ACWI vs VTI: which was the better investment?
iShares MSCI ACWI ETF against Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Mar 28, 2008 to Aug 28, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Did ACWI beat VTI?
No — measured from Mar 28, 2008 to Aug 28, 2026 with dividends reinvested, VTI came out ahead: $80,830 versus $45,456 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 12.0% annual return against 8.6%.
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 $45,456 as of Aug 28, 2026, a total return of 354.6% (8.6% per year). The same $10,000 in VTI would be worth $80,830.
Which was riskier — ACWI or VTI?
ACWI swung with an annualized volatility of 20.1% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -56.3%; VTI ran at 19.9% volatility with a -51.8% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.33 for ACWI vs 0.50 for VTI.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Mar 28, 2008 through Aug 28, 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 VTI. 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.