Is IWLD a good ETF?
IWLD is the iShares Core MSCI World ex Australia ESG ETF from iShares. It tracks the MSCI World ex Australia Custom ESG Select Index. We classify it under Intl and ESG. With about $1.77 billion in assets it is a large, highly liquid fund. Listed on the ASX since 2020-11-24 (almost 6 years ago).
On a total-return basis, IWLD has delivered 13.93% a year over 10 years (ranked 14th of 108 ETFs we track), 12.63% a year over 5 years (ranked 26th of 188 ETFs we track), 16.6% a year over 3 years (ranked 51st of 226 ETFs we track), and 9.98% a year over 1 year (ranked 130th of 308 ETFs we track). Its strongest showing is over 10 years, where it sits in the top 13% of all ETFs we track.
The management fee of 0.15% is very low — typical of low-cost index funds. That's cheaper than the typical 0.53% for similar ETFs. If cost is your priority, WXOZ (0.07%), BGBL (0.08%), and EXUS (0.14%) cover similar ground for less. It pays a low 1.37% yield, so most of its return must come from capital growth.
Over the past 10 years its volatility has been moderate (annualised standard deviation around 11.64%), meaning the kind of swings you'd expect from a diversified equity fund. Its 10-year Sharpe ratio of 1 is strong — that's the return it has earned per unit of risk taken (higher is better).
Portfolio turnover is low at about 15% a year — it trades only a small slice of its holdings each year, so trading costs and tax on realised gains stay modest — typical of a passive index strategy.
Strengths
- Top-13% returns over 10 years (14th of 108 ETFs we track).
- Low-cost: a 0.15% management fee keeps more of the return in your pocket.
- Strong risk-adjusted returns (10-year Sharpe ratio 1).
Things to watch
- Cheaper alternatives exist: WXOZ, BGBL, and EXUS.
Good to know
- Low 1.37% yield — this is a growth-oriented fund, not an income play.
What IWLD's categories mean for you
How each category this ETF belongs to tends to behave across market cycles.
Global and international shares from outside Australia — broadening you into thousands of companies and the sectors (tech, healthcare) the local market lacks.
- Market regime
- Essential diversification away from the bank-and-resources-heavy ASX. Unhedged versions carry currency risk; hedged versions remove it at a small cost.
- In a portfolio
- A core holding for almost every long-term Australian portfolio.
Screens out, or tilts away from, companies on environmental, social and governance criteria — letting you align your money with your values.
- Market regime
- Performance broadly tracks the wider market, but can drift when excluded sectors (e.g. energy, mining, weapons, tobacco) have a strong or weak run. Fees are usually a touch higher.
- In a portfolio
- Suitable as a core or near-core holding for values-driven investors; just understand which sectors are excluded and why returns may diverge from the broad index.
General information only, generated from the fund's published data — not personal financial advice. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns. Consider your own circumstances or seek licensed advice before investing.