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Purpose Core Dividend Fund (PDF.TO) Alternatives

ETF · Currency in CAD · Last updated Jul 25, 2026

The Purpose Core Dividend Fund (PDF) is an actively managed equity ETF that seeks capital growth and stable, tax-efficient income through a disciplined fundamental process focused on sustainable dividend-paying companies. It emphasizes Canadian stocks and adds U.S. exposure in sectors where the Canadian market lacks depth.

Purpose Core Dividend Fund (PDF.TO) belongs to the Dividend category. Below you'll find alternative ETFs from the same category, ranked by key criteria, plus funds that investors commonly compare with PDF.TO. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.

Cheapest Alternatives to PDF.TO

PDF.TO charges 0.66% annually. There are 37 ETFs in the Dividend category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.09%.

SymbolNameExpense RatioAUMInception
ZDIV.TO
BMO MSCI Canada IMI High Dividend Yield Index ETF0.09%—Feb 2026PDF.TO vs ZDIV.TO
XDIV.TO
iShares Core MSCI Canadian Quality Dividend Index ...0.11%5.84BJun 2017PDF.TO vs XDIV.TO
XDU.TO
iShares Core MSCI US Quality Dividend Index ETF0.16%290.40MJun 2017PDF.TO vs XDU.TO
XDUH.TO
iShares Core MSCI US Quality Dividend Index ETF (C...0.16%101.75MJun 2017PDF.TO vs XDUH.TO
UMVP.TO
Hamilton Champions Utilities Index ETF0.19%309.70MJan 2026PDF.TO vs UMVP.TO

Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to PDF.TO

PDF.TO has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 97. There are 6 ETFs in the Dividend category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 99.

SymbolNameRisk / Return RankAUMInception
VDY.TO
Vanguard FTSE Canadian High Dividend Yield Index E...
99
8.59BNov 2012PDF.TO vs VDY.TO
XDIV.TO
iShares Core MSCI Canadian Quality Dividend Index ...
98
5.84BJun 2017PDF.TO vs XDIV.TO
CLSA.TO
Brompton Split Corp. Enhanced Equity Income ETF
98
—Mar 2025PDF.TO vs CLSA.TO
PDC.TO
Invesco Canadian Dividend Index ETF
98
1.05BApr 2011PDF.TO vs PDC.TO
TBNK.TO
TD Canadian Bank Dividend Index ETF
98
408.31MApr 2023PDF.TO vs TBNK.TO

Top Performing PDF.TO Alternatives (YTD)

PDF.TO is at 20.07% YTD. There are 8 ETFs in the Dividend category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 41.36%.

SymbolNameYTD ReturnAUMInception
CLSA.TO
Brompton Split Corp. Enhanced Equity Income ETF
41.36%
—Mar 2025PDF.TO vs CLSA.TO
TBNK.TO
TD Canadian Bank Dividend Index ETF
32.94%
408.31MApr 2023PDF.TO vs TBNK.TO
VDY.TO
Vanguard FTSE Canadian High Dividend Yield Index E...
29.32%
8.59BNov 2012PDF.TO vs VDY.TO
XDIV.TO
iShares Core MSCI Canadian Quality Dividend Index ...
28.31%
5.84BJun 2017PDF.TO vs XDIV.TO
ENBE.TO
Harvest Enbridge Enhanced High Income Shares ETF
27.08%
—Aug 2025PDF.TO vs ENBE.TO

Lowest Volatility Alternatives to PDF.TO

PDF.TO has 8.38% 1-year volatility. There are 3 ETFs in the Dividend category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 6.35%.

SymbolNameVolatility 1YAUMInception
PINC.TO
Purpose Multi-Asset Income Fund6.35%109.90MApr 2018PDF.TO vs PINC.TO
PDIV.TO
Purpose Enhanced Dividend Fund ETF6.90%231.40MJan 2018PDF.TO vs PDIV.TO
VUDV.TO
Vanguard U.S. High Dividend Yield Index ETF7.95%—Mar 2026PDF.TO vs VUDV.TO
ZZZD.TO
BMO Tactical Dividend ETF Fund8.51%25.05MJan 2019PDF.TO vs ZZZD.TO
PDC.TO
Invesco Canadian Dividend Index ETF8.58%1.05BApr 2011PDF.TO vs PDC.TO

Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to PDF.TO

PDF.TO has a 1-year max drawdown of -6.35%. There are 14 ETFs in the Dividend category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -2.72%.

SymbolNameMax Drawdown 1YAUMInception
ZZZD.TO
BMO Tactical Dividend ETF Fund
-2.72%
25.05MJan 2019PDF.TO vs ZZZD.TO
XDIV.TO
iShares Core MSCI Canadian Quality Dividend Index ...
-2.78%
5.84BJun 2017PDF.TO vs XDIV.TO
VDY.TO
Vanguard FTSE Canadian High Dividend Yield Index E...
-3.12%
8.59BNov 2012PDF.TO vs VDY.TO
PINC.TO
Purpose Multi-Asset Income Fund
-3.59%
109.90MApr 2018PDF.TO vs PINC.TO
PDC.TO
Invesco Canadian Dividend Index ETF
-3.86%
1.05BApr 2011PDF.TO vs PDC.TO

Other ETFs from Purpose Investments Inc.

The 10 most viewed Purpose Investments Inc. ETFs shown here include BND.TO, SYLD.TO, BTCY.TO and span 17 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $3B.

