Quick Read iShares ACWI ex US (ACWX) returned 35.8% over the past year versus 13.0% for the S&P 500. ACWX gained 10.4% year-to-date in 2026 while the US market remained flat. Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US tracks nearly identically to ACWX across all timeframes. The analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks. Get them here FREE. For years, US-heavy portfolios were the path of least resistance. But the performance gap is narrowing, and investors who assumed international exp ...

Core Insights - Atwater Malick disclosed a purchase of 42,862 shares of the iShares MSCI ACWI ex U.S. ETF, valued at approximately $2.84 million, indicating a strategic investment in international equity markets [1][2]. Fund Overview - The iShares MSCI ACWI ex U.S. ETF has an Assets Under Management (AUM) of $7.87 billion and a current price of $70.15, reflecting a 32% increase over the past year [4][5]. - The ETF offers a yield of 2.8% and has achieved a total return of 32.48% over the last year, making it an attractive option for investors seeking international diversification [4]. Investment Strategy - The fund aims to track the MSCI ACWI ex U.S. Index, providing exposure to both developed and emerging markets outside the United States, with at least 80% of assets invested in component securities of the underlying index [7]. - The portfolio consists of approximately 1,750 large- and mid-cap companies, with significant exposure to financials, industrials, and global technology sectors [9]. Recent Transactions - Following the recent purchase, the fund's holding in ACWX rose to 4.2% of its 13F reportable assets, indicating a strategic allocation towards international equities [2][3]. - The transaction appears to serve as a counterweight to existing U.S. mega-cap holdings, suggesting a balanced approach to asset allocation amid changing market conditions [6].

Core Insights - The article compares two international ETFs, iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA) and iShares MSCI ACWI ex U.S. ETF (ACWX), highlighting their differing approaches to international equity exposure [1] Cost & Size - IEFA has a lower expense ratio of 0.07% compared to ACWX's 0.32% [2] - IEFA's one-year return is 28.66%, while ACWX's is 31.86% [2] - IEFA offers a higher dividend yield of 3.4% versus ACWX's 2.7% [2] - IEFA has assets under management (AUM) of $170.35 billion, significantly higher than ACWX's $8.6 billion [2] Performance & Risk Comparison - Over five years, IEFA's maximum drawdown is -30.41%, slightly worse than ACWX's -30.06% [4] - A $1,000 investment in IEFA would grow to $1,302 over five years, compared to $1,267 for ACWX [4] Portfolio Composition - ACWX holds 1,796 companies across developed and emerging markets, with a focus on financial services, industrials, and technology [5] - IEFA focuses on developed markets with 2,619 stocks and a lighter allocation to technology [6] - The largest holdings in ACWX include Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Tencent Holdings, and ASML Holding, while IEFA's largest holdings are ASML, Roche Holding, and HSBC Holdings [5][6] Investor Considerations - Both ETFs exclude U.S. stocks, and their international holdings may behave differently from U.S. equities [7] - ACWX's top holdings are primarily based in Asia, while IEFA's are mainly in Europe, suggesting that U.S. investors should monitor relevant foreign events [8] - IEFA outperforms ACWX in terms of expense ratio, dividends, and five-year returns, but ACWX remains a viable option for exposure to both emerging and developed markets [9]

