ACWX
iShares MSCI ACWI ex U.S. ETF
Mentions (24Hr)
0.00% Today
Reddit Posts
U.S. Stocks Set to Underperform Europe in 2023
Mentions
nice to see someone actually talking about investments on here: EEM (broad emerging markets) EET/EDC (leveraged version, be careful here... does poorly in a flat or down market) ACWX (includes developed markets too, so less risky overall) EEMA (Asia focussed) ILF (South America focussed, probably has a very long runway due to macro political and economic changes. As always, not fa. do your own research
Nope. Because everyone is wrong and there are no shortage of talking heads ready to sow fear. The U.S. stock market makes up less than half of the $127 trillion global equity market. MSCI All Country World Index ex-U.S. (ACWX) hit new all-time highs recently. By definition, this index contains zero American companies. It's Europe, Japan, China, Canada, Taiwan, India, Australia - the rest of the world. And while they keep yelling about "U.S. concentration" and "only a handful of stocks making new highs.” The reality is the opposite: More stocks than ever are going up. Even with the S&P 500 up 15% this year, on pace to double its average annual return, the United States is still one of the worst-performing stock markets in the world in 2025. The trend is up. And these aren't tired, late-cycle trends. They're fresh breakouts no one is paying attention to. Everyone's too busy whining about their quantum stocks or complaining that a few U.S. names have "too big" a market cap. That's fine. By the time they finally notice what's happening down here, we'll be the ones selling them our shares.
\> Are you shifting some allocation outside the U.S. because of this? Got stoned and you missed it. Past six months, VOO = +23%. ACWX = +17%.
Chat disagrees Short answer: the S&P 500 has outperformed the rest of the world over the last 5 years. • S&P 500 (IVV) 5-yr average annual total return: ~16.6% (USD, dividends reinvested, to Aug 31, 2025).  • Rest of world (ACWI ex-U.S., ACWX) 5-yr average annual total return: ~10.1% (USD, dividends reinvested, to Aug 31, 2025).  • Cumulatively, that’s roughly ~111% for the S&P 500 vs ~62% for ACWI ex-U.S. over 5 years. 
Why no international holdings? You can easily improve your Sharpe ratio by simply adding a 20-30% position to something like ACWX. And especially if your concern is centered around US macro why not diversify your macro exposure to it instead of picking up bonds. If your investment horizon is long enough why have any bonds? Just go full equity risk premium. Timing the market almost never works.
You could gradually reduce S&P 500 exposure and allocate it into broad international indices like VEU or ACWX. Keep a smaller U.S. allocation if you want growth, but avoid concentrated tech exposure.
When did you get in IGOV? It closed at $42 which is almost 52 week high. For international would you recommend ACWX or VXUS?
Not that which of swing, Nov 12 I moved 40% of my us stocks to gold, and moved not into bonds. Moved most of my US into brk.b as it was more diversified into bonds as well. January 15th I moved not outside the US with ACWX. Recently moved some from gold into some us banking stocks. So I am probably still 30% us, but completely out of the index. But would like to be closer to 10% if I get another exit.
Wait. Converted all RRSP and TFSA to cash yesterday at noon. Never been one to try and time the markets but economic numbers for Q1 are going to be BAD as the government, regulatory, and social support backbone of the USA is being gutted. Currently all in CBIL. I will be buying back to a 50:50 probably starting at -10 to -20% and my 50% stocks will be iShares MSCI ACWI ex U.S. ETF | ACWX because even though staying out of the USA market will probably hurt my returns in the long term, I am in as much of a boycott the USA position for the last month as I can and especially going forward as they attack our sovereignty. 51st state? F-YOU Trump.
That I don't know, but the allocation might change over time anyway. Maybe buy some thing like ACWX and separately an etf tracking the S&P500, it seems easier that way.
I’ve decided on the following: 1. TLT - Should maintain value or even increase if the economy worsens. Pays a dividend in the meantime. Also, the Trump admin has repeatedly said they want to get the 10 yr rate down. TLT would appreciate in this instance. 2. SPLV - Low volatility stocks appreciate in case we are still in a bull market and lose a lot less than SPY in a bear market. 3. ACWX - Most of the “overpriced” stocks are in the USA. Having exposure to equities is important to maintain purchasing power; buying stocks that are cheaper may help avoid a big crash. As well, individuals and institutions may want to diversify outside the USA b/c of this administration. 4. BTAL - Not really a long term hold. But can appreciate significantly in the event of a crash and not lose much or even gain in a continuing bull market. 5. CTA - Helps maintain purchasing power if commodities take off. 6. IYR - Helps maintain purchasing power by investing in real estate. Should do well if 10 yr yield comes down. 7. TSLQ - Who among us can resist shorting the world’s biggest most overpriced meme stock? Plan to take profits on BTAL/CTA/TSLQ as they come. These aren’t good long term holds.
