ACWV vs SPY
iShares MSCI Global Min Vol Factor ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, ACWV or SPY?
SPY has been ahead.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. ACWV is less concentrated, with 11.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%.
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 | ACWV | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.20% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $3.4B | $804.7B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.86% | 0.98% |
| Holdings | 437 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +4.21% | +12.66%Best |
| 1Y Return | +4.65% | +16.31%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +11.23% | +22.83%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +5.87% | +13.49%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.0%Best | 13.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -28.8%Best | -34.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,300 | $18,827Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 11.9%Best | 37.8% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 18, 2011 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 20, 2011 to Sep 28, 2026 (14.9 years).
ACWV vs SPY 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 14.9 years both funds cover.
ACWV vs SPY Performance
iShares MSCI Global Min Vol Factor ETF (ACWV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year ACWV returned +4.65% while SPY returned +16.31%. Year to date, ACWV is up 4.21% versus a gain of 12.66% for SPY.
Over three years, ACWV compounded at +11.23% per year against +22.83% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +5.87% and +13.49% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +13.66% annualized vs +8.26%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.9% compared with 10.0% for ACWV. 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 -28.8% for ACWV and -34.1% for SPY. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.80. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ACWV charges 0.20% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $20 vs $9 annually, a gap of $11 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ACWV currently yields 1.86% against 0.98% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
55.1% of ACWV's money is in holdings SPY also owns. 57.0% of SPY's money is in holdings ACWV also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
140 positions in common, counted across the 376 positions we hold weights for in ACWV and 504 in SPY, against full books of 437 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 359 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for ACWV (42.3% of the fund), and 17 for ACWV that do not appear in SPY (3.9%).
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 ACWV | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 0.98% | 8.01% | 7.03% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 0.44% | 7.26% | 6.82% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 1.31% | 5.66% | 4.35% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 0.31% | 2.66% | 2.35% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 0.24% | 2.39% | 2.15% |
| BRK.BBerkshire Hathaway Inc Brk/B Us Equity | 1.05% | 1.40% | 0.35% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson - Common | 1.44% | 0.99% | 0.45% |
| CSCOCisco Systems Inc. - Ordinary Shares | 1.37% | 0.66% | 0.71% |
| XOMExxon Mobil Corp. | 0.94% | 1.04% | 0.10% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 0.06% | 1.60% | 1.54% |
57.0% of SPY is already inside ACWV.
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, ACWV or SPY?
ACWV has an expense ratio of 0.20% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $11 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ACWV or SPY?
Over the past year ACWV returned +4.65% vs +16.31% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), ACWV annualized +8.26% vs +13.66% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ACWV or SPY?
SPY has been the more volatile fund at 13.9% annualized versus 10.0% for ACWV. Worst drawdown: ACWV -28.8% vs SPY -34.1%.
Should I hold both ACWV and SPY?
ACWV and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.80, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between ACWV and SPY?
57.0% of SPY's money is in holdings ACWV also owns. 57.0% of SPY's is in holdings ACWV also owns. They hold 140 positions in common, counted across the 376 positions we hold weights for in ACWV and 504 in SPY.
Which pays a higher dividend, ACWV or SPY?
ACWV yields 1.86% while SPY yields 0.98%, so ACWV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than ACWV?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. ACWV is less concentrated, with 11.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.