ETF Evaluator:
Global X Clean Water ETF ()
Follow This ETF
(as of Aug 26)
Best Performing in Natural Resources Over the Last Year
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| 81.2% | Sprott Junior Copper Miners ETF (COPJ) |
| 76.4% | iShares Copper and Metals Mining ETF (ICOP) |
Risk
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Risk
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ETF Details
Global X Clean Water ETF Overview
Global X Clean Water ETF (AQWA) is a passively managed Sector Equity Natural Resources exchange-traded fund (ETF). Global X Funds launched the ETF in 2021.
The investment seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the Solactive Global Clean Water Industry Index.
The fund invests at least 80% of its total assets, plus borrowings for investments purposes (if any), in the securities of the underlying index and in ADRs and GDRs based on the securities in the underlying index. The underlying index is designed to provide exposure to companies that have business operations in the provision of clean water. It is non-diversified.
About Global X Clean Water ETF (AQWA)
There are 2 members of the management team with an average tenure of 5.32 years: Nam To (2021) and Wayne Xie (2021). Management tenure is more important for actively managed ETFs than passive index ETFs.
The ETF has 2 primary benchmarks: MSCI ACWI NR USD index with a weighting of 100% and Solactive Gbl Clean Water Indus NR USD index with a weighting of 100%. Global X Clean Water ETF has 42 securities in its portfolio. The top 10 holdings constitute 59.0% of the ETF’s assets. The ETF meets the SEC requirement of being classified as a nondiversified fund. The ETF is considered to have an ESG focus with its investment selection and management.
Global X Clean Water ETF is part of the Equity global asset class and is within the Sector Equity ETF group. Global X Clean Water ETF has 27.4% of its portfolio invested in foreign issues. The overall assets allocated to domestic stock is 72.6% There is 27.4% 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). Global X Clean Water ETF has 0.0% of the portfolio in cash.
Assets Under Management
The fund has $22 million in total assets, which is below the $1 billion average for the Natural Resources 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.
AQWA 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 Global X Clean Water ETF expense ratio is average compared to funds in the Natural Resources category. Global X Clean Water ETF has an expense ratio of 0.50%, which is 5% lower than its category average, making the fund expense ratio grade a C. 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. Global X Clean Water ETF has a portfolio turnover rate of 17%, which indicates that it holds its assets around / 0.1 years. By way of comparison, the average portfolio turnover is 41% for the Natural Resources category.
Recently, in the month of July 2026, Global X Clean Water ETF returned -2.2%, which earned it a grade of D, as the Natural Resources category had an average return of -2.2%. 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.
Global X Clean Water ETF has a trailing yield of 1.56%, which is below the 2.30% category average.
The fund normally distributes its income semi-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.
Global X Clean Water ETF Grades
Year to date, the ETF has returned 2.4%, 4.1 percentage points worse than the category, which translates into a grade of D. The fund has returned 2.6% over the past year (grade of F), 8.0% over the past three years (grade of C) and 4.4% per year over the past five years (grade of D).
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AQWA 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 |
|
| AQWA Return (NAV) | -2.2% | -1.4% | 2.6% | 8.0% | 4.4% | na |
| AQWA Return (Price) | -2.5% | -1.5% | 1.9% | 7.9% | 4.3% | na |
| NAV +/- Price Return | 0.289% | 0.126% | 0.722% | 0.149% | 0.148% | na |
| Natural Resources Avg | -2.2% | -9.2% | 33.5% | 9.8% | 7.4% | 10.4% |
| AQWA Grade (NAV) | D | A | F | C | D | na |
| +/- Category (NAV) | -0.0% | 7.9% | -30.9% | -1.8% | -3.0% | na |
| AQWA Tax-Cost Ratio | na | na | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.6% | na |
AQWA Annual NAV Total ReturnsData as of 7/31/26
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
| AQWA Return (NAV) | 2.4% | 13.3% | 4.7% | 19.9% | -19.6% | na | na | na | na | na | na |
| AQWA Return (Price) | 2.3% | 13.2% | 4.3% | 20.1% | -19.9% | na | na | na | na | na | na |
| NAV +/- Price Ret | -0.006% | -0.008% | -0.074% | 0.014% | 0.015% | na | na | na | na | na | na |
| Natural Resources Avg | 6.5% | 43.5% | -6.0% | 9.9% | -7.3% | 30.1% | 22.9% | 18.4% | -16.7% | 25.1% | 28.4% |
| AQWA Grade (NAV) | D | D | A | B | F | na | na | na | na | na | na |
| +/- Category | -4.1% | -30.2% | 10.7% | 10.0% | -12.3% | na | na | na | na | na | na |
| Risk Measures | |
| Beta: | 0.86 |
| R-Squared: | 47% |
| Standard Deviation: | 15.8% |
| Category Risk Index: | 0.65 |
| Category Risk Rating: | Below Average |
| Total Risk Index: | 1.29 |
| Total Risk Rating: | Above Average |
| Portfolio Characteristics | |
| Yield: | 1.6% |
| Total Assets: | $ 22 Mil |
| Share Class Assets: | $ 22 Mil |
| Turnover: | 17.0% |
| Expense Ratio: | 0.50% |
| Index Fund: | Yes |
| Index Tracked: | MSCI ACWI NR USD |
| Index Weighting: | 100% |
| Leveraged: | No |
| Socially Responsible Fund: | Yes |
| Capital Gains Distribution Frequency: | |
| Income Distribution Frequency: | Semi-Annually |
Management Team
| Number of Managers: 2 | |||
| Longest Tenure: 5.3 years | |||
| Average Tenure: 5.3 years | |||
| Managers (Year): To Nam (2021), Xie Wayne (2021) | |||
Portfolio Composition (as of 7/31/26)
| # of Holdings: | 42 |
| % in Top 10 Holdings: | 59.0% |
| Fund is Non-Diversified: | Yes |
| % in Foreign Issues: | 27.4% |
Portfolio Allocation |
|
| Domestic Stock: | 72.6% |
| Foreign Stock: | 27.4% |
| Preferred Stock: | 0.0% |
| Domestic Bond: | 0.0% |
| Foreign Bond: | 0.0% |
| Convertible Bond: | 0.0% |
| Other: | 0.0% |
| Cash: | 0.0% |
Purchase Information
| Legal Structure: | Open Ended Investment Company |
| Fund Family: | Global X Funds |
| Phone Number: | 888-493-8631 |
| Website: | www.globalxfunds.com |
| Inception Date: | April 8, 2021 |
Expenses and Fees
| Expense Ratio (%): | 0.50% (Rating: Avg) |
| Category Average Expense Ratio (%): | 0.53% |
