# How Accenture (ACN) compares with the whole market and its popular alternatives

> Source: BetterThanSPY research, https://betterthanspy.com/research/acn
> Data as of October 22, 2026. Total returns include reinvested dividends. Past performance does not predict future results; nothing here is investment advice.

Built by QuantCommons' quantitative engine, this page is about relative opportunity, not data on ACN alone. It places ACN (Accenture plc) against 20+ popular alternatives, its neighboring categories and the entire market of over 10,000 U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs, and surfaces what has done better on consistent outperformance, return for the risk taken, behavior in real market crashes and diversification. The result is a clearer view of where ACN stands in the market, and of the alternatives worth a closer look.

Period covered: ACN's full trading record, from July 2001 through September 2026. The crash tests reach back to 2000 using older funds and the S&P 500. All returns include reinvested dividends. Data as of October 22, 2026.

## Key findings

- **Right now:** Over the past 3 months, ACN rose 86.2% against 2.5% for the S&P 500. That said, the slide is ACN's own: it is 31.7% below its high, against 1.9% for the S&P 500.
- **Stock or market?:** ACN's 86.2% gain over the past 3 months far outran its industry: the IT consulting & outsourcing ETF VGT (Vanguard Information Technology ETF) rose 2.7%. The S&P 500 rose 2.5%. Last month cut against the tape: ACN rose 42.0% while the S&P 500 fell 1.2%.
- **Past 1 to 3 years:** The long record (ahead of 55% of the stocks worth at least $300 million over 10 years) has not carried into the past 3 years (behind 81% of them). ACN has trailed the market, rising 7.5% over the past year against 15.6% for the S&P 500 and 16.9% for the Nasdaq 100. The same gap shows up over 3 years (5.8% against 88.4%).
- **Long term:** ACN turned $10,000 into $26,700 over the past decade, against $41,600 in the S&P 500.
- **In a crash:** The 2022 bear market took 37.3% off ACN, against 24.5% for the S&P 500. That was more than IBM (International Business Machines, 16.7%) but less than CTSH (Cognizant Technology Solutions, 38.6%). ACN fell further than the S&P 500 in three of the last three sell-offs, including the 2022 bear market (37.3% against 24.5%).
- **Diversification:** Against the S&P 500, ACN has a correlation of 0.50 over 5 years, more closely than 72% of stocks worth at least $300 million. Next to an index fund it is some diversification, but not a hedge. ACN moves far less with the S&P 500 than it used to, with a correlation of 0.50 over the past 5 years against 0.84 in the 5 years before.
- **Better options**
  - **Popular alternatives:** SAIC (Science Applications International), MSFT (Microsoft) and IBM (International Business Machines) earned more than ACN with less volatility over the past 5 years. SAIC returned 10.8% a year at 30.8% volatility, against a loss of 4.2% a year at 32.9%.
  - **Nearby categories and themes:** ADP (Automatic Data Processing, business services) and FFIV (F5, cybersecurity) earned more than ACN with less volatility over the past 5 years. ADP returned 9.6% a year at 23.0% volatility, against a loss of 4.2% a year at 32.9%.
  - **Whole market:** 1,645 of the 3,641 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million earned more than ACN with less volatility over the past 5 years, among them AAPL (Apple), MSFT (Microsoft) and VTI (Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF).

## How much would $10,000 in ACN have grown?

This chart tracks a hypothetical $10,000 investment in ACN over the past 25 years, with dividends reinvested, alongside the same amount in the S&P 500, investments that ended ahead of ACN over the same span and ACN's popular alternatives, among those that traded for the entire period.

- $10,000 invested in ACN at the end of September 2001 would have grown to $215,030 by September 2026, more than the $114,557 it would have become in SPY, an S&P 500 fund.
- Five of the eight other investments on the chart ended ahead of ACN, and FFIV finished highest, at $959,412.

## ACN at a glance

This section summarizes the key facts about the stock, its returns over periods from one to ten years and the risk it has carried, with dividends reinvested throughout.

