At a glance
SDG charges 0.5% a year, above the 0.02% average of the 1 funds most like it. It has $175.9M in assets; it paid 1.74% of its price in distributions over the past 12 months, semiannual. Over the past year it returned +4.6% with distributions reinvested (S&P 500: +11.5%); over three years it returned +9.1% a year. At its worst it fell 27.3% in the 2020 crash (S&P 500: 33.7%) and 22.2% in the 2022 bear market (S&P 500: 24.5%), and was back at its earlier high 3 months and 37 months after the lows. Its ten largest positions make up 38.2% of the fund, out of 140 in all.
The short version
The iShares MSCI Global Sustainable Development Goals ETF (SDG) tracks the MSCI ACWI Sustainable Development Index. The index holds stocks from around the world, but only companies that earn at least half their sales from products tied to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, such as disease treatment, clean energy and sanitary products. It costs 0.50% a year, far more than broad index funds, and it lagged the MSCI All Country World Index over the five years to December 31, 2024.
Price history
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SDG +4.6% over the year to Oct 27, 2026, total return with distributions reinvested.
How it has behaved
| YTD | 1 yr | 3 yr | 5 yr | 10 yr | Since start | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SDG official prospectus, to Dec 31, 2024 | — | -9.85% | — | +3.70% | — | +6.55% |
| MSCI All Country World Index index, same period | — | +17.49% | — | +10.06% | — | +10.61% |
| SDG price data to Oct 27, 2026 | +4.1% | +4.6% | +9.1% | -0.2% | +8.0% | +7.7% |
- Over the year to Oct 27, 2026, SDG returned +4.6%.
- Its 5-year annualized return was -0.2% and its 10-year +8.0%.
- In the 2020 COVID crash it fell 27.3% and regained its old high 3.4 months after the low.
- Its worst full calendar year was 2022 (-11.5%); its best was 2020 (+44.3%).
- The deepest fall in its price history was 30.3% (Sep 3, 2021 to Apr 8, 2025), recovered by Jun 2, 2026.
Show as a table
| Year | Price data | Prospectus (official) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (to date) | +4.1% | — |
| 2025 | +20.2% | — |
| 2024 | -10.1% | -9.85% |
| 2023 | +4.6% | +4.66% |
| 2022 | -11.5% | -11.23% |
| 2021 | -1.2% | -1.02% |
| 2020 | +44.3% | +44.67% |
| 2019 | +25.4% | +24.78% |
| 2018 | -8.3% | -7.55% |
| 2017 | +27.3% | +26.93% |
| 2008 financial crisis stocks fell Oct 9, 2007 – Mar 9, 2009 | Before this security existed |
|---|---|
| 2020 COVID crash stocks fell Feb 19, 2020 – Mar 23, 2020 | Lost 27.3% over that stretch · deepest drop along the way 27.3%, back to its old high 3.4 months after the low |
| 2022 bear market stocks fell Jan 3, 2022 – Oct 12, 2022 | Lost 22.2% over that stretch · deepest drop along the way 22.2%, back to its old high 37 months after the low |
Dividends and income
Show as a table
| Year | Per share | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (to date) | $0.6600 | |
| 2025 | $1.6800 | +20.9% |
| 2024 | $1.3900 | -3.5% |
| 2023 | $1.4400 | 0.0% |
| 2022 | $1.4400 | -4.0% |
| 2021 | $1.5000 | +66.7% |
| 2020 | $0.9000 | -1.1% |
| 2019 | $0.9100 | -30.5% |
| 2018 | $1.3100 | -13.2% |
| 2017 | $1.5100 |
What's inside
As of Aug 31, 2026, the fund held 140 securities; the ten largest made up 38.2% of assets. It also reported 3.99% in a money-market fund, most likely cash collateral from lending out shares rather than uninvested money.
| Holding | Weight | |
|---|---|---|
| Wiwynn Corporation | 5.59% | |
| MARVELL TECHNOLOGY, INC. | 4.61% | |
| VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S | 4.21% | |
| Novartis AG | 3.88% | |
| NVIDIA CORPORATION | 3.84% | |
| FIRST SOLAR, INC. | 3.50% | |
| UNI-PRESIDENT ENTERPRISES CORP. | 3.23% | |
| East Japan Railway Company | 3.18% | |
| KIMBERLY-CLARK CORPORATION | 3.12% | |
| CSL LIMITED | 3.05% | |
| WH GROUP LIMITED | 2.76% | |
| REGENERON PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. | 2.32% | |
| VERTEX PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED | 2.22% | |
| Essity Aktiebolag (publ) | 2.15% | |
| Li Auto Inc. | 1.97% |
By country
United States 30.88%Cayman Islands 12.32%Taiwan 8.93%Japan 8.78%Denmark 6.2%By asset type
Stocks 97.06%Other 2.52%What changed recently
- Over the three months to Aug 31, 2026, investors added a net $0.00 (creations minus redemptions, per the N-PORT report).
- Monthly total returns reported for that quarter: -1.55%, -0.18%, +3.61%.
How it works
MSCI builds the index and decides which companies are in it and how much each one weighs. To qualify, a company must earn at least 50% of its annual sales from "sustainable impact" categories. Examples include nutritious food, treatment of major diseases, education, affordable housing, energy efficiency, green building, sustainable water and pollution prevention. It must also meet minimum ESG (environmental, social and governance) standards. The index covers large and mid-sized companies. As of August 31, 2025, it spanned 28 countries, from the US and Japan to Taiwan, Brazil and Saudi Arabia.
