ETF Evaluator:
iShares MSCI ACWI ETF ()
Follow This ETF
(as of Aug 26)
Best Performing in Global Large-Stock Blend Over the Last Year
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Risk
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Risk
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ETF Details
iShares MSCI ACWI ETF Overview
iShares MSCI ACWI ETF (ACWI) is a passively managed International Equity Global Large-Stock Blend exchange-traded fund (ETF). iShares launched the ETF in 2008.
The investment seeks to track the investment results of the MSCI ACWI composed of large- and mid-capitalization developed and emerging market equities.
The fund generally will invest at least 80% of its assets in the component securities of its underlying index and in investments that have economic characteristics that are substantially identical to the component securities of its underlying index. The index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization weighted index designed to measure the combined equity market performance of developed and emerging markets countries.
About iShares MSCI ACWI ETF (ACWI)
There are 4 members of the management team with an average tenure of 4.42 years: Jennifer Hsui (2012), Peter Sietsema (2025), Matt Waldron (2025) and Steven White (2025). Management tenure is more important for actively managed ETFs than passive index ETFs.
The ETF has 1 primary benchmark: MSCI ACWI NR USD index with a weighting of 100%. iShares MSCI ACWI ETF has 2315 securities in its portfolio. The top 10 holdings constitute 24.1% of the ETF’s assets. The ETF meets the SEC requirement of being classified as a diversified fund. The ETF is not considered to have an ESG focus with its investment selection and management.
iShares MSCI ACWI ETF is part of the Equity global asset class and is within the International Equity ETF group. iShares MSCI ACWI ETF has 36.3% of its portfolio invested in foreign issues. The overall assets allocated to domestic stock is 63.4% There is 36.3% allocated to foreign stock, and 0.0% is allocated to preferred stocks. The bond allocation as a percentage of total assets is 0.0% (0.0% domestic bond, 0.0% foreign bond and 0.0% convertible bond). iShares MSCI ACWI ETF has 0.3% of the portfolio in cash.
Assets Under Management
The fund has $32 billion in total assets, which is above the $2 billion average for the Global Large-Stock Blend category. Normally, lower assets under management translates to higher average expense ratios, and greater total assets are desired. However, for some investment categories, such as small-cap investing, it may be difficult for the manager to fully employ the desired active strategy if assets grow too large or too quickly.
ACWI Performance and Fees
The expense ratio measures how much of a fund’s assets are used for administrative expenses and operating expenses, including adviser fees and fees for the transfer agent and custodial services. The iShares MSCI ACWI ETF expense ratio is below average compared to funds in the Global Large-Stock Blend category. iShares MSCI ACWI ETF has an expense ratio of 0.32%, which is 35% lower than its category average, making the fund expense ratio grade a B. While it is difficult to predict returns, it is known that high annual expense ratios reduce your rate of return, and excessive fees are difficult to overcome. Active management normally comes with higher expense ratios than passive index management. Certain investment categories such as small company and foreign also normally have higher expense ratios. It is best to compare fund expense ratios against the category averages for meaningful assessments.
High portfolio turnover can translate to higher expenses and lower aftertax returns. iShares MSCI ACWI ETF has a portfolio turnover rate of 3%, which indicates that it holds its assets around / 0.3 years. By way of comparison, the average portfolio turnover is 50% for the Global Large-Stock Blend category.
Recently, in the month of July 2026, iShares MSCI ACWI ETF returned -0.4%, which earned it a grade of D, as the Global Large-Stock Blend category had an average return of 0.0%. The letter grades of A, B, C, D and F are based upon relative rankings within the investment category. A grade of A, for example, would indicate that the return is in the highest 20% for that time period compared to all ETFs in that category.
iShares MSCI ACWI ETF has a trailing yield of 1.44%, which is below the 1.66% category average.
The fund normally distributes its income semi-annually and its capital gains annually.
It’s natural to seek the best-performing investments, but you must consider the relationship between risk and return and the impact of costs and taxes on your realized returns.
iShares MSCI ACWI ETF Grades
Year to date, the ETF has returned 11.2%, 2.0 percentage points better than the category, which translates into a grade of C. The fund has returned 22.2% over the past year (grade of B), 18.3% over the past three years (grade of B) and 10.8% per year over the past five years (grade of B) and 12.4% per year over the past 10 years (grade of B).
