iShares MSCI Kuwait ETF (KWT) Performance
KWT total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- −8.4% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- −9.5% total return
- 5 years
- +5.1% a year
- Since first price
- +10.1% a year since 2020
KWT trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | KWT total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | −6.8% | −6.8% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | −4.5% | −4.5% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | −9.1% | −11.0% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | −8.4% | −10.3% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | −9.5% | −14.2% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +32.6%+9.9%/yr | +15.7% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +28.4%+5.1%/yr | −0.9% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| Since inceptionSep 3, 2020 | +80.2%+10.1%/yr | +36.6% | — | — | — |
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: KWT vs SPY
From Sep 3, 2020: KWT grew to $18,020, SPY to $23,952.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
KWT returns by calendar year
4 of 5 full years positive. Best 2021 (+30.7%), worst 2023 (−4.7%). 2026 is year to date.
KWT annual returns table
| Year | KWT | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | −8.4% | −10.0% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +25.4% | −9.8% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +11.3% | −7.4% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | −4.7% | −15.7% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | +3.8% | −19.0% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | +30.7% | −8.1% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
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.
KWT largest drawdowns
Now 12.8% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 6, 2022 | −25.4% | Oct 27, 2023 | Feb 28, 2025 | 1.5 years | 2.8 years |
| Dec 19, 2025 | −12.8% | Oct 23, 2026 | not yet | 10 months | 10 months so far |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
KWT risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | Since 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +11.1% | +6.8% | +10.6% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.0% | 14.5% | 13.9% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.58 | 0.28 | 0.58 |
| Sortino ratio | 0.98 | 0.41 | 0.89 |
| Best month | +7.5% | +9.3% | +9.3% |
| Worst month | −5.4% | −9.6% | −9.6% |
| Best 12 months | +30.0% | +30.0% | +45.9% |
| Worst 12 months | −2.3% | −15.2% | −15.2% |
| Positive months | 64% | 58% | 62% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.48 | 0.51 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.50 | 0.54 | — |
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.
KWT rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 62 | −15.2% | +9.7% | +45.9% | 77% |
| 3-year (a year) | 38 | +0.6% | +8.5% | +11.6% | 100% |
| 5-year (a year) | 14 | +4.7% | +9.9% | +14.1% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2020. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
KWT performance overview
iShares MSCI Kuwait ETF (KWT) returned −9.5% over the past year and +5.1% a year over five years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2020 it has returned +10.1% a year, turning $10,000 into about $18,020. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −25.4%, from May 6, 2022 to Oct 27, 2023, and it took 1.3 years to get back to the old high. KWT finished 4 of its 5 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2021 (+30.7%) and the worst 2023 (−4.7%). Volatility has been 13.9% a year.
Related: KWT chart, KWT holdings, KWT dividends. See the KWT overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
KWT performance FAQ
What is the KWT return over the past year?
KWT returned −9.5% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it fell 14.2%.
What is the average annual return of KWT?
KWT has returned +5.1% a year over 5 years, +10.1% a year since September 3, 2020 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in KWT be worth?
$10,000 invested in KWT at its first recorded close on September 3, 2020 would be worth about $18,020 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for KWT?
The worst calendar year was 2023, with a total return of −4.7%. The best was 2021 at +30.7%.
What is the biggest drawdown of KWT?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −25.4% between May 6, 2022 and October 27, 2023. It recovered to the old high on February 28, 2025, 1.3 years after the bottom.
How volatile is KWT?
Over the past 3 years KWT had an annualized volatility of 12.0% and a Sharpe ratio of 0.58 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).