Core Insights - The Vanguard Total World Stock ETF (VT) and iShares MSCI ACWI ex U.S. ETF (ACWX) provide broad international equity exposure but differ in costs, returns, risk, and portfolio composition [2] Cost & Size Comparison - VT has a lower expense ratio of 0.06% compared to ACWX's 0.32%, making it more affordable for long-term investors [3][4] - As of January 24, 2026, VT's one-year return is 19.76%, while ACWX's is significantly higher at 34.2% [3] - VT has a dividend yield of 1.77%, whereas ACWX offers a higher yield of 2.7% [3][4] - VT has assets under management (AUM) of $62.50 billion, compared to ACWX's $8.53 billion [3] Performance & Risk Comparison - Over the past five years, VT experienced a maximum drawdown of -26.38%, while ACWX had a larger drawdown of -30.06% [5] - An investment of $1,000 in VT would have grown to $1,527 over five years, compared to $1,267 for ACWX [5] Portfolio Composition - ACWX, launched nearly 18 years ago, tracks non-U.S. large- and mid-cap stocks, holding 1,796 companies with a focus on financial services, industrials, and technology [6] - VT combines U.S. and international stocks, covering 10,036 holdings, with a similar sector mix [7] - The largest positions in ACWX include Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Tencent Holdings, and ASML Holding, while VT's top holdings are Nvidia, Apple, and Microsoft [6][7] Investment Implications - Since its inception, VT has outperformed ACWX, yielding nearly 150% more since 2008 [8] - VT has a smaller dividend yield but offers quarterly payouts, which may appeal to investors preferring more frequent distributions compared to ACWX's semi-annual payouts [9] - ACWX has a higher one-year return and a broader international focus in its top holdings, which span Asia to Europe, while VT's top holdings are predominantly U.S. stocks [10]