BlackRock Fund Advisors runs the fund with "representative sampling." That means it holds a group of stocks that behaves like the index, which may not include every stock in it. At least 80% of assets go into index stocks or depositary receipts (certificates that represent foreign shares). Up to 20% can go into futures, options, swaps and cash. As of August 31, 2026, the fund owned 140 stocks, and futures made up just 0.01% of assets. Cash of 3.99% was likely collateral from securities lending. The fund can lend shares worth up to one-third of its assets.
The fund doesn't try to beat the index or move to safety when markets fall. Its 64% turnover is high for an index fund. It is also concentrated: as of August 31, 2026, the ten largest holdings made up 38.2% of assets, led by Wiwynn (5.6%), Marvell Technology (4.6%) and Vestas Wind Systems (4.2%).
What it really costs
- SDG charges 0.5% a year, versus an average of 0.02% for the similar funds below.
- Of that, 0.49% is the management fee; the rest covers other fund expenses.
- Using the prospectus's standard example, $10,000 invested would cost about $51 in the first year and $628 over 10 years (assuming a 5% annual return).
| Cost of $10,000 (SEC example) | 1 yr | 3 yrs | 5 yrs | 10 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SDG | $51 | $160 | $280 | $628 |
In a retirement portfolio
It is a narrow, themed stock fund with 140 holdings, a 0.50% fee and a record of trailing the global stock market, so it fits better as a small side position than as a core holding.
SDG launched in April 2016, so it has no record from the 2008 financial crisis. In the 2020 COVID crash it fell 27.3% and had fully recovered by July 6, 2020. The 2022 bear market was harder: it fell 22.2% and took about 37 months to get back to its old high, on November 10, 2025. Its worst calendar year was 2022, at -11.5%. Its deepest drop was 30.3%, from September 3, 2021 to April 8, 2025, and it didn't fully recover until June 2, 2026. A retiree who had to sell shares during that stretch would have locked in losses.
The trailing 12-month yield was 1.74% as of October 27, 2026, paid twice a year, so the fund provides little income. In the SEC's standard example, a $10,000 investment costs $51 in fees in the first year and $628 over 10 years. Past results don't predict future returns, and a retirement plan should look at the whole portfolio, not one fund.
Who it may suit — and who should look elsewhere
May suit
- Investors who want global stocks limited to companies earning most of their sales from areas like disease treatment, clean energy and hygiene products.
- People looking for a small themed position next to a broad index fund, who accept a 0.50% expense ratio for the screening.
- Investors who want heavy exposure outside the US: US stocks were only 30.9% of assets as of August 31, 2026.
Look elsewhere if
- Cost-focused investors: SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF (SPYM), the closest holdings match, charges 0.02%, though it owns very different stocks.
- Retirees who may need to sell in a slump: SDG took about 37 months to recover from its 2022 bear-market drop.
- Income seekers: the trailing yield was just 1.74% as of October 27, 2026, paid only twice a year.
Close alternatives
Matched by closest holdings overlap from the latest N-PORT reports (no similar fund shares 20% or more of its holdings).
| Fund | Overlap | Cost | Net assets | 1 yr | 3 yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SDG this fund | — | 0.5% | $175.9M | +4.6% | +9.1% |
| SPYM SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF | 5% | 0.02% | $153.92B | +11.5% | +22.0% |
Questions investors ask
What stocks are in the SDG ETF?
SDG holds about 140 large and mid-sized companies from around the world. Each one earns at least half its sales from products tied to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. As of August 31, 2026, the largest holdings were Wiwynn (5.6%), Marvell Technology (4.6%), Vestas Wind Systems (4.2%), Novartis (3.9%), NVIDIA (3.8%) and First Solar (3.5%). The ten largest made up 38.2% of the fund. US stocks were 30.9% of assets, followed by Cayman Islands-registered companies (12.3%), Taiwan (8.9%) and Japan (8.8%).
What is the SDG ETF expense ratio?
SDG's expense ratio is 0.50% a year, according to its prospectus filed December 19, 2025. That includes a 0.49% management fee. In the SEC's standard example, $10,000 invested with a 5% yearly return costs $51 in the first year, $160 over three years, $280 over five years and $628 over 10 years. That is far more than SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF (SPYM), its closest holdings match, which charges 0.02%.
How has SDG performed compared with the global stock market?
It has lagged. In the five years to December 31, 2024, SDG returned 3.7% a year, while the MSCI All Country World Index returned 10.06%. Since its 2016 launch, the figures were 6.55% and 10.61% a year. The fund lost 9.85% in 2024 alone. Price-based returns were stronger afterward: 20.19% in 2025 and 4.6% over the 12 months to October 27, 2026. Over the 10 years to that date, it averaged 8% a year.
Does SDG pay dividends?
Yes. SDG pays dividends twice a year. Over the 12 months to October 27, 2026, it paid $1.51 per share, a yield of 1.74%. That makes it a light source of income. The fund's goal is to track companies tied to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, not to produce income, so its payouts depend on what its holdings pay and can change from year to year.
SDG vs SPYM: what's the difference?
They are very different funds. SDG holds about 140 global stocks chosen for revenue tied to the UN goals. SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 ETF (SPYM) tracks large US companies. It was SDG's closest holdings match, yet the two shared only about 5% of their holdings. SPYM costs 0.02% a year, compared with SDG's 0.50%. SPYM returned 12.4% over one year as of October 30, 2026, while SDG returned 4.6% as of October 27, 2026. SPYM is also much larger.