IWDA vs SWDA – What’s The Difference?

New investors that want to diversify globally don’t understand the difference between $IWDA vs $SWDA.

And indeed, both of those represent the iShares Core MSCI World UCITS ETF (Acc), so the distinction might be confusing to beginners.

In this post, I’ll explain why some ETFs have multiple tickers and how to choose between them.

iShares Core MSCI World UCITS ETF

First, let’s briefly cover the fund we’re talking about:

iShares Core MSCI World UCITS ETF (Acc.) is an ETF tracking the MSCI World index.

This index is composed from 1400+ companies from various countries all around the world. It’s market cap weighted and it’s a suitable benchmark for investors looking for a one-stop-shop for “developed markets” allocation.

The ETF has a TER of 0.2% and it’s an accumulating fund, which mean that it reinvests the received dividends automatically.

As such, this is one of the most common picks by index investors, besides $VWCE/$VWRL and $CSPX/$VUSA.

Both $IWDA and $SWDA are ticker symbols referring to the iShares Core MSCI World UCITS ETF.

IWDA vs SWDA vs EUNL Explained

I already explained why funds can have multiple tickers in detail. The following quote might be the most important one from the post:

Funds aren’t uniquely identified by their tickers, but by an ISIN (International Securities Identification Number).

In summary: ETFs have multiple tickers because they can be listed on different exchanges and/or in different currencies.

In our case, both $IWDA and $SWDA refer to the same fund – the accumulating iShares Core S&P 500 UCITS ETF, with the ISIN IE00B4L5Y983.

• IWDA is the listing on Euronext Amsterdam and the London Stock Exchange (in $USD)
• SWDA is the listing on Borsa Italiana, the SIX Swiss Exchange, and the London Stock Exchange (in $GPB)
• EUNL is the listing on the German XETRA exchange and the Stuttgart Stock Exchange

My go-to places to see all exchange listings and their respective tickers is JustETF’s page of the fund, in the section “Stock exchange”.

Which One to Choose?

After you determined which ETF you want, the dilemma of which ticker to select boils down to two factors:

• The currency in which you want to buy
• The listing available through your broker

If an option satisfies both of these, you’re good to go.

All purchases will flow to the same fund – the iShares Core MSCI World UCITS ETF.

Further Reading

If you want more amazing posts on UCITS ETFs, check out the following links:

• CSPX vs VUSA vs IUSA – My Thoughts
• Replicating VWCE – Optimize for Cost and Performance
• Core Portfolio for EU Investors (ETF Selection & Tips)
• IWDA vs VWCE and VWRL
• The Best Emerging Market ETFs for Europeans
• Northern Trust Funds vs ETFs – Full Comparison
• CSPX vs SXR8 – What’s The Difference?

For the complete series covering investing from Europe, visit: EU Investors Handbook.

If this is too advanced for you, check the beginner-friendly and free resource on stock market investing: How to Start Investing: A Complete Beginner Series.

Related posts:

IWDA vs VWCE and VWRL (For European Investors) CSPX vs SXR8 – What’s The Difference? Total Expense Ratio – The Importance of Keeping it Low ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds) DCA (Dollar Cost Averaging) – Investment Strategy Explained Cash vs Stocks in 30 Years Asset Allocation – Finding Your Ideal Distribution Stock Market Index – Explanation and Examples Index Investing & Index Funds – A Gentle Introduction Investment Taxes in ALL EU Countries 5 Steps to Overcome Investing Fear Market Order vs Limit Order – Placing Orders Tutorial