ACWI vs SPY: which was the better investment?
iShares MSCI ACWI ETF against SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Mar 28, 2008 to Jul 13, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did ACWI beat SPY?
No — measured from Mar 28, 2008 to Jul 13, 2026 with dividends reinvested, SPY came out ahead: $79,585 versus $44,003 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 12.0% annual return against 8.4%.
What would $10,000 in ACWI be worth today?
$10,000 invested in iShares MSCI ACWI ETF (ACWI) on Mar 28, 2008 would be worth about $44,003 as of Jul 13, 2026, a total return of 340.0% (8.4% per year). The same $10,000 in SPY would be worth $79,585.
Which was riskier — ACWI or SPY?
ACWI swung with an annualized volatility of 20.2% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -56.3%; SPY ran at 19.8% volatility with a -51.5% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.32 for ACWI vs 0.51 for SPY.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Mar 28, 2008 through Jul 13, 2026 — the full period where both assets have price history. Adjusted prices include dividends and splits, so these are total returns. The page refreshes with new market data every day.
Can I change the dates, amounts, or add monthly investing?
Yes — the interactive tool on this page is pre-loaded with ACWI vs SPY. You can set any start and end date, change the starting amount, add monthly contributions, or build a multi-asset portfolio and compare it against any benchmark.