CWI vs IVV
State Street SPDR MSCI ACWI ex-US ETF vs iShares Core S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, CWI or IVV?
Each has led over a different period.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. CWI led over 1Y, IVV over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. CWI is less concentrated, with 15.7% 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 | CWI | IVV |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.30% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $2.9B | $876.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.64% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 1,181 | 508 |
| YTD Return | +13.34%Best | +11.57% |
| 1Y Return | +23.18%Best | +17.57% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.21% | +20.71%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.45% | +12.80%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.6% | 15.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -62.4% | -56.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,706 | $18,262Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 15.7%Best | 37.9% |
| Fund Family | SPDR State Street Global Advisors | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 10, 2007 | May 15, 2000 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 17, 2007 to Sep 10, 2026 (19.6 years).
CWI 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 19.6 years both funds cover.
CWI vs IVV Performance
State Street SPDR MSCI ACWI ex-US ETF (CWI) is an ETF from SPDR State Street Global Advisors and iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Over the past year CWI returned +23.18% while IVV returned +17.57%. Year to date, CWI is up 13.34% versus a gain of 11.57% for IVV.
Over three years, CWI compounded at +20.21% per year against +20.71% for IVV; over five years the annualized figures are +9.45% and +12.80% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, IVV has the edge at +9.30% annualized vs +3.51%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
CWI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.6% compared with 15.5% 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 -62.4% for CWI and -56.5% 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 0.86. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
CWI charges 0.30% per year while IVV charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $30 vs $3 annually, a gap of $27 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, CWI currently yields 2.64% against 1.06% for IVV.
Holdings Overlap
0.1% of CWI's money is in holdings IVV also owns. 0.1% of IVV's money is in holdings CWI also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
3 positions in common, counted across the 1,087 positions we hold weights for in CWI and 505 in IVV, against full books of 1,181 and 508.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 494 positions for IVV that do not appear in our book for CWI (99.3% of the fund), and 32 for CWI that do not appear in IVV (5.5%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of CWI and IVV you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, CWI or IVV?
CWI has an expense ratio of 0.30% while IVV charges 0.03%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $27 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, CWI or IVV?
Over the past year CWI returned +23.18% vs +17.57% for IVV, so CWI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), CWI annualized +3.51% vs +9.30% for IVV. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, CWI or IVV?
CWI has been the more volatile fund at 17.6% annualized versus 15.5% for IVV. Worst drawdown: CWI -62.4% vs IVV -56.5%.
Should I hold both CWI and IVV?
CWI and IVV have a monthly-return correlation of 0.86, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, CWI or IVV?
CWI yields 2.64% while IVV yields 1.06%, so CWI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is IVV better than CWI?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. CWI led over 1Y, IVV over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. CWI is less concentrated, with 15.7% 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.