Over three years, ACWI compounded at +20.50% per year against +21.16% for IVV; over five years the annualized figures are +10.78% and +12.75% respectively. Across the full 18-year window we track, IVV has the edge at +10.50% annualized vs +7.04%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ACWI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.6% compared with 15.7% for IVV. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -56.3% for ACWI and -52.4% for IVV. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.96. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ACWI charges 0.32% per year while IVV charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $32 vs $3 annually, a gap of $29 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ACWI currently yields 1.40% against 1.10% for IVV.
Holdings Overlap
61.2% of ACWI's money is in holdings IVV also owns. 97.1% of IVV's money is in holdings ACWI also owns.
Most of IVV is already inside ACWI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
438 positions in common, counted across the 2,176 positions we hold weights for in ACWI and 504 in IVV, against full books of 2,280 and 508.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 59 positions for IVV that do not appear in our book for ACWI (2.4% of the fund), and 89 for ACWI that do not appear in IVV (2.6%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in ACWI | Weight in IVV | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 4.85% | 7.98% | 3.13% |
| AAPLApple Inc Ord | 4.37% | 6.86% | 2.49% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 3.29% | 5.44% | 2.15% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 2.53% | 4.01% | 1.48% |
| GOOGL Alphabet Inc. Class A | 2.02% | 3.19% | 1.17% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 1.80% | 2.98% | 1.18% |
| GOOGAlphabet, Inc., Class C | 1.59% | 2.56% | 0.97% |
| METAMeta Platform Inc | 1.24% | 1.94% | 0.70% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 0.96% | 1.51% | 0.55% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase & Co. | 0.92% | 1.45% | 0.53% |
97.1% of IVV is already inside ACWI.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, ACWI or IVV?
ACWI has an expense ratio of 0.32% while IVV charges 0.03%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $29 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ACWI or IVV?
Over the past year ACWI returned +21.44% vs +19.36% for IVV, so ACWI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (18 years), ACWI annualized +7.04% vs +10.50% for IVV. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ACWI or IVV?
ACWI has been the more volatile fund at 16.6% annualized versus 15.7% for IVV. Worst drawdown: ACWI -56.3% vs IVV -52.4%.
Should I hold both ACWI and IVV?
ACWI and IVV have a monthly-return correlation of 0.96, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between ACWI and IVV?
97.1% of IVV's money is in holdings ACWI also owns. 97.1% of IVV's is in holdings ACWI also owns. They hold 438 positions in common, counted across the 2,176 positions we hold weights for in ACWI and 504 in IVV.
Which pays a higher dividend, ACWI or IVV?
ACWI yields 1.40% while IVV yields 1.10%, so ACWI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is IVV better than ACWI?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. ACWI led over 1Y, IVV over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.96. ACWI is less concentrated, with 24.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.