- ACN is still 31.7% below its all-time high.
- ACN's deepest decline since it began trading in 2001 was 67.8%, from February 2025 to June 2026. It has not yet climbed back to that peak.
- Over 24 full calendar years, ACN's best was 2021, when it returned 60.7%, and its worst was 2022, when it lost 34.8%. It lost money in six of those years.

- Type: Stock, Technology (Information Technology Services)
- Trading since: July 19, 2001
- Market value: $158B
- Volatility (5 years): 32.9%; Sharpe ratio: 0.04
- Worst decline ever: −67.8%, from February 5, 2025 to June 30, 2026; not yet back at its high

| Period | ACN total return |
| --- | --- |
| 1 month | +42.0% |
| 3 months | +86.2% |
| 6 months | +38.8% |
| year to date | +3.0% |
| 1 year | +7.5% |
| 3 years | −5.8% |
| 5 years | −19.2% |
| 10 years | +167% |

## ACN against the whole market

Where ACN ranks among every stock and fund, and what across the market has done better.

### How does ACN rank among all stocks?

This section ranks ACN on return, volatility, risk-adjusted return and worst decline against every stock worth at least $300 million with enough history.

- ACN's 3-year return ranks in the bottom 19% of the 3,016 stocks worth at least $300 million with 3 years of history.

| Measure | ACN | Rank |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1-year return | +7.5% | 1,720 of 3,282 (top 53%) |
| 3-year return | −5.8% | 2,438 of 3,016 (top 81%) |
| 5-year return | −19.2% | 2,008 of 2,897 (top 70%) |
| 10-year return | +167% | 997 of 2,201 (top 46%) |
| Volatility, 5 years | 32.9% | 991 of 2,897 (top 35%) |
| Sharpe ratio, 5 years | 0.04 | 2,289 of 2,897 (top 80%) |
| Worst decline, past 10 years | −67.8% | 1,208 of 2,184 (top 56%) |

### What has beaten ACN on both return and risk?

Each dot is an investment, placed by how much it earned a year over the past 5 years (higher is better) and how much its price swung, its volatility (further left is calmer).

- 703 stocks and 942 ETFs worth at least $500 million sit in the green region: each earned more than ACN over the past 5 years with smaller price swings. That is 45% of the 3,641 screened.
- Among those with at least half ACN's swings, CAH has the best return for its risk: 41.7% a year at 24.7% volatility, 25% less than ACN's 32.9%, and a Sharpe ratio (return above cash per unit of volatility) of 1.54 against 0.04 for ACN.
- Among ACN's popular alternatives, IBM, CACI and SAP are in the region. IBM earned 20.1% a year against a loss of 4.2% a year for ACN, at 30.2% volatility, 8% less than ACN's 32.9%.

### Is there a better investment than ACN?

The table below lists investments that beat ACN over the past 5 years on at least one of these measures: a higher annual return with lower volatility, a higher annual return at similar volatility, a similar return with lower volatility, a higher Sharpe ratio with a smaller worst decline, a higher total return in most periods from 3 months to 10 years, or smaller losses in recent market crashes.

- Among ACN's popular alternatives, SAIC, MSFT and IBM earned more than ACN with less volatility over the past 5 years. SAIC returned 10.8% a year at 30.8% volatility, against a loss of 4.2% a year at 32.9%.
- Looking beyond its popular alternatives, ADP (business services) and FFIV (cybersecurity) earned more than ACN with less volatility over the past 5 years. ADP returned 9.6% a year at 23.0% volatility, against a loss of 4.2% a year at 32.9%.
- Across the whole market, 1,645 of the 3,641 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million earned more than ACN with less volatility over the past 5 years, among them AAPL, MSFT and VTI.

