iShares MSCI ACWI ETF (ACWI) Performance
ACWI total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +11.5% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +13.8% total return
- 5 years
- +10.3% a year
- 10 years
- +12.4% a year
- Since first price
- +8.4% a year since 2008
ACWI trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | ACWI total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | −2.1% | −2.1% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | +1.6% | +1.6% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | +5.7% | +5.1% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | +11.5% | +10.8% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | +13.8% | +12.0% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +82.4%+22.2%/yr | +73.6% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +63.0%+10.3%/yr | +49.5% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +222.9%+12.4%/yr | +168.3% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| 15 years | +392.3%+11.2%/yr | +264.3% | +696.0%+14.8%/yr | +1,299.3%+19.2%/yr | +32.2%+1.9%/yr |
| Since inceptionMar 28, 2008 | +345.3%+8.4%/yr | +213.0% | — | — | — |
Total return from adjusted closes (distributions reinvested, before tax). Periods of 3 years or more are also shown annualized. Price only excludes distributions.
Growth of $10,000: ACWI vs SPY
From Mar 28, 2008: ACWI grew to $44,530, SPY to $80,935.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
ACWI returns by calendar year
13 of 17 full years positive. Best 2009 (+32.4%), worst 2022 (−18.4%). 2026 is year to date.
ACWI annual returns table
| Year | ACWI | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +11.5% | −9.7% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +22.4% | −16.5% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +17.4% | −8.1% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +22.3% | −10.9% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −18.4% | −26.4% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | +18.7% | −5.5% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +16.3% | −33.5% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +26.6% | −6.5% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −9.1% | −19.5% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +24.3% | −1.9% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +8.4% | −9.8% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | −2.2% | −15.1% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | +3.8% | −9.2% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | +22.4% | −8.9% | +32.3% | +36.6% | −2.0% |
| 2012 | +16.7% | −13.5% | +16.0% | +18.1% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | −7.8% | −24.1% | +1.9% | +3.4% | +7.7% |
| 2010 | +12.8% | −16.3% | +15.1% | +19.9% | +6.4% |
| 2009 | +32.4% | −28.4% | +26.4% | +54.7% | +3.0% |
Largest drop = deepest fall from a high within that calendar year.
Calendar-year return vs largest drop within the year
Most years include a sizable fall at some point even when the year ends higher.
ACWI largest drawdowns
Now 3.5% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 16, 2008 | −56.0% | Mar 9, 2009 | Feb 1, 2013 | 10 months | 4.7 years |
| Feb 12, 2020 | −33.5% | Mar 23, 2020 | Aug 24, 2020 | 40 days | 6 months |
| Jan 3, 2022 | −26.4% | Oct 12, 2022 | Jan 25, 2024 | 9 months | 2.1 years |
| Jan 26, 2018 | −19.5% | Dec 24, 2018 | Jul 24, 2019 | 11 months | 1.5 years |
| May 21, 2015 | −19.4% | Feb 11, 2016 | Jan 4, 2017 | 9 months | 1.6 years |
| Feb 18, 2025 | −16.5% | Apr 8, 2025 | May 19, 2025 | 49 days | 3 months |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
ACWI risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2008 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +21.8% | +11.6% | +12.5% | +8.6% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 11.5% | 14.9% | 14.6% | 16.6% |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.40 | 0.58 | 0.73 | 0.50 |
| Sortino ratio | 2.78 | 0.90 | 1.11 | 0.74 |
| Best month | +9.5% | +9.5% | +11.8% | +12.8% |
| Worst month | −6.1% | −9.4% | −13.4% | −18.4% |
| Best 12 months | +32.4% | +32.4% | +54.5% | +60.1% |
| Worst 12 months | +7.5% | −20.6% | −20.6% | −42.2% |
| Positive months | 72% | 63% | 69% | 63% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.90 | 0.93 | 0.93 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.97 | 0.97 | 0.97 | — |
From monthly total returns. Sharpe and Sortino use 1–3 month T-bills (BIL) as the risk-free rate, so they need history from 2007 on.
ACWI rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 212 | −42.2% | +12.9% | +60.1% | 77% |
| 3-year (a year) | 188 | −1.3% | +9.2% | +23.9% | 98% |
| 5-year (a year) | 164 | +1.1% | +10.0% | +19.8% | 100% |
| 10-year (a year) | 104 | +5.1% | +9.3% | +13.1% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2008. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
ACWI performance overview
iShares MSCI ACWI ETF (ACWI) returned +13.8% over the past year and +12.4% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2008 it has returned +8.4% a year, turning $10,000 into about $44,530. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −56.0%, from May 16, 2008 to Mar 9, 2009, and it took 3.9 years to get back to the old high. ACWI finished 13 of its 17 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2009 (+32.4%) and the worst 2022 (−18.4%). Volatility has been 16.6% a year.
Related: ACWI chart, ACWI holdings, ACWI dividends, ACWI valuation. See the ACWI overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
ACWI performance FAQ
What is the ACWI return over the past year?
ACWI returned +13.8% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it rose 12.0%.
What is the average annual return of ACWI?
ACWI has returned +10.3% a year over 5 years, +12.4% a year over 10 years, +8.4% a year since March 28, 2008 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in ACWI be worth?
$10,000 invested in ACWI at its first recorded close on March 28, 2008 would be worth about $44,530 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for ACWI?
The worst calendar year was 2022, with a total return of −18.4%. The best was 2009 at +32.4%.
What is the biggest drawdown of ACWI?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −56.0% between May 16, 2008 and March 9, 2009. It recovered to the old high on February 1, 2013, 3.9 years after the bottom.
How volatile is ACWI?
Over the past 3 years ACWI had an annualized volatility of 11.5% and a Sharpe ratio of 1.40 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).