iShares MSCI ACWI ex U.S. ETF (ACWX) Performance
ACWX total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +10.7% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +13.9% total return
- 5 years
- +8.1% a year
- 10 years
- +8.8% a year
- Since first price
- +4.7% a year since 2008
ACWX trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | ACWX total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | −4.0% | −4.0% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | −1.1% | −1.1% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | +2.4% | +1.3% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | +10.7% | +9.5% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | +13.9% | +10.9% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +75.8%+20.7%/yr | +61.7% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +47.3%+8.1%/yr | +27.9% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +133.3%+8.8%/yr | +78.9% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| 15 years | +189.1%+7.3%/yr | +92.1% | +696.0%+14.8%/yr | +1,299.3%+19.2%/yr | +32.2%+1.9%/yr |
| Since inceptionMar 31, 2008 | +135.4%+4.7%/yr | +46.1% | — | — | — |
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: ACWX vs SPY
From Mar 31, 2008: ACWX grew to $23,538, SPY to $80,653.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
ACWX returns by calendar year
12 of 17 full years positive. Best 2009 (+36.4%), worst 2022 (−16.1%). 2026 is year to date.
ACWX annual returns table
| Year | ACWX | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +10.7% | −11.4% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +32.6% | −13.8% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +5.2% | −8.6% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +15.6% | −12.1% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −16.1% | −28.8% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | +7.7% | −7.3% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +10.3% | −34.4% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +21.1% | −8.2% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −13.9% | −22.5% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +27.2% | −2.4% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +4.5% | −10.2% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | −5.8% | −18.7% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | −5.0% | −13.5% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | +14.8% | −11.6% | +32.3% | +36.6% | −2.0% |
| 2012 | +17.0% | −16.4% | +16.0% | +18.1% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | −14.0% | −27.6% | +1.9% | +3.4% | +7.7% |
| 2010 | +10.4% | −19.0% | +15.1% | +19.9% | +6.4% |
| 2009 | +36.4% | −29.6% | +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.
ACWX largest drawdowns
Now 6.4% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 19, 2008 | −60.4% | Mar 9, 2009 | Jun 19, 2014 | 10 months | 6.1 years |
| Jan 26, 2018 | −35.3% | Mar 23, 2020 | Nov 16, 2020 | 2.2 years | 2.8 years |
| Jun 14, 2021 | −30.1% | Oct 12, 2022 | May 15, 2024 | 1.3 years | 2.9 years |
| Jul 3, 2014 | −26.0% | Feb 11, 2016 | May 16, 2017 | 1.6 years | 2.9 years |
| Mar 19, 2025 | −13.8% | Apr 8, 2025 | May 2, 2025 | 20 days | 44 days |
| Feb 25, 2026 | −11.4% | Mar 30, 2026 | May 6, 2026 | 33 days | 2 months |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
ACWX risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2008 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +20.5% | +9.5% | +9.0% | +4.9% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 11.9% | 15.3% | 14.8% | 18.0% |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.27 | 0.44 | 0.51 | 0.29 |
| Sortino ratio | 2.19 | 0.67 | 0.75 | 0.41 |
| Best month | +8.3% | +13.4% | +13.4% | +14.2% |
| Worst month | −8.0% | −9.6% | −15.0% | −23.0% |
| Best 12 months | +38.7% | +38.7% | +49.7% | +66.2% |
| Worst 12 months | +5.2% | −25.3% | −25.3% | −47.0% |
| Positive months | 69% | 60% | 63% | 58% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.67 | 0.77 | 0.80 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.70 | 0.79 | 0.83 | — |
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.
ACWX rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 212 | −47.0% | +8.9% | +66.2% | 68% |
| 3-year (a year) | 188 | −3.8% | +5.3% | +22.6% | 88% |
| 5-year (a year) | 164 | −2.6% | +5.4% | +17.2% | 91% |
| 10-year (a year) | 104 | +1.3% | +4.7% | +10.4% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2008. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
ACWX performance overview
iShares MSCI ACWI ex U.S. ETF (ACWX) returned +13.9% over the past year and +8.8% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2008 it has returned +4.7% a year, turning $10,000 into about $23,538. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −60.4%, from May 19, 2008 to Mar 9, 2009, and it took 5.3 years to get back to the old high. ACWX finished 12 of its 17 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2009 (+36.4%) and the worst 2022 (−16.1%). Volatility has been 18.0% a year.
Related: ACWX chart, ACWX holdings, ACWX dividends. See the ACWX overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
ACWX performance FAQ
What is the ACWX return over the past year?
ACWX returned +13.9% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it rose 10.9%.
What is the average annual return of ACWX?
ACWX has returned +8.1% a year over 5 years, +8.8% a year over 10 years, +4.7% a year since March 31, 2008 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in ACWX be worth?
$10,000 invested in ACWX at its first recorded close on March 31, 2008 would be worth about $23,538 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for ACWX?
The worst calendar year was 2022, with a total return of −16.1%. The best was 2009 at +36.4%.
What is the biggest drawdown of ACWX?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −60.4% between May 19, 2008 and March 9, 2009. It recovered to the old high on June 19, 2014, 5.3 years after the bottom.
How volatile is ACWX?
Over the past 3 years ACWX had an annualized volatility of 11.9% and a Sharpe ratio of 1.27 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).