The 15 strongest of 1,645 investments that beat ACN over the past 5 years, out of 3,641 stocks and funds worth at least $500 million.

| Investment | Group | Annual return (5 years) | Volatility | Sharpe | Worst decline (10 years) | 10Y return | Correlation with ACN | Better on |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| ACN: Accenture plc (this page) |  | −4.2% | 32.9% | 0.04 | −67.8% | +167% |  |  |
| NHC: National HealthCare Corporation | Health Care Facilities | +31.2% | 28.6% | 1.10 | −35.3% | +385% | 0.12 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline; Higher return in most periods; Smaller losses in recent crashes |
| [ABBV](https://betterthanspy.com/research/abbv): AbbVie Inc. | Specialty Pharmaceuticals | +25.5% | 23.4% | 1.09 | −45.1% | +600% | 0.03 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline; Higher return in most periods |
| [BRK-A](https://betterthanspy.com/research/brk-a): Berkshire Hathaway Inc. | Insurance | +13.5% | 17.2% | 0.83 | −30.4% | +281% | 0.23 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline; Smaller losses in recent crashes |
| [JNJ](https://betterthanspy.com/research/jnj): Johnson & Johnson | Pharmaceuticals | +13.5% | 18.0% | 0.80 | −27.4% | +209% | 0.00 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline; Smaller losses in recent crashes |
| [HMC](https://betterthanspy.com/research/hmc): Honda Motor Co., Ltd. | Automobiles | +6.7% | 27.5% | 0.37 | −42.0% | +64.7% | 0.26 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline; Higher return in most periods |
| [A](https://betterthanspy.com/research/a): Agilent Technologies, Inc. | Life Sciences Tools | +2.7% | 30.6% | 0.24 | −43.2% | +310% | 0.48 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline; Higher return in most periods |
| [ADP](https://betterthanspy.com/research/adp): Automatic Data Processing, Inc. | Business Services | +9.6% | 23.0% | 0.52 | −40.8% | +337% | 0.63 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline; Higher return in most periods |
| [GLD](https://betterthanspy.com/research/gld): SPDR Gold Shares | Gold | +17.1% | 19.0% | 0.93 | −26.4% | +206% | 0.18 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline; Smaller losses in recent crashes |
| SJM: The J. M. Smucker Company | Packaged Foods | +5.2% | 25.1% | 0.33 | −38.1% | +41.0% | 0.08 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline; Higher return in most periods |
| [SGOV](https://betterthanspy.com/research/sgov): iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF | Treasury Bills | +3.8% | 0.3% | 13.25 | −0.3% | — | 0.06 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline |
| [VIG](https://betterthanspy.com/research/vig): Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF | Dividend Growth | +10.4% | 14.1% | 0.77 | −31.7% | +258% | 0.47 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline; Smaller losses in recent crashes |
| FFIV: F5, Inc. | Cybersecurity | +16.7% | 30.8% | 0.66 | −54.6% | +279% | 0.34 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline; Higher return in most periods |
| CIBR: First Trust Nasdaq Cybersecurity ETF | Cybersecurity | +14.5% | 26.2% | 0.65 | −33.9% | +461% | 0.46 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline; Higher return in most periods |
| [RY](https://betterthanspy.com/research/ry): Royal Bank of Canada | Banks | +17.5% | 18.2% | 0.98 | −40.0% | +361% | 0.13 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline |
| [WM](https://betterthanspy.com/research/wm): Waste Management, Inc. | Waste Management | +9.5% | 19.3% | 0.57 | −30.1% | +357% | 0.15 | Higher return, lower volatility; Higher Sharpe, smaller worst decline; Smaller losses in recent crashes |

## ACN against its popular alternatives

The investments people most often weigh against ACN, compared period by period and year by year.

### How do ACN's risk and return compare with its alternatives?

This map plots each investment's annual return over the past 5 years against its volatility, the size of its typical price swings.

- Nine of the 21 popular alternatives, led by IBM, CACI and SAP, were both more rewarding and calmer than ACN over the past 5 years, earning a higher annual return with lower volatility.
- Over the past 5 years, ACN returned -4.2% a year, less than the S&P 500's 12.5%, with higher volatility (32.9% against 17.2%).