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ACWI Trailing NAV Total Returns Data as of 7/31/26
| Last Month |
Last Quarter |
Ann'l. 1Yr |
Ann'l. 3Yr |
Ann'l. 5Yr |
Ann'l. 10Yr |
|
| ACWI Return (NAV) | -0.4% | 4.0% | 22.2% | 18.3% | 10.8% | 12.4% |
| ACWI Return (Price) | -0.3% | 3.9% | 22.2% | 18.3% | 10.8% | 12.4% |
| NAV +/- Price Return | -0.021% | 0.067% | -0.037% | 0.017% | 0.021% | -0.020% |
| Global Large-Stock Blend Avg | 0.0% | 3.1% | 19.1% | 15.1% | 8.5% | 11.5% |
| ACWI Grade (NAV) | D | C | B | B | B | B |
| +/- Category (NAV) | -0.4% | 0.9% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 2.4% | 0.9% |
| ACWI Tax-Cost Ratio | na | na | 0.5% | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.5% |
ACWI Annual NAV Total ReturnsData as of 7/31/26
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
| ACWI Return (NAV) | 11.2% | 22.4% | 17.4% | 22.2% | -18.3% | 18.4% | 16.4% | 26.7% | -9.1% | 24.3% | 8.2% |
| ACWI Return (Price) | 11.3% | 22.4% | 17.5% | 22.3% | -18.4% | 18.7% | 16.3% | 26.6% | -9.1% | 24.3% | 8.4% |
| NAV +/- Price Ret | 0.003% | -0.001% | 0.003% | 0.003% | 0.006% | 0.016% | -0.003% | -0.4% | -0.3% | 0.0% | 2.2% |
| Global Large-Stock Blend Avg | 9.2% | 20.4% | 13.8% | 18.7% | -17.7% | 17.3% | 18.3% | 26.8% | -9.1% | 23.4% | 8.1% |
| ACWI Grade (NAV) | C | B | B | B | D | C | C | D | C | B | C |
| +/- Category | 2.0% | 2.0% | 3.7% | 3.5% | -0.6% | 1.1% | -1.9% | -0.1% | -0.0% | 1.0% | 0.1% |
| Risk Measures | |
| Beta: | 0.97 |
| R-Squared: | 100% |
| Standard Deviation: | 12.3% |
| Category Risk Index: | 0.91 |
| Category Risk Rating: | Below Average |
| Total Risk Index: | 1.00 |
| Total Risk Rating: | Below Average |
| Portfolio Characteristics | |
| Yield: | 1.4% |
| Total Assets: | $ 32,488 Mil |
| Share Class Assets: | $ 32,488 Mil |
| Turnover: | 3.0% |
| Expense Ratio: | 0.32% |
| Index Fund: | Yes |
| Index Tracked: | MSCI ACWI NR USD |
| Index Weighting: | 100% |
| Leveraged: | No |
| Socially Responsible Fund: | No |
| Capital Gains Distribution Frequency: | Annually |
| Income Distribution Frequency: | Semi-Annually |
Management Team
| Number of Managers: 4 | |||
| Longest Tenure: 13.7 years | |||
| Average Tenure: 4.4 years | |||
| Managers (Year): Hsui Jennifer (2012), Sietsema Peter (2025), Waldron Matt (2025), White Steven (2025) | |||
Portfolio Composition (as of 7/31/26)
| # of Holdings: | 2315 |
| % in Top 10 Holdings: | 24.1% |
| Fund is Non-Diversified: | No |
| % in Foreign Issues: | 36.3% |
Portfolio Allocation |
|
| Domestic Stock: | 63.4% |
| Foreign Stock: | 36.3% |
| Preferred Stock: | 0.0% |
| Domestic Bond: | 0.0% |
| Foreign Bond: | 0.0% |
| Convertible Bond: | 0.0% |
| Other: | 0.0% |
| Cash: | 0.3% |
Purchase Information
| Legal Structure: | Open Ended Investment Company |
| Fund Family: | iShares |
| Phone Number: | 800-474-2737 |
| Website: | au.ishares.com |
| Inception Date: | March 26, 2008 |
Expenses and Fees
| Expense Ratio (%): | 0.32% (Rating: Below Avg) |
| Category Average Expense Ratio (%): | 0.49% |