ACWX vs VXUS
iShares MSCI ACWI ex US ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, ACWX or VXUS?
Nearly the same fund. VXUS costs less.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. ACWX led over 1Y, VXUS over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.99.
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 | ACWX | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.32% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $12.4B | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.46% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 1,913 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +13.74%Best | +13.35% |
| 1Y Return | +23.46%Best | +22.44% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.20% | +19.44%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.60% | +8.82%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.9%Best | 15.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -38.9%Best | -39.9% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,106 | $15,260Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 26, 2008 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 28, 2011 to Sep 10, 2026 (15.6 years).
ACWX vs VXUS 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 15.6 years both funds cover.
ACWX vs VXUS Performance
iShares MSCI ACWI ex US ETF (ACWX) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year ACWX returned +23.46% while VXUS returned +22.44%. Year to date, ACWX is up 13.74% versus a gain of 13.35% for VXUS.
Over three years, ACWX compounded at +19.20% per year against +19.44% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +8.60% and +8.82% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VXUS has the edge at +4.76% annualized vs +4.55%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VXUS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.0% compared with 14.9% for ACWX. 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 -38.9% for ACWX and -39.9% for VXUS. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.99. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ACWX charges 0.32% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $32 vs $5 annually, a gap of $27 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ACWX currently yields 2.46% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 67.8% of ACWX's money is in holdings VXUS also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VXUS, our book for it covers 87.7% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
1,243 positions in common, counted across the 1,837 positions we hold weights for in ACWX and 8,091 in VXUS, against full books of 1,913 and 8,747.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in ACWX | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 000660:KRSk Hynix | 1.71% | 2.17% | 0.46% |
| ASML:ASAsml Holding N.V. | 1.74% | 1.70% | 0.04% |
| HSBA:LNHsbc Holdings Plc | 0.91% | 0.72% | 0.19% |
| RY:CARoyal Bank of Canada | 0.78% | 0.64% | 0.14% |
| NOVN:SMNovartis Ag Ordinary Shares | 0.75% | 0.65% | 0.10% |
| NESN:SMNestle Sa | 0.69% | 0.59% | 0.10% |
| AZN:LNAstrazeneca Plc | 0.65% | 0.62% | 0.03% |
| 9988:HKAlibaba Group Holding Limited Ordinary Shares | 0.72% | 0.49% | 0.23% |
| SIE:SGSiemens Ag | 0.65% | 0.52% | 0.13% |
| SHELShell plc | 0.65% | 0.48% | 0.17% |
67.8% of ACWX is already inside VXUS.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, ACWX or VXUS?
ACWX has an expense ratio of 0.32% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $27 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ACWX or VXUS?
Over the past year ACWX returned +23.46% vs +22.44% for VXUS, so ACWX leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), ACWX annualized +4.55% vs +4.76% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ACWX or VXUS?
VXUS has been the more volatile fund at 15.0% annualized versus 14.9% for ACWX. Worst drawdown: ACWX -38.9% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both ACWX and VXUS?
ACWX and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.99, 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 ACWX and VXUS?
At least 67.8% of ACWX's money is in holdings VXUS also owns. Our book for VXUS is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 1,243 positions in common, counted across the 1,837 positions we hold weights for in ACWX and 8,091 in VXUS.
Which pays a higher dividend, ACWX or VXUS?
ACWX yields 2.46% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than ACWX?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. ACWX led over 1Y, VXUS over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.99. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.