### Has ACN consistently beaten its popular alternatives?

This section compares ACN with the investments people most often weigh against it, checking each one over eight periods from one month to ten years.

- Only one of the 21 popular alternatives, SAIC, outperformed ACN in at least 3 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term timeframes.
- IBM, CACI and SAP earned more for the risk they took than ACN (a higher Sharpe ratio) and fell less in their worst decline of the past 10 years.
- MSFT outperformed ACN over all three long-term periods but in only one of the five short-term ones, so ACN has had the better of it lately.

| Investment | 1Y return | 3Y return | 5Y return | 10Y return | Periods ahead of ACN | Verdict | Sharpe |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| ACN: Accenture plc (this page) | +7.5% | −5.8% | −19.2% | +167% |  |  | 0.04 |
| SAIC: Science Applications International Corporation | +48.3% | +37.6% | +67.3% | +144% | 3/5 short-term, 2/3 long-term | consistent | 0.49 |
| [NOW](https://betterthanspy.com/research/now): ServiceNow, Inc. | −16.1% | +45.0% | +14.3% | +869% | 2/5 short-term, 3/3 long-term |  | 0.29 |
| CACI: CACI International Inc | +19.0% | +91.6% | +117% | +512% | 2/5 short-term, 3/3 long-term |  | 0.67 |
| [MSFT](https://betterthanspy.com/research/msft): Microsoft Corporation | +0.9% | +61.9% | +75.6% | +862% | 1/5 short-term, 3/3 long-term |  | 0.54 |
| EXLS: ExlService Holdings, Inc. | +3.9% | +68.4% | +72.6% | +346% | 1/5 short-term, 3/3 long-term |  | 0.50 |
| [ORCL](https://betterthanspy.com/research/orcl): Oracle Corporation | −53.4% | +25.4% | +36.7% | +281% | 0/5 short-term, 3/3 long-term |  | 0.36 |
| LDOS: Leidos Holdings, Inc. | −27.7% | +51.6% | +40.7% | +269% | 0/5 short-term, 3/3 long-term |  | 0.39 |
| [CRM](https://betterthanspy.com/research/crm): Salesforce, Inc. | −1.6% | +26.3% | −12.8% | +240% | 0/5 short-term, 3/3 long-term |  | 0.13 |
| [SAP](https://betterthanspy.com/research/sap): SAP SE | −11.8% | +88.3% | +83.7% | +217% | 0/5 short-term, 3/3 long-term |  | 0.56 |
| CTSH: Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation | +10.3% | +19.7% | +1.7% | +67.8% | 1/5 short-term, 2/3 long-term |  | 0.16 |
| [IBM](https://betterthanspy.com/research/ibm): International Business Machines Corporation | −10.0% | +103% | +150% | +163% | 0/5 short-term, 2/3 long-term |  | 0.76 |
| G: Genpact Limited | +7.1% | +27.8% | −11.6% | +98.5% | 0/5 short-term, 2/3 long-term |  | 0.07 |
| TASK: TaskUs, Inc. | −3.9% | +54.6% | −77.5% | — | 1/5 short-term, 1/3 long-term |  | -0.14 |
| WIT: Wipro Limited | −18.6% | +1.9% | −50.8% | +31.1% | 0/5 short-term, 1/3 long-term |  | -0.26 |
| KD: Kyndryl Holdings, Inc. | −46.3% | +6.1% | −62.7% | — | 0/5 short-term, 1/3 long-term |  | -0.02 |
| DXC: DXC Technology Company | +21.2% | −17.5% | −53.5% | −65.0% | 3/5 short-term, 0/3 long-term |  | -0.08 |
| [INFY](https://betterthanspy.com/research/infy): Infosys Limited | −21.5% | −13.4% | −34.0% | +116% | 0/5 short-term, 0/3 long-term |  | -0.13 |
| EPAM: EPAM Systems, Inc. | −11.4% | −37.6% | −78.6% | +107% | 0/5 short-term, 0/3 long-term |  | -0.25 |
| HCKT: The Hackett Group, Inc. | −30.8% | −38.3% | −33.3% | −1.9% | 0/5 short-term, 0/3 long-term |  | -0.05 |
| GLOB: Globant S.A. | −23.2% | −74.4% | −85.0% | −2.9% | 0/5 short-term, 0/3 long-term |  | -0.44 |
| CNXC: Concentrix Corporation | −24.1% | −51.3% | −79.5% | — | 0/5 short-term, 0/3 long-term |  | -0.35 |

