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iShares Core MSCI All Country World ex Canada Index ETF (XAW) and iShares MSCI World Index ETF (XWD) offer distinct profiles for Canadian ETF investors. A direct comparison shows that XAW focuses its top 3 sector exposures on Technology, Finance, and Industrials, while XWD leans towards Technology, Finance, and Industrials. When evaluating costs, XAW features a management fee (MER) of 0.2%, compared to 0.44% for XWD. Performance-wise, XAW has returned 15.52% year-to-date with +$497 M in net flows, whereas XWD is at 15.08% with +$101 M. Use the comparison tool below to benchmark these funds across top 10 holdings, yield, sector weights and historical returns.
NAV Performance and Flows
Key Data
Compare
XAW
XWD
| AuM | $4,658.21 M | $1,798.21 M |
| Management Fees | 0.20% | 0.44% |
| Exp. ratio | 0.22% | 0.48% |
| Tracking Difference | -0.09% | - |
Historical performance and flows
As of October 16, 2026
| 1M | 3M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perf. | XAW | +1.22% | +1.17% | +15.52% | +16.51% | +80.35% |
XWD | +2.18% | +2.04% | +15.08% | +16.28% | +80.88% | |
| Flows | XAW | +$54 M | +$203 M | +$497 M | +$727 M | +$1,084 M |
XWD | +$0 M | +$43 M | +$101 M | +$166 M | +$305 M |
XAW vs XWD exposure
Countries
XAW
USA
63.01%
Other
36.99%
XWD
USA
70.29%
Other
29.71%
Sectors
XAW
Technology
35.61%
Finance
18.20%
Industrials
9.80%
Healthcare
8.48%
Consumer Non-Cyclicals
8.01%
Other
19.90%
XWD
Technology
35.81%
Finance
18.20%
Industrials
9.46%
Healthcare
8.90%
Consumer Non-Cyclicals
8.44%
Other
19.20%
As of October 16, 2026
Top 10 Holdings
XAW
NVIDIA Corp.
4.72%
Apple, Inc.
4.11%
Microsoft Corp.
3.33%
Amazon.com, Inc.
2.24%
Alphabet, Inc.
1.76%
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
1.70%
Broadcom Inc.
1.55%
Alphabet, Inc.
1.40%
Meta Platforms, Inc.
1.11%
Micron Technology, Inc.
0.95%
XWD
NVIDIA Corp.
5.80%
Apple, Inc.
5.05%
Microsoft Corp.
4.09%
Amazon.com, Inc.
2.76%
Alphabet, Inc.
2.16%
Broadcom Inc.
1.90%
Alphabet, Inc.
1.72%
Meta Platforms, Inc.
1.36%
Micron Technology, Inc.
1.17%
Tesla, Inc.
1.12%
Diversification
XAW
Total weight of top 10 holdings out of 8,012 total
22.86%
XWD
Total weight of top 10 holdings out of 1,222 total
27.14%
Characteristics
Compare
XAW
XWD
| Provider | iShares | iShares |
| Management | Passively managed | Passively managed |
| Benchmark | MSCI ACWI ex Canada IMI Net Total Return Index - CAD | MSCI World Daily Total Return Net Index - USD |
| Replication Method | Direct (Physical) | Direct (Physical) |
| Asset Class | Equity | Equity |
| Dividend Policy | Distributing | Distributing |
| Trailing 12m distribution yield | 1.20% | 1.18% |
| Meets ESG criteria | No | No |
| Inception Date | February 10, 2015 | June 18, 2009 |
Frequently asked questions about XAW and XWD
Which ETF has performed better year to date: XAW or XWD?
As of October 16, 2026, XAW has returned 15.52% year to date, while XWD has returned 15.08%. XAW is ahead on YTD performance.
Which ETF is larger by assets under management: XAW or XWD?
As of October 16, 2026, XAW manages $4.66 B in assets, while XWD manages $1.80 B. XAW is the larger fund by AUM.
How are XAW and XWD managed?
XAW is passively managed by iShares. It tracks the MSCI ACWI ex Canada IMI Net Total Return Index - CAD benchmark. XWD is passively managed by iShares. It tracks the MSCI World Daily Total Return Net Index - USD benchmark.
What sectors do XAW and XWD emphasize?
XAW is most exposed to Technology, Finance, and Industrials. XWD is most exposed to Technology, Finance, and Industrials.
Which ETF is attracting more investor flows: XAW or XWD?
Year to date, XAW has seen +$497.01 M in net flows, compared with +$100.74 M for XWD. XAW has attracted more net investor money so far.
How do the fees of XAW and XWD compare?
XAW has an expense ratio of 0.22%, while XWD has an expense ratio of 0.48%.
What are the top holdings of XAW and XWD?
XAW's largest holdings include NVIDIA Corp., Apple, Inc., and Microsoft Corp.. XWD's top holdings include NVIDIA Corp., Apple, Inc., and Microsoft Corp..
Which ETF is more diversified: XAW or XWD?
XAW holds 7899 securities, while XWD holds 1211. On holdings count, XAW is the more diversified portfolio.
Recent articles about XAW and XWD
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