A side-by-side comparison of iShares Core MSCI All Country World ex Canada Index ETF (XAW) and iShares MSCI ACWI ETF (ACWI) to help Canadian investors make an informed decision.
1-Year Performance
Normalised to 100 at the start — shows relative return over the trailing 12 months.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Metric | XAW | ACWI |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | +13.29%✓ | +1.93% |
| 1-Day Change | -0.31% | -0.26%✓ |
| 1-Week Change | +0.69% | +0.89%✓ |
| 1-Month Change | -1.83% | +0.03%✓ |
| Current Price | $58.38 | $158.81 |
| AUM | $4.67B | $32.81B✓ |
| MER (Expense Ratio) | — | 0.33% |
| Dividend Yield | 1.16% | 1.35%✓ |
| Distribution Frequency | Half-yearly | NA |
| Inception Date | 2015-02-10 | 2008-03-26 |
| Holdings Count | 6 | 2138 |
| MorningStar Rating | — | — |
| Category | Global Equity | Global Equity |
| Beta | 0.97 | 0.97 |
| 52-Week High | $60.71 | $162.80 |
| 52-Week Low | $48.92 | $132.79 |
| 50-Day MA | $58.99 | $159.88 |
| 200-Day MA | $56.07 | $152.93 |
✓ marks the better value for return/yield/AUM metrics. Lower ✓ for MER.
Annualised Returns
| Period | XAW | ACWI |
|---|---|---|
| YTD | +13.29%✓ | +1.93% |
| 1 Year | +13.00%✓ | +12.93% |
| 3 Year | +22.32% | +22.75%✓ |
| 5 Year | +13.68%✓ | +10.72% |
| 10 Year | +13.17%✓ | +12.24% |
| 1Y Volatility | 10.86% | 13.33% |
| Sharpe Ratio (3Y) | 1.77 | 1.31 |
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Top 10 Holdings
| 1 | IVV | iShares Core S&P 500 ETF | 51.74% |
| 2 | XEF | iShares Core MSCI EAFE IMI | 22.09% |
| 3 | XEC | iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets IMI Index ETF | 12.46% |
| 4 | ITOT | iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF | 7.99% |
| 5 | IJH | iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF | 3.11% |
| 6 | IJR | iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF | 1.76% |
| 1 | AAPL | Apple Inc. | 5.06% |
| 2 | NVDA | NVIDIA Corporation | 4.82% |
| 3 | MSFT | Microsoft Corporation | 3.48% |
| 4 | AMZN | Amazon.com Inc | 2.43% |
| 5 | GOOGL | Alphabet Inc Class A | 1.79% |
| 6 | 2330 | Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. | 1.80% |
| 7 | AVGO | Broadcom Inc | 1.47% |
| 8 | GOOG | Alphabet Inc Class C | 1.42% |
| 9 | META | Meta Platforms Inc. | 1.29% |
| 10 | TSLA | Tesla Inc | 1.09% |
Sector Weights
| Sector | XAW | ACWI |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Materials | 3.29% | 3.38% |
| Communication Services | 7.00% | 7.22% |
| Consumer Cyclicals | 8.98% | 8.07% |
| Consumer Defensive | 4.72% | 5.05% |
| Energy | 4.17% | 4.28% |
| Financial Services | 14.80% | 15.65% |
| Healthcare | 9.00% | 9.05% |
| Industrials | 10.30% | 10.19% |
| Real Estate | 2.29% | 1.48% |
| Technology | 30.49% | 33.09% |
| Utilities | 2.49% | 2.29% |
About XAW
NA
About ACWI
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.
Which ETF is Right for You?
Both XAW and ACWI are listed on Canadian exchanges and accessible through most Canadian brokerages including Questrade, Wealthsimple Trade, TD Direct, and Interactive Brokers.
Based on the available data, ACWI scores higher across our tracked metrics including YTD performance, dividend yield, and AUM — though both ETFs warrant individual research before investing.
- Consider your account type (TFSA, RRSP, non-registered) as it can affect dividend taxation.
- Compare management expense ratios (MER) directly on each provider's website.
- Look at average daily trading volume to assess liquidity.
- Review the fund's underlying index and holdings to ensure the exposure matches your goals.
This is not financial advice. Always do your own research or consult a licensed financial advisor before investing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between XAW and ACWI?
XAW (iShares Core MSCI All Country World ex Canada Index ETF) and ACWI (iShares MSCI ACWI ETF) are both Canadian-listed ETFs. Key differences include their AUM ($4.67B vs $32.81B), dividend yield (1.16% vs 1.35%), and year-to-date performance (+13.29% vs +1.93%).
Is XAW better than ACWI?
There is no single "better" ETF — it depends on your investment goals. If you prioritise recent performance, XAW has outperformed year-to-date. Always review the fund's prospectus and consider your tax situation.
Can I buy XAW and ACWI on Wealthsimple?
Most Canadian-listed ETFs are available on Wealthsimple Trade commission-free. Both XAW and ACWI should be accessible. Check Wealthsimple's supported tickers list to confirm availability.
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