### How did ACN do year by year?

This table shows each investment's total return in every full calendar year since 2002, along with where ACN ranked among its popular alternatives each year.

- ACN finished ahead of the S&P 500 in 15 of its 24 full calendar years, and behind it in each of the last two.
- Among its popular alternatives, NOW came out ahead of ACN most often, in nine of the 13 years both traded.
- Ranked against its popular alternatives each year, ACN finished in the top quarter in three of 24 years and in the bottom quarter in one. In 2025, it ranked 16 of 22.

| Year | ACN | SPY |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2025 | −22.1% | +17.7% |
| 2024 | +1.9% | +24.9% |
| 2023 | +33.6% | +26.2% |
| 2022 | −34.8% | −18.2% |
| 2021 | +60.7% | +28.7% |
| 2020 | +26.0% | +18.3% |
| 2019 | +51.2% | +31.2% |
| 2018 | −6.2% | −4.6% |
| 2017 | +33.3% | +21.7% |
| 2016 | +14.3% | +12.0% |

## Risk and diversification

How ACN has fallen, how it held up in crashes beside the S&P 500 and its popular alternatives, and what moves independently of it.

### What were ACN's worst declines?

A drawdown is the decline from a peak to the lowest point before a new high.

- Not every decline was the market's doing: ACN fell 67.8% from February 2025 to June 2026, while the S&P 500 rose 25.7%.
- The slowest recovery came after ACN fell 59.2% from March to October 2002; it did not regain that peak until January 2006, three years later.
- In three of ACN's five worst declines, the S&P 500 held up better over the same dates.

| Decline | Peak | Low | Back at the high | SPY over the same dates | Market event |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| −67.8% | February 5, 2025 | June 30, 2026 | not yet | +25.7% |  |
| −59.2% | March 11, 2002 | October 4, 2002 | January 5, 2006 | −30.3% | dot-com bust |
| −39.7% | December 29, 2021 | March 15, 2023 | February 5, 2025 | −17.2% | 2022 bear market |
| −37.5% | July 23, 2007 | April 21, 2009 | December 2, 2009 | −42.5% | 2008 financial crisis |
| −33.5% | February 19, 2020 | March 23, 2020 | June 25, 2020 | −33.7% | Covid crash |

### How did ACN do in stock market crashes?

This section measures how far ACN, the S&P 500 and each alternative fell from peak to trough during every major market crash since 2000.

- Among its popular alternatives, MSFT held up best, falling less than ACN in six of the nine crashes they both traded through.
- ACN began trading after the dot-com bust, but nine of its popular alternatives lived through it. The mildest fall among them was CACI's 43.5%, against 47.5% for the S&P 500.
- ACN fell further than the S&P 500 in five of the nine crashes it has traded through. The clearest case was the 2022 bear market, when ACN fell 37.3% and the S&P 500 fell 24.5%.

| Crash | Dates | ACN fall | SPY fall |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Dot-com bust | March 10, 2000 to October 9, 2002 | not trading | −47.5% |
| Global financial crisis | October 9, 2007 to March 9, 2009 | −35.7% | −55.2% |
| Flash crash | May 6, 2010 to May 7, 2010 | −1.9% | −1.5% |
| Euro debt crisis | July 22, 2011 to October 3, 2011 | −22.7% | −17.9% |
| China devaluation & oil rout | August 10, 2015 to February 11, 2016 | −14.9% | −12.8% |
| Volmageddon | February 2, 2018 to February 9, 2018 | −4.1% | −6.5% |
| Q4 2018 selloff | September 21, 2018 to December 24, 2018 | −22.6% | −19.3% |
| COVID crash | February 19, 2020 to March 23, 2020 | −33.5% | −33.7% |
| 2022 bear market | January 4, 2022 to October 12, 2022 | −37.3% | −24.5% |
| SVB / regional bank stress | March 8, 2023 to March 13, 2023 | −4.7% | −3.4% |