I’m thinking: 1. SPLV 2. BTAL 3. TLT 4. IYR 5. CTA 6. TSLQ 7. ACWX Decided against GLD b/c it is already overbought.
Great to see you starting early! For international exposure, consider broad-market ETFs like Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US (VEU) or iShares MSCI ACWI ex U.S. ETF (ACWX). These offer a good mix of growth and stability by investing in global stocks outside the U.S. Since you're young and comfortable with risk, these funds can provide long-term growth potential while keeping things simple. Best of luck with your investing journey!
ACWX - all world ex us VEO - emerging markets EMXC - emerging markets ex China (pick one EM so they don’t overlap)
I use ACWX as a proxy for ex-US in my watchlist. Of the top ten holdings ASML, Novo Nordisk, Shell, and Tencent are up more than 1%
You can invest in the stocks underlying some of the indexes that MSCI publishes. For example US-domiciled fund ACWX tracks the MSCI All Country World Index ex-US Index. Similar funds exist domiciled elsewhere if you aren't in the US. If you are in the US, I would recommend VXUS based on the FTSE Global All Cap ex US Index instead, as it's cheaper and holds more stocks.
If you want to stay as passive as possible, then the best shot would be something like iShares MSCI ACWI ex U.S. ETF (ACWX ticker) - you get a fairly balanced exposure to many countries around the world. You can read up here: https://www.ishares.com/us/products/239594/ishares-msci-acwi-ex-us-etf
Both personally and professionally I’ll weight according to long run index weightings. That way I’m not rebalancing my portfolios as frequently while still approximately benefiting from the market trend. For example if you wanted to approximate the long run Russell 3000 weighting for small, mid, and large companies you could have a domestic portfolio like: 36% IVE - Large Value 36% IVW - Large Growth 9% IJJ - Mid Value 9% IJK - Mid Growth 5% IJS - Small Value 5% IJT - Small Growth Combine international and fixed income to arrive at (60/40 portfolio for example): 15.12% IVE - Large Value 15.12% IVW - Large Growth 3.78% IJJ - Mid Value 3.78% IJK - Mid Growth 2.10% IJS - Small Value 2.10% IJT - Small Growth 18% ACWX - Developed International/EM 40% AGG - US Fixed Income
Happy to give a suggestion. One thing to note if you’re going the passive route is the index construction methodologies. Depending on the benchmark index underneath the fund it can determine the exposure you have to certain market components. For example, the S&P benchmark indices have an underlying profitability requirement for inclusion that acts as a quality filter on companies. Compare this to an index like the Russell 3000 which does not have that same requirement and holdings can differ somewhat significantly. Domestic ETFs for consideration: Large Value - IVE Large Growth - IVW Mid Value - IJJ Mid Growth - IJK Small Value - IJS Small Growth - IJT International and emerging market equities in an ETF wrapper are harder to find value/growth passive options that encapsulate a great degree of the universe so it’s likely best to go with an MSCI World Ex US product here (ACWX). Fixed income, unless you have a tangible opinion on yield curve shape, duration, and convexity, can arguably be achieved best passively through US Aggregate exposure (AGG). Active funds are a similar thought process, just requires manager due diligence and comfort with portfolio managers theses and strategies underlying the investment shop.
VXUS is developed and developing markets excluding US, expense ratio 0.07%. ACWX is the iShares alternative but has an expense ratio of 0.32%
I currently have basically all of my investments in the S&P 500 (VOO) and am looking to gain ex-US equity exposure. I do not want to sell any of my VOO at this time. Seems like the best option for me would be to invest in ETFs that focus on non S&P 500 stocks. Any advice on which ETFs may be best? VEU? ACWX? Appreciate any advice - thanks!
VXUS, ACWX, VXUS. If you’d like a value tilt, you can use a combination of SYLD, FYLD, and EYLD.
For VXUS - IXUS or ACWX (if you prefer to track MSCI)
You should do it yourself, but I think you’re looking at too many funds. If you want it to be passive then: - ITOT (https://www.ishares.com/us/products/239724/ishares-core-sp-total-us-stock-market-etf) - IUSB (https://www.ishares.com/us/products/264615/ishares-core-total-usd-bond-market-etf) At some percent allocation that matches your risk tolerance. But the time you’re 50 you probably will want the IUSB to be about 25-40% of your portfolio (depending on risk tolerance). If you want some international then add in some ACWX (https://www.ishares.com/us/products/239594/ishares-msci-acwi-ex-us-etf) but keep it at less than 20% of your equities allocation.
