CWI vs SPY
State Street SPDR MSCI ACWI ex-US ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, CWI or SPY?
SPY has been ahead.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | CWI | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.30% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $2.9B | $823.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.70% | 0.99% |
| Holdings | 1,181 | 1,515 |
| YTD Return | +10.12% | +13.53%Best |
| 1Y Return | +17.25% | +17.47%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.15% | +22.36%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.22% | +13.21%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.5% | 15.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -62.4% | -56.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,542 | $18,596Best |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 10, 2007 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 17, 2007 to Oct 14, 2026 (19.7 years).
CWI vs SPY growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 19.7 years both funds cover.
CWI vs SPY Performance
State Street SPDR MSCI ACWI ex-US ETF (CWI) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year CWI returned +17.25% while SPY returned +17.47%. Year to date, CWI is up 10.12% versus a gain of 13.53% for SPY.
Over three years, CWI compounded at +20.15% per year against +22.36% for SPY; over five years the annualized figures are +9.22% and +13.21% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, SPY has the edge at +9.32% annualized vs +3.34%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
CWI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.5% compared with 15.4% for SPY. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -62.4% for CWI and -56.5% for SPY. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.86. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
CWI charges 0.30% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $30 vs $9 annually, a gap of $21 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, CWI currently yields 2.70% against 0.99% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.1% of SPY's money is in holdings CWI also owns.
Stated as a floor: for CWI, our book for it covers 93.4% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 1,083 positions we hold weights for in CWI and 504 in SPY, against full books of 1,181 and 1,515.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in CWI | Weight in SPY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| EQTEQT Corp. | 0.02% | 0.05% | 0.03% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of CWI and SPY you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, CWI or SPY?
CWI has an expense ratio of 0.30% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $21 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, CWI or SPY?
Over the past year CWI returned +17.25% vs +17.47% for SPY, so SPY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), CWI annualized +3.34% vs +9.32% for SPY. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, CWI or SPY?
CWI has been the more volatile fund at 17.5% annualized versus 15.4% for SPY. Worst drawdown: CWI -62.4% vs SPY -56.5%.
Should I hold both CWI and SPY?
CWI and SPY have a monthly-return correlation of 0.86, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, CWI or SPY?
CWI yields 2.70% while SPY yields 0.99%, so CWI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than CWI?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. SPY led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.