### How closely does ACN move with the S&P 500?

Upside capture measures how much of the S&P 500's gains an investment kept in the months the market rose, and downside capture how much of its losses it took in the months the market fell.

- 11 of the 18 popular alternatives had a higher capture ratio (upside capture divided by downside capture) than ACN's 0.63, led by CACI, NOW and MSFT.
- CACI took just 62% of the S&P 500's losses, against 186% for ACN, while still keeping 94% of its gains.
- Over the past 10 years, ACN captured 117% of the S&P 500's gains in rising months and 186% of its losses in falling months, with a beta of 1.12. It amplified the market's moves in both directions.

Measured over the past 10 years of monthly returns against SPY.

| Investment | Upside capture | Downside capture | Beta |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| ACN: Accenture plc (this page) | 117% | 186% | 1.12 |
| SAIC: Science Applications International Corporation | 44.0% | 36.0% | 0.59 |
| [NOW](https://betterthanspy.com/research/now): ServiceNow, Inc. | 114% | 79.0% | 0.97 |
| CACI: CACI International Inc | 94.0% | 62.0% | 0.79 |
| [MSFT](https://betterthanspy.com/research/msft): Microsoft Corporation | 127% | 91.0% | 0.96 |
| EXLS: ExlService Holdings, Inc. | 99.0% | 109% | 0.90 |
| [ORCL](https://betterthanspy.com/research/orcl): Oracle Corporation | 131% | 159% | 1.30 |
| LDOS: Leidos Holdings, Inc. | 78.0% | 73.0% | 0.73 |
| [CRM](https://betterthanspy.com/research/crm): Salesforce, Inc. | 115% | 143% | 1.16 |
| [SAP](https://betterthanspy.com/research/sap): SAP SE | 112% | 152% | 1.10 |
| CTSH: Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation | 89.0% | 152% | 0.99 |
| [IBM](https://betterthanspy.com/research/ibm): International Business Machines Corporation | 89.0% | 121% | 0.95 |
| G: Genpact Limited | 90.0% | 146% | 0.99 |
| WIT: Wipro Limited | 62.0% | 122% | 0.82 |
| DXC: DXC Technology Company | 99.0% | 276% | 1.59 |
| [INFY](https://betterthanspy.com/research/infy): Infosys Limited | 85.0% | 126% | 0.90 |
| EPAM: EPAM Systems, Inc. | 156% | 263% | 1.41 |
| HCKT: The Hackett Group, Inc. | 51.0% | 119% | 0.85 |
| GLOB: Globant S.A. | 91.0% | 188% | 1.16 |

### What diversifies ACN?

Correlation measures how closely two investments move together, on a scale from 1 (in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to -1 (in opposite directions).

- Moving a fifth of the money in ACN into DXJ would have cut the portfolio's volatility by 19% over the past 5 years and raised its annual return (-8.8% for ACN alone, -1.4% for the mix).
- Among large ETFs, LVHI, DXJ and EMLP have moved largely independently of ACN over the past 5 years, with correlations of 0.26 or lower, and each still earned a positive 5-year return.
- FIX made money in four of the six calendar years in which ACN lost money.

