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ACWI iShares MSCI ACWI ETF

Category: Large Cap Growth Equities

Inception: 2008-03-26 Issuer: BlackRock, Inc.
Net Assets
$18.8B
Expense Ratio
0.32 %
# of Holdings
2
Average Daily Volume
3.1M

Fund Overview

The iShares MSCI ACWI ETF (ACWI) is designed to track the investment results of the MSCI All Country World Index (ACWI), which represents the performance of large- and mid-cap stocks across developed and emerging markets. The fund provides broad exposure to global equities, covering approximately 85% of the investable equity market capitalization worldwide. ACWI includes companies from 23 developed and 24 emerging markets, offering investors a diversified portfolio in a single ETF. The fund is rebalanced quarterly and is one of the most comprehensive global equity ETFs available, making it a popular choice for investors seeking worldwide market exposure without the need to invest in multiple regional or country-specific funds.
Asset Class
Equity
Industry
N/A
Annual Dividend Rate
Smart Beta
No
Leveraged / Inverse
N/A / No
Dividend Quality - Yield
 - 1.44 %
Currency Hedged
No
Portfolio Turnover
4 %
Dividend Date

Why Invest in the ACWI ETF?

Potential Benefits

  • Provides diversified exposure to both developed and emerging markets in a single ETF.
  • Low expense ratio compared to actively managed global equity funds.
  • Liquidity is high due to its large asset base and broad investor interest.
  • Rebalanced quarterly to maintain alignment with the underlying index.
  • Offers a convenient way to gain global equity exposure without managing multiple funds.

Potential Risks

  • Exposure to emerging markets introduces currency and political risks.
  • Performance is tied to global economic conditions, which can be volatile.
  • Higher expense ratio than some single-country or regional ETFs.
  • Market-cap weighting may lead to overexposure to larger companies.
  • Dividend yields may be lower than those of income-focused funds.

Performance

1 Week 1 Month 1 Year 3 Years 5 Years YTD 2025 2024 Since Inception
-0.60% -0.04% +16.71% +82.93% +75.54% +13.07% +22.65% +18.47% +354.55%

Performance


Monthly Returns (%)

Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2026 +2.8% +1.3% -6.1% +9.5% +4.6% -0.4% -0.3% +2.7% -1.2% +0.8% - -
2025 +3.1% -0.3% -3.7% +0.5% +5.7% +4.8% +1.1% +2.7% +3.6% +2.3% 0.0% +0.9%
2024 +0.3% +4.5% +3.3% -3.6% +4.6% +2.0% +1.5% +2.5% +2.2% -2.1% +4.0% -2.7%
2023 +7.5% -3.3% +3.3% +1.6% -1.0% +5.8% +3.6% -2.9% -4.3% -2.5% +8.9% +4.8%
2022 -4.5% -3.1% +1.9% -8.1% +0.4% -8.1% +7.1% -4.4% -9.4% +6.3% +8.3% -4.6%
2021 -0.3% +2.3% +2.9% +4.2% +1.5% +1.3% +0.9% +2.2% -4.2% +5.4% -2.3% +3.9%
2020 -1.4% -7.5% -13.4% +9.8% +5.1% +2.9% +5.4% +6.0% -3.0% -2.2% +11.8% +4.7%
2019 +8.0% +2.5% +1.6% +3.4% -6.1% +6.5% +0.1% -2.2% +2.2% +2.7% +2.3% +3.4%
2018 +5.7% -4.5% -1.5% +0.4% +0.5% -0.6% +3.1% +0.7% +0.6% -7.4% +1.6% -7.2%
2017 +2.9% +2.5% +1.3% +1.6% +2.2% +0.8% +2.7% +0.4% +1.9% +2.2% +2.0% +1.5%
< -5% -5% to -2% -2% to 0% 0% 0% to +2% +2% to +5% > +5%

Top Holdings (by weight)

Symbol Company Name Weight
AAPL APPLE INC 4.2 %
NVDA NVIDIA CORP 3.8 %
MSFT MICROSOFT CORP 3.5 %
AMZN AMAZON.COM INC 2.4 %
META META PLATFORMS INC CLASS A 1.7 %
GOOGL ALPHABET INC CLASS A 1.2 %
AVGO BROADCOM INC 1.1 %
GOOG ALPHABET INC CLASS C 1.1 %
BRK-B BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY INC CLASS B 0.9 %
TSLA TESLA INC 0.9 %
Top 10 holdings shown, out of 2 total holdings.

Related ETFs: ACWI vs Peers

ETF Full Name Expense Ratio Net Assets Holdings Asset Class
DGT SPDR Global Dow ETF 0.50 % $302.8M 157 Equity
IOO iShares Global 100 ETF 0.40 % $6.1B 103 Equity
SPGM SPDR Portfolio MSCI Global Stock Market ETF 0.09 % $953.6M 2 Equity
URTH iShares MSCI World ETF 0.24 % $4.2B 1 Equity
VT Vanguard Total World Stock ETF 0.06 % $54.2B 9 Equity
Comparison highlights key differences on cost, coverage, and focus within sector ETFs.

Investment Strategy

ACWI tracks the MSCI All Country World Index, a market-cap-weighted index that includes large- and mid-cap stocks from 47 countries. The index methodology ensures representation across developed and emerging markets, with quarterly rebalancing to maintain accurate weightings. The fund primarily holds common stocks, aiming for physical replication of the index. Its passive management approach keeps costs low while providing broad market exposure.

Frequently Asked Questions

What regions does ACWI cover?

ACWI includes stocks from 23 developed and 24 emerging markets, providing nearly global equity coverage.

How often is ACWI rebalanced?

The fund rebalances quarterly to align with the MSCI ACWI Index.

Does ACWI pay dividends?

Yes, ACWI distributes dividends quarterly, reflecting the payouts of its underlying holdings.

Is ACWI suitable for emerging market exposure?

Yes, but investors seeking dedicated emerging market exposure might consider adding a specialized ETF for higher concentration.

Industry Overview

The iShares MSCI ACWI ETF (ACWI) provides exposure to the global equity market, encompassing both developed and emerging economies. Investing in ACWI allows investors to participate in worldwide economic growth while mitigating some risks through diversification. The fund's broad scope makes it suitable for long-term investors seeking balanced exposure to multiple regions and sectors. As global markets evolve, ACWI adjusts its holdings to reflect changes in the MSCI ACWI Index, ensuring continued relevance to the global equity landscape.

Alternative Comparison

Compared to VT (Vanguard Total World Stock ETF), ACWI has a slightly higher expense ratio but offers similar global exposure. URTH (iShares MSCI World ETF) excludes emerging markets, making ACWI a more comprehensive option. SPGM (SPDR Portfolio MSCI Global Stock Market ETF) is another alternative but has lower liquidity. ACWI stands out for its balance between cost, diversification, and accessibility.

Issuer Overview

iShares, a division of BlackRock, is the largest ETF provider globally, known for its extensive range of index-tracking funds. With trillions in assets under management, iShares combines deep market expertise with robust operational infrastructure, offering investors reliable and cost-effective access to various asset classes. The issuer's commitment to transparency and innovation has made it a leader in the ETF industry.

Conclusion

ACWI is a well-established ETF offering diversified global equity exposure at a reasonable cost. Its broad market coverage and passive management make it a strong choice for investors seeking a single-fund solution for worldwide equity allocation. While it carries risks inherent in global investing, its benefits of diversification and liquidity make it a compelling option for long-term portfolios.

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