What is the MSCI World YTD return in 2026?
The MSCI World is up +13.08% year to date with dividends reinvested (total return through Sep 8, 2026), or +12.33% on price alone — dividends have added 0.75 points so far. URTH started the year at $185.77 and closed at $208.67. That makes 2026 the 7th best start in 14 years of data through this date.
Price return vs total return#
Total return assumes distributions are reinvested; price return measures only the change in the ETF's share price. The 0.75 percentage-point gap is the contribution from dividends so far this year.
2026 YTD daily chart#
Daily URTH price since the final market close of 2025. Hover for the close, price YTD, total return YTD with dividends reinvested, and that day's price move.
- Total-return high
- +14.6% · Aug 13, 2026
- Total-return low
- -5.8% · Mar 30, 2026
- Max drawdown YTD
- -9.1%
- All-time-high closes
- 27 days
How 2026 compares with previous years#
Every year is measured through Sep 8 — the same calendar date as the current result — so the comparison is not skewed by full-year outcomes.
Years that looked like this one
The five closest starts to 2026's +13.1%, each traced through its full year — labels show how each finished. 2026's path so far is the bold line.
2017 (+14.0% then → finished +22.9%) · 2024 (+12.0% then → finished +18.7%) · 2023 (+14.7% then → finished +23.9%) · 2025 (+14.9% then → finished +21.4%) · 2013 (+15.3% then → finished +26.7%).
Every year's YTD return through the same date#
Ranked by total return through Sep 8, with each completed calendar year's final return alongside it.
Best starts
| Year | YTD then | Finished |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | +18.6% | +22.3% |
| 2019 | +17.6% | +28.1% |
| 2013 | +15.3% | +26.7% |
| 2025 | +14.9% | +21.4% |
| 2023 | +14.7% | +23.9% |
Worst starts
| Year | YTD then | Finished |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -17.4% | -18.0% |
| 2015 | -2.7% | -0.6% |
| 2020 | +1.0% | +15.8% |
| 2018 | +3.0% | -8.6% |
| 2014 | +5.5% | +4.4% |
| Rank | Year | YTD through this date | Full-year return |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2021 | +18.6% | +22.3% |
| 2 | 2019 | +17.6% | +28.1% |
| 3 | 2013 | +15.3% | +26.7% |
| 4 | 2025 | +14.9% | +21.4% |
| 5 | 2023 | +14.7% | +23.9% |
| 6 | 2017 | +14.0% | +22.9% |
| 7 | 2026 (now) | +13.1% | — |
| 8 | 2024 | +12.0% | +18.7% |
| 9 | 2016 | +6.7% | +7.3% |
| 10 | 2014 | +5.5% | +4.4% |
| 11 | 2018 | +3.0% | -8.6% |
| 12 | 2020 | +1.0% | +15.8% |
| 13 | 2015 | -2.7% | -0.6% |
| 14 | 2022 | -17.4% | -18.0% |
2026 monthly YTD chart#
Each bar is one calendar month's total return; the current month runs through Sep 8, 2026.
2026 YTD return by month#
Monthly total return and the compounded year-to-date result after each month.
| Month | Monthly return | Cumulative YTD |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | +2.1% | +2.1% |
| Feb | +0.6% | +2.7% |
| Mar | -5.7% | -3.1% |
| Apr | +9.2% | +5.8% |
| May | +4.3% | +10.3% |
| Jun | -0.5% | +9.8% |
| Jul | +0.4% | +10.2% |
| Aug | +2.7% | +13.2% |
| Sep | -0.1% | +13.1% |
Notes & related#
Returns are computed from URTH (the MSCI World ETF): total return uses dividend-adjusted closes, price return uses split-adjusted closes only. “YTD through the same date” compares each year at the identical month-day, so early-year rankings aren't skewed by full-year outcomes. Data updates after each market close.
Keep going: MSCI World returns by year, monthly returns, or the drawdown record.
More on MSCI World
- Returns by year+13.1%
- Monthly returns-0.1%
- Weekly returns-0.5%
- Trailing returns+20.0%
- Drawdown from high−1.3%