| Investment | Correlation with ACN | 5Y return | Volatility | Sharpe | Rose in ACN's 6 down years |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| LVHI: Franklin International Low Volatility High Dividend Index ETF | 0.26 | +119% | 11.1% | 1.48 | 2 of 6 |
| DXJ: WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund | 0.13 | +225% | 19.1% | 1.34 | 2 of 6 |
| EMLP: First Trust North American Energy Infrastructure Fund | 0.19 | +103% | 14.5% | 1.06 | 2 of 6 |
| HDV: iShares Core High Dividend ETF | 0.33 | +86.8% | 13.0% | 1.03 | 2 of 6 |
| DBEF: Xtrackers MSCI EAFE Hedged Equity ETF | 0.32 | +83.6% | 13.8% | 0.95 | 1 of 6 |
| [SMH](https://betterthanspy.com/research/smh): VanEck Semiconductor ETF | 0.14 | +304% | 37.0% | 0.94 | 2 of 6 |
| [XLE](https://betterthanspy.com/research/xle): State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF | 0.20 | +178% | 25.5% | 0.94 | 3 of 6 |
| [GLD](https://betterthanspy.com/research/gld): SPDR Gold Shares | 0.18 | +120% | 19.0% | 0.93 | 3 of 6 |

## Common questions

### What was ACN's worst drawdown?

ACN's deepest decline since it began trading in 2001 was 67.8%, from February 2025 to June 2026. It has not yet climbed back to that peak.

### What were ACN's best and worst years?

Over 24 full calendar years, ACN's best year was 2021, when it returned 60.7%. Its worst was 2022, with a return of -34.8%.

### Is there a better investment than ACN?

Among ACN's popular alternatives, SAIC, MSFT and IBM earned more than ACN with less volatility over the past 5 years. SAIC returned 10.8% a year at 30.8% volatility, against a loss of 4.2% a year at 32.9%. Looking beyond its popular alternatives, ADP (business services) and FFIV (cybersecurity) earned more than ACN with less volatility over the past 5 years. ADP returned 9.6% a year at 23.0% volatility, against a loss of 4.2% a year at 32.9%.

### Is ACN more volatile than the S&P 500?

Yes. ACN's volatility over the past 5 years was 32.9%, about twice the S&P 500's 17.2%. Volatility measures how widely returns swing around their average: in roughly two years out of three, ACN's return lands within 32.9% of its average, either way. The higher it is, the rougher the ride and the harder it is to hold through a slump.

### What is ACN's Sharpe ratio?

ACN's Sharpe ratio over the past 5 years was 0.04, against 0.78 for the S&P 500, so ACN earned less for each unit of risk than an index fund did. The Sharpe ratio is the return earned above cash for each unit of volatility: two investments with the same return are not equal if one got there with far bigger swings.

### How correlated is ACN with the S&P 500?

Over the past 5 years, ACN's monthly returns had a correlation of 0.50 with the S&P 500. Correlation runs from 1 (moving in lockstep) through 0 (unrelated) to −1 (moving in opposite directions). They often move together: some diversification next to an index fund, but not a cushion. In the table, the correlation column measures each option against ACN instead: the lower it is, the more that option would diversify a ACN holding.

### What are the best alternatives to ACN?

Of the 21 popular alternatives we compared, one outperformed ACN in at least 3 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term timeframes, with dividends reinvested: SAIC.

### Did ACN outperform the S&P 500?

ACN finished ahead of the S&P 500 (SPY) in 15 of 24 full calendar years. In 2025, it returned -22.1%, against +17.7% for the index.

### How did ACN do in stock market crashes?

ACN fell less than the S&P 500 (SPY) in two of the nine major crashes it has traded through, and further in five. The clearest case was the 2022 bear market, when ACN fell 37.3% and the S&P 500 fell 24.5%.

### What diversifies ACN?

These had a low correlation with ACN over the past 5 years and still earned a positive 5-year return: among large ETFs, LVHI (correlation 0.26), DXJ (correlation 0.13) and EMLP (correlation 0.19); among large stocks, CAH (correlation 0.05), CLS (correlation 0.11) and MCK (correlation 0.17). A correlation near zero means the two have moved largely independently.

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## Explore further

- Full page with charts: https://betterthanspy.com/research/acn
- All research pages: https://betterthanspy.com/llms.txt
- Compare the entire market against ACN live: https://betterthanspy.com/?b=ACN