Core Insights - The article compares two ETFs, SPDR Portfolio MSCI Global Stock Market ETF (SPGM) and iShares MSCI ACWI ex U.S. ETF (ACWX), highlighting their different approaches to international equity exposure [2] Cost and Size - SPGM has a lower expense ratio of 0.09% compared to ACWX's 0.32% [3] - As of January 23, 2026, SPGM's one-year return is 20.62%, while ACWX's is significantly higher at 31.86% [3] - SPGM offers a dividend yield of 1.83%, whereas ACWX provides a higher yield of 2.7% [4] - SPGM has assets under management (AUM) of $1.4 billion, while ACWX has a larger AUM of $8.45 billion [3] Performance and Risk Comparison - Over five years, SPGM's maximum drawdown is -25.92%, while ACWX's is -30.06% [5] - An investment of $1,000 in SPGM would grow to $1,566 over five years, compared to $1,267 for ACWX [5] Portfolio Composition - ACWX focuses on large- and mid-cap companies outside the U.S., with 25% of its portfolio in the financial sector and significant allocations in technology and industrials [6] - SPGM invests in both developed and emerging markets, including the U.S., with a technology tilt of 23% and notable weights in financial services (16%) and industrials (12%) [7] - ACWX holds 1,796 stocks, with top positions in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Tencent Holdings, and ASML Holding [6] - SPGM has a broader diversification with 2,918 total stocks, including top holdings in Nvidia, Apple, and Microsoft [7] Investor Considerations - U.S. investors should be aware of the risks associated with ACWX, which primarily holds non-American stocks that may exhibit different volatility patterns compared to U.S. stocks [8] - Four of ACWX's top five holdings are Asian companies, while all of SPGM's top five holdings are American companies [9] - Both funds pay dividends semi-annually, which may be less convenient for investors who prefer quarterly payouts [10]

Core Insights - John Davi, founder and chief investment officer at Astoria Portfolio Advisors, discussed the firm's 15th annual report featuring ten ETF picks for 2026, emphasizing a constructive macro outlook driven by tax cuts, potential tariff cuts, and Federal Reserve rate cuts [1][2] Featured Portfolio Ideas - The iShares MSCI ACWI ex U.S. ETF (ACWX) is recommended for exposure to international equities, benefiting from a weaker dollar and attractive valuations, particularly in cyclical sectors like industrials and financials [3] - The PIMCO Multisector Bond Active ETF (PYLD), with over $10 billion in assets, is highlighted for its active management approach, outperforming the Aggregate Bond Index by 12% since its launch in July 2023 [4] - The SPDR Bridgewater All Weather ETF (ALLW), which has $700 million in assets, employs strategic asset allocation across four economic quadrants and operates with approximately 40% lower risk than the S&P 500 [5] - The Calamos Auto Callable Income ETF (CAIE), now over $500 million in assets, focuses on defined outcomes in a non-linear risk environment by selling low downside puts to generate yield [6] - The Bitwise 10 Crypto Index ETF (BITW) is included as a means to protect purchasing power against inflation, advocating a buy-and-hold strategy rather than tactical trading [7]

Core Viewpoint - The iShares MSCI ACWI ex U.S. ETF (NASDAQ:ACWX) has experienced significant performance in 2025, benefiting from a resurgence in international stocks despite excluding U.S. companies from its portfolio [1]. Group 1: Fund Overview - ACWX tracks the MSCI ACWI ex USA Index, providing exposure to approximately 2,000 stocks across developed and emerging markets outside the United States, including companies like Tencent, SAP, ASML, and Samsung [2]. - The fund has $7.3 billion in assets, a 0.32% expense ratio, and a 2% dividend yield, with only 12% of its portfolio concentrated in the top 10 holdings, indicating a more balanced risk profile compared to U.S.-focused funds [4][7]. Group 2: Performance Drivers - The performance of international equities has been significantly influenced by the movement of the U.S. dollar; a weaker dollar enhances returns for U.S.-based investors when converting foreign currency returns back to dollars [3]. - In 2025, ACWX's gains were amplified by U.S. dollar weakness, which provided a favorable environment for international stocks [4]. Group 3: Sector Exposure and Diversification - ACWX offers more balanced sector exposure compared to the S&P 500, which has a 34% weight in technology stocks; ACWX diversifies risk across financials, industrials, healthcare, and consumer sectors, leading to different return characteristics [5]. Group 4: Future Considerations - Monitoring the U.S. dollar's stability or strength in 2026 is crucial, as a resurgent dollar could diminish the currency boost for U.S. investors, potentially compressing international equity returns even if foreign stocks perform well locally [6].