SymbolNameCategoryRisk / Return RankYTD ReturnAUMInception
BND.TO
Purpose Global Bond FundGlobal Bonds
41
0.04%
2.50BOct 2015PDF.TO vs BND.TO
SYLD.TO
Purpose Strategic Yield FundHigh Yield Bonds, Corporate Bonds
96
3.38%
526.10MApr 2018PDF.TO vs SYLD.TO
BTCY.TO
Purpose Bitcoin Yield ETFCryptocurrency, Derivative Income
2
-31.07%
121.00MDec 2021PDF.TO vs BTCY.TO
PAYF.TO
Purpose Enhanced Premium Yield FundDerivative Income, Options Trading, Actively Managed
30
3.05%
85.20MApr 2019PDF.TO vs PAYF.TO
CROP.TO
Purpose Credit Opportunities FundNontraditional Bonds, Multisector Bonds
96
3.58%
—Sep 2021PDF.TO vs CROP.TO
PRA.TO
Purpose Diversified Real Asset FundDiversified Portfolio, Global Allocation, Natural Resources, Actively Managed
95
26.15%
331.30MSep 2013PDF.TO vs PRA.TO
PID.TO
Purpose International Dividend FundForeign Large Cap Equities, Dividend, Actively Managed
81
14.90%
312.20MApr 2015PDF.TO vs PID.TO
IGB.TO
Purpose Global Bond ClassGlobal Bonds, Investment Grade Bonds, Actively Managed
25
-0.32%
1.20BDec 2013PDF.TO vs IGB.TO
PBI.TO
Purpose Best Ideas FundLarge Cap Blend Equities, Equal Weight
24
3.12%
70.80MApr 2014PDF.TO vs PBI.TO
PBD.TO
Purpose Total Return Bond FundMultisector Bonds, Corporate Bonds, High Yield Bonds, Actively Managed
22
0.08%
30.90MSep 2013PDF.TO vs PBD.TO

Often Compared With PDF.TO

Investors most often compare PDF.TO with ZWH.TO, VGG.TO, ZLB.TO. These 20 comparison targets span 8 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.

SymbolNameCategoryRisk / Return RankYTD ReturnAUMInception
ZWH.TO
BMO US High Dividend Covered Call ETFDerivative Income
89
13.61%
1.13BFeb 2014PDF.TO vs ZWH.TO
VGG.TO
Vanguard U.S. Dividend Appreciation Index ETFDividend, Large Cap Blend Equities
80
11.93%
2.57BAug 2013PDF.TO vs VGG.TO
ZLB.TO
BMO Low Volatility Canadian Equity ETFCanada Equities, Low Volatility
56
7.93%
6.32BOct 2011PDF.TO vs ZLB.TO
XIC.TO
iShares Core S&P/TSX Capped Composite Index ETFCanada Equities
90
12.87%
31.26BFeb 2001PDF.TO vs XIC.TO
BGC.TO
Bristol Gate Concentrated Canadian Equity ETFCanada Equities
20
1.92%
22.98MFeb 2018PDF.TO vs BGC.TO
RCD.TO
RBC Quant Canadian Dividend Leaders ETFDividend, Canada Equities
63
13.48%
407.08MJan 2014PDF.TO vs RCD.TO
CDZ.TO
iShares S&P/TSX Canadian Dividend Aristocrats Inde...Canada Equities
75
13.98%
1.26BSep 2006PDF.TO vs CDZ.TO
DXC.TO
Dynamic Active Canadian Dividend ETFCanada Equities, Dividend
95
14.92%
364.77MJan 2017PDF.TO vs DXC.TO
ESGA.TO
BMO MSCI Canada Selection Equity Index ETFCanada Equities, ESG
77
7.45%
171.55MJan 2020PDF.TO vs ESGA.TO
FCUH.TO
Fidelity U.S. High Dividend Currency Neutral ETFDividend
37
11.37%
31.70MSep 2018PDF.TO vs FCUH.TO
QXM.TO
CI Morningstar National Bank Québec Index ETFCanada Equities
60
5.90%
93.07MFeb 2012PDF.TO vs QXM.TO
TLV.TO
Invesco S&P/TSX Composite Low Volatility Index ETFCanada Equities, Low Volatility
97
18.60%
103.58MApr 2012PDF.TO vs TLV.TO
XESG.TO
iShares ESG Aware MSCI Canada Index ETFCanada Equities
82
12.54%
649.45MMar 2019PDF.TO vs XESG.TO
QCE.TO
Mackenzie Canadian Large Cap Equity Index ETFCanada Equities
94
13.72%
271.91MJan 2018PDF.TO vs QCE.TO
BLOV.TO
Brompton North American Low Volatility Dividend ET...Dividend, Low Volatility
87
12.06%
11.26MApr 2020PDF.TO vs BLOV.TO
CACE.TO
Avantis CIBC Canadian Equity ETFCanada Equities———Feb 2026PDF.TO vs CACE.TO
CMVP.TO
HAMILTON CHAMPIONS Canadian Dividend Index ETF Cla...Canada Equities
95
18.68%
—Jan 2025PDF.TO vs CMVP.TO
DRFC.TO
Desjardins RI Canada Multifactor - Net-Zero Emissi...Canada Equities, Sustainable, Multi-factor
82
10.00%
370.04MSep 2018PDF.TO vs DRFC.TO
FCRR.TO
Fidelity U.S. Dividend for Rising Rates ETFDividend
28
14.14%
37.20MSep 2018PDF.TO vs FCRR.TO
FCUD.TO
Fidelity U.S. High Dividend ETFDividend
22
16.23%
263.60MSep 2018PDF.TO vs FCUD.TO

Compare PDF.TO with Any Fund or Stock

Compare PDF.TO with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.

 

Diversifiers

Pair PDF.TO with funds that move differently

Purpose Core Dividend Fund alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to PDF.TO.

Explore PDF.TO Diversifiers