Put it plainly...yes...things can turn for the worst, and it turns quickly. If you haven't experienced a turn like that before, you will freeze up. You look at your loses and keep thinking to yourself "I gotta at least make it back to break even". So you end up holding it longer than you should. Now you're exposed to more downside risk on that, or you're simply stuck with a stock that bottomed out and stays at the bottom for a prolong period of time. Now you miss out on the gains if you existed that position and move to something else. If you're trying to buy a company on its way down...there are a lot of risk associated with it. Even in the stock portion it's better to break it up into a few bets for the same theme. It's good to hear you're also backed up by ETFs so your portfolio as a whole is not so concentrated. When looking at diversification, in general it is best to look at it in a WHOLE PORTFOLIO perspective. If you have let's say 45% SPY/VOO - all the same basically US index 35% VEU/ACWX - world ex US index 10% BND - Bonds 10% any stock.......let's say ATVI (since it's one of the worst 2021 performers).... So 10% in one stock is still a lot, but if you lose 50% of that, it's only a 5% hit on your total assets. Alternatively....10% consists of ATVI, PENN, LVS, WYNN.....we going full dumpster diving here. The chance of all of them lose 50% is lower.
I’d see about adding some non_US equity in an ACWI-ex us index fund. ACWX ETF is one. VOO and VTI have a lot of overlap.
If you're a US resident, short-term losses will offset short term gains first. Tax harvesting makes sense depending on your situation. Let's say your standard deduction covers your yearly income, you won't have to pay taxes anyway, so tax harvesting is not needed. If you are currently on the low end of tax rates and expect next year to be higher (whatever the reason is, selling real estate, higher salary, etc.) you may want to not do it, as you'll pay a higher percentage next year. Remember that tax harvesting allows you to realize losses for the current year, but if you expect your position to gain in the future, it'll increase your gains the following year when in reality, your position may just go back to breakeven. Let's use an example. You bought VXUS for $100K. It dropped to $70K. You have $30K unrealized losses. If you realize the loss and buy $70K worth of ACWX, you can deduct $30K from your revenue. The following year, it goes back to $100 but you now have unrealized gains of +$30K that you'll have to pay taxes on when you sell. So the answer to your question depends on your financial situation, current and expected in the future.
How much are you down in percentage and dollar terms? It never hurts to harvest losses, but you might set an amount you want to do it at (down 5%/10% or unrealized loss of $500 or more.) SCHB and ACWX should be fine.
I independently came to a similar conclusion as well - all the testing I've done on Portfolio Visualizer points to an uncomfortable fact that even on a 5+ year horizon, a portfolio optimized to maximize its Sharpe ratio delivers [~3% alpha](https://www.portfoliovisualizer.com/optimize-portfolio?s=y&goal=2&benchmark=-1&benchmarkSymbol=SPY&constrained=true&symbol5=TLT&symbol4=VT&lastMonth=12&historicalVolatility=true&symbol1=VTI&endYear=2021&symbol3=BND&symbol2=ACWX&mode=2&comparedAllocation=-1&startYear=1985&timePeriod=4&historicalReturns=true&robustOptimization=false&historicalCorrelations=true&firstMonth=1&groupConstraints=false) yet is -9% vs. SPY. It actually leaves only two ETFs worth investing: - 80% TLT - long dated TSYs - 20% VTI - total US equity This makes no sense, so I optimized the portfolio to focus on information ratio and Kelly Criterion to maximize overall return, and the [portfolio was dead simple](https://www.portfoliovisualizer.com/optimize-portfolio?s=y&goal=12&benchmark=-1&benchmarkSymbol=SPY&constrained=true&symbol5=TLT&symbol4=VT&lastMonth=12&historicalVolatility=true&symbol1=VTI&endYear=2021&symbol3=BND&symbol2=ACWX&mode=2&comparedAllocation=-1&startYear=1985&timePeriod=4&historicalReturns=true&robustOptimization=false&historicalCorrelations=true&firstMonth=1&groupConstraints=false) - 100% VTI. No international exposure, no bond exposure, no REIT exposure, etc. Only exposure to tech stocks in particular maximized the Kelly Criterion and beat the SPY. I think this is a testament to how strong US equities have been in particular, and if you're trying to basically maximize Kelly, (maximize return without going bust), just go all in on US equities.
I agree, International diversification is the hole to plug, make sure you use an ex-US, like VXUS or ACWX. you have plenty US exposure and a lot of world funds can still hold US. Also bear in mind that the US market is heavily exposed to tech compared to the rest of the world (even in VTI), so adding large cap international is a good way to smooth that out.