Vanguard FTSE All‑World

ETF description

This ETF offers investors broad exposure to a diverse range of companies across both developed and emerging markets worldwide. It includes a variety of large and mid‑sized firms from numerous sectors, such as technology, healthcare, finance, and consumer goods. By tracking a specific index, this ETF aims to reflect the overall performance of global stock markets, encompassing companies from regions including North America, Europe, and Asia.

Investors may find this ETF appealing if they are looking to diversify their portfolios and gain access to a wide array of global investment opportunities. It is suitable for individuals who want to participate in the growth potential of both developed and emerging economies while spreading their investment risks.

Issuer details

Vanguard is the largest provider of mutual funds and the second‑largest provider of ETFs in the world.

Vanguard is a major American investment management company headquartered in Malvern, Pennsylvania. It’s known for being the largest provider of mutual funds in the world and the second‑largest provider of ETFs after BlackRock’s iShares with over $8trn in global assets under management (as at June 2024). Vanguard was founded in 1975 by John C. Bogle and is notable for its unique ownership structure ‑ it is owned by its funds, which in turn are owned by their shareholders. This structure is designed to align Vanguard’s interests with those of its investors, helping to keep costs low.

Index details

The FTSE All‑World index covers 87% of the world’s investable equity market:

• The index consists of over 4,000 large and mid‑cap companies • It tracks companies across 45 global developed and emerging market countries • The index excludes frontier and standalone countries (e.g. Russia since March 2022).

The FTSE All World index is much less concentrated than other single country like the FTSE 100 index, S&P 500, and Nasdaq 100.