Dividend comparison

VT vs ACWI: Which Is Better?

Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for Vanguard Total World Stock ETF and iShares MSCI ACWI ETF, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.

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VT vs ACWI: key differences
The short answer, from the latest data on this page.
  • Fees. VT is cheaper at 0.06% a year versus 0.32% for ACWI. On $10,000 that is $26 a year less in fees.
  • Income. VT pays more income, yielding 1.53% over the last twelve months versus 1.41% for ACWI. That is about $12 more a year on $10,000. VT pays annual, ACWI pays semi-annual.
  • Performance. Over the last 5 years, ACWI returned 62.7% versus 60.7% for VT, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $16,266 in ACWI and $16,069 in VT.
  • Risk. Their worst declines over the last 5 years were similar: -26.4% for VT and -26.4% for ACWI from peak to trough.
  • Diversification. VT holds 9,773 positions and ACWI holds 2,196.
  • Dividend growth. VT grew its yearly payout 7.1% a year over the last 4 years, versus 6.0% for ACWI.
  • Size. VT is the larger fund with $101.2 billion in assets, against $32.8 billion for ACWI.

Bottom line: VT has the edge on these figures, with lower fees, faster dividend growth and broader diversification. ACWI does not lead on any of the measures compared here.

Side-by-side snapshot
Trailing twelve-month figures where available. Higher yield is highlighted — not a buy recommendation.
MetricVT
Vanguard Total World Stock ETF
ACWI
iShares MSCI ACWI ETF
Dividend yield (TTM)1.53%1.41%
Dividend / share (TTM)$2.41$2.25
Payout frequencyAnnualSemi-annual
Last dividend$0.4084 on Sep 22, 2026$1.0097 on Jun 18, 2026
Ex-dividend dateSep 18, 2026Jun 15, 2026
Dividend growth (CAGR)7.1% over 4 yrs6.0% over 4 yrs
Price$157.80$158.77
Dividend growth streak—4 years
Beta0.930.93
Max drawdown (5Y)-26.4%-26.4%
Market cap$101.30B$32.62B
ExchangeAMEXNASDAQ
Expense ratio0.06%0.32%
Assets under management$101.20B$32.83B
Number of holdings97732196
Top 10 concentration22.3%—
Income on a $10,000 investment
Illustrative only — assumes current TTM yield stays constant. Actual distributions change.

VT

$12.75/mo

$153 /yr at 1.53% yield

ACWI

$11.78/mo

$141 /yr at 1.41% yield

Dividend history
Total dividends paid per share in each calendar year. VT pays annual; ACWI pays semi-annual.
YearVTACWI
2025$2.5732$2.1965
2024$2.2939$2.0016
2023$2.1419$1.9153
2022$1.8957$1.5946
2021$1.9550$1.7412
Strategy: Broad index
Low-cost funds that hold an entire market or index at market-cap weights and make no attempt to select securities. Return is the index return less a small fee, and dividends are a by-product of what the underlying companies choose to pay rather than an objective of the strategy. Differences between funds tracking the same index usually come down to fee, wrapper structure, share price and trading liquidity, not to holdings.

Current income is low and outside your control, so these need pairing with something else if the portfolio has to produce cash today.

What VT vs ACWI actually do

VT
One fund holding the whole global stock market, around ten thousand companies across developed and emerging markets including the US.

It tracks the FTSE Global All Cap Index at market-cap weights, so US companies make up the majority of the fund simply because they are the majority of world market value, with the remainder spread across developed international and emerging markets. Weights shift as those markets grow or shrink relative to each other, so the allocation decision is made by the market rather than by you. Holding non-US companies brings currency exposure and foreign withholding tax, and the headline yield is usually a little higher than a US-only fund because many international companies pay out more of their earnings.

Suits an investor who wants a single, permanently self-rebalancing global equity holding and no home-country judgment call. Not for someone who wants to control their US weighting deliberately, and not an income fund.

Core holding, global

Performance
Total returns with dividends reinvested, from the adjusted closing price series. $10,000 invested on Oct 20, 2021 would now be worth $16,069 in VT and $16,266 in ACWI.
PeriodVTACWI
1 month-0.47%-0.33%
3 months1.95%2.43%
Year to date11.87%12.21%
1 year13.16%13.39%
3 years80.78%81.74%
5 years60.69%62.66%
  • VT
  • ACWI
70121173202120222023202420252026161163

Both series indexed to 100 on 2021-10-20 using the adjusted closing price series. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Sector allocation
Weight of each sector within the fund. Sectors are aligned on the same row so the two funds can be read against each other directly.
  • VT
  • ACWI
0%9%19%28%37%Technology31.9%33.8%Information Technology31.8%Financial Services15.6%16.0%Industrials10.5%10.1%Healthcare8.5%8.5%Financials16.2%Consumer Cyclical8.1%7.9%Communication Services7.2%7.9%Consumer Defensive4.3%4.5%Health Care8.7%Other13.9%37.2%
Top 10 holdings
Largest positions by portfolio weight.

VT9773 holdings total

NameWeight
NVDANVIDIA Corp4.52%
AAPLApple Inc4.08%
MSFTMicrosoft Corp3.23%
AMZNAmazon.com Inc2.05%
GOOGLAlphabet Inc1.72%
2330.TWTaiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd1.62%
AVGOBroadcom Inc1.39%
METAMeta Platforms Inc1.35%
GOOGAlphabet Inc1.35%
MUMicron Technology Inc1.02%

Quick verdict

VT has the edge on these figures, with lower fees, faster dividend growth and broader diversification. ACWI does not lead on any of the measures compared here. Model the holding inside your real portfolio before deciding.

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Frequently asked questions

Is VT or ACWI better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. VT currently yields 1.53% Trailing Twelve Months (TTM) while ACWI yields 1.41%. Higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, but may come with different risk, growth, or NAV characteristics. Compare total return and payout sustainability — not just the headline yield.
What is the difference between VT and ACWI?
Vanguard Total World Stock ETF (VT) is an ETF listed on AMEX. iShares MSCI ACWI ETF (ACWI) is an ETF listed on NASDAQ. Side-by-side metrics on this page cover yield, fees, returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history when available.
Which is cheaper, VT or ACWI?
VT has the lower expense ratio. VT charges 0.06% a year and ACWI charges 0.32%, a difference of $26 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which has performed better, VT or ACWI?
Over the last 5 years, ACWI has the higher total return with dividends reinvested: VT returned 60.7% and ACWI returned 62.7%. Past performance does not predict future returns.
Which is riskier, VT or ACWI?
Measured by the worst peak-to-trough decline over the last five years, ACWI has been riskier: VT fell as much as 26.4% and ACWI as much as 26.4%. Their betas are 0.93 and 0.93.
How often do VT and ACWI pay dividends?
VT pays annual and ACWI pays semi-annual.
How much income does $10,000 in VT vs ACWI generate?
At current TTM yields, $10,000 in VT would generate roughly $12.75 per month ($153 annually). The same amount in ACWI would produce about $11.78 per month ($141 annually). Actual payouts vary with distribution changes and reinvestment.
Can I hold both VT and ACWI?
Yes. Many income investors hold both to diversify strategy or index exposure. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on overlapping holdings and factor exposure. Model both inside Dividend Wealth to see combined income, sector mix, and forecast impact.
Where can I compare VT vs ACWI with my full portfolio?
Create a free Dividend Wealth account to import or enter holdings, forecast dividend income, and see how VT and ACWI fit alongside the rest of your portfolio. A 14-day free trial of Standard is available with no credit card required; a limited Free plan is also available.

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For informational and educational purposes only. Not investment advice. Past performance and current yields do not guarantee future results. Verify figures